Terrible hockey operations decisions are sometimes made with the best of intentions. During Jay Feaster’s tenure, the Flames kept Joey MacDonald as their backup because they were concerned about losing him on waivers. Two seasons ago, the same concern about losing fringe NHL goalie Joni Ortio on waivers led to the team keeping three goaltenders and losing breakaway king Paul Byron on waivers instead. Two years hence, Ortio is playing in Sweden and Byron is one of Montreal’s most impressive players – whoops.
The decision-making that saw the Flames lose Byron for nothing could rear its head during next month’s expansion draft.