Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Whereas your point seems to be that the Flames should develop players, and as soon as they are at their peak, sell them off for futures. In other words, they should be nothing but a farm team for the real contenders.
We went through that once before because there was no cap and the team had no money. I see no point in doing it voluntarily.
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This may come as something of a shock, but small market teams are
already farm teams for big market clubs. This is why the big market teams get the top UFA talent and the rest of the league overpays for the scraps. So trying not to be something you already are is probably not going to work. Unless by some miracle Calgary returns to its 1970's and 1980's booming form.
I am curious when you think the Flames have tried this before? Pre cap era? Young Guns era? I mean what is being suggested here doesn't align with anything the Flames have done in the past, IMO. The Flames haven't had a top scouting staff in the league in over 30 years.
But to address your real objection: developing talent for other teams. Well here's the thing. In a professional sports league, talent is your currency. You might have a nice city, a nice arena and even a passionate fanbase. But the only thing you can really exchange is talent. Sure the Flames could relocate to a more desirable city, but I'm pretty sure none of us want that? So what's left? Talent.
In order to be rich in the currency of exchange you need more talent than the next guy over. If you can't buy the talent, you need to develop it. But here's the catch: you eventually need to trade that talent to realize any gains. And if you want to compound those gains you're going to need to trade that talent when it is at peak value. Essentially you're trading that beanstalk for enough magic beans to eventually grow a beanstalk farm. And once you get to that point, hopefully you're well fed on your burgeoning bean supply.
While the Flames can't compete when it comes to buying talent on the ice, I think it is a totally different story off the ice. There is no salary cap for your scouting and player development staff. As such, this is where the Flames should be making their biggest investments. Flames should not be bottom of the league in either of these departments.