Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDutch
This isn't fail safe either, because it will only work when A. your always winning and B. Your in a NE American major city
Sorry but the Flames do have trouble getting the young single guys to come play here. You know who the only group they have a chance at getting? married and/or married with kids guys. The single guys go to Cali or Florida or NE USA, not Calgary.
So do you treat the only demographic you really have a shot at by messing up their planned lives, or do you offer a non tangible in stability? A "come here and we'll underhand and respect your situation"
Calgary has to play the hand their delt, because we ain't New York. To start screwing Kipper and Iggy's of the world over is to shot yourself in your only good leg.
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That's a fair point. I think the elephant in the room a lot of people around here don't want to admit, and that ownership can't express publicly, is that Calgary isn't an especially attractive destination for NHLers. Not compared to the nicer climate and exciting nightlife of a lot of other cities. So you're right, we do have to play the hand we're dealt.
However, that hand also includes ownership willing to spend to the cap. That's a luxury a lot of franchises don't have. The two teams lower than us in the standings both have internal budgets $10 million or more under the cap. Imagine what the Flames would look like today if they didn't have the money to sign Hudler, Cervenka, and Wideman in the off-season. Those are the resources a lot of the Flames' peers have to work with.
Furthermore, selling yourself as a nice organization for players of a certain age to lead a quiet family life has a couple of downsides.
First, it breeds a climate of complacency and entitlement. That in turn makes it a difficult team to coach. I believe that complacency is at the heart of the culture problems the Flames have had for the last 5 or 6 years. Too many veterans in secure positions for a coach to make much headway.
Second, it doesn't make for a hungry, young team. As Warrener pointed out a few weeks ago on the FAN, the Flames aren't a team with a bunch of young guys who go out together, have a few pops, and have some laughs. That kind of thing bonds young guys together. It makes the players fight for each other in the ice. It breeds loyalty. When everyone goes home at night to the wife and kids to play boardgames, it doesn't inspire the same passion for the team.
Lastly, it means you are not going to be able to maximize your resources. By having so many secure veterans with NTCs, and by being reluctant to move them, you not be able to sell high and rejuvenate your lineup. Then you get in a cycle of relying on UFAs to round out your lineup.
So I hear where you're coming from. But I don't think the approach the Flames have been taking has worked. May as well try something different.