If it doesn't make sense, that might be a signal the team still wants to try and be competitive next season and doesn't want to take on a cap-dump. Either way bad move if true imo.
? The Flames consistent in saying they're not going to tank next year. They're not going to be competitive but that doesn't mean they're going to out right suck either. Whether fans accept it or not, so long as Kadri, Backlund, Coleman, Andersson, Weegar, Zary, etc. are on the roster, they simply can't out suck the Blackhawks/Blue Jackets/Sabres/Ducks/Sharks of the league.
There's also an opportunity cost associated with doing a rival franchise a tremendous favour by taking on their cap dump for free. It's 3.25M in dead space for a third pairing defenceman when the Flames already have Andersson-Weegar-Pachal filling those roles.
For whatever reason, the Flames are high on Grushnikov. Seems odd but if there's one strength in the organization, it's their amateur scouting. So I'll take that and the 2nd while giving Tanev a real chance to win it all over a late first that's attached to a negative asset.
Right shot veteran d always have some value, Ceci could have been flipped for a 3rd or 4th round pick at the draft. Conroy blew it if he rejected a free 1st out of spite.
Well in that case, this just seems like a win-win. Since Ceci is so valuable, the Oilers are entirely free to trade him themselves and reap the "rewards." No doubt they'll be able to flip those "rewards" to upgrade on Ceci. And no need for the Flames to do the Oilers any favors or for the Oilers to give up their first because after all, they really need it to draft the next Yammamoto/Holloway/Bourgault/Schaefer. Seems like everyone should be happy with the way things turned out, especially Oilers fans.