Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowboy89
Can a team in a Canadian market actually have patience? Even in Winnipeg where they were simply happy to have a team the airwaves are full of angry fans calling in and complaining about how poorly their team is run in light of what looks like another sans playoff season.
The Maple Leafs cannot win until fans in that market chill out and give the team 5-7 years to properly rebuild. I would argue that Edmonton was the only market given a leash long enough by their fans to perform a proper rebuild. We'll see in due time if their management didn't screw it up.
As for Feaster, I'm actually pleased with the job he's done given the mandate from ownership. He's done a pretty good job of fullfilling the mandate of ownership. The coach he's hired has the team playing more entertaining hockey than the Brent Sutter era. In the draft itself the mandate has switched from the goal of drafting servicable NHLers, to drafting high ceiling players who might make a greater impact than a third liner or a 4-6 d-man. If he's given permission to start shopping vets and stock pile prospects and/or more draft picks I can only imagine that we'll have more to celebrate in a few years time.
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The Flames have survived 7 consecutive years without playoffs, and now another 4 in a row, and the team is still here.
This notion that a canadian market won't stomach a rebuild is, in my very humble opinion, stupid.
Leaf fans are showing up and the team hasn't been competitive in 20 years and done anything in the playoffs for 40.
Edmonton fans are showing up in droves to watch a team that has finished dead last three years in a row and out of the playoffs for 7.
Time to put that malarky to bed, I think.