Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
It seemed like an excruciating price but if you’re dying of thirst, no price is too high for a glass of water.
If you don’t have the elite forward talent to be a contender, maybe you need to pay the price it takes to acquire such talent. Zucker or Kadri would have been nice but they’re not Stone. Nor is Taylor Hall.
Obviously it’s easy to say in hindsight. At least our GM tried right?
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Yes, hindsight is easy.
Not taking any shots at Treliving, really, because had Valimaki been 100% for camp this year and been a difference maker at the back as advertised, it would’ve also meant someone in the top 6 D was gone at some point, for a decent return, and that return would’ve helped out as well for the team this season and playoffs.
But now 10 months later there was no Valamaki, no development in his game the last calendar year, no return for the guy or guys he is supplanting, so that has the organization and himself that much further behind in of itself, regardless of what the Flames could’ve traded him for in Stone.
Had you had a crystal ball and told Treliving at trade deadline 2019 that the Flames were going to go cold in the final stretch and 2019 playoffs and be out after 1 round, he may make that deal instead of protecting Valimaki. But they were leading the WC at the time too and playing well.
And/or, if you told Treliving that Valimaki was going to get hurt in Summer 2019 and miss the entire 19-20 season and/or the Flames were not going to get out of the first round in 2020 due to some sputtering offence, he again may make that deal, knowing how critical scoring would be and how critical a player like that losing a calendar year of NHL time is for development.
One just hopes he settles in early to his role and steadily progresses.