Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Francis: Flames not making excuses for challenges luring top players to Calgary

Calgary4LIfe · 09-15-2021, 12:48 PM

I am not sure if Treliving really believes that or not, but this is something that shouldn't even really be discussed as an excuse IMO.

Florida, Tampa, NYR, Vegas and the California teams. That's where players want to live. I expect that Seattle will be a destination at some point (if they don't end up mismanaged).

However, a lot of FAs just want a chance to win, period.

Remember 2014-15 when the Flames looked like a really exciting young team that was poised to take the next step? Panarin had Calgary in his final 4. I bet Calgary is no longer in his top 20, and it isn't because somehow Calgary's taxes were increased, Calgary's climate got colder, and the Saddledome has become condemned and is about to collapse.

Build a young and exciting team that is looking poised to become a contender, and more players will want to be part of it. Look and perform like a mediocre team, and less players will find that attractive. Does the location hurt? Of course it does - when you are mediocre. There is no 'upside' to signing in Calgary other than money now.

It is feast or famine in Calgary - win, and lots of good players will be happy to play here. Becoming mediocre (or middle of the pack) and Calgary instantly drops to bottom 5 in the league, and then they have to open their wallets to longer term bigger dollar deals to make up the difference - and even then you aren't going to get the top FAs.

Brad Richards turned down Calgary when Calgary was looking like a mediocre squad, even though it offered the most. Did Calgary even bother bidding on Tavares?

Building a team through FAs is basically pointless anyway as you usually overpay regardless of where you are located (hello NYR pre-cap era). I think it will become a bigger issue as more and more players have NTCs/NMCs in their contracts, for as long as Calgary is somewhere between mediocre and poor.

Build a young and exciting team, and you rarely have to worry about FAs that won't sign here, or trades that get nixed because the player didn't waive, even in Calgary. Edmonton and Winnipeg, on the other hand.. yikes.

09-15-2021, 12:48 PM	#138
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I am not sure if Treliving really believes that or not, but this is something that shouldn't even really be discussed as an excuse IMO. Florida, Tampa, NYR, Vegas and the California teams. That's where players want to live. I expect that Seattle will be a destination at some point (if they don't end up mismanaged). However, a lot of FAs just want a chance to win, period. Remember 2014-15 when the Flames looked like a really exciting young team that was poised to take the next step? Panarin had Calgary in his final 4. I bet Calgary is no longer in his top 20, and it isn't because somehow Calgary's taxes were increased, Calgary's climate got colder, and the Saddledome has become condemned and is about to collapse. Build a young and exciting team that is looking poised to become a contender, and more players will want to be part of it. Look and perform like a mediocre team, and less players will find that attractive. Does the location hurt? Of course it does - when you are mediocre. There is no 'upside' to signing in Calgary other than money now. It is feast or famine in Calgary - win, and lots of good players will be happy to play here. Becoming mediocre (or middle of the pack) and Calgary instantly drops to bottom 5 in the league, and then they have to open their wallets to longer term bigger dollar deals to make up the difference - and even then you aren't going to get the top FAs. Brad Richards turned down Calgary when Calgary was looking like a mediocre squad, even though it offered the most. Did Calgary even bother bidding on Tavares? Building a team through FAs is basically pointless anyway as you usually overpay regardless of where you are located (hello NYR pre-cap era). I think it will become a bigger issue as more and more players have NTCs/NMCs in their contracts, for as long as Calgary is somewhere between mediocre and poor. Build a young and exciting team, and you rarely have to worry about FAs that won't sign here, or trades that get nixed because the player didn't waive, even in Calgary. Edmonton and Winnipeg, on the other hand.. yikes.