Fun thread strangely.
My frustrations are:
- Terrible asset management. Focus on building an asset base that allows you to compete for an extended period of time. This team has been asset weak for 30+ years. So it's constantly chasing its tail.
- Related but not willing to re-build. Even the initial re-build was prematurely ended leading to bad deals to open the window sooner. Have the discipline to see it through. I like prospects so a re-build to me is still entertaining
- I would also focus the draft entirely on skill and upside. Sign depth. Draft for skill. Skill gets you franchise changing players like Johnny Gaudreau and Nikita Kucherov. You may draft less NHLers but the ones you do will matter. Home run swings every time. I would ask my scouts if they could imagine a player at the top of the lineup and what skills they have that are elite. If there are no answers to either you don't draft them. That's how you get a guy like Jason Robertson who had elite hands, but awful skating which caused him to drop. Draft for the elite ability.
There are still market inefficiencies that can be taken advantage of in the NHL. The Flames rarely do that. But what is aggravating is when they have - it's worked!
Also get rid of fighting. Its stupid.
|