Show me a veteran consistent 40+ point/season free agent that would sign for one year at less than 4.85. You can’t. Just look at what all the guys I mentioned previously cost. Treliving is hoping the upgrade from Ferland to Lindholm is greater than the downgrade for Hamilton to Hanifin. To throw in a blue chip prospect like Fox was a major screwup that will likely comeback to bite them in the ass though. But hey at least Treliving had the cap space to try something. Instead we get Chia overpaying for Lucic, Russell and Drai and trading away Hart winners for #2 defenseman. Don’t get me wrong Brodziak and Reider a re quality bottom 6 pickups but if Chiarelli could properly manage cap space we might’ve been able to improve the top 6, which is desperately needed.
In Tre's defense, he didn't really screw up, Fox's agent said he had no interest in signing with us, so flames loss I guess. But if he was the piece to get the deal done, it was an easy throw in imo. We lost the best player in the deal, and it was due in part to personality conflicts as stated by Treliving himself. We did however get two cost controlled young pieces who both have high ceilings still (obviously Hanifin's is higher), and if Brodie can rekindle with Gio, this trade outside of the vacuum of value may actually work to our benefit.
As for the Neal signing, I'm a fan of it. The last couple of years could prove to be crap, but clearly the flames are trying to get back to the post season and hopefully contend. So the long term ramifications of the contract are meaningless at this point. In addition, Neal is an ideal fit for our top line, he drives the play, is solid along the boards, has an edge to his game, and is one of the leagues better snipers. He's exactly the type of player to pickup the deficiencies in Gaudreau's and Monahan's game, the bonus is another true sniper for Gaudreau to work with. It's easy to envision success with Gaudreau feeding two players who both can pot 30+ goals in a season. But at this point it's all speculation and hope.
Lindholm's contract is solid, he's only 23 and will likely keep growing as a player. Even with minimal growth, his contract is fine with the way the cap is going these days. But I project him to start the season as the 2nd line RW or a center in the middle six.
Obviously I'm a flames fan so naturally I rally against the Oilers...But I do yearn for the BOA to be meaningful again, hopefully for you guys Chia can figure his way out of cap hell. As a side note, I don't really want the old BOA back as I'm sure Oil fans look back on it more fondly then we do. Those Oiler teams were probably the single reason we don't have more cup banners in our rafters.