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Originally Posted by New Era
I think the Flames rebuild started in 2009 when the team committed to improving its scouting, that paid off in the subsequent drafts and has helped the Flames build some pretty good depth, like the Hawks did before getting Toews and Kane.
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Improved scouting and development is not rebuilding. If the Canucks revamped their scouting next off-season, but kept the Sedins, Kesler, Edler, etc, would they be rebuilding? Of course not.
The conventional definition of a rebuild in professional sports is exchanging current assets for future assets, and relying on drafting to rebuild the roster. It involves making moves that are likely to result in worse records in the short-term, in order to stockpile appreciating assets and improve in the long-term.
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I think we'll be looking back at the 2010 draft as the that started the turn around. That was the year they drafted Reinhard, Ramage, Arnold and Ferland. They follow that up in 2011 with Baertschi, Granlund, Wotherspoon, Gaudreau and Broissoit. 2012 brought Jankowski, Sieloff and Gillies. Last year we added Monahan, Poirier, and Klimchuk. This is likely the core of the future team.
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That is the core of a crappy team. Half of those prospects will end up as busts. Several others will stick in the NHL as average, depth players. A couple might develop into elite players. But it take a lot more than a couple elite players to build a team that battles for the top of the conference and the Cup (just ask the Wild, Hurricanes, or Predators). It takes 4-5 Monahan quality young players.
The Flames need a couple more drafts like last year's - and in particular we need a couple stud defencemen - before we're likely to have an elite stable of prospects and young players.