Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
Our rebuild chance ended the day before we traded Dobson++ for 2 years of Hamonic and a 4th. After that there was no turning back.
That Boston trade is not good for Calgary
Hanifin = Carlo
Gaudreau >> DeBrusk + 2nd
Dadonov is not going to sign that, he will resign in Florida for that deal long before Calgary
Dadanov MAY sign for more but I seriously doubt it. They have had an internal budget forever, and COVID likely hasn't helped that. If He were likely resign for more there, it likely would've been done. And there are what, 3-5 teams in the league with the cap space to sign him and 2 are looking for RWs and willing to pay that.
Two years of Gaudreau (who is unlikely to reach 99 pts ever again with this team) isn't going to garner the type of return you would consider a "win" He also doesn't fit in CGY. So think of it like this;
Hanfin = Carlo
Gaudreau < Cap space for a Top 6 FA RW who DOES fit, Debrusk & a 2nd.
There are literally 2 MAYBE 3 potential spaces that have the space & desire to bring in a player like Gaudreau. If they are serious about winning and revamping the top 6, they need to use him to garner better quality depth, not try to win the trade straight up. Gaudreau fits with Bostons structure, development curve and playing style. Maybe see if they will include a prospect like Studnika or Senyshyn but in this economic climate; seems unlikely)
Maybe the trade isn't a win, but the team is clearly better.