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Originally Posted by howard_the_duck
Just to add to this...what really disheartens me is how many people in Calgary are openly cheering for the Oilers in the playoffs. I feel like I’m in the minority when I say I just can’t do it. The response (everywhere it seems) is: “Yeah, but it’s a Canadian team!”
Somewhere along the line, a whole generation of Flames fans forgot what it means to be proud of their team...and to feel sick at the thought of supporting your provincial rival.
Edmonton’s star power — earned or not — is slowly bleeding into our fanbase. It might not show in attendance numbers yet, but you can feel the shift. Apathy is creeping in, and it’s dangerous.
This franchise desperately needs elite talent (on the ice and to elevate its brand) to give Flames fans something to believe in again.
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I am very, very fortunate to have a contrarian son who actually loves cheering for the opposite team from his friends. But my daughter is succumbing to oiler fandom with ease. We are losing the overall war pretty heavily, and the way they are trying to build the team is not something that resonates with young fans. We need marketable superstars. Parekh may be one, but we need more Parekhs.
We desperately need the forward talent. But part of me also wonders if we could shake one of Byram or Power out of Buffalo. There were rumors last year that either could potentially be had. I would be tempted to throw a lot at Buffalo for Power too. Then our back end would really be on solid ground.