Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSquatch
The team isn't great, and it's possible it's not even good. Their record under Darryl was basically identical to their record under Ward.
The Flames are way out. Look at the Boston Bruins, Marchand, Pastrnak, Bergeron.... defense core is okay, goalie real good. And they got bounced here.
Gaudreau's great. But he's not Pastrnak for finish (or speed), he really isn't. So if the argument here is that the team has some really nice pieces (they do), and that a few more of the right pieces would make them say, a New York Islanders type of team, tough, gritty, fast... okay, I guess maybe.
But if the argument is that the Flames actually have plenty of elite level talent and it just kinda sorta didn't show up last year (or the year before), then I disagree, I don't think the Flames have much in the elite category.
So rip it. Not for magic beans, and not for "next year". Rip it up when it's right for contracts, when a strong draft is on the horizon, rip it up when you can rebuild it with something genuinely good. I'm not sure that's available right now.
Mediocrity, a competitive team that has some good nights and some bad ones, and sneaks into the playoffs - that's what the Flames are for some time to come barring a miracle.
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Agree with this.
The current version of the Flames actually has decent depth when it comes to good players, but good isn't good enough. Elite players win championships. You need to have at least one, but usually more than one, player in each position that is in the top 3-5 among their peers. The Flames have none of that now. Gio's Norris season carried the team far, but that player no longer exists. No one else on the team is even close to being among the best in the league at anything. No matter how many "good" players you have, it can't make up for the lack of elite players.
If by some miracle, the Flames manage to sign a player like Landeskog and trade for Eichel (and he is healthy), I could see that making a world of difference, but short of that, I don't have high expectations. Such drastic turnover usually comes with a hit on team chemistry as well, so even with a substantial re-tool, the benefits might now be apparent for at least a season.