[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I don't think the Flyer thing was a rebuild so much as them thinking they needed to change up the makeup of their team. They traded good players who were 26 years old in Carter and Richards while retaining guys like Pronger, and Timmonen. They also went out and signed Bryzgalov with some of the cap savings. The Flyers have generally been a team who will trade a veteran guy for young player or draft pick if they feel that can make that move. Something the Flames seem to have refused to do, or at least do well. They were willing to trade Tony Lydman, but only got a 3rd round pick....should have got something better. Pretty much anyone on this board wanted Phaneuf traded for a completely different return.

For the most part every team tends to end up rebuilding because they didn't recognize when they should have started making the moves and find themselves in a bad position. Today it's easy to look back and see that the Flames should have traded Phaneuf for a different type of return, and than tried to start moving out their other high priced players there.

I think the Flames right now do somewhat compare to the Oilers from 2007. How they arrived there is quite different, but for the purpose of moving forward, I think it's a situation they should analyze and use as a tool to determine how they push forward.

So far they've resisted the urge to offersheet anyone, or trade any significant assets for established players. Although the Galliardi and Russel trades were that type of move these aren't top end roster types...I admittedly hope it's more a case of targeting 24-25 year old guys who you hope can be decent inexpensive veteran guys 4-5 years down the road who are still usefull for the team. It will come down to how players picked in the last 3 drafts fair. Can they build a solid base of 8-12 forwards, and 4-6 defenceman and if they have anything in goal.

Ideally the team gets in a position to pick two top line forwards, and a top defenceman with their next 3 first round picks. Should they pull that off, and guys like Janikowski, Monahan, Klimchuck, Poirier, Guadrea emerge as reasonable top 7 forward options and Brodie solidifies himself as a good 2-3 defenceman perhaps they can emerge from this funk as a team with a chance to be a strong competitor. The key is to recognize that the rebuild is essentially in it's infancy and that there is still likely 3 more years of building to take place.

Offersheeted O'Reilly.