How do we ACTUALLY improve this team

[Fan69]

Mods if this is repetitive please delete.

I have made no bones im on the tear it down crowd, but will also now admit that maybe the team is a little further ahead than i thought.
Now obviously some major injuries especially at center to kadri lets say and the team could still miss and blow the higher pick but let’s assume that isnt the case and the goal is to make this team better. So what would the mechanics of that look like?

I have been advocating for trading Anderson this year but what could the consequences be? He is apparently a glue guy so trading him would pull one if our two top four and possibly really disrupt the dressing room. This is a tight nit group from outside appearances. Trading him mid season could really sewer the team dynamics.

Kadri has some interest apparently in the league but you trade him he is your only top two lines center so if you trade him a top six center has to come back.

Huby kadri, sharkbait probably not going anywhere; Goal man may have some interest but how much? No one else is worth much of anything.

So if we have nothing to trade then we are using assets but where do those assets get funneled that would help the team immediately? We know conroy wants an under 25 center but those deals are few and far in between and who is out thier best that would not have question marks going in? If its wing who is a huge improvement over what we have that wouldnt come long term and cost a lot of assets as well as block the youngsters?

Top four defenders are few and far in between and again would cost a pile of assets.

Is it possible that except for a minor trade or two this team does very little at the trade deadline? Or am i limiting options and their are more to things we can do? Conroy has been very clear so i dont see any short term rentals deals.

So the question is is what are the actual possibilities of improving the team without a dream center falling in our lap’s and considering we are flams fans we know that wont happen?

Your thoughts on the process?

[Enoch Root]

IMO, the best way to improve the team is to continue on the current course, being: sell vets as their contracts mature, and stockpile picks. Don't 'buy' as the team is still too far away from contending.

Over the course of the next two or three years, if we continue to focus on the draft, and continue to develop the youth, we should have enough pieces to see where we are, and whether it is time to sart adding, and trading, in order to take things to the next level.

[D as in David]

If the rumours are true about a return to the game this season for Jonathan Toews, sign him to replace Rooney. If the Flames fall out of the race, tell him that he'll get traded to a playoff-bound team.

ETA: Only sign him for this year.

[Burning Beard]

Draft and make as many picks as possible. Keep developing the way they have been.

[kyuss275]

Stay the course. Would be nice/Doable if they could add a better 4th line center short term.

[Finger Cookin]

It's out of my hands.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Keep drafting and developing. I am not against trading Ras, but I think it more likely at the draft or next year, depending on the market. Avoid long-term commitments to UFA's who are in the 29-30 age range (including Ras). Spend some UFA money to plug holes and on shorter show-me deals. Give the kids a chance to prove themselves. Profit.

[NegativeSpace]

I don't know why on earth Conroy would make any trades but selling the UFAs he has at the deadline unless it is a total over-pay that he can't say no to. The team has beat all expectations and continues to push towards the post-season. Let the team and coaches cook and re-evaluate how the team is in the off-season.

Coronato, Zary, Wolf, and others will only benefit by being in a playoff race this early in their careers. It will make them hungrier and more focused on improving for next season and the seasons after that. As the AHL and CHL teams seasons end, the prospects can come see an NHL playoff drive. The young players see how to improve and what it takes at this level, which pushes the players beneath them to improve, and so on after that. Developing a strong pipeline of talent incoming only benefits the Flames.

It seems to me that Conroy wants to build an organizational pipeline rather than necessarily placing all his chips on selecting the top picks. I'm both excited and intrigued to see how this experiment turns out.

[FlamesAddiction]

Need to somehow acquire high first round picks, like top 5. Or find a way to acquire young players worthy of that pedigree who are before their prime or just entering it.

Because honestly, you need those types of players. Doesn't matter how you get them, but you need them. If tanking is off the table, it really only leaves trades as an option.

You can hope to draft those players later in the draft, but hope isn't exactly a plan.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Need to somehow acquire high first round picks, like top 5. Or find a way to acquire young players worthy of that pedigree who are before their prime or just entering it.

Because honestly, you need those types of players. Doesn't matter how you get them, but you need them. If tanking is off the table, it really only leaves trades as an option.

You can hope to draft those players later in the draft, but hope isn't exactly a plan.

Im still chewing through this draft but it seems to be not as deep as last year. If we pick in the twenties and someone the team likes is in the teens this year would be a good one to move up i think.

[NegativeSpace]

In my opinion, if the team stays away from post-apex free agents, focuses on acquiring picks and drafting well regardless of where the pick is located, and builds a strong development pipeline then the team has done what it can. Where they finish in the standings and where they draft are not within management's control.

[Rhett44]

If you want a better team : trades, hitting on some mid to late picks, developing younger players.

If you want a contender: tank and draft in the top 4 at least once. And then build around those players.

[traptor]

We're going to have to really depend on scouting (amateur and pro) and development.

We might not getting any top picks this time around with Wolf and how insulated we are with vets (Especially if they re-sign Rasmus).

Identifying under valued players and developing prospects is how we're going to have to do it.

Hopefully we hit a couple more home run with some prospect or in a trade.

[SutterBrother]

We lack 2/3rds of a first line and top 2 D that you would need to win a cup.

Elite goaltending and a tight system cover a lot of regular season warts.

Stay the course, trade every vet ruthlessly (like Vegas) and weaponize the f-ck out of cap space.

This is the way.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Thoughts and prayers.

[InternationalVillager]

Wait for a Jack Eichel type hail mary.

Stockpile assets until then.

This team is destined not to be able to draft a #1C through the draft.

[All In Good Time]

Lose 55+ games a year for the next 4 years
Win the lottery at least 3 times
Miraculously reverse the losing culture at that point and become repeat champions
Just like the Oilers
Wait…

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Lose 55+ games a year for the next 4 years
Win the lottery at least 3 times
Miraculously reverse the losing culture at that point and become repeat champions
Just like the Oilers
Wait…

I think the Oiler comparison is unfair. The have incompetent management and poor vets. It’s harder to turn that around plus being in Edmonton.

Other teams have turned it around. You need to bring in strong young players like Toews, kopitar, Crosby, MacKinnon those type of leaders even Hedman in Tampa. Guys that can take over the team from the older guys leaving.

We are doing that to an extent, but you have to commit to moving those guys out when it’s time not sign them.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

I think the Oiler comparison is unfair. The have incompetent management and poor vets. It’s harder to turn that around plus being in Edmonton.

Other teams have turned it around. You need to bring in strong young players like Toews, kopitar, Crosby, MacKinnon those type of leaders even Hedman in Tampa. Guys that can take over the team from the older guys leaving.

We are doing that to an extent, but you have to commit to moving those guys out when it’s time not sign them.

Yeah
My post was very tongue in cheek.
Im in the “stay the course, move vets, build through the draft patiently” crowd.
I can’t stomach the thought of “tanking” in hopes of winning a lottery.
Building sensibility/honesty, reward effort, let the lotteries fall as they may and deal with problems as they arise

[Mickey76]

So if we look at the last 3 “sorta dynasties” we have Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tampa. They used number 1-3 overall picks as the foundation of their teams. Kucherov is a bit of an exception but Stamkos is still there as the second best player. . 1-2-3 overall picks were why these teams were what they were. LA is the last semi dominant team to win being an exception to this rule. I honestly don’t put a ton of value on a late round first round pick, there just aren’t that many that develop into game changers. We need one or two 1-3 picks in a year there are great players available. I don’t see us climbing into a cup contender without this.