Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
I think the problem with the rebuild was that the Flames didn't accept maybe three years of top 3-5 draft picks, which helps a lot. Selling off guys like Iggy for picks and prospects only gets you what top temas (like Boston or Pittsburgh) at the time have to spare, and draft picks at the end of the list. You need top 3 to get elite blue chip guys. Calgary picked 4th in 2014, 6th in 2016. They got all excited in 2015 and traded the pick but it was only mid-first anyway.
If they commit to sucking, in those years following Iggy's trade they might have drafted McDavid 2015 (or even Barzal). Makar or Heiskenan instead of Val in 2017.
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It's that. Championship teams aren't built by dismantling a competitive team. It just doesn't happen that way.
But once you are a bad team, you commit to building through drafting and development until the point where you are a contender. Then maybe you trade away some futures.
Some blame the one Hartley season for fooling the team's management into thinking they were a contender. Kid of sad if true. Maybe they felt they had to capitalize on Gaudreau's seasons while his AAV was moderate but even that seems wrong. His AAV as a percent of the cap isn't much different today than when he signed his second deal.