Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
In my opinion any team engaged in a "rebuild" is looking at 5 years out of the playoffs before they are firmly back in them consistently. Once you have a team that has made the playoffs say 3 years in a row or 3/4 years the "rebuild" portion is basically over. More or less the core of the roster is set and from there it is about maximizing your chances year over year by adding and subtracting support pieces, goaltending and coaching.
The flames will probably be in that threshold for consistency in making the playoffs next season should they stay the course and it will be largely up to th group already assembled to get it done.
The flames have been remarkably lucky in my opinion in the quality of players they have been able to pick in the last 4 years which has helped speed things up, but unlike most contenders they will probably have to be extra ruthless when it comes to asset management because they are still so behind other organizations when it comes to prospects.
A bottom 5 finish this year could really help in solidifying the core group for next year.
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I think the Flames have generally kept a pretty consistent philosophy in the past 4 years in terms of how they've made trades. They have sold of veterans on expiring contracts for additional draft picks. So since 2013 they have went into the draft with at least 3 selections in the first two rounds.
In 2015 they did trade 3 of the 4 picks they had, but it was to acquire an established 21 year old player, in a draft where they were picking in the middle of the first round. So in that regard moving the second round picks to move up for a better first round player wasn't an awful move, and there was a longer term view point with the player they acquired.
They did gamble a good 2nd from last years draft on Elliot which obviously hasn't worked.
What will need to happen here for the team to eventually come out of it's current state is that players drafted outside the top pick from these drafts need to start forcing their way onto the roster in the next two seasons.
I agree that another better player at the top of this draft probably does need to materialize for the longer term success of this team.