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“Would we like to add a pick? Sure, but we’re not going to trade a player just so we can stand up there Friday night,” said Treliving who spent this week meeting with his pro scouting staff to assemble their rankings for the NHL Draft on June 22 in Dallas.

“You prepare just exactly like every other year and make sure everything is in the right order. We don’t have a (first round) pick now, but we have to be ready in case.”

Without those picks, the Flames have worked hard at trying land college and European players through free agency.

To no avail.

“Still fishing in those waters,” said Treliving.

“We’ve been very active there – we haven’t reeled anything in at this point. There were three guys we were pushing hard on, and a couple went elsewhere. A couple decided to stay in Europe another year, too.”

Treliving is a big believer you don’t have to be in the playoffs to learn from them.

Like every other GM not named McPhee or MacLellan, Treliving has been studying the style of play needed to get to the Stanley Cup final.

And this year, the formula is rather simple.

“Speed – you need speed,” he said when asked what he’s gleaned from this spring’s tourney.

“The speed and tempo has never been higher, and we’ll probably say that again next year and the year after that. But like every year, you have to be careful of it – there are certain players who can get you to the playoffs and certain players who can help you win in the playoffs. You need to have a blend, to play in all different situations.