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Calgary4LIfe · 09-03-2023, 02:37 PM

I don't think it is quite right to say: "Buffalo has a good young team because of their 12 year rebuild." That's what I would call a lazy blanket statement.

Buffalo has been a horribly mismanaged team for many of those 12 years. They are finally on good footing now.

People point to them and other teams as 'this is why rebuilds suck'. Those teams needed rebuilds not because they went through their cycle, but because they were terribly mismanaged, had no choice but to rebuild, and then because they were terribly mismanaged, continued to flounder. Teams suck when they are poorly managed whether they are trying to win, or they are trying to rebuild.

I think a well-managed team usually doesn't have to outright rebuild. If it does, I don't think it has to last over 3 seasons. Heck, a team can bottom out for a season or two, and then come up again.

What it needs to constantly do is a combination of drafting and developing well, developing and maintaining a strong culture, and not get attached to depreciating assets, but instead move them at the right time for more futures as the kids underneath show that they should be taking over. It should be a cycle.

I have zero issues with Calgary entering a rebuild because I do believe they are a strong drafting and development team. 9 or 10 years of Buffalo's mismanagement isn't going to change my opinion. Neither is Edmonton's "I think I know a little bit about winning" nonsense. Or Arizona's "what the hell are we doing? Competing? Rebuilding? Moving? Dominating the college ranks?".

How about we look at teams that have successfully rebuilt too, not just the ones that floundered. Boston. Tampa. Colorado. Even in these organizations, they all took missteps, but they won a cup.

I am not even advocating that Calgary absolutely needs to rebuild. I think that Conroy has it going in the right direction with placing higher value on younger players and draft picks, and making sure that the team is built. I do think it is easier to accomplish in a rebuild, but I do think Conroy is doing what he can without rebuilding, and he most certainly can be successful this way too. I am just arguing that people like to point at poorly run organizations and declare them as what you should expect from a rebuild, when the truth is that's what you should expect from any team that is run into the ground.

I also think that Buffalo will quickly be a place that players try to sign in if they take another good step forward this season like they did last season. Not every player will want to be there, but when a team is looking like it might be a team with multiple years' worth of playoffs and competing, there will be a lot more players interested in joining that organization. If Calgary can have a couple of seasons of solid playoff runs, it will suddenly become that as well.

09-03-2023, 02:37 PM	#7506
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I don't think it is quite right to say: "Buffalo has a good young team because of their 12 year rebuild." That's what I would call a lazy blanket statement. Buffalo has been a horribly mismanaged team for many of those 12 years. They are finally on good footing now. People point to them and other teams as 'this is why rebuilds suck'. Those teams needed rebuilds not because they went through their cycle, but because they were terribly mismanaged, had no choice but to rebuild, and then because they were terribly mismanaged, continued to flounder. Teams suck when they are poorly managed whether they are trying to win, or they are trying to rebuild. I think a well-managed team usually doesn't have to outright rebuild. If it does, I don't think it has to last over 3 seasons. Heck, a team can bottom out for a season or two, and then come up again. What it needs to constantly do is a combination of drafting and developing well, developing and maintaining a strong culture, and not get attached to depreciating assets, but instead move them at the right time for more futures as the kids underneath show that they should be taking over. It should be a cycle. I have zero issues with Calgary entering a rebuild because I do believe they are a strong drafting and development team. 9 or 10 years of Buffalo's mismanagement isn't going to change my opinion. Neither is Edmonton's "I think I know a little bit about winning" nonsense. Or Arizona's "what the hell are we doing? Competing? Rebuilding? Moving? Dominating the college ranks?". How about we look at teams that have successfully rebuilt too, not just the ones that floundered. Boston. Tampa. Colorado. Even in these organizations, they all took missteps, but they won a cup. I am not even advocating that Calgary absolutely needs to rebuild. I think that Conroy has it going in the right direction with placing higher value on younger players and draft picks, and making sure that the team is built. I do think it is easier to accomplish in a rebuild, but I do think Conroy is doing what he can without rebuilding, and he most certainly can be successful this way too. I am just arguing that people like to point at poorly run organizations and declare them as what you should expect from a rebuild, when the truth is that's what you should expect from any team that is run into the ground. I also think that Buffalo will quickly be a place that players try to sign in if they take another good step forward this season like they did last season. Not every player will want to be there, but when a team is looking like it might be a team with multiple years' worth of playoffs and competing, there will be a lot more players interested in joining that organization. If Calgary can have a couple of seasons of solid playoff runs, it will suddenly become that as well.