Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Break it down into different chronological steps:
Step 1) Acquire multiple core pieces at the top-end of the draft, at least one of which is a #1 Centre
2011 - Jonathan Huberdeau (Star winger at 3rd overall)
2013 - Sasha Barkov (#1 Centre at 2nd overall)
2014 - Aaron Ekblad (top 3 defenseman at 1st overall)
Step 2) Acquire a goalie who is good enough to not have Brian Elliott 2017 level meltdowns in the playoffs. Goalie does not need to play 60+ games in the regular season or even have a great regular season, but some pedigree and health are key.
2019 - Sergei Bobrovksy (Goalie)
Step 3) Add key, high-bang-for-buck pieces at key positions via shrewed UFA signings, waiver wire pickups, and one-sided trades for malcontents. Need good pro scouting
2020 - Carter Verhaege (top six winger)
2021 - Gustav Forsling (#1 Defenseman)
2021 - Sam Bennett (#2 Centre)
2021 - Sam Reinhart (top line forward)
Step 4) Scout well to fill out your depth and be in the conversation for a division title with all of the above healthy plus good secondary pieces
- Anton Lundell (#3 centre with the talent to be a #2 centre)
- Spencer Knight (decent backup who allowed Bobrovsky to avoid 70 game seasons)
- Eetu Luostarinen (#4 centre with the talent to be a #3 centre)
2022 President's Trophy
Step 5) Be unafraid to look at good regular season results and tweak key areas to maximize value:
2022 - Weegar, Hubererdeau, 1st for Matthew Tkachuk
2022 - Bring in Paul Maurice
Step 6) Add high-end rentals who have no business playing down the lineup, and have the luxury to... actually and successfully find a role that plays them down the lineup relative to where they played at peak capacity
2024 - Vladimir Tarasenko(anchored their bottom six plus powerplay), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (anchored their middle pair), Brandon Montour (anchored their PP plus second pair)
2025 - Brad Marchand (anchored their 3rd line), Seth Jones (well, he played top pair for them but this pushed Ekblad to second pair)
It really comes back to step 1 for me. The step the Flames never seem to agree to do
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Well put. In addition to all of this, and maybe it's a string of ridiculously good luck, but their pro scouting seems to be on another level. Grabbing the likes of Verhaege, Bennett, Reinhart, Forsling who are all major pieces of their core, not to mention getting vets who have trailed off in their respective careers (Ekman-Larsson, Schmidt, Jones) to have a total resurgence.
I can't think of an organization in recent memory who has come remotely close to this level of talent recognition, and the acquisition costs have been pennies on the dollar.