I think the Flames are in the midst of a full-blown rebuild. The only move in my mind that they made that gave me a second thought about it was the Frost-Farabee acquisition. Sound like Rasmus is leaving. Doesn't sound like the Flames are planning on trading picks for players. Doesn't sound like the Flames are really going to be spending a lot on the UFA market.
I am sure some might argue, but I see this team being in on the McKenna sweepstakes next draft. Conroy isn't an idiot - this is not a contender. Vets are being shipped-off when they enter their last season under contract. Conroy isn't really interested in forcing guys out.
This will be another hard-working team that has to have a lot go right in order to get wins. They will again have to out-work opponents, and they will be in the margins all year again. I just don't think they will get to as many OTs. I don't have any issue - as part of 'team rebuild' - with how Conroy is operating.
In my opinion, this is a fairly OLD team, not a young one. Calgary's strength is coming from mostly their vets + Wolf + Coronato + Bahl. Out goes Andersson, in comes Parekh. Out also goes Hanley who was a steady presence in the top 4. Flames are going to be worse defensively, and we don't know who is going to be in net for ~35 games this year - better or worse than Vladar?
Let's hold off on the anger and vitriol and complaining until we at least see the finished product a few some days after July 1st? Let's say.. we will give it to July 10th to really start the bitch fest as to how stupid the Flames are for not tearing it down, or how stupid the Flames are for not addressing certain holes on the roster to push this team into the playoffs.
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