Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Reed
Esentially stating the Flames statements of making the playoffs next season were unrealistic and disingenuousness to the fan base. While every team's goal is to make make the playoffs and win the cup he can't foresee the prospect pieces in the pipeline necessary to change this in immediate future. Steinberg said Ottawa rebounded after missing the playoffs in one season. Francis rebuttal was the Flames will have missed for the previous four seasons not one as Ottawa had selling their future for temporary bandaid solutions. Said while the process of a total rebuild will be trying and painful it is necessary. He completely demolished Steinbergs arguments to soft-sell the Flames org wistful notions.
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I think that Francis purposefully took the 'literal' approach with the playoff statement (or mandate). When I listened to the press conference, it wasn't a 'we better be there and we will be doing whatever we can to get in' sentiment. It was more of: "We don't want to make excuses for failing next season. We expect our players to play hard every game."
I can't foresee the Flames suddenly loading up on expensive vets, and making a few trades giving up some of their future for trying to win next season. I just don't see it, and I don't think that is what the 'mandate' was. Probably just more Feaster blowing a lot of hot air as he usually does.