Originally Posted by ComixZone
They also haven't drafted at the top of the draft (yet), and puttered around in that mushy middle.
So what is it that they've done that will see they out-compete the next wave of teams in the Pacific Division?
Vegas will age, and their pool is uh...empty. However, if good players do become available in a good age range - they'll still likely get them. Top-3 destination in the league for players with the freedom of choosing their spot.
Edmonton...hehe. Thank you Florida, you've likely ended their relevancy and the peak of their build.
Anaheim? Younger, better, and will be for some years.
San Jose? Younger, better, and will be for some years.
Vancouver? Yeah, they've been more aimless than us. Massive props to Conroy and crew for not being Vancouver.
Seattle? Younger, slightly better, and ultimately...haven't really drafted where they need to, but their pool of prospects is as good if not better than ours.
LA? They're firmly locked in that mushy middle. They're actually a concern in my eyes as they could be what we see the Flames becoming without some really strong management and direction. LA is what you become when you do this 'on the fly' rubbish. Byfield, Brandt, and Turcotte were their top picks - 2nd, 8th, 5th. They'll never compete with San Jose and Anaheim. They ended up with one solid pick, and then two picks in that lower tier that run a higher risk of busting or just being good, and not great. This is also an issue I see with the "one year faceplant" perspective. One player won't see us compete with San Jose and Anaheim.
That's what the goal has to be. You have to not out-pace San Jose and Anaheim, because we can't directly compete with Vegas' model, and you don't want to be Vancouver, LA, or Seattle - because they've managed themselves into perpetual mushy middle muck.
I want the Flames battling San Jose and Anaheim. That's why you go proactive and deal at-minimum 2 of the 3 (Andersson, Coleman, Kadri) but really it should be all 3. It really should be all 3, and it really should begin soon because drafting 1-3 (maaaaybe 4, but risk is higher) should be the target and they should manage themselves accordingly.
I also see the moving of those three as giving the Flames a legit path to contending. Two top picks in 2026 + 2027 alongside the prospects already gained in the trades you noted and our last few drafts, alongside the picks/prospects we get back from Andersson, Coleman, and Kadri? That's Calgary really taking that next step in my eyes. Conroy will have given his scouting staff, and this team a real chance at high-end sustainability.
They want an exciting team in 2027? Two top picks, and a lot of other players arriving through development right around the same team? This fanbase will be in love with the new digs and the new talent.
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