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Originally Posted by GioforPM
Thing is - play him with who? Tkachuk was better, and a better fit with Backlund. Ferland made the top line and looked good. Frolik was about at his peak and had great chemistry with Backlund that year. Backlund was also on shutdown duties and no way Bennett could handle that. They put him with Brouwer, who was supposed to be good, and Versteeg or Chiasson.
GG’s primary job was to win, and he went with the best players in the top 6.
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The bolded is the failure of the rebuild in a nutshell. Coming off a season
Of course you always want to win, but in early stages of a rebuild it is more important to develop complete players, even if that means 'rookie mistakes' end up costing you a dozen games.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
I sure hope the Flames don't bungle the Gaudreau asset the way they bungled so many other assets over the years.
They need to either get him extended as soon as it's possible to a fair extension (not some bloated cap killer contract) or deal him for a decent return before he walks in free agency for sweet #### all.
I wonder if a package around Konecny is more possible this year, than maybe it was in the past. Konecny isn't having as strong of a season, plus Farabee is having a nice little coming out party. Maybe Frost is more expendable as well with Patrick finally healthy.
I've always thought Gaudreau, Bennett for Konecny, Frost would be a nice return to retool the core if it doesn't look like Johnny can get extended at a fair price.
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IMO they already have. I was banging the drum hard to move him last TDL, which was the last time to cash in on GM's emotional irrationality , and to get more than a 'rental' return. Even w/o COVID/flat cap, the ED would have loomed large in the upcoming TDL.
My argument at the time was that the Flames were still capable of making/missing the playoffs and winning a round or two, with or without Gaudreau, Brodie, Hamonic, etc., and I stand by it.
No way Gaudreau fetches Konecny alone right now IMO.