@thehuntman
I hear what you're saying, Huntman...with only next year left on his contract ($5.9MIL cap hit) the Flames will be in the same position next season trying to re-sign a top line player who may not want to stay up north after the sand and sea in Florida. Flames have a chance to keep him, being born and raised Quebecois with French his first language. Doubt the Canadians would be able to offer anybody in a trade if he decides he wants to go back to his native province. He can just play out the string as you suggest and field UFA offers from whomever. Looks like it'll be "groundhog day" all over again after next season. Big tax hit as well (33% Canadian federal and he'll be paying sliding scale from 10% to 15% Alberta tax on his earnings)...ouch!!! Doc said it in one of his threads...Calgary mgmt...Burke (Dir. Hockey Ops) and GM Treliving...doing a terrible job. And they have 3 asst. GMs and Don Maloney (SVP Hockey Ops and a pretty good player in his time). If they ever tried brainstorming, that bunch sure as heck didn't get the proper result. How crazy would it be if he re-signs with the Panthers after next season?