Definitely table 4, for Brad Treliving alone (the other two can linger).
None of the other tables are of interest really. Perhaps 5 I guess, assuming we immediately get up and go golfing as all three are golfers, if that's allowed.
I would love to hear Treliving's plan on how to attain our mutual goal of the Flames wining every Stanley Cup and Presidents' Trophy for the duration of his tenure, and explanations behind various moves to date whether brilliant or dubious.
I would also make a semi-serious offer, that would obviously be immediately laughed at and rejected, whereby Mr. Treliving and I would have an arrangement similar in nature to the arrangement Phil Mickelson and his former caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay had in which Bones was able to veto one Phil decision per season. In my proposed arrangement, I would be entitled to one veto per regular season and another veto at a time I can really help: the entry draft. While Brad would obviously and rightfully think this is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard, I, in my brutally biased opinion, think it would be valuable in achieving our shared goals and would save the Flames millions of dollars in mistakes for free. All opinions are based on information available at the time, not in hindsight of course.
2014-15
Spoiler!
I acknowledge Mr. Treliving had just stepped into the role and was likely in a tough spot working on a hybrid Coyotes/Flames list yet largely relying on the Flames' existing list.
His tenure started off as well as it possibly could have, in my opinion, selecting my #1-ranked player at 4th overall in Sam Bennett. D'oh .
However things quickly turned ugly at #34 as we all know. We aren't drafting goaltenders with 2nd-round picks, Mr. Treliving. Furthermore, Mason McDonald will likely be available at 54 if you really want him which as an aside would've prevented 0%er Hunter Smith's selection. Mason McDonald is vetoed. Instead, the Flames draft my 15th-ranked skater Brayden Point who is somehow still available.
Shoutout to fellow CP poster Chris Ralph for also having Point rated in the first round. Extra salt in the wound is many of us watching him demolish bantam, and then succeed in midget and with Moose Jaw. Really bad miss.
Trading a 3rd-round pick for Brandon Bollig is vetoed.
You can sign a collection of Brandon Bollig-caliber players for free every off season, Mr. Treliving.
2015-16
Spoiler!
To be clear, AWESOME job by the Flames' scouting staff and Mr. Treliving getting my 12th-ranked skater (Andersson) and 28th-ranked skater (Kylington) at 53 and 60, respectively. However: Pavel Karnaukhov is vetoed. Instead, the Flames draft my 70th-ranked skater Andrew Mangiapane.
Well, that certainly worked out regardless! While my veto is used, I WTF at 0%er Riley Bruce at 196.
I didn't love the Bouma signing but opted to save the veto for a bigger potential fish after a lot of thought. Bouma is well-liked and the Flames have cap space. Putting Paul Byron on waivers is vetoed.
You have a perfect utility player who can play any of the three forward positions, play in all three zones and all three situations, and is tenacious all over the ice, and is liked in the room. Why are you waiving him? Especially to carry three goalies, none of which are that great to begin with?
2016-17
Spoiler!
Again the Flames immediately hit gold at the draft, with my #2-ranked player falling to them at #6 (thankfully not trading up to select Puljujarvi who I had ranked in the 20s).
As before, we are not drafting goaltenders with 2nd-round picks, Mr. Treliving. Tyler Parsons is vetoed. Instead, the Flames draft my 26th-ranked skater Adam Fox.
Again, funny how things work out. (Big thumbs-up to the Flames getting my 29th-ranked skater (Dube) at 56, however WTF at 0%er Mitchell Mattson at 126).
The Troy Brouwer signing is vetoed.
He's Troy freaking Brouwer. This contract was an inevitable buyout the day it was signed and rightly ridiculed around the league. Also, that thread is still arguably my favourite in CP history. Total disaster of a move.
(The insane Lazar transaction later makes me wish I had more than one veto)
2017-18
Spoiler!
The Flames hit a absolute grand slam, snagging my #6-ranked skater in Valimaki at #16. That alone is enough to declare the entire draft a win regardless of what happens, however we can't ignore the veto:
Adam Ruzicka is vetoed. Instead, the Flames select my 34th-ranked skater Markus Phillips.
To be determined on this one. Later WTF at 0%er Zach Fisher at 140.
The Michael Stone re-signing is vetoed
You wait one day to do this and you save a fifth-round pick. He's Michael Stone, he's not getting much interest (actually none). Really strange move on its own given the term and number both being high, but the timing here is truly bizarre and makes no sense. Better options out there, Mr. Treliving. This term and number is bound to fail.
2018-19
Spoiler!
Martin Pospisil is vetoed. Instead, the Flames select my 43rd-ranked skater Cole Fonstad.
Too early to say, but I love Pospisil's progression so hopefully my lack of veto works out.
The James Neal signing is vetoed.
While not as bad as the Troy Brouwer signing, this is still an insane term to give to a player like Neal. Slow snipers experience an earlier and more rapid decline than any other style of forward. Should be okay for two years then enter albatross territory but our goal is winning every season so efficiency is paramount. (That went worse than even I expected. Yikes.)
__________________ "I think the eye test is still good, but analytics can sure give you confirmation: what you see...is that what you really believe?" Scotty Bowman, 0 NHL games played
"You ain't gotta like me. You're just mad 'cause I tell it how it is and you tell it how it might be."
I guess I'm using hindsight but I'd use the 2016/17 veto on the Lazar trade vs. the Brouwer signing, with the caveat that we don't buy Brouwer out.
Then we'd have Brouwer playing 4th line this year (ok not great), an extra million in cap space and the money is off the books at the end of the year. And we hopefully have a high quality prospect in the system.
Take away the Brouwer signing and I'd be worried how the money ended up being spent.