Quote:
Originally Posted by TOfan
In theory, I agree. I would like to see a little more long term thinking with the Flames, but look at their history. They have consistently short cut themselves and this approach was well underway before Treliving came about. This is an ownership issue, not the GM. I would argue, if there was one fatal flaw with this rebuild, it was Sam Bennett not realizing his potential, or even close to it.
Back to Winnipeg, they also had the good fortune of leaping several draft spots in a strong draft the ultimately landed them PLD. This isn’t unique to Winnipeg either. Dallas kept several spots to have Heiskanen. Philly drafted 2OA.
The Flames haven’t had that stroke of luck.
|
The Bennett flop had a huge butterfly effect on this team, combined with a finish that was too good in 2015. It made them believe that they had a 1C, so they traded a first rounder which was much later than it should have been for another need - Hamilton. Who they then have to trade (with a RW), because Bennett didn’t pan out, to get another centre to have a 1A 1B situation and slightly lesser D to replace Hamilton. And then, because there’s a hole at RW, they sign Neal which was a strong move based on stats but not based on the player’s character. So they then have to move their 1B to RW and they are officially stuck in mediocrity up front. They then try to trade Brodie to address that issue again, and it falls through, resulting eventually in Brodie leaving.