[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

This will be extremely unpopular but...

I think the best road forward is to keep as much of this group as possible.

I was one of if not the pre-eminent “blow it up” crowd earlier. In fact 2 years ago I was clamouring to blow it up. I think this team has what it takes. I really wanted to blow them up but from what I saw from Sutter onward? Yeah. We can win the Cup with this group. Yep- roast away. But I believe. Coaching change was too little too late. Fans in the building? This team can do it. Biggest major hurdle is to expect Giordano to go via Expansion Draft and that’s a massive hole to fill.

But this team? Yep, I think they have it. I know that sounds insane. You know there’s something to be said about having something to prove. Markstrom is a Stanley Cup caliber goalie. Defence admittedly needs to be addressed and more depth especially when Gio gets taken, but you got some good young forwards Johnny stepping up and I think Tkachuk returns to form with a crowd in the building. Lindholm is amazing and, yeah. I think they have it. I know this is unpopular- but one of the reasons the 2004 team did what they did was because the city believed they could and the team could feel it as well. If this city backs this group? It can work- the players are good enough.

I strongly disagree.

Go watch some of these playoff series and tell me the Flames have the talent, pacing, or compete level to come anywhere close to a cup win. They might win a 1st round series, but that's about it. They're not close at the moment.