I do think that what is best for this organization is to finish at the bottom of the standings and have a shot at McKenna to help turn this organization completely around. If not McKenna, then a top-end potential superstar. This will go a LONG way into creating a bona fide contender for many seasons to come.
Edmonton has done a piss poor job at drafting, development and UFA signings, yet they have had the same number of SCF appearances in the last 2 years as the Flames have won playoff rounds in the last 20. That's some eye-watering statistic, isn't it?
With that being said, I think the people getting called out for their similar views as mine are getting called out because they are incessant about it. While I do think that there is a legitimate shot at the Flames drafting high this season (and next), I don't relish it. I don't relish paying my mortgage, but it keeps the bank from taking my house. I don't relish sitting in traffic every day, but it allows me to get to where i need to be (eventually) so I can work and pay off my mortgage. I don't relish ignoring my neighbours rather than going over there at 3:00am on a work night as they are partying it up without a care for anyone else, but it keeps me out of jail so that I am able to get into my car for the long drive to work, so I can work and pay my mortgage allowing me to live next to these idiots.
I see the 'pain' of a bad year as necessary in order to turn this rebuild and the next era into a successful one. I don't embrace it. I don't love it. I don't cheer for it. I rather detest it. I just know that I have to do my part to support the team through this downturn in on-ice success. Can you imagine for a second if the 2015 Flames fun as hell season didn't happen, and the Flames ended up drafting McDavid or Eichel? Monahan would have been on the 2nd line, Bennett on the third maybe. I bet the Flames would have won a cup or two. Maybe the woudn't have, but they probably would be more than a bubble team through all that time (and one good season between bubble seasons doesn't count as being a contender to me, especially when the playoffs prove that they were not).
The point is - I feel very much like Monahammer, Rhett, Crimm, etc.,. I understand their pain and issues with the team. I think in some cases, they just are too incessant at times with their opinions - Monahammer less than the others in my opinion actually. I don't see the point of constantly saying I disagree with what is happening, but feel it is probably more worth my time discussing the day-to-day news. I believe that the Flames are indeed rebuilidng anyway, and they are likely to bottom-out. Show me another team that has traded away as many vets as the Flames have while only getting futures in return. I will save you the trouble - most rebuilding teams don't go this far.
I also think it is less likely that the Flames end up as a mediocre team than they were under the Treliving era. The issue with Treliving is that he spent way too many futures on mid and bottom of the lineup players that simply didn't move the needle. Even some of his more heralded moves like trading for Hamilton - which I 100% agreed with at the time - was probably wrong (depending on who the Flames picked). Maybe they would have snagged Kyle Connor and some other pieces? Would have moved the needle much further in the long run, no?
I think Conroy will take the Cheveldayoff approach - slow, patient and build through the draft. I think it can work. I have always said that the Flames' greatest strengths were drafting and development, and Conroy is leaning 100% into this. So I can't complain, even if I may split hairs on exactly which steps to take. Flames may or may not bottom-out still (I think they will). If they don't, I am not going to pout, stomp my feet and complain incessantly. I will just be like I am normally - just discuss about they day-to-day issues, news, bright spots, etc. The Jets have been a fairly successful team under this model, and I believe that Calgary will have advantages over Winnipeg in the long run. They are in a better market (so they will have a slightly easier time attracting UFAs, even if Calgary will never be a UFA destination), the new building will help (increased revenues allows for Calgary to be run as a 1st class organization, as well as better scouting and development. I also think that Conroy will be a little more proactive on making moves as opportunities come - Chevy didn't for a very long time.
So even without drafting in the top 3, I do believe there is a way forward. I just 100% feel the safer way is bottoming-out for 1-2 seasons, but I promise I won't post incessantly about it! lol
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