Quote:
1) Did this team win a cup? Did it at least contend for the cup?
2) Did this team get close? Go on a playoff run (achieve 3rd round)?
3) Was this team at least a consistent playoff team?
Now, where are the Flames trending? Did he step away even though this team was on the cusp of winning it? No, the Flames have had to enter a 'retool' - whatever that looks like, and for however long it lasts.
Finally, did he leave the team in a better spot or a worse spot than when he first took over?
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1) No
2) No
3) No
Flames have trended down the last few years. It seems like Conroy is slowly shifting that. Since Conroy took over I can finally see a tiny glimmer of light at the end of this long dark tunnel.
It's hard to say if we're in a better or worse spot then we were.
When he took over we already had an arguably elite young winger (Gaudreau), a young top 6 center (Monahan), a Norris winning defense (Gio) in the system and we were walking into a top 4 pick. We also had a full prospect pool with 5 1st round picks in the 3 previous years.
We could have comparable assets in the system but we won't know for years until they develop. Maybe Wolf wins a vezina and Coronato becomes a consistent 90 point guy.
We definitely didn't have a Huberdeau type contract (worst contract in the league currently. Is there any debate?) and conditions on an upcoming 1st though.
So I would say he left us in a worse position.
Tre was a mediocre to bad GM. I believe his bad moves outweigh his good ones.
Very overrated GM in my opinion. He's polished and well spoken but a poor hockey mind. Had me fooled for a few years.
edit:
In fairness to Tre, he did get us from a "re-whatever" team into playoffs for 5/9 years. Some team struggle to do that.