The Oilers - they are experiencing some success right now because they hired a really good coach that knows how to get a team to buy-in and play hard. They are a top-end team with no depth to speak of. How are they winning? They play hard, the work together, and they are making a miracle happen out of that wasteland of a line-up.
Calgary has the depth, the defencemen, the better goaltending, and still has what should be a very skilled top end line. They are losing. Sure, injuries hurt, but it happens to every team and you either band together and push through it, or you unravel and lose. It is up to the team.
I don't see selling as pulling the rug from under the team. This team has pulled the rug out on itself already. If I am Treliving, I am looking at the standings, seeing the team I built out of the playoffs, and I am going to make the moves that I think are necessary for the long-term success of this team. With how inconsistent they are playing, I wouldn't trust them in a series against any Pacific team they might end up facing.
If the best move is to sell some players to free up cap space, add some good draft picks/trade currency, then that is what I would do. If it is player-for-player trades that I think would help my team, than so be it.
The only thing I wouldn't be doing is trading away draft picks to prop this team up. Standing pat is going to hurt to, as it at least seems like the Flames are going to be losing Brodie, and that is going to be some big shoes to fill, never-mind expensive in cap and assets.
This is going to be the most interesting deadlines for the Flames since the 2012-13 deadline. Are the Flames sellers? Are they using the deadline to help adjust the roster for the next season? Are they buyers? Are they standing pat and doing nothing?
I really don't know the answer to that. I see a team that is floundering in the standings right now that is out of the playoffs and having to rely on other teams losing in order to get in.
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