The difference for the Flames is, they're way ahead of the Canucks in terms of building a core group of young players, that's why they felt (IMO) they could trade their 1st, 2nd & Washingtons 2nd for Hamilton. They still had our 2nd in the draft to use.

They've got a young core of Brodie (kinda young 25) Monahan 20 Gaudreau 22 Bennett 19 Ferland 23...plus Colbourne 25 and Backlund 26.

Those guys all put up really good numbers last year at the NHL level. The Canucks have Horvat and Virtanen.
- LeftCoaster

Flames r ahead of us on youth simply cuz we were in cup runs & more talent.
They were a struggling non playoff team accumulating youth. I don't see them being ahead of us at all.

You Forgot About the Zack Philips Trade. 3 trades since the deadline. well, also, dylan shadowy, but i think that trade was made after this blog thing.