[ComixZone]

The best way to look at the Oilers is that they were the worst managed organization in the league for a stretch of time. They tried to be good, but were so incompetent that they couldn't get out of the bottom of the standings.

The great thing (as Flames fans) is that they bottomed out in weak draft years for a number of years.

Eventually, their incompetence landed them McDavid and Draisaitl...and unfortunately things are becoming better there. When you have talent that level, even the craziest levels of incompetence will eventually get destroyed.

They were a terribly managed team, but are slowly becoming better. I think since the Bubble, they've been pretty well managed.

As smug as we may be, they destroyed us in the 2nd round last season and now we're missing the playoffs with an old, rubbish roster.

Lots of Flames fans seem to exclusively conflate the idea of "rebuilding" with what the Oilers (and the previous management team in Buffalo) did. I don't buy that line of thinking. I don't think we're incompetently managed, and our scouting staff is significantly better than Edmonton's. If the Flames were to rebuild, they wouldn't be wandering aimlessly like Edmonton and Buffalo did under their poor management structure.

As a Flames fan, I want elite players on this team. I'm tired of overpaying aged free agents. So when I talk about the Flames rebuilding, I'm not talking the trash the Oilers did from like 2009-2014. I'm talking about what New Jersey did from 2017-2022.

The Devils are now a supremely talented, young, fast team with a core they can keep together for a decade. I want that. It guarantees nothing, but it gives the team a chance and the fans got to watch that team grow and develop together. That's what I want.

E=NG.