Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Then Flames fans are delusional too. Flames could have made the final and gotten revenge on Tampa if they had gotten in. I've heard that all week.
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Here is the thing.
Flames could have gotten in and made the conference finals.
The North division playoffs were weird, especially with the Leafs losing Tavares and Jets losing Scheifele.
BUT that shouldn't change strategy or suddenly change what a team is looking to achieve. The goal in the NHL should be to be a top 10 regular season team over an extended period of time.
Building a team that is good over long periods of time tends to be your best chance of playoff success at some point, and doesn't necessarily happen overnight. Tampa didn't win a cup until their 12th season after drafting Stamkos.
Draft well. Manage assets (aka don't let assets walk for nothing in return). Be Patient.
And one other thing is that Canadian teams need to realize they can lean into subpar seasons as opportunties instead of always trying to "Salvage" them. Look at Tampa in 2016-2017, a poor season by their standards. Do they try to make moves to squeak into the playoffs, nope they lean into it.
Trade Bishop for Cernak. Trade Drouin for Sergachev + 2nd. Trade Boyle for a 2nd. Drafted Cal Foote 14th OV.
Flames did that a little bit this year by recouping some assets for Bennett and Rittich. But honestly they really should have moved Brodie last year, and Gio this season at the deadline.