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‘We like our team’: Flames GM Brad Treliving breaks down the trade deadline

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Photo credit:Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Pike
1 year ago
“We like our team.”
Near the end of his remarks to the assembled local media, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving fell back on a pretty common phraseology for executives that don’t make big moves on deadline day. But given the way his team has been playing and the moves he’s already made, for once those four words didn’t ring hollow.
Following the close of business for the NHL’s annual trade period, Treliving shared some thoughts about how things had unfolded.
The Flames lost Brad Richardson on waivers, added Ryan Carpenter from Chicago for a fifth-round pick, and sent Michael McNiven to Ottawa for future considerations.
The relatively quiet day was a product of how busy the Flames were in the preceding five weeks.
“We did a lot of our heavy lifting in the weeks leading up to it,” summarized Treliving, referring to the big trades that landed the club Tyler Toffoli from Montreal and Calle Jarnkrok from Seattle.
So the Flames were instead on tinkering around the fringes, partially because of cap constraints and partially because the team is fairly stacked and doesn’t require much of an overhaul.
“I would say we were in the defense market,” said Treliving. “But you weigh the players that are out there, the prices, as well as the depth that you already have. So to me bringing somebody in, it supplants somebody.”
He emphasized that players in Stockton remain viable depth options.
While not explicitly stated, the implication was the Flames opted to add a depth forward over a depth defender. They had discussed acquiring Carpenter prior to Richardson being lost on waivers, but Treliving conceded that losing a depth NHL forward may have pushed them a little bit towards making that trade.
Treliving summarized that he liked the players they acquired. All three have playoff experience, are right shots, play different positions, and fit the style of how the Flames currently play. He noted that the moves give Darryl Sutter and his coaching staff some options.
“Today wasn’t about doing anything because we felt we needed to, but it gives us a little more depth.”
The Flames are back in action on Tuesday when they host the San Jose Sharks. Including Tuesday, they have 20 games remaining in the regular season.

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