EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 12: Zack Kassian #44 of the Edmonton Oilers slams Nicklas Grossmann #8 of the Calgary Flames into the boards on October 12, 2016 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The only thing that made less sense than starting Nicklas Grossmann in the Calgary Flames’ first game of the regular season in Edmonton last night was signing the brick-footed defenceman altogether.
But, as Brad Treliving explained hours after inking Grossmann on Tuesday, there was a definite method to his madness. Ladislav Smid won’t play for the Calgary Flames this season, but they’re still on the hook for his $4 million salary and $3.