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Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois
I don't (didn't) equate rebuild with deliberately awful oilers style. I don't recall the flames doing so either. To me there is a difference. If not to you, fair enough.
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I think there's a difference too. Because Oilers management was incompetent and didn't sign good veterans, didn't know how to build a team. They drafted the same type of player year after year (offensive skilled wingers for the most part) without regard to how to build a team. They don't seem to know how to shore up their weaknesses or build a forward group that is well balanced. They don't seem to realize the importance of defensive play, goaltending or they've overrated both those parts of their team for years.
I think Burke does know how to build a balanced team, I think he knows the value of big top two defensemen, big #1 centres, big powerforwards. I think he's more honest about how competitive a team is. Clearly the Oilers were deluded at the very start of the rebuild thinking they were contenders. They've been deluded this year thinking they could turn the corner. So I don't think our rebuild will take as long as theirs is taking because Burke knows more about building a contender than their braintrust does.
I think one thing you aren't putting enough stock on is just how dominant the Western Conference is this year. That is making us look even worse. In a way it was a great year to start rebuilding because we'll get a high pick mostly due to how crazy good the west is and how average our team is. In the East we might actually be somewhat competitive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois
Why do you think that's what Burke is doing? I don't recall that approach in Toronto or Anaheim and those aren't the words I've heard him use in the media.
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Well he had to rebuild or at least retool in TOR. And frankly the Kessel deal doesn't look that bad if they don't sustain as many injuries as they did in the Seguin year. If it was two picks in the 6-15 range instead of being #2 and #8 the deal looks perfectly fine to me for one of the best goal scoring wingers in the game. Let's not forget Kessel was very young at the time. EDM was wiling to give what, 4 first rounders for Tomas Vanek? Philly was wiling to give 4 first rounders for Shea Weber? Two 1sts and a 2nd for a top 10 NHL scorer who's very young isn't that bad really. That Vanek offer sheet would've been one of the biggest catastrophies if Buffalo hadn't matched.
ANA was in completely different situation that we are in now so his approach will be justifiably completely different.
It's clear we're rebuilding. So I don't know what else you expect Burke to be doing. Some people seem to think Burke = impatience, impatience = botched rebuild or no rebuild. I don't believe in those equations.
As I've said I think Burke will be in the asset accumulation mode this trade deadline and draft. I think he'll look to improve the team through every avenue possible including trades and free agency. I don't think he intends to attempt to finish last next year but despite his best efforts I don't see him turning us into a contender within a half year so we're probably gonna suck next year too.