Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I think the mistake you are making is in arguing that these teams—Pittsburgh, Colorado, TB—planned their rebuilds. They did not. Rebuilds happen because a team is bad, not the other way around. Over the next few years, with or without Gaudreau, the Flames will not he bad enough nor aging out to the point if triggering a rebuild.
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And they never will be. You're right that especially Pittsburgh and Tampa may not have planned their rebuilds, the reason they happened was pretty much ownership issues. The Penguins were bankrupt, they were close to not just leaving but folding and if not for Mario would have been screwed. So it was forced, just bottoming out, spending little, hoping that Bettman could properly read the braille on the lottery ball to get the Penguins Crosby.
Tampa also was going through ownership issues and had some pretty drastic turn over organizational wide in that 2008 era. They had already "let" Bullin walk when Chicago made him the highest paid goalie along with other players from that 2004 Stanley Cup finalist team like Kubina.
Then Sarich walks, they trade Prospal as a rental but then re-sign him in the off-season, Brad Richards and his high contract are moved to Dallas at the 2008 deadline. All of this results in them securing a bottom spot in 2008 drafting Stamkos.
And then Kuba walks, and then the new owners tell Boyle he either waives his NTC or they put him on waivers to get out of his new contract and as they continue to shed they near last and get Hedman.
But that 2008 team, Lecavalier (27), St. Louis (32), Richards (27), Boyle (30), Kuba (30), Ranger (21), that's not a burn it down and start over core if they are on the Flames. There's almost no chance that the Flames allow that team to finish at the bottom, and aren't trading away Richards and Boyle which secured them Hedman as well.
It's lucky that bad ownership resulted in them forming a near dynasty a decade later, for both teams, but because they were willing to lose (or not care about winning) here they are.
Colorado had Sakic fight the snowblower but they saw the writing on the wall, not trying to re-sign or replace players like Brunnette, they bottomed out and got Duchene.
If Gaudreau doesn't re-sign, this should be the time the Flames rebuild. Otherwise if they get some consolation prize winger in UFA to stay middle pack team while going through the same thing with Tkachuk who leaves at end of his contract.