To me, I thought the rebuild started the 2 years ago tops. I think the team is in the third year of their rebuild which isn't a stretch at all. The long term contracts are needed to keep the player here through the rebuild and into when the team is competitive.
I'm not sure if you're asking just so you can take a shot at the Flames or if you genuinely don't know because the oilers are in a perpetual rebuild and that's what oiler fans are used to.
When you have a Norris Trophy caliber defense man who's also your captain, you sign him to a long term deal. When you have a 22 year old stud defense man who's developing into a stud defense man, you sign him to a long term deal. Most teams don't reserve long term deals only for their first overall picks because most teams don't get many of those.
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Fan of the Flames, where being OK has become OK.
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