Oh man, this is sweet:
Looks like the Calgary Flames now have a lock at left wing. The franchise has struggled in recent years to find a fit for the top line opposite Jarome Iginla. Yesterday, the Flames landed one of the most promising young wingers in the NHL in Alex Tanguay.
Calgary sent defenceman Jordan Leopold, its second-round selection and a future conditional pick to division rival Colorado for Tanguay.
I had mentioned previously the value of Leopold going to a team which might be able to use his services, and Colorado could be a perfect fit for this former Hobey Baker winner. With veteran defenseman and future Hall of Famer Rob Blake set to be re-signed, the fleet-footed Leo might just get the mentorship he's needed to bring his game to the higher level. He is a potential All Star, but needs that confidence to rush the puck which will come from increased power play time, time which was becoming increasingly scarce in Cowtown. Further, Colorado does well with the addition of two draft picks, additions which would have been useful in this year's entry draft when the team selected a mere 6 picks overall.
As for Tanguay, what can I say? Here's a top-flight forward entering the prime of his career, a 26-year-old who has already played 450 games and won a Stanley Cup. He's averaged almost a point-per-game since he joined the league and is only now starting to play up to his potential. He is a wonderful young player, better than Sergei Samsonov but not quite at the level of Brad Richards, and his soon-to-be re-negotiated salary will likely reflect that. Chances are, he won't be around Calgary for long, but if the Flames could grab him for a couple of years, he may be a key addition to a successful Stanley Cup run soon enough.
Kudos to both GMs on their efforts to improve their respective teams, but extra congrats to Darryl Sutter. I like this move.
