Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
What is the answer? Fire Treliving? Blow the team up? 84pts to 107pts and we must blow the team up? No rational GM would blow a team up that struggles in month one of the season and if this team struggles mightily you can be assured they will move their pending UFA’s for assets and put core players on the block next summer.
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People think that progression is a straight line in the NHL when really it's not.
It's random and sticking to a long term vision and goal (while always making tweaks to improve the team long term) is the best plan in the NHL. Treliving clearly wasn't happy with the team, and he tried to improve it this offseason, it didn't work out. But that doesn't mean you go and blow it up.
Look at St.Louis.
2012-2015 - Three straight first round exits
2015-2016 - Conference Finals
2016-2017 - 2nd Round Loss
2017-2018 - Missed the playoffs
2018-2019 - Last place on Dec. 31st, Won The Stanley Cup
or Washington
2012-2013 - First Round Loss
2013-2014 - Missed Playoffs
2014-2017 - 2nd Round Losses
2017-2018 - Won the Cup in a season that everyone thought would be a step back for them.
Progression in the NHL is not linear. Flames still have good young forwards, they have developing young d-men, and they will have a bunch of cap space this offseason due to expiring contracts.
This doesn't need a scorched earth re-build but just some smart tweaking and personally I'd think about moving all of our UFAs for picks/assets come the trade deadline even if we are in a playoff spot. Just keep making smart trades (Kadri for Brodie was a great example of the type of trade the Flames need to win), stop signing aging UFAs, and they will be fine.