Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild GM
That's not how I would answer the question.
The assets were not spent on short-term rentals for 1 year. Rather they were largely spent
- To address the #1 need on the team (goaltending) that was going to otherwise prevent the team from having any chance of competing
- To bring in a guy, in the prime years of his career, as an addition to the core.
The value of those deals and the assets spent extend beyond this year. I think they were brought in to kick the window wider - but I don't think they move the Flames into the true upper echelon.
On paper do I think the Flames are one of the best 5 teams in the NHL? No.
Did I think would be securely in a playoff spot at this point? No.
When I look at the teams near and around the Flames it seems to me they all have similar talent levels and flaws.
So i'm not sure why people expected them to be way further ahead at this point. I just don't see it based on the roster assembled.
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Well, I am glad that you are satisfied with middle of the pack. I am not. And I do not think this roster is middle of the pack, talent-wise. I would take that a step further and say that anyone who does, should be lobbying for another rebuild, because this core is going to be the core for a long time.
Things ebb and flow. One day a player looks like a world-beater and on another day, it seems like they may never score again. That is part of sports. So judging the talent of a team is a very fluid and volatile exercise.
However, I think it is always fair to step back and ask the question is the team performing as well as they should be? Are we getting as much out of the roster as we should be? Is the team overachieving, under-achieving, or right where they should be?
And every time I ask myself that question regarding this team I always end up with the same answer. They are not performing to the level they should be.
Like EE said about a hundred posts ago: Gulutzan is a smart guy, a likable guy, a great Xs and Os guy. But he isn't a good bench boss. He isn't getting enough out of the team, and they simply aren't competing to the level they should be.
I have been a STH for 15 years. There have been good years, bad years, and ugly years. But there have been few years more frustrating than this one. many times this season - and again last night - I sat there wondering why I dish out the money I do for the privilege of being repeatedly frustrated.
The team is better than what we are seeing on home ice. Some of that is on the players, no question. But some of that is also on the coach. Last night was a blatant example.
It's time for this core to take the next step. But it keeps on not taking that step. And IMO, a major reason why is that Gulutzan isn't capable of getting them there.