Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
But the Flames did accept a full on re-build. Trading Bouwmeester and Iggy was the acceptance of a full on re-build.
They drafted Monahan 6th overall, and Bennett 4th overall, and going into the 14-15 season more people expected them to be in the McDavid lottery than expected them to be a playoff team.
But then the lucky 14-15 season happened and it changed everything.
Giordano emerged as a Norris candidate, the pairing with Brodie became an elite pairing. Monahan put up 30 and 30. Gaudreau put up a calder worthy season. And Hudler led the league in 5v5 points which was unexpected.
That 14-15 season still ends up being the turning point. If they end up with McDavid instead of the Oilers (which would have been way more worthy), then this isn't even a discussion.
That 14-15 season was the most fun I've had in a Flames season since 03-04...but probably ends up being the season that set this franchise back more than any other.
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As much as I love Gio and Brodie. The Flames should’ve traded both of them sometime within that rebuild. That pairing helped make this team more competitive at the time when they weren’t ready to be.
Building a hockey team sometimes feels like loading up for a war. You gotta build up your arms and when it’s time to fight, you hope you’ve got more weapons than the other side.
Who knows what kind of team the Flames could be right now with the plethora of picks they would’ve had in that deep 2015 draft if they had sold high on Gio and Brodie. They could’ve had one of their greatest drafts of all time as they already had their eyes on Rasmus, Kylington and Mangiapane. Maybe another 2 or 3 blue chippers on top of?