(Photo by: Larry MacDougal/CP)
Criticism comes with the job of being an NHL general manager, even moreso in a Canadian market, where fans are extra passionate about the game and their local team. Brad Treliving understands that, often acknowledging that it’s a part of the territory. And while I have been very hard on him in the past (some justified criticisms, some not so much), it’s time for me to show some appreciation for the good work he has done in Calgary.
The work he has done this summer alone in the face of potential doom has been remarkable and deserves a lot of praise. Turning the Matthew Tkachuk trade request into Jonathan Huberdeau (with an extension), Mackenzie Weegar, and ultimately Nazem Kadri, is a damn fine piece of work. He deserves full marks for the way he has retooled without missing a beat. The wheels could have easily fallen off, but instead he has kept the team in contention for years to come.
Sure there have been some blunders along the way, but that can be said about every single GM in sports. He’s also hit some impressive home runs, including both Dougie Hamilton trades. He and his staff have also done a solid job of drafting in his tenure here, and that has turned into some important core pieces helping the current team win hockey games.
Another aspect he deserves credit for is his ability to sign his own players to very good contract extensions. For instance, the contract Gaudreau just came off of was arguably the best bargain contract that’s ever been signed in Flames history, including a 99 point and his last, a 115 point season. While BT couldn’t get an extension done to keep the wee superstar a Flame, he did everything he could to make it happen, and for that I can’t fault him. Sure it can be argued that an extension could have gotten done last summer, which is fair, but it didn’t so here we are. The team has found a way to replace him with a very similar player, so it’s not all bad!
The end result of this past season isn’t one anyone wanted or expected, but progress was made at the end of the day. The Flames reached the second round of the playoffs for only the second time in Treliving’s tenure. Sure that doesn’t sound that great, but it helps get the young core players some more critical experience and gives Brad and his staff something to build on. It was the most fun season we as fans have experienced in quite awhile (along with the 18/19 season), and many of us are looking forward to the upcoming season with all the new additions!
So kudos to you Brad Treliving, you deserve a lot of praise. Especially from me, one of your toughest critics. I will be more levelheaded in my criticisms going forward, some of it has been very unfair over the years and for that I apologize.
And please, maybe cut back on the great news for a bit, I can only handle so much Boston Pizza in my life.
Long live the Summer of Brad!! (Hat tip to James Johnson [@JamesJohnsonYYC] for coining that phrase)
Go Flames Go!