Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhett44
In my eyes, the Flames are trying to compete, while trying to rebuild at the same time.
I just don't know if that strategy necessarily works. You can't be everything, and that is why I'd like them to be bold and choose a direction. I know the players aren't going to purposely lose, but you can ship out the veterans.
At last trade deadline we should have shipped out Rasmus and some vets. But we didn't want to miss the playoffs. Which doesn't matter to me anyways if we are not a contender.
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The problem is that actually sends a bad message to the young players that are there. Look how competitive Wolf was down the stretch, he wanted nothing more than to make the playoffs and even the coaching staff mentioned he was way more vocal and a leader down the stretch.
IMO You can't go scorched earth mid-season once the players already battled hard to get into a playoff race and defyed expectations.
It's why the ideal time to trade Andersson for maximum return would have been before last season, but you need to get it done for sure this offseason and can't let it drag into the season.
It's also why I'd say the ideal time to move a piece like Coleman should have been this offseason but do think he's the type of player you can move next deadline too.
Pieces like Huberdeau and Kadri are tougher because I don't think they want to leave and have full NMCs or are potentially untradeable (in Huberdeau's case).
For the most part Conroy has tried to tank. He's traded Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev, Markstrom, Zadorov, Mangiapane, and Toffoli for predominantly futures based returns.
He seems to be in the process of moving out Andersson and maybe Coleman.
He's signed no major UFAs and was a bottom 5 cap team last season and likely will be again this upcoming season.
If he's trying hard to compete he has a weird way of showing it. What I think he's trying to do is manage assets and accumulate as many assets as possible...and whatever the outcome of the season is he doesn't have direct control over that.