Until they can attract (and pay) decent and plentiful numbers UFA's and get players to trade NMC's, to fill in those unflashy yet required roles with good, established players, they won't go anywhere. They've tried it with Pronger, then Erik Cole, Souray and then Whitney etc, but one off players doesn't do it (except for Pronger, who Lowe jerked around).
They need to trade off one or two of the top young guys that they've got for multiple pieces, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've tried.
But the caliber of player they want in return has an NMC and wants no part of waiving it given the mess that Lowe's created up there, and still presides over.
Until they get 3 solid lines, better then average goaltending, and 4 NHL defenceman, they're not going to get fundamentally better...and the players are going to get worse, confidence-wise at very least.
The only way that happens if they punt Lowe and his shady reputation for screwing over players and remove the stigma.
As an aside, that reputation within the league as a desirable place to play (yes, results on the ice are one thing, but so is not getting jerked around off the ice) is something else that the Flames have been, and I expect to continue to be conscious of...however they decide to handle the Iginla thing especially, will be key in maintaining that.
|