CALGARY – The first reaction was predictable.
A fan favourite, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, one of the most respected leaders in the dressing room, and the return is a second-, third- and fourth-round pick, plus a defenceman most casual Calgary Flames fans couldn’t pick out of a lineup?
It’s easy to understand the initial disappointment that greeted Thursday’s trade that sent Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta to Minnesota for Jake Middleton.
It’s also why it’s worth digging a little deeper.
Because while the draft picks may not jump off the page, the Flames believe the biggest piece of the return isn’t measured in draft position.
It’s measured in character, not to mention inches and pounds.
At six-foot-three and 219 pounds, Middleton arrives with sizable leadership qualities and bite.
And that matters more than people might think.
With Ryan Lomberg’s departure, Calgary lost far more than an energy winger. They lost one of the few players opponents had to think twice about crossing. On a roster getting younger by the month, that’s a legitimate concern.
You don’t want newbies playing scared, or ill-equipped vets feeling like they have to answer the bell every time someone takes a liberty.
Middleton makes opponents think twice.
“People respect him,” said Flames GM Craig Conroy.
“He doesn’t fight much because he doesn’t have to. He’s a good player, but if something arises, he will come to his teammates’ rescue. He will make our other players feel better in the games.”
That’s not old-school hockey thinking.
That’s roster construction.
“I don’t like watching my teammates and brothers get pushed around,” confirmed the 30-year-old, left-shot defenceman, who fights a handful of times a year.
“So that’s hopefully something I can bring to the table as well.”
But he brings so much more.
Mere hours after the trade, he also showed early signs of mimicking Zach Whitecloud by blowing fans and teammates away with his character.
Asked why he left Calgary off his 15-team no-trade list, he, well, came up with his first big hit.
“I have a new, young family, I’m from Canada, and I truly think it’s a beautiful city,” said Middleton, who was born in Wainwright, Alta., moved east at age eight, and summers in western Canada.
“The way the organization is headed, with the new arena, that convention centre, the sunshine 300 days a year, it was all appealing, and we figured if we were to get traded, that would be a place we would like to raise a family.”
The Flames could have continued chasing the mythical first-round pick everyone assumes every contender should surrender for Coleman.
Coleman’s contract included a 10-team trade list, shrinking Calgary’s market. The teams willing to acquire a 34-year-old winger with one year remaining simply weren’t willing to pay a first-round premium.
That’s why the Flames held onto him through last season’s trade deadline.
Eventually, they found a partner willing to part with a player they covet and three additional draft picks.
“I mean, a second, third and fourth, those could be players, those could be picks – you just don’t know the bottom line,” Conroy said.
More assets, more options moving forward.
Middleton’s fit was a big part of this, though. His three remaining years at $4.35 million provide stability on the left side while allowing Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz and newly acquired Simon Nemec to develop without immediately carrying impossible expectations.
Middleton already proved he can thrive in exactly that role beside Brock Faber in Minnesota.
“I played with Faber for about a year-and-a-half – he’s just an exceptional human being, turned into a great player,” said Middleton.
“And Calgary has that ability with the young guys in Calgary right now.”
For all the leadership Coleman provided, his versatility also occupied enormous chunks of ice time, be it penalty kill, power play, late-game situations.
Someone has to absorb those opportunities now.
Over to you, Connor Zary, Sam Honzek, Martin Pospisil, Adam Klapka, Maxim Tsyplakov or anyone else who steps forward.
“It definitely gives them a path to being a bigger part of this team, because Blake was such a big part of it,” said Conroy.
“Now those minutes are going to be available, and guys need to step up and have great summers and come in and win that spot and those minutes.”
Coleman’s departure also eliminates the distraction destined to loom over training camp or perhaps leading up to the trade deadline.
Conroy revealed the veteran admitted after the season that the daily speculation last year had worn on him.
Coleman was willing to remain in Calgary if it meant a lengthy extension.
The rebuilding Flames weren’t interested in making that commitment to a player turning 35.
It’s also consistent with where this organization is headed.
“It was a tough phone call with Blake,” said Conroy of the fan favourite and ultimate team player.
“I mean, he’s an amazing person, and he’s just an amazing guy. But with where we are, with where the team’s going, with trying to find opportunity for other younger guys that are here, now those younger guys have got to show us that they’re players, and that they can take those minutes.”
Retaining half of Coleman’s final-year salary helped Calgary maximize its return, and with Maatta part of the deal, the Flames actually come out ahead $2.5 million in cap space this year.
His teammates certainly will.
As a perennial Good Guy Award winner, there are few better professionals in the league.
Now we’ll see how quickly Middleton can win over fans and teammates.
Here’s betting he will.
“I’m excited about it,” said Middleton of the deal.
“I’m happy it worked out this way.”