Underwhelming, but not horrible. Better than the Hanifin return.
I voted modest loss simply because of this year's pick being devalued. Otherwise, it is 'expected'.
I got excited once Boston started discussing contract extension with Andersson, but when it dragged on, this is what I feared - Andersson will not sign an extension with anyone, and just force his way to Vegas. I don't blame him, but this is the issue here with small market teams - players aren't pushing their way to come play in small Canadian markets, but they are strong-arming their way to preferred destinations.
As for the returns:
1st - expected
Conditional second - good - though statistically unlikely it becomes another first
Whitecloud - maybe you can flip him for a 2nd at the deadline - this is the highest value that a defencemen has, but he doesn't expire this year, so he only adds to the log-jam on the right.
Wiebe - 'C' prospect is what I would say he is. However, still a prospect. Getting the 8th best prospect from a team that has spent a lot of futures over the years is underwhelming, no matter how you slice it.
Why would Vegas trade for an extended Andersson? They know they can re-sign him, and at a discount too. It will make this trade look even more lopsided to some, but it is what it is.
Calgary just has to draft high and build a culture here, period. Sucks, but it is what it is. It could have been worse, but probably not much worse. A non-retained Andersson going somewhere else could probably have returned a similar package elsewhere I am guessing, or something close to it.
Definitely should have traded him last season to Toronto. That's a better package, and maybe Andersson would have returned a bit of a premium on that compared to Carlo? Would make sense.
Given this outcome, I would hope that Conroy turns around and trades Kadri and Coleman this season. Calgary got a vet back in this trade that can help with the culture anyway.
This is a disappointing day given the rumours, but it isn't terrible by any stretch. I don't want to sound like I am having a meltdown. This isn't bad at all - in fact, it is still good. It is just in now way great.
Hopefully next time the Flames play Vegas, it will be a fairly violent game where Vegas gets plastered along the boards all game, so that 2026 pick evens out in value after this trade.
|