[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Agree the Caps are not the best example but let’s temember that Ovie won the cup at 32 and Backstrom was 30. Those guys are significantly older than the Flames current core. Calgary could be at just as much risk moving core pieces in a deal and making the team worse for perceived “better playoff guys” that is basically what the Oilers did with Taylor Hall and moved him for a player they needed but also a significant downgrade on the player they sent out.

I think the big risk here is deciding our players are not cut out for the playoffs and moving them in trades that closes the window quickly. 9 playoff games in Tkachuk might be the worst out of our young core. Completely invisible maybe he will never get it done in the postseason? The same guy that scored a Memorial Cup OT winner battling an injury.

I am very interested to find out more from the players tomorrow when they clean out their lockers.

I don't totally disagree with you, but I'm not advocating for a scorched earth approach. To me Tkachuk isn't even on the list of people I'm questioning yet. But some of the other guys I was expecting to really embrace the leadership role in the playoffs this year didn't do it.

I tend to look for indications that there is reason for more patience but this years performance was so shockingly bad that I don't even know how to wrap my head around it. Its terrible that for our best players, the guys who all had great seasons, we can't look at a single one of them and say "at least he really stepped it up for the playoffs".