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Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Oilstain is exactly right - the Flames have been drafting really well, and I would say it is by far the organizational strength. This is why I was so wanting a rebuild now, and was so apprehensive about one around 2011 since it wasn't an organizational strength back then (though it was becoming one, with the benefit of hindsight, since 2008).
Calgary is not going to attract enough high profile UFAs at this point to turn move the needle even slightly.
Calgary doesn't have enough assets to trade themselves out of this mess either, especially with many top-end players having NTCs.
The only way forward to success is through leveraging by far the greatest strength it has - drafting and development. Calgary keeps finding and churning out players from the 1st through the 7th rounds. I knew Conroy wasn't going to just turn around and start trading picks to try and turn the Flames back into a 'contender' after the sell-off. That would have been incredibly stupid, and triple-so for a GM who spent a lot of time in this organization, knows the market, and knows the scouting.
The best thing Calgary does is drafting, and that's what they are leveraging. For those that watch international soccer and keep up, Calgary is Benfica - arguably the best team in the world at scouting and drafting players, but since they don't have a salary cap between countries within and outside of leagues, they will probably be an exciting rebuilding team that can only hope to win national Championships, while making the occasional run in the Champions League, but never win that outside of a miracle.
Because of the salary cap, Calgary has a chance to be Benfica now, and then eventually become Real Madrid winning championship after championship.
It isn't the best analogy, but it works. Just be the team that has scouts everywhere finding those diamonds everywhere, draft them and develop them, and instead of selling them off, keep them and win championships. Year one is fantastic so far.
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Lost me for the soccer analogy’s but, agreed that the Flames should be leveraging what has been a clear organizational strength, drafting.
This past draft was very strong. If the Flames can get even two legitimate everyday players (top 4/top 6), that’s a success. Anything more than that is just gravy and it seems like there’s a good shot at that. (Trying not to be overly optimistic).
Looking ahead at the next two drafts with the picks already stockpiled and the assets on the current roster to add to that stockpile, Conroy is setting this team up as well as one could hope for at this point.
Might be tough to watch hockey next year but in 2-4 years time this could be truly one of the team in a big big upswing.