Craig Button regrets not trading Derek Morris for Roberto Luongo

[sureLoss]

Think this story has been posted on the forums a long time ago, but anyways here it is again:

http://dailyhive.com/calgary/flames-...roberto-luongo

Before Roberto Luongo ever became one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, he could have (and should have) been a member of the Calgary Flames.

Speaking on TSN 1040 radio in Vancouver on Wednesday, former Flames general manger Craig Button shared the details of a trade he wish he made at the NHL Draft in 2000.

“When I first took over in Calgary, Mike Milbury in Long Island was moving Roberto Luongo and he ended up trading him to Florida,” said Button, who is now a hockey analyst with TSN. “I could have traded Derek Morris for Roberto Luongo at that time.

“At the time, coming in, I felt like it was a situation where I really liked Derek Morris and I didn’t want to start manoeuvring around too much. But boy, I look back at that, especially with some of the goaltending challenges we had in Calgary at the outset, that would have been a real good move.”

[cKy]

Interesting thought. Would you rather of had Kipper or Luongo?

[CaptainCrunch]

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Best not to do anything rash right out the gate, Button should be proud of his restraint on that one

Very easy to critique with hindsight in our back pockets, but love that Button doesn't mind exposing some of his mistakes publicly, very interesting.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cKy

Interesting thought. Would you rather of had Kipper or Luongo?

Better question is whether we would have rather not had Fatty Morris at all for anything. And that answer is 'Yes.'

Unequivocally.

Granted you are also correct that we likely would not have made the move for Kipper if we already had Luongo.

But no Morris is a huge positive. Its a tough call.

[devo22]

Craig Buttons first action as Flames GM was trading J.S. Giguere. You know, that guy could have been kind of decent too.

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by cKy

Interesting thought. Would you rather of had Kipper or Luongo?

That is actually a toss up. Both are/were franchise-type goalies, but neither can win Game 7 in the Finals (I know there were many factors, but still). And both were sort of wasted in middling teams after the cup final appearances.

So it is a tough choice.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I was never a huge fan of Morris, but I did feel that after he was gone, the Flames looked worse transitioning and on the PP. Poor attitude though, and you simply can't have that.

Who knows what Luongo might have turned into while in Calgary. Maybe at that stage in his career, he might have crumbled playing in a Canadian market. Maybe he would have even developed better than he did. Definitely the what-ifs in sport make for interesting discussions.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Locke

Better question is whether we would have rather not had Fatty Morris at all for anything. And that answer is 'Yes.'

Unequivocally.

Granted you are also correct that we likely would not have made the move for Kipper if we already had Luongo.

But no Morris is a huge positive. Its a tough call.

Fat shaming is not cool. Stop it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Buff

Fat shaming is not cool. Stop it.

Hes a Pro Athlete, its literally part of his job description.

[Puppet Guy]

As much as I loved seeing Mike Milbury get ripped off, I think we were better off not making that deal. We've seen that Luongo isn't the best goalie under pressure, and I think he would've wilted that early in his career in a hockey city.

[Rtown]

Oh I love the butterfly effect. Imagine a world where a Luongo led team earns Gilbert COTY. And Mark Savard doesn't get traded.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

That is actually a toss up. Both are/were franchise-type goalies, but neither can win Game 7 in the Finals (.

yeah but Kipper won game 6

ok sort of joking/mostly bitter etc

[Mister Yamoto]

Yelle and Drury was a better return. And then Sutter traded Drury for Warriner.

Is there a 2004 run without Yelle and Warriner?

[Snuffleupagus]

Now that they're not working I'm sure every former GM regret some moves/non moves. But Craig Button has a bigger list than most.

Terrible GM

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Yelle and Drury was a better return. And then Sutter traded Drury for Warriner.

Is there a 2004 run without Yelle and Warriner?

Didn't Drury want out and demand a trade?

[Toonage]

Remember, the Flames wouldn't have acquired fun loving, self-deprecating Twitter star Luongo. They would have got Vancouver Luongo. Even early Florida Luongo was a detestable flopper.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Yelle and Drury was a better return. And then Sutter traded Drury for Warriner.

Is there a 2004 run without Yelle and Warriner?

And Steven Reinprecht if I'm not mistaken.

[Bourque's Twin]

Luongo was destined for Vancouver so he could choke in the playoffs and then be traded along with Schenider to ruin their goaltending situation for years to come.

[Robbob]

I think if it did go through than we probably don't take Krahn in that draft. Looking back at the draft there wasn't a whole else around where we picked that would have made a difference. Although they might have put more of an emphasis on Dmen in which case there were some decent options in hindsight.