[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Speaking of Flames rebuilds/retools, I wrote a large column over at Daily Faceoff today about what the Flames are facing (and how they don't currently have a core):

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/th...is-years-draft

I certainly agree with the conclusions. This will likely take a number of years to bounce back. My only quibble is this paragraph:

Most of the other teams in the draft lottery picture this year have blue-chippers at the forefront of their systems. Columbus has Adam Fantilli; Montreal has Juraj Slafkovsky; San Jose has Will Smith; Arizona has Logan Cooley; Anaheim has Leo Carlsson; Chicago has Connor Bedard. The Flames don’t, and they’ll probably have to make a top-three pick to get one. Barring an unexpected lottery win, they won’t pick in that range this year.

Blue-chippers, sure, but they may not be "core" players (apart from Bedard) which is the measuring stick you are using for the Flames. The Flames have never had a top 3 pick, but they have had core players, so they can be obtained through other ways. It will still take time (at least 5 years in my opinion).