Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
It isn't a 'guarantee' that the Flames will be quicker, but the Oilers are really the 'worst case scenario', and I believe historically now the worst modern day team from that perspective, (Quebec challenging them years ago - but that was really in a tough time for Canadian teams, and in a league without parity) so why do people assume the Flames will match it?
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You've got about 3 examples of teams that I can think of that had fire sales/wholesale changes, and then turned around and made the playoffs in the next season or two.
Boston, Philadelphia, Florida.
Boston and Philly went out and signed some of the most desirable free agents on the market. Real top end guys. Chara, Savard, Briere, Timonen. There is nothing like that on the market this season, and I doubt they would go to Calgary anyway. The big Eastern markets have a real edge there. Florida made the playoffs by fluke IMO, and are right back in the gutter. Boston and Philly were also previously playoff teams that had a dip, Flames have missed for 3 straight already and are starting off in a deeper hole.
Pretty much every other team that tore it down, including teams that had competent management throughout their rebuild (LA, St.Louis), took 3+ seasons to make the playoffs again.
I would expect the Flames to need at least 3+ seasons to make it back to the playoffs. That doesn't mean they will be Edmonton bad for 2-3 seasons, but they will be bad nonetheless.