Quote:
Originally Posted by FireGilbert
While there is something to say about Canadian markets encouraging mediocrity, this isn't specific to the Flames and I don't see how comparisons to Edmonton have influenced Calgary.
|
There was an influence in the 80s, to be sure. The original group of owners gave Cliff Fletcher carte blanche to build a team that could beat the Oilers. The '89 team had one of the highest payrolls in the league, if memory serves, and Hotchkiss & co. would probably have lost money on the season if the team had lost in the first round (which nearly happened).
Nowadays, with a strict cap and so many constraints on trades, no GM really has the freedom Fletcher had, and any particular rivalry has much less influence on a team's plans.