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Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
What’s a real top team? St. Louis, who 12 months ago was the worse team in the league? Vegas, who since going to the cup final lost in round one and still where we do now? Ramps who also lost first round? Are the Canucks and Oilers real top teams now?
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Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, St Louis, and teams like Nashville, NYR, LA & Chicago in recent years.
Teams that are consistently competing to be near the top of their divisions, making the playoffs most years and winning playoff rounds fairly often.
Winning is very hard, but I'd like the Flames to reach a next gear where they're in the conversation often enough and I don't think we have the team for that.
And no, The Oilers and Canucks aren't in that group obviously. This isn't about them, it's about the Flames.
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I think a lot of people haven’t wrapped their heads around the league is different now. It’s not about catching lighting in a bottle from 8th place. In 04 when the Flames finished in 6th, there were huge differences in them and the better teams. That was a true miracle run. In today’s NHL, legit good teams miss the playoffs.
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Precisely why you need to reach that next gear where you'll be competitive fore a 4-6 year stretch.
It seems like your contradicting yourself by saying catching lightning in a bottle from 8th isn't gonna cut it, yet supporting a team that's headed for that at best. Lighting in a bottle from 8th is the only chance this current roster has.
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This team needs some changes, I don’t disagree. But we are in the second year in my opinion of this groups window. And we tare it apart because the won the West last year, but lost first round, and currently sit in a playoff spot? That’s a stupidly short leash sparked by emotion. Last year and this year has given us indications of what we should be trying to change (and the GM clearly saw the same thing given the trade he tried to pull off) but to suggest we are in burn it territory is just emotional garbage.
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No one has said tear it apart, but what was our forward leaders of Johnny, Monahan and Backlund has definitely shifted to Chucky and Lindholm.
So retooling by moving some of the former 3 could be exactly what the team needs.
Lesser moves like Bennett & Jankowski should certainly be on the table too, but you probably can't get a return to make those worthwhile.
I'd move Gio too while his value is high and we can get assets back.
What changes would you like to see?