This forum is always full of 20/20 hindsight and alternate timelines. Just to torture myself, I like to think there is a timeline out there where the flames committed to a full rebuild the moment they knew Gaudreau was gone and Tkachuk wanted to be traded. I think that timeline looks something like this:
1. Summer 2022: Tkachuk traded for 2023 1st round pick + 2024 1st round pick + top prospect.
2. Summer 2022: Lindholm traded for a 2023 1st round pick + top prospect
3. Summer 2022: Monahan was not traded and simply allowed to fully heal up.
4. Summer 2022: Kadri was not signed.
5. Summer 2022: Sutter steps down in frustration with management committing to a rebuild.
6. Trade deadline 2023: Hanifin traded for a 2023 1st round pick + top prospect.
7. Trade deadline 2023: Toffoli traded for a 2023 1st round pick
8. Flames finish bottom five in the league in 2022-2023.
9. Flames win draft lottery.
10. Flames pick 5 times in the 2023 NHL draft including getting Bedard.
11. Flames enter the 2023-2024 season without any major signings. Maybe some 1 year deals for veterans.
12. Flames trade Tanev at the 2024 trade deadline for a 1st round pick.
13. Flames finish bottom 5 in the standings in 2024.
14. Flames do not win the draft lottery.
15. Flames pick 3 times in the first round of the 2024 draft and draft Lindstrom and Iginla with two of their picks.
Again, it’s all just hindsight and wishful thinking. At the time, I was hoping our trade for Tkachuk was going to be futures based though and I really was not happy with the Monahan trade/Kadri signing. Granted, Kadri has played well this year and I’m happy to see the young guys playing well with him.
Overall, I look at that alternate timeline and think how committing to a full rebuild is the best option. It was the best option then and it is the best option now. I know there are equal examples of failed rebuilds and successful rebuilds but I think the fans are more ready for it than ever. Delaying the bottoming out phase of the rebuild will just make it stretch into the opening of the new arena. If you commit now, the bottoming out seasons will hopefully be in 2025 and 2026.
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