Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - The Flames and Oilers rebuilds similar beginings

Lanny_McDonald · 08-08-2013, 11:19 AM

Iginla's no trade makes all of this discussion moot. He only suggested he would waive it in the final year of his contract and we saw just how committed he was to using that NMC clause. Accept it that all other trade options were not viable, because Iginla would have executed his NMC, and move on.

Trying to get the thread back on topic, I do not see any similarities between the Oilers and Flames situation as far as the rebuild goes. The Oilers have been a team in perpetual rebuild. Outside of the Pronger year they have had no focus or idea where they are going as an organization. It has been two decades of pumping the tires on their prospects and watching as they never develop. They have been all about drafting guys with sizzle, but no real meat. They have really had no philosophy on how to build a team or taken any serious approach to projecting how players would turn out and addressing needs. Their development systems suck and their scouting is equally bad. This has contributed to them being incapable of building anything but an outhouse. Their only saving grace was stumbling I to three first overall draft picks where their scouts didn't have to make much of a decision. Beyond those picks, this board could have picked a better team using the Hockey News Draft Preview issue.

The Flames are just entering their rebuild. They finally recognized it was time to stop chasing the brass ring for Iginla and make the smart move of cleaning house. They are trying to build a good culture and are only drafting guys with character and certain skill sets. They make their own list and don't deviate from it, regardless of the unpopularity of those decisions. They have a plan and they are executing it. They know where they stand as a team and they are addressing the problems with a purpose. Center was once our biggest concern and now we are looking pretty good at that position in just over a year. Size was a major issue and that problem has been addressed pretty well. The problem on RW and on D will be addressed in the next year, I am sure, and we'll have a pretty good picture of what the future looks like.

The thing I like about the Flames approach is you can see where the team is slated to come together. All of is talent should come together in the 2015-16 season. That is the turnaround season based on moves to date and projections of future drafts. Holes are being filled with guys that should be ready to step up in that season and contribute. You can't say that about the Oilers. They still look like a team missing pieces and with no idea how they are going to get them. I'm willing to give MacTavish a year to see what he does, but so far he's followed the typical Oiler mentality and focused on the front end instead of addressing his back end where the problems have existed for the past four or five years. That is a team that doesn't do any introspection to better know themselves. Say all the nasty things you want about Feaster, but he has looked at this organization and made the changes needed to get better. He still strives to do that. The changes yesterday in scouting and player development tell you he understands how important this capacity is. That is why I believe the Flames will not be wandering the desert in five years and that the turnaround is planned and team is moving in the right direction.

Sorry for the wall of text. This issue is hot button.

08-08-2013, 11:19 AM	#83
Lanny_McDonald Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2013 Exp:	Iginla's no trade makes all of this discussion moot. He only suggested he would waive it in the final year of his contract and we saw just how committed he was to using that NMC clause. Accept it that all other trade options were not viable, because Iginla would have executed his NMC, and move on. Trying to get the thread back on topic, I do not see any similarities between the Oilers and Flames situation as far as the rebuild goes. The Oilers have been a team in perpetual rebuild. Outside of the Pronger year they have had no focus or idea where they are going as an organization. It has been two decades of pumping the tires on their prospects and watching as they never develop. They have been all about drafting guys with sizzle, but no real meat. They have really had no philosophy on how to build a team or taken any serious approach to projecting how players would turn out and addressing needs. Their development systems suck and their scouting is equally bad. This has contributed to them being incapable of building anything but an outhouse. Their only saving grace was stumbling I to three first overall draft picks where their scouts didn't have to make much of a decision. Beyond those picks, this board could have picked a better team using the Hockey News Draft Preview issue. The Flames are just entering their rebuild. They finally recognized it was time to stop chasing the brass ring for Iginla and make the smart move of cleaning house. They are trying to build a good culture and are only drafting guys with character and certain skill sets. They make their own list and don't deviate from it, regardless of the unpopularity of those decisions. They have a plan and they are executing it. They know where they stand as a team and they are addressing the problems with a purpose. Center was once our biggest concern and now we are looking pretty good at that position in just over a year. Size was a major issue and that problem has been addressed pretty well. The problem on RW and on D will be addressed in the next year, I am sure, and we'll have a pretty good picture of what the future looks like. The thing I like about the Flames approach is you can see where the team is slated to come together. All of is talent should come together in the 2015-16 season. That is the turnaround season based on moves to date and projections of future drafts. Holes are being filled with guys that should be ready to step up in that season and contribute. You can't say that about the Oilers. They still look like a team missing pieces and with no idea how they are going to get them. I'm willing to give MacTavish a year to see what he does, but so far he's followed the typical Oiler mentality and focused on the front end instead of addressing his back end where the problems have existed for the past four or five years. That is a team that doesn't do any introspection to better know themselves. Say all the nasty things you want about Feaster, but he has looked at this organization and made the changes needed to get better. He still strives to do that. The changes yesterday in scouting and player development tell you he understands how important this capacity is. That is why I believe the Flames will not be wandering the desert in five years and that the turnaround is planned and team is moving in the right direction. Sorry for the wall of text. This issue is hot button. Last edited by Lanny_McDonald; 08-08-2013 at 11:22 AM.