What the Flames are facing right now are all 7 of these are fueling a burning tire fire at the same time.
1. Core - The core is typically built around your longest term contracts and highest performance players. We have no functional core now. We have two mercenaries on retirement contracts who are past their prime and have no chemistry with anyone in Huberdeau and Kadri. Outside of those two, there are no players who have come close to their point totals in their careers and therefore they are all supporting cast.
2. Core’s Supporting Cast - The supporting cast are not expected to be game changers every night but they still need to perform. Our supporting cast are all overpaid based on career years and are on the decline as well. Coleman was a UFA overspend for character and has the utility of a rusty camping stove. Mangiapane was a flash in the pan and is now just stale bread.
3. Coaching - Huska doesn't seem to have what it takes so far. He looks and sounds like an AHL head coach. His matchups seem to be poor, his motivation of the team seems to be poor. PP is obviously horrible but maybe that's because PP1 has no chemistry. Goalie coaching seems to be better than last year so far. Can't say anything about Savard yet, don't know his impact.
4. Ownership (Edwards) - This has been and will always be the problem. Its rumored he is against even saying the word rebuild which left Trelieving in a cycle of perpetual UFA signings to stay competitive which have handcuffed us.
5. GM - Like the above, we are handcuffed and Conroy was dealt a bad hand. That said, he didn't make drastic efforts to overhaul the organization. I think he thought that removing Sutter would fix things. Obviously the problems run deeper. Maybe he choose the wrong HC in Huska (should have been Mitch Love) and after he pulled the trigger on Toffoli, he should have continued dealing our top assets instead of stopping part way.
6. Scouting/Prospect Development/AHL - We are consistently rated bottom of the league for drafting. We have a strong AHL team though (we'll see how they do this year with key losses in Love and Phillips).
7. Leadership - No verdict on Backlund yet but to the outside he has seemed invisible and Zadorov has shown more passion and leadership to the fans so far.
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