Quote:
Originally Posted by mikephoen
How about Chicago, Pittsburg and Colorado. Chicago has worse winters than Calgary, not to mention it's dirty and dangerous. Pittsburgh isn't exactly high on any great cities of the world list. Denver is about as close an anagram to Calgary as you can get. On a high prairie plane close to the mountains and far from the coasts. Similiar population as well.
Those three teams have 7 of the 18 cups won in the salary cap era.
As to your other point about not wanting to watch a bottom feeder, the Flames have two playoff series wins in the salary cap era. Two! You're already committed to watching one of the bottom feeder teams in the league when it comes to playoff success.
|
Chicago has a metro population of 9 million people and is an utterly laughable comparison to Calgary it is like comparing Red Deer to Calgary. Pittsburgh hit the Edmonton model so sure land the once in a generation superstar that helps a lot.
Colorado is a good example and they won 9 years after they drafted their cornerstone player and 5 years after they picked their franchise player.
I think there is a very legitimate chance if the Flames go the tankbuild route the way some want we could go a full decade or more without making the playoffs. We have been mediocre forever but have never been absolutely horrible for a 5+ year run.
For the record I think this team needs to do a rebuild/retool but I am against trading any and every vet we can get a pick for and feel there is a need for a solid transition. The team is trending towards a top 10 pick this draft, they hopefully add more draft assets for Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev. I think they should look to move Markstrom if there is a deal to be made that gives them some key futures. I would like the team to make all the picks they acquire but if they could steal a solid RFA like they did with Hamilton, Lindholm, and Hanifin I would be interested in those deals at the draft.
Keep some vets around like Backlund, Coleman, Kadri, Andersson, Weegar, and Huberdeau and have those guys teach the Pelletier, Zary, Coronato, Wolf etc how to be a really good pro so those guys are good role models for what hopefully will be the future core of the Flames with the guys they pick with their next 2-3 high firsts rounders. Ideally the flames add 4-6 1st round prospects in the next 2 drafts with a couple in the top 10.