[maxpower29]

I came across this site and after reading a few post I felt I had to join in because most of the comments are just ridiculous and clear hate towards a team some have no clue how it is being built.
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1. You should be lucky to have Burke in your organization. He was only fired because the new owners did not like him. Not only did he get Phaneuf, Lupul, Gardiner, Ashton (was Aulie), and JVR for basically nothing, you guys have no clue to depth drafting he has done and those players are great in the AHL now, and will soon to be NHL players. Look up Josh Leivo, Greg Mckegg, Petter Granberg, Stuart Percy, Matt Finn, and theres other who were mid to late round picks who have bright futures.
Burke completely rebuilt the management, coaching, players, and drafted players to develop in the 3-4 years he was here. When he took over, it was a disaster (nothing different then what your Flames have if you want to admit it or not) and made something good out of it.
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2. Kessel. He is one of the best offensive players in the league, and until recently has played with 3rd line players his career. He makes Tyler Bozak (a guy who was never drafted and probably a good 3rd line player on an team) a #1 centre and still produces at PPG pace. You pay him 8 mil a season because if you dont, you lose him for nothing. Explain how that would make sense? In a few seasons when your younger players start getting close to UFA years, you will understand I guess because you either pay or watch walk away.
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3. Playoffs. This team is still the 5th youngest team statistically in the league. They were also considered to be a playoff bubble team all season, and thats what they ended up being. The final 2-12 run was a joke, but the 15-4-2 before it was also much better then expected. Another year for Rielly (still a 20 year old rookie remember) Gardiner 23, Kadri 23, and Bernier who just finished his first year as a started will only do good, and you get to add another 8th overall pick to the group. Im happy with that success as a fan.
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4. Phaneuf. Nobody is arguing he is a top #1 defense on every team in the league. But is he a 1-2 on most teams? Yes. He was one of the top defencemen in the East until March when he injured his shoulder, and thats when his play really went down. At that point he was +21 playing against top lines of Crosby, OV, Giroux and other really good players.
His cap hit now, I think most of you guys are completely delusional to how it works as a team. The number does not matter, it the piece of the pie you take yourself.
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2008-2009
6.5 mil was 11.5% of the total team cap limit. That contract was too high, not by a lot, but the GM did make a mistake (which led to the trade)
2014-2015
7 mil is 9.8% of the total cap hit, comparable to about 5.5 mil back in 2008-2009. Would 5.5 mil be a better number in 2008-2009? for sure, and he likely would not have been traded if so. So he took a salary cap cut in the end.
If you think another team in the league would not pay 7+ mil to get Phanuef for free as a UFA your completely wrong, or just an idiot.

5. Being out shot all year was not the teams decision, it was a coaching decision. Randy Carlyle plays this way. His strategy. He clogs up the middle of the ice, and lets teams fire away from where ever, but tries to keep the the prime scoring areas to a minimum.
I dont agree with this and think hes a horrible coach for the team, but thats just how it is this year. Their defence is not as wasted as casual fans want to think, and with a new coach it will be different.
When Ron Wilson coached them, it was never this way, but they still lost games. Difference was he did not have half the talent on the roster today.

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6. As much as you want to think the Leafs are in a terrible position, your Flames are WAY further behind in a rebuild, and the leafs are likely 1-2 years away from being a sure playoff team with more drafting/trades, and a new coach.
I really like the Flames, I like their drafting and the fact they understand it takes time to recoup the lost assets from not trading away UFA players or older assets at trade deadlines (this is 2008 Maple Leafs 2.0). I always cheer for them ESPECIALLY when they play the ####ing Oilers, who i swear to god if I hear "Should be the Oilers breakout year" im going to smash my TV.
I think you fans should show a bit more love for a team who is in the same position as your organization, and want to see them succeed because if not, your team will likely not either as they are built the same way.