Quote:
Originally Posted by stemit14
I think the concern for many is waiting for the potential “bounce back” next year that ownership is hoping for. I think this team bouncing back next season is entirely possible but not beneficial to the longer term outlook of the team.
Reasons for bounce back potential:
1. If the flames got a potential game breaker at the top of the draft (eg. McKenna), that could be a boost to the team’s offensive potential. Adding a 60 point winger to this team would be a big improvement at this point.
2. I don’t think the current vets under contract (Huberdeau, Kadri, Coleman, Backlund, Weegar) will see a big drop in performance next year so they will likely perform close their norm.
3. The young players in the system (Coronato, Zary, Parekh, Wolf, Gridin, Klapka, etc.) will likely take steps to improve. Either in production or in the completeness of their games.
4. Not having a brutal start to the schedule next year could give the team a chance to gain some momentum under a fresh start.
All these things could lead to the team “bouncing back” to being a fringe playoff team like last year. Could miss or could squeak in. To be clear - I want this to be avoided. I would rather another “faceplant” year next season. In order to increase the chance of that happening, I think the management should trade Kadri and Coleman this year for picks and prospects. No prospect they get in the upcoming will be able to make up for the loss of those two players (along with Andersson being traded) next season as far as production and game influence.
The issue is that I think ownership likes the idea of the bounce back being possible and thinks it’s good for the team. I don’t think it is and the plan should be to avoid that scenario since the players keeping that bounce back possible are players that are likely not on the team in 3 -5 years (Kadri, Coleman, Backlund).
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There is no chance, not one that I can imagine, that ownership legitimately expects to “bounce back” and be competitive again next season. He’s not that dumb.
Regardless of what’s reported.