FlamesNation Top 25 of 2020: #10 — Compensatory pick could solve last summer’s Neal-Lucic swap

Compensatory pick could solve last summer’s Neal-Lucic swap

Here’s how I see it. The conditions weren’t met, so Edmonton shouldn’t be penalized. However, in a totally unprecedented scenario, I don’t think the Flames are out of their tree to lobby for something. A compensatory pick would be a nice medium to help satisfy both sides (and other similar situations around the league).

If that were to happen, the NHL would award Calgary a pick at the end of a round; let’s choose the fifth round for sake of conversation. It would essentially make the 2020 fifth round 32 picks long instead of 31 and serves two masters: nothing surrendered for one and something gained in good faith for the other.

The only downside to this idea would be potential griping by other teams, as their final few picks would be pushed back one spot. By making a compensatory pick later on, though, I feel those voices would be more muted than if it were plopped into the top 100.

Much like the two teams in question, and likely the league, I have no idea how this is going to play out. But if the NHL is keen on listening to both teams, compensating one side without taxing the other feels like the easiest path to a solution.