Posted this in the trade spec thread - thought it would be better here...
Food for thought - not sure which of the many "this is the only way we can go and anyone who thinks different is wrong" threads to put this in...
Very few, (if any), teams actually purposefully go the scorched earth route to a rebuild. Take Edmonton for example - they traded ONE main piece (Smyth) that signalled their descent. They held onto pretty much all the other main pieces from their run in 06 (with the obvious exception of Pronger who forced a trade). Most are still there. On top of that, they tried to sign many top UFA's. They were NOT trying to finish last, ever. They were trying to be a good hockey team. Islanders are trying to save money, Columbus has been trying to be a good team for years, they just suck at it...
The Flames are not going to trade every player over the age of thirty, it just ain't gonna happen. The approach I wish the Flames had been taking the last few years (but I would accept starting this year), is to accept that not every year is a cup run year. Teams like Ottawa, or Philly, or NJ, or LA have been competitive for years, BUT every now and then, when they are low in the standings for a year, they trade off a couple assets, gather a few extra picks, keep the pieces of their core they want to keep, and get ready to compete next year.
Ottawa in particular has been adept at this, by keeping Spezza, and Alfredson, the assured that when their newly aquired young players emerged they didn't have to carry the whole team - obviously they were incredibly fortunate (via excellent scouting) to land Karlsson... The main difference between them and the Flames is that too much of our core is Alfredson, and too little Spezza!
Anyway - just some thoughts. Even if the Flames keep Iggy, Kipper and Jbo, but move (as random examples) Stemp, Gio and Glencross, we would be better off in the long run. No they won't generate a generational talent, but neither will Iggy or Kipper at this point. At least our team won't be a bottom feeder.
Say what you want about the wisdom of our management planning for the future. I'd rather have management trying to ice a good hockey team than trying to save a buck as their main objective.
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