[Big Erned Nevergivn]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

End of the day the Flames have won the Pacific in 2 of the last 2 seasons (there was no Pacific in 20/21). We just got another taste of how hard it is to be in this market. 2019 Kadri turns down a trade here that would have really moved the team forward but he used his NTC to say no. This year our 2 American drafted and developed superstars said they would not be here long term.

Calgary is a bottom tier market in the league. Worst arena, small metropolitan area, fishbowl hockey market, cold/dark winters, not a tax haven, heavy travel.

I think Treliving has done a nice job restoring respect to this organization that was eroded after the 48hrs of madness in 2010 and the Feaster years where the team talked big but everyone could see they were at best a bubble group who lost more trades than they won.

Sutter has been leading this culture change but bringing in Tanev, Markstrom and Coleman are big parts of that shift. Trading for Toffoli and Huberdeau continues that change. I love Gaudreau/Tkachuk but it was apparent there were some maturity issues there in how everything went down.

I admire Treliving’s ability to react when necessary and He has also shown his patience has been key. He has learned from past mistakes which has been evident over the years. I like that he has made 2 really big blockbuster hockey trades in the last 4 years that completely retooled this team in addition to those key free agent adds.

I have said this before that Treliving is not a mediocre GM but a good GM in a mediocre market.

I was ready to be done with him after the Canadian division and then the last season happened and I was excited again. This summer was a fit punch until he made a franchise altering deal and optimism is somewhat restored. I feel he has a reputation around the league that would land him a job as a GM fairly quickly if the Flames moved on.

If the demand is that this team constantly be in the top 10-15% of the league then that is unrealistic and fans wanting that type of scenario after every rebuild is going to be watching an endless rebuild. I think the Treliving/Sutter combo be given 3 year extensions to see if their 5 year plan of unfinished business can be accomplished

Well put!