I'm not 100% convinced that the Oilers were really in full re-build mode until maybe 2011. Right up until that they were still chasing high priced talent in a "win now" mode and/or were still retaining some of their older, more expensive players. Right up until a couple years ago the Oilers brass was still proclaiming that they goal was to make the playoffs and that they thought that they could do it with their lineup. When they didn't make the playoffs, they blamed injuries and other factors. I think the realization eventually sunk in and they went into a full rebuild.
Whta the Flames are doing, I believe, is much more of a full tear down and rebuild. As a result, I think the Flames are going to be potentially 1-2 years ahead of the pace of the Oilers rebuild. Nevermind that the way the Oilers went about the rebuild was a bit odd: getting all the same type of forwards- small and skilled.
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