[ComixZone]

Just as important as the elite #1 centre is the elite #1 defenceman.

We still don’t have that either. We have a #2 in Weegar, and a #3 in Andersson.’

When it comes to rebuilds, I still hear a lot of what I believe to be complete mis-assessments of the failures in Edmonton and Buffalo.

I don’t believe there to be any truth to this perceived “losing culture” when it comes to the players - I think these failed rebuilds are 100% the fault of the organizations being outright terrible at drafting. Nothing to do with anything magic in the water, or a losing culture with certain players but rather just a complete inability to hit on any picks other than their top-end first rounders. They fail to draft correctly, and then have to go scrounge through free agency and make asset-depleting trades in an effort to fill the gaps that should be done through internal development.

Everytime I hear someone bring up Edmonton or Buffalo as the reason why the Flames shouldn’t rebuild, I cringe. Edmonton is a better team than we have been in spite of their horrid drafting - which speaks to the value of getting those top players at the top of the draft.

If the Flames could get a 1st overall, and another one or two top-10 picks I think they could actually build a Championship quality team thanks to how good they are at pulling players throughout the draft…but the lack of those top picks will prevent them from becoming a Tampa/Colorado/Chicago/LA.