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Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois
Well I don't recall the flames announcing their intent to compete for last place and deliver a crap product until further notice, so that's never been my expectation. I've never bought the losing = winning argument though so maybe I just blocked the message out.
But that aside, if the flames aren't going full oiler and losing on purpose what are they doing? Just hanging out until a Kessel or Phanuef deal comes along? Maybe I am too hung up on getting ripped off to wait til summer and the big reveal, when Burke unveils his creation in extreme team makeover. I'd like some sense of direction before my renewal notice comes.
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The Iginla and Bouwmeester dumps for prospects/picks certainly announced a rebuild. They announced they were rebuilding after Feaster finally had to admit it. We didn't contend with those guys as our best forward/defenseman and clearly we aren't contending without them either.
They didn't announce they were gunning for last but rebuilding when the Western Conference seems to be at an all time high for competitiveness is going to mean a lot of losing whether you want to be last or not.
I still don't get why people are saying there is no direction. The direction is accumulating as many young assets as possible in the form of draft picks and prospects. That is what rebuilding is. You grow and develop them together and then when they are close to competing you deal some of your young players or picks for what you need to complete a contender.
We should be able to acquire a lot more young assets this trade deadline and draft. The on-ice product will become more entertaining as our young players develop and start to crack the NHL lineup.
The rebuild is clearly hardest on the season ticket holders. No way to sugarcoat that. Paying to watch losers hurts more than just turning on the TV to watch losers.