Blow it up!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by codynw

What I actually see happening is the Flames finally winning a draft lottery and end up picking a dud because they can't scout properly this year. Most Flames thing that could ever happen.

It doesn't look like an overly great draft to be kicking off a rebuild either.

With an expansion team coming in, we are likely to be kicked down a spot unless we are drafting in the top 5 (something that has only happened once, so I wouldn't count on it). It also sounds like a pretty average draft at best. A lot of the top prospects in it are also Americans who are going the university route, which always makes me nervous because of the flight risk.

Add to that, with the shortened season and pandemic restrictions, I don't think many teams are going to be making a lot of trades, so there are not going to be many dance partners.

Then on top of that, we are likely going to lose a decent young player in the expansion draft.

This team couldn't pick a worse year to blow it up.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Monahan and Gaudreau put this team on their back at 20 and 21 respectively and carried this team to the playoffs after Gio went down in the midst of what would have been a Norris season. They then won a round and followed up the next year with strong offensive numbers. It definitely had a Toews-Kane vibe.

It seemed like we were vindicated as fans during the 18/19 season where Monahan and Gaudreau both paced at over 100pts more than halfway through the season. Whatever happened on the bye week has had this team never looking the same again.

It's amazing how well it was tracking, and stunning at how quickly it went into the ####ter.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

Agree with the upcoming 5-6 wins.

They do this every year. Stink the place out to start the season and then win 6 or 7 in a row. Finish up the season win-one lose-one and limp into the playoffs, achieving the bare minimum.

Routinely.

All but one or two seasons in the last decade have been sub .500 starts then they always have some sort of streak by Christmas to stay in the race. Subsequently plateau down the stretch.

Will be interesting if they don't have the bounce back and just fall off (hard to see with markstrom if he doesn't phone it in).

Maybe the one scenario where we see meaningful change.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It seemed like we were vindicated as fans during the 18/19 season where Monahan and Gaudreau both paced at over 100pts more than halfway through the season. Whatever happened on the bye week has had this team never looking the same again.

The embarrassing ass-kicking at the hands of the Avs is what completely broke this team IMO, and they've never been able to recover. What's sad is that the Flames were really good that year and should have gone much further. Instead they crumpled at the first sign of adversity in the post season and seemed to throw in the towel. And unfortunately they've had that losing mentality ever since. It's like they have no confidence in themselves whatsoever, especially when they go up against elite playoff-caliber teams.

If this franchise is gonna go anywhere moving forward, I think they desperately need a full reboot with a new GM, a proven experienced coach, and a major shake-up of the current roster.

[stamps]

I say the Flames win 5 of the next 6

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by stamps

I say the Flames win 5 of the next 6

I really admire the optimism, but what signs have you seen that they are about to turn it around?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I have a hard time blaming Murray without more information. We are a cap team in a no revenue year that is paying something like 3.5M+ for head coaches. Also based on the media reports of Tre's last contract negotiation, Tre has significant latitude. I don't mind the team that was assembled on paper. Hate the coach, hate the decision to keep him based on Dallas going far, hate the fact that this team fades into the night because the edge this team has is not called upon. You don't think that if Sutter was pissed off and lined up: Robinson, Rinaldo, Bennett, Tkachuck, Tanev, Andersson, Ritchie and a few others that the BOA sparks wouldn't fly??

Love Gelinas/Conroy...but these were not the guy that lit the fuse for the flames. In the hate games like the Ducks it was guys like Berube and the infamous puck over the glass by Lowry that kept the battle going. If I remember that game correctly...Conroy was the last guy sitting on the Bench in that Ducks game...

I hate the 'just make the playoffs' mandate instead of building properly and patiently.

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

This team is so screwed this year. They get gradually worse against teams the more they play them. The other teams make adjustments and the Flames don't answer that. A product of poor coaching, plus a mentally fragile team that loses all its confidence and has no fight in them.

In a season where they play the same 6 teams 9 or 10 times each, it's probably going to get very ugly.

They've historically been bad against the PAC division, too. And of course playoffs. Basically no good against teams they play frequently.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by direwolf

The embarrassing ass-kicking at the hands of the Avs is what completely broke this team IMO, and they've never been able to recover. What's sad is that the Flames were really good that year and should have gone much further. Instead they crumpled at the first sign of adversity in the post season and seemed to throw in the towel. And unfortunately they've had that losing mentality ever since. It's like they have no confidence in themselves whatsoever, especially when they go up against elite playoff-caliber teams.

If this franchise is gonna go anywhere moving forward, I think they desperately need a full reboot with a new GM, a proven experienced coach, and a major shake-up of the current roster.

I think cracks were there before the playoffs started. Basically it was the Mangiapane-Ryan-Hathaway line that stepped up huge down the stretch and they won the division but the 100+pt pace for Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm slowed down after that bye week.

I want a new coach but not sure about the full reboot yet. I wanted core changes in the offseason so open to those for sure but I don’t see it happening during the season. The coaching change is the only move that can be made with an immediate impact to the on ice product.

Ward is in over his head

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I really admire the optimism, but what signs have you seen that they are about to turn it around?

The history of the franchise suggests it strongly - whatever brings us to mediocrity.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I really admire the optimism, but what signs have you seen that they are about to turn it around?

We play the Sens in 4 of our next 6 games.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

We play the Sens in 4 of our next 6 games.

You just know the Sens are chomping at the bit

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

We play the Sens in 4 of our next 6 games.

I'm not holding my breath. I haven't seen signs that our AHLers who are in the lineup can bring any degree of fight to this team. And the vets certainly aren't showing diddly-squat.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

The Flames will win 8 in a row at the end of the year to play themselves out of a good lottery pick. what a mentally weak, non competing team this is.

I doubt it...that would mean they go into the playoffs on a roll. In within the next 10 games they will go for a run and then ride a mediocre record to just in or just out...I've seen this film for about 25 seasons...save maybe 2...

[AC]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

We play the Sens in 4 of our next 6 games.

We also lost 5-2 in Ottawa last year. I'm not particularly confident in this team beating anyone right now.

[Roof-Daddy]

Lol. The Flames will be lucky to 2-2-1 against the Sens.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by AC

We also lost 5-2 in Ottawa last year. I'm not particularly confident in this team beating anyone right now.

Fair enough but I think this is just a real low point for the team and they will eventually start getting confidence and bounces which could be enough for them to finish 3-4 in the division.

It is an absolute low point right now so I get the reaction. This team will likely put on a bit of a run here soon. I do wonder how much more damage needs to be done before a trade or coaching change occurs.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I dont want a rebuild again. Its simple, I dont see anything positive to come from it.

When I joined this board, we were beginning our rebuild. We tore the old guard down, traded off all of our assets for futures and were fully expecting to suck for 3+ years. What did we get out of that?

The Bouwmeester and Iginla trades were big fat flops, our highest draft pick in that era will never be a top line player on a contender, and we had a few saving grace mid round picks. This is all on management and has shown how incompetent they have been. I have 0 faith that this group should be leading the flames, from the owners to the coaching staff, especially through a rebuild. #### Treliving for handcuffing us to Ward and Gulutzan.

The only difference between now and 2013 is that I actually was sad to see Iggy leave. If we blew this team up, I couldn't give 2 ####s less about any singular player on this team. The only reason I wouldn't blow it up is that everyone leading them sucks at their job.

The problem then was they waited far to long to rebuild. They had no assets worth trading at that point. Bouwmeester was about it and Feaster blew that one. The reason you rebuild now is because you actually have a surplus of good assets that could bring back valuable pieces for the future. Of course this franchise will never do that so will wait a few more years until we're back to where we were with the Iginla Era. Gaudreau has left, Gio is worth nothing, Backlund is worth nothing, Monahan and Tkachuk are in their final year, Hanifin has only 2 years on his deal left. This is all basically a season away. Just blows my mind management can't see the writing on the wall. Where does the reluctance come from? The on ice product is terrible and only getting worse. Do what the Rangers did and release a statement and turn the thing around proactively.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Hackey

The problem then was they waited far to long to rebuild. They had no assets worth trading at that point. Bouwmeester was about it and Feaster blew that one. The reason you rebuild now is because you actually have a surplus of good assets that could bring back valuable pieces for the future. Of course this franchise will never do that so will wait a few more years until we're back to where we were with the Iginla Era. Gaudreau has left, Gio is worth nothing, Backlund is worth nothing, Monahan and Tkachuk are in their final year, Hanifin has only 2 years on his deal left. This is all basically a season away. Just blows my mind management can't see the writing on the wall. Where does the reluctance come from? The on ice product is terrible and only getting worse. Do what the Rangers did and release a statement and turn the thing around proactively.

Tell me what team went into a rebuild when 6 of their top 7 forwards are 22-27 and 3 of their top 5 D are 24 or younger? They just signed a goalie who carries a full NMC for the next 5.5 years.

Do you think the owners want to go into tank mode when fans are coming back next year? With next years draft being a complete crapshoot a top 5 pick is not worth what it usually is.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Tell me what team went into a rebuild when 6 of their top 7 forwards are 22-27 and 3 of their top 5 D are 24 or younger? They just signed a goalie who carries a full NMC for the next 5.5 years.

Do you think the owners want to go into tank mode when fans are coming back next year? With next years draft being a complete crapshoot a top 5 pick is not worth what it usually is.

In Canada, I wouldn't be so sure.

The 2022 draft will be a lot clearer than the 2021 draft...hopefully.

Age has nothing to do with whether or not a team should rebuild. You can have young players and a crappy team. Hell, it's exactly what we have right now.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

In Canada, I wouldn't be so sure.

The 2022 draft will be a lot clearer than the 2021 draft...hopefully.

Age has nothing to do with whether or not a team should rebuild. You can have young players and a crappy team. Hell, it's exactly what we have right now.

I disagree we have a team that is playing crappy right now but I don’t think this is a crappy team.

You went from ripping Treliving to claiming he was back to an elite level when he signed Markstrom and are back to hating now. Your emotions go heavy from one spectrum to the next rather quickly.

While this Flames core has not got it done in the playoffs but they have got there more often than the have missed. I am firmly of the belief that a legit coach is the number 1 thing this team needs and I am full on giving Tkachuk the C and Gio taking a backseat as he slides down the depth chart.

Tkachuk hasn’t done anything in the NHL playoffs but this guy scored an overtime winner to win the Memorial Cup.

Look at what Ottawa is going through and I am not convinced that is a better path for Calgary to take