Greer’s injury serves as a reminder of the Flames’ priorities as the trade deadline approaches.

Maybe it isn’t all that impressive on its own. Hockey players are susceptible to injuries, and Greer will recover from the shattered foot he sustained last month against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was placed on waivers by the Bruins at the conclusion of training camp, therefore he will not be able to play against them.

And as Craig Conroy knows all too well, Greer won’t be a trade chip come the impending March 8 deadline due to his anticipated protracted recuperation. The Flames were said to be able to trade him for an asset as well, and his injury acts as a reminder of the risks involved each and every time the team takes the ice.

With the returns he received in exchange for Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, and Elias Lindholm—all of whom were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this summer—Conroy has done well. Conroy moved them, realizing that it was doubtful that they would resign. He accepted the offer of the agreement when it was made, albeit he didn’t jump at it.

The focus now is on Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, the two Flames defensemen who are eligible for free agency this summer. The Flames would prefer not to lose them in vain. The returns often improve as the deadline approaches. But then you realize how rapidly all of that can change, and you look at a person like Greer. A guy can be sidelined for months if he has a little poor luck when posting on the forums. His accident occurred during a perfectly ordinary play. Jakob Pelletier, who was lost by the Flames during the preseason on a play that occurs dozens of times during a game, is returning this week.

Conroy has to be considering that danger very carefully. You could get offers for home run trades if you wait a few weeks. However, if you have some unfortunate injury luck, you might not receive anything. Naturally, Greer finds herself in a somewhat different circumstance. That’s about the extent of how his case relates to Hanifin and Tanev’s futures; it serves as an example of how rapidly things can change in the NHL.

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