Typically, NHL teams are grouped into two primary categories when the league heads into late February and the NHL trade deadline.
Buyers and sellers.
The Flames, however, fell firmly on the Maginot Line between both the acquirers and the divesters creating a lot of upheaval, something that grew to even more ominous levels because of the cloud and suspicion hanging over the Mark Giordano injury
I’m not generally a conspiracy theorist, but when Giordano hit the ice in Long Island and took an awkward spin around the ice in front of TV cameras it really looked like the team was trying to find a replacement for the unreplaceable and was hoping to drive down acquisition cost by looking less desperate.
Given the Yandle and Coburn trade results you’d have to think that tactic didn’t work.
In the end the Flames get a B+ from me due largely to the fact that they didn’t load up by overpaying to add expiring contracts that couldn’t possibly fill the void left by the injury to their captain. The only way they could have graded better would have been to go harder into sell mode, but I certainly understand the loyalty and optics of throwing in the towel; especially given the strength and foundation the team has built up in their dressing room this season.
The group deserves a chance to try and get it done without Giordano. Are they likely to succeed? Probably not, but given the King’s three game losing streak has them back in a playoff spot through three games of a seven game road trip, stranger things have happened.
Trade Summary
Calgary trades Curtis Glencross to Caps for 2nd and 3rd Rd Pick
First off, loved the exit of Glencross and the class that the player and his teammates showed. It speaks volumes of both the player and his place in the dressing room he left, regardless of the split that fans had over his play in Calgary. I for one, have never been a huge Curtis Glencross fan, but I would never question the character and passion of a true Calgarian. He was a good solider and should be held as such.
In getting both a 2nd and 3rd round pick from a team that will be in tough to move up the standings given the adds that the Rangers, Wings, Canadiens, Bruins, Islanders and Lightning made this week, moving them from their own picks in the first three rounds to a total of five.
The Flames did a solid job in waiting out the market, letting the value build, but not getting greedy and dangling the asset into Monday and potentially have the bottom fall out.
Calgary trades Sven Baertschi to Vancouver for a 2nd round pick
It came to light today from Treliving that Baertschi had first asked for a trade, meaning a lot of that squawk from Switzerland and his dad had some pretty firm roots in reality. Additionally he has told the Flames through his agent that he had no intention of resigning with the team this summer, an odd stance to take from a player coming out of an entry level contract with less than a season of NHL hockey under his belt. As an RFA that essentially would have forced the Flames hand. His waiver status suggested he would have had to make the team in October or be risked on waivers by being sent down, a fact that would have been less likely of course if he didn’t have a signed contract.
So given all that a second round pick is a pretty solid return for the Flames, giving the player and the team a chance to turn the page and move on, dropping a lot of drama surrounding the player and his place in the pecking order or depth chart.
The bad? Guys like Baertschi generally find it with their second organization and this organization just happens to be an arch rival not only in their conference but their division. Calgary had better hit a home run with the second round draft pick!
Will he bite them in the butt? About as hard a case to predict as there is given the player’s admitted struggles with confidence. He finds his mojo he has the skills to be a very effective top six forward, but unlocking that self doubt has to be one the toughest obstacles to over come.
Going for Baertschi is the fact the Canucks will have to give him every chance of making it or risk losing him on waivers themselves, so look for him to get an extended stay to start the season.
The Draft
The Oilers in 29th spot are pointing to having seven picks in the top 77 draft picks or something as proof that the organization is on their way.
Calgary, in a playoff spot now has six choices in the top 80, or with today’s standings and clearly pending playoff results picks; 15, 45, 48, 50, 75, and 80. That will be a lot of fun.
Should the Flames fall out of contention the 15, 45 and 75 could easily become 10, 40 and 70 giving the Flames something like 10, 40, 48, 50, 70 and 80.
The best news on the day is that the Flames didn’t chase a “maybe” for optics, or to appease fans, and hurt the clubs positioning as a franchise truly only in season two of a three to five year rebuild. Instead they added to that foundation. The guys in the room would have loved some help, but they’re a young room and a good number of them will be around to see some of the futures help push them over the top.
Great week for Treliving and the Flames.
And for the fans, the season takes a huge turn for the worse with the Giordano announcement of being gone for the season with a torn bicep. It’s a hole that just seems far too large to fill. However if there’s a group that can defy logic and pull it off, it’s this one. I’ll be enjoying the show as they give it a show. Look for Russell and Brodie to add to strong seasons with bigger shoes to fill and potentially become better players next year for their efforts.
Really looking forward to the draft!
