Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
This team for a couple of seasons was a treat to watch. Other fanbases liked the Flames too. We were a 'model of a rebuild' for a while, IMO.
I don't look at any team around the NHL and say that they are going to be a good team. Ottawa is looking like they are going to be, but until they get there, they might be another Edmonton or Buffalo. Heck, just look at Buffalo - tanked hard, got one of the top NHL centres in Eichel, practically generational defencemen in Dahlin (maybe not generational, but franchise-level for sure), some other good pieces... and they keep face-planting.
Flames have some really good pieces right now. I don't think they are far off from a 'successful rebuild'. They, unfortunately, aren't far off from needing a rebuild 2.0 either. This off-season's success will really dictate what direction they go. If they make big changes, I can't imagine trying yet another retool, as I assume they will loose value simply in trading players who have under-performed and who will return less value.
People really forget how electrifying the Flames were for a while, and how good Bennett looked like in his rookie season, and how this team had skill and some grit, and had that 'never say die' attitude that resulted in comeback wins... that team had a lot of people saying: "Rebuilding is easy." Name me one person that kept saying the Flames were not going to be successful back then.
Ottawa is definitely doing things right, but until they get there and become a team that can go on long playoff runs every year, at least getting close to winning a cup, they will be labelled as either 'still rebuilding' or 'failed rebuild', just like the Flames.
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This is a much more succinct version of what I've been saying-this team doesn't need a complete overhaul necessarily, but mgmt needs to look at a few big changes to the core. Many teams on their way up through a rebuild often need to stop and do a major re-tool. Kings did it, Chicago did it, Tampa did it. We have some nice pieces, and now we have the goalie(maybe), and a real coach-and with that coach will come a different culture, and hopefully some players that suit that culture.
I've chosen to wait and see what is done to the roster over the summer, and like I said, if not enough is done-let loose the dogs.