Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
They didn't trade Kessel and Dion until after they got Nylander and Marner, for the record. In fact, I can't think of anyone they got rid of in that timeframe. They did indeed lean into the Matthews year, and I suppose watching Edmonton scoop McDavid the year before may have had an impact.
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They still traded them in the end.
And that's my point - it's rare for a team that was in a playoff spot like the Flames have been at times each of these last 4-5 years to go "We need to blow it up and re-build" - honestly I can't really think of an example of a team in a playoff position/bubble position committing to a rebuild before they land a top 5 pick.
You build a team, and if they start to suck and land you a top 8 pick like Nylander, and a top 4 pick like Marner, then you go "We should probably sell this off and lean into it"
Even Tampa Bay - they didn't trade St.Louis, Richards, Lecavalier, etc until after they already drafted Hedman and Stamkos.
Colorado had added lots of pieces after drafting Duchene and Landeskog and were trying to compete, they just failed and then lucked into Mackinnon too.
Edmonton everyone knows the complete failure that organization was, and yet they somehow got rewarded with a generational talent.
Nobody plans to go into a rebuild - you just need to be smart enough to lean into organically when it is happening and then hopefull