In regards to 'tanking' - I never agree with purposeful tanking. Just play hard and always try to win. That is the best recipe for success in sports.
With that being said, will the Flames make some very big moves trading out some veterans for some picks/prospects? I think by game #20 the Flames will be much more telling of what will happen. I expect Iginla to be shopped if the Flames are not in a playoff spot by then, with the trade finally taking place by the deadline (by the way, when is the deadline this year?).
I think the writing is on the wall this season with regards to Iginla. I don't always put too much emphasis on 'reading between the lines', but this time with Iginla, it is different. It just seems the organization and Iginla are mutually going to decide what happens by the deadline with regards to him.
Question will really be at that time, how deep will that go? How many vets will be moved? I really don't think it will be a full-blown rebuild.
For the immediate future, I actually anticipate a trade very quickly. I am sure Feaster is shopping around a defencemen, and possibly a winger. Depth is good, but there are too many guys on 1-way contracts. Flames seemed really happy with the way many players from the Heat were able to jump up and provide depth last season with all the injuries (and the team did fairly well then).
Now.. Jones or MacKinnon? In my opinion, having an elite defender = having an elite center. Seems neither one is something that is missing from Stanley Cup winners. You need impact players. I would be happy if the Flames drafted either of them. Besides, the real catch is McDavid after all, right? At any rate, building a Stanley Cup contender is about gaining as many impact players as possible, surrounding them with good depth, and supplying excellent coaching that fits your team. I don't think the Flames would be rebuilding for as long if they were to finish last in the standings as compared to Edmonton - I think the Flames' scouting is much better than Edmonton's, and the Flames still have a lot of young and capable defenders, with a few more slowly coming up the pipeline that should at least provide depth and some stability.
This will be an interesting shortened season for the Flames. I will be amazed if they finish in the bottom 5 of the league without moving some key guys. Yes, they are bottom 5 now, but would be very surprised if they continue being THIS bad. They may not make the playoffs, but I doubt they finish anywhere in the lottery pick realm without trading a lot of their vets. Question is, should they? I think they will be more inclined to answer that question at game 20.
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