The darkest timeline...

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

But the real goal of most owners is to make money, and deliberately wrecking your team costs millions of dollars a year. This is why no team goes into a full rebuild until it's forced on them. Think otherwise? Name one.

It's essentially being forced on the Flames but instead of embracing it, they are trying the retool method. I disagree about the goal of most owners is to make money. It's a hobby for most of them and it's only teams like the Flames and Jets as far as I can see that try to run their teams like a for profit business. The reality is that even if they don't make money on a year to year basis (usually cooked books for tax purposes), the ascending value of the organizations totally negates those losses. Rich billionaires wouldn't be lining up to buy NHL teams if there was any risk of money loss associated with ownership. Say what you want about Katz but he's been willing to do whatever it takes to win a cup and now he's in the Stanley Cup final. It's the stark difference between Flames and Oilers ownership.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I agree with most of what you said....but certainly not the bolded.

He was terrible in a Flames jersey but tremendous with the Wranglers. Long way to go before he can even be considered a competent NHL'er.

Good news is, he has a lot of time to get there.

That assessment is certainly as odd as they come. If he was terrible how would you sum up the play of Vladar the last 2 seasons who has had worse numbers than a raw rookie?

Everyone needs to keep in mind that Wolf played the majority of his starts with a brutal defense infront of him down the stretch and had some really nice starts to go with some he'd like to have back.

He's certainly a competant NHLer at this point who is only going to improve with a more stable role, consistent NHL starts and further practice and development at the level he belongs at. No path is directly linear for goalies and he's certainly showing as much as you'd expect from someone who has the tools to be a starter at the NHL level.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's essentially being forced on the Flames but instead of embracing it, they are trying the retool method. I disagree about the goal of most owners is to make money. It's a hobby for most of them and it's only teams like the Flames and Jets as far as I can see that try to run their teams like a for profit business. The reality is that even if they don't make money on a year to year basis (usually cooked books for tax purposes), the ascending value of the organizations totally negates those losses. Rich billionaires wouldn't be lining up to buy NHL teams if there was any risk of money loss associated with ownership. Say what you want about Katz but he's been willing to do whatever it takes to win a cup and now he's in the Stanley Cup final. It's the stark difference between Flames and Oilers ownership.

Such as what? Spending at or close to the cap like every other decent owner and sucking harder than nearly every team in the league for 10+ years? Had they not got completely lucky winning the McDavid lottery which they had no business winning they wouldn't even be a playoff team.

Right or wrong, you can say a lot of things about Edmonton, but applauding the path ownership took through that gong show is bizarre. This isn't to say Calgary's ownership is a beacon of light at all. Two extremes of the pendulum really, but in reality the Oilers could and rightfully should get clowned by the Panthers and does 1 finals appearance make all the pain and suffering worth it? I don't exactly see a dynasty brewing up North and they certainly can't continue paying 3 players the bulk of their payroll. Really it's more a case of finally getting an easier path to the finals and not having to play heavy teams like Vegas and Colorado.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's essentially being forced on the Flames but instead of embracing it, they are trying the retool method.

Nobody has been able to point to a single thing they have done that supports this idea. The only thing they can say (and keep saying, over and over and over) is that Conroy won't use the word ‘rebuild’. That. Means. Nothing.

I disagree about the goal of most owners is to make money. It's a hobby for most of them and it's only teams like the Flames and Jets as far as I can see that try to run their teams like a for profit business.

You're dead wrong about that.

The reality is that even if they don't make money on a year to year basis (usually cooked books for tax purposes),

Governments employ thousands of revenue agents to make sure that taxpayers don't cook their books. And in this case, the NHLPA employs a bunch of lawyers and accountants to make sure the owners aren't lying about their revenues. That dog won't hunt.

the ascending value of the organizations totally negates those losses.

There is another old saying that most people today don't seem to know: ‘Trees do not grow up to the sky.’ There is no asset in the universe whose value is going to go up forever.

Rich billionaires wouldn't be lining up to buy NHL teams if there was any risk of money loss associated with ownership.

I thought you said they were in it as a hobby and not to make money? So much for that idea.

Pick a lane.

Say what you want about Katz but he's been willing to do whatever it takes to win a cup and now he's in the Stanley Cup final. It's the stark difference between Flames and Oilers ownership.

Hot_Flatus has already answered this one, but you're a lunatic if you think Katz did the right things. Hiring every Oilers alumnus from the glory days instead of competent hockey people? Having a scouting department that notoriously fails at picking good prospects if they're not on the cover of the Hockey News? Picking the sort of GMs who traded Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson one for one, and then Larsson for nothing, one for zero?

The biggest reason the Oilers are in the Cup finals is that the lottery balls fell their way in 2015 – right after the league changed the lottery rules specifically to decrease the chance of that happening. Katz deserves no credit for that.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Saying Katz has done whatever it takes to make the final is the one of the worst takes I have ever seen.

[GioforPM]

Owners that are in it for a hobby are few and far between, and those that are are meddlers.

[Manhattanboy]

I would say Katz was skilled in getting his deal for his new arena and Ice District.

I think the Oilers are where they are now due to 90% luck (so fricken lucky on so many levels) and 10% good hockey planning/asset management.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I would say Katz was skilled in getting his deal for his new arena and Ice District.

I think the Oilers are where they are now due to 90% luck (so fricken lucky on so many levels) and 10% good hockey planning/asset management.

Seas had to part twice to get here without any actual hard or crafty work done by the organization

Seas parted the first time by mcdavid going there

Seas parted again when Vegas lost to Chicago in game 82, setting up a terrible pacific bracket with offensively passive, d-first teams, while the other western bracket had all the top teams who just pounded each other and the last team standing was spent and vulnerable.

Roll two die on the same combination of events happening to get the oilers to a finals appearance and it doesn't happen.

Maybe it is divinely inspired that they got here. But to pretend they did it without a #####-ton of help and outside circumstances aligning would be a lie.

[Julio]

Current mood...

[FBI]

I may have to bet $100 on the oilers to win the cup just so I have some small consolation prize if they do win.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Between cheering for the Flames in the winter and the Angels in the summer I’m about ready to call it quits on pro sports entirely. I would like one off-season where I don’t get kicked in the junk. Just one.

Try adding in the Riders.

It can always get worse.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by FBI

I may have to bet $100 on the oilers to win the cup just so I have some small consolation prize if they do win.

I’ve been doing it all playoffs. If I have to watch that #### hole of an organization win a Stanley Cup, I’m at least winning some money off of it.

For the record, it’s dirty money and I hate that I’m ahead

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Julio

Current mood...

The Euro Cup is helping me take my mind off of it but man...hockey into late June? Dammit Florida, just end this nonsense already.

[Jason14h]

McDavid turnover in game 7 OT for the loss

[Huntingwhale]

The grossest part of all this, other than the obvious, is that I think this run all but ensures that Mcdavid and Draisaitl will stick around for their next contract. Both will get immense raises and both will get their legacy enshrined at the same level the 80s Oilers are. I'm talking statues out front and permanent background graphics on every SN broadcast for the next few decades. Both seem like players where legacy matters. Almost assuredly Ron Mclean will pop out of the woodwork with his "it's only a matter of how many" talk. With these 2 potentially re-signing they might not be able to build a contender around them, but they will spank the crap out of the Flames for the next decade, making each BoA game a chore to watch.

With the new arena and those 2 getting over the hump, it might draw in a few more players willing to drop their NTC to play alongside them. Chicago was more than willing to sacrifice their future for retirement contracts for Toews and Kane to thank them for their cup wins, I don't see the 0ilers being any different.

Going all doom and gloom here, because it is. Hockey gods against us, no doubt about it. Can't wait to see how the draft hoses us as well

Truly...the darkest timeline.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

The grossest part of all this, other than the obvious, is that I think this run all but ensures that Mcdavid and Draisaitl will stick around for their next contract. Both will get immense raises and both will get their legacy enshrined at the same level the 80s Oilers are. I'm talking statues out front and permanent background graphics on every SN broadcast for the next few decades. Both seem like players where legacy matters. Almost assuredly Ron Mclean will pop out of the woodwork with his "it's only a matter of how many" talk. With these 2 potentially re-signing they might not be able to build a contender around them, but they will spank the crap out of the Flames for the next decade, making each BoA game a chore to watch.

With the new arena and those 2 getting over the hump, it might draw in a few more players willing to drop their NTC to play alongside them. Chicago was more than willing to sacrifice their future for retirement contracts for Toews and Kane to thank them for their cup wins, I don't see the 0ilers being any different.

Going all doom and gloom here, because it is. Hockey gods against us, no doubt about it. Can't wait to see how the draft hoses us as well

Truly...the darkest timeline.

Only the darkest timeline if they win. I actually don't mind the time line where they are paying McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nurse 50 million lol

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Only the darkest timeline if they win. I actually don't mind the time line where they are paying McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nurse 50 million lol

If they win the cup, that 50M doesn't matter.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Only the darkest timeline if they win. I actually don't mind the time line where they are paying McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nurse 50 million lol

The good thing for Edmonton if they sign them is that they will be competitive for the next 10 years. You do not sign players like that and end up uncompetitive. So their goal should be to sign McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard at all costs.

[Monahammer]

I can tell you unequivocally that this is the worst time I've had living in Edmonton the last 15 years. It is ####ing intolerable. I would rather be living there without water than dealing with these mouth breathers telling me about Connor dragging things constantly.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The good thing for Edmonton if they sign them is that they will be competitive for the next 10 years. You do not sign players like that and end up uncompetitive. So their goal should be to sign McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard at all costs.

I think Draisaitl is going to have a heck of an aging curve though. I think it will keep them in the competitive but not contender status especially if Bouchard's point totals regress as McDrai get older. I think they will have another two to three years of having a shot at a cup and then done.