Treliving: Ladislav Smid will not play this season

Brad Treliving made the announcement today that was seemingly a long time coming: veteran defenseman Ladislav Smid will not play this season. It's little surprise that this was something expected to happen and at the heart of it are two stories.

One, that will give the Calgary Flames additional cap space, a commodity they're desperate for; two, the story of a player whose playing days appear numbered, if not over.

#Flames GM Brad Treliving has announced Ladislav Smid will not play this season due to his neck injury.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 22, 2016 Cap space: a true blessing

It's no secret - in fact it's the worst kept secret - that the Flames are in dire straits when it comes…