[News] Darren Dreger: "I’m confused by the direction of the Calgary Flames."

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by RyZ

. I would rather play all the young guys all year and finish 29th than play some reclaimation projects and get the 6th overall pick while a Winnipeg or Edmonton gets a "generational" talent.

The problem with this is that we can play all the young guys and finish close to last... or we can play all the young guys and finish 22nd - 27th. Who knows what will happen?

On the flip side of the coin, we could go with a more veteran lineup and send all the kids down and finish close to last... or we could see a more veteran lineup slightly over achieve and end up 22nd - 27th.

No one has any idea how it's going to go down and you or Dreger acting like there's a formula is really puzzling. Whether we ice a younger or more veteran lineup, how terri-bad other teams are vs. a couple hot or cold streaks could see us finish anywhere among the ten worst teams give or take. There are just too many variables at play.

[badger89]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

I used to want us to lose to pick up a top pick. Specifically MacKinnon. I was on the whole no winnin' for MacKinnon bandwagon. But I dont think its good, especially now that we have players with the big club who will play a significant role in the future of the team. Brodie, Backlund, Baertschi, Gaudreau, Granlund, Ferland, will all be playing on the Flames at some point in the season and if we are being owned 4-0 every night its A) not a good way to learn IMO. B) Kills confidence (important with youngsters) C) It will ruin our teams reputation and ability to land big FA's when we need to down the road. D) Its very oiler-like and if you ask me its part of the reason Hall, Eberle, Yakupov, RNH and a few others havent been as good as they should have been in the NHL thus far.

I would LOVE McDavid, or Eichel. But Hanfin, or Kylington will be just fine if the choice is building a losing environment and basically the equivalent cheating imo - trying intentonally to do worse than you can, to be rewarded after the season with a higher rated young player.

In short - players like Ekblad, Mackinnon, McDavid - they dont come around often and they do make me drool just imagining them on our team...but its NOT WORTH IT. Especially since a lot of times in a deep draft; guys like Monahan, Bennett and Drouin, etc and others who go just after the top 2-3 picks turn out to be the best players in the draft. Who knows what will happen. Lets not lose on purpose though. Thats no good.

Yeah, Colorado is really regretting that. I hate tanking as much as anyone, but getting a high draft pick at the right time can turn around a franchise. This year is that time (best draft in ages), so I'd rather draft top 4 than battle for the last playoff spot.

[terminator]

Dreger?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by badger89

Yeah, Colorado is really regretting that. I hate tanking as much as anyone, but getting a high draft pick at the right time can turn around a franchise. This year is that time (best draft in ages), so I'd rather draft top 4 than battle for the last playoff spot.

We will. But we'll do it with honour.

[burn_this_city]

Given the new draft lottery odds stinking it up on purpose is risky.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by terminator

Dreger?

[badger89]

Originally Posted by driveway

Having the best player in the league, and the best goalie in the league will go a looooong way to helping you in the playoffs.


I don't understand why everyone is jumping on Dreger. He's right, this year, this specific year, is not the one to make short-term improvements.

We're rebuilding, play in the deepest conference hockey's seen in ... God, decades? And are looking at two or three of the best draft picks in the last five years being available.

The idea of building a culture is important, but culture doesn't win. Players win, and the best players win more.

If I could thank this post 100 times I would. It is important to build a winning culture, but players win championships and this is the best draft in 20 years.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Aaron Ekblad is 18 years old and hasn't even played an NHL game yet. You somehow expected him to completely change around an entire franchise on his own?

Conner McDavid is 17 and hasn't played an NHL game but this whole argument is based around diving for him.

Even Crosby can't do it by himself. Having the best player can be nice, but it really means dick all if you don't surround them with quality players with a range of skills.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Dreger is an over-rated blowhard. The only "insider" I can remotely respect is Bob McKenzie. Yeah, what an idiot Treliving is trying to improve his club. Tanking has a 100% success rate, just look at that special team up north. Even the last generational player drafted only has one cup, 8 years later. You know who has more cups, non-generational players such as Toews, Kane, and Kopitar. I'm so sick of this total bull---- about how to properly build a dynasty. I'd rather cheer for a team that tries to improve every year and drafts/develops whomever is available at whatever draft spot they might be. Obvious tanking is so disrespectful to your fans and just plain idiotic as the worst team in the league only has a 25% chance of getting first overall. Couldn't be happier with our management team and the direction they're taking.

Well said. Mirrors my thoughts exactly.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by badger89

If I could thank this post 100 times I would. It is important to build a winning culture, but players win championships and this is the best draft in 20 years.

You show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.

[Weitz]

I'm usually more negative than most on the flames..

But Dreger? Really?

The guy who is an insider cause his cousin is the GM of Toronto? Come on.

[mile]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Dreger is an over-rated blowhard. The only "insider" I can remotely respect is Bob McKenzie. Yeah, what an idiot Treliving is trying to improve his club. Tanking has a 100% success rate, just look at that special team up north. Even the last generational player drafted only has one cup, 8 years later. You know who has more cups, non-generational players such as Toews, Kane, and Kopitar. I'm so sick of this total bull---- about how to properly build a dynasty. I'd rather cheer for a team that tries to improve every year and drafts/develops whomever is available at whatever draft spot they might be. Obvious tanking is so disrespectful to your fans and just plain idiotic as the worst team in the league only has a 25% chance of getting first overall. Couldn't be happier with our management team and the direction they're taking.

Great post.

[taco.vidal]

Agree. Plus the variability of the new draft lottery. Dregger is no good.

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

The problem with this is that we can play all the young guys and finish close to last... or we can play all the young guys and finish 22nd - 27th. Who knows what will happen?

On the flip side of the coin, we could go with a more veteran lineup and send all the kids down and finish close to last... or we could see a more veteran lineup slightly over achieve and end up 22nd - 27th.

No one has any idea how it's going to go down and you or Dreger acting like there's a formula is really puzzling. Whether we ice a younger or more veteran lineup, how terri-bad other teams are vs. a couple hot or cold streaks could see us finish anywhere among the ten worst teams give or take. There are just too many variables at play.

[badger89]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I would argue that the L.A. Kings don't have the best player in the league at any position except arguably goaltender. They do have very good players at many positions, and have one of the toughest team dynamics of any team. That's why they win over the Blackhawks, the Sharks, the Blues etc.

You need good players, not the best players.

They arguably have a top 3 goaltender and top 3 (if not best) D-man. Just saying.

[Dr. Doom]

That is really bad analysis, I'm disappointed...

He almost has a point deeply entrenched in a sloth of inaccurate assumptions that clearly show a lack of following for the Flames pre-season player developments.

And he even states that point wrong. It's not about weather the Flames should tank or not - it's more about weather to keep the kids up and be a. 500 team (or with surprises slightly above) or send them down and by product of that let them develop but also be in the sweepstakes come draft time.

Overall unimpressed and as an "insider" clearly he should stick to his inside relationship with the Leads as its his obvious forte.

[dammage79]

not sure what TSN has against the Flames, But LEbrun had some pretty similar idiotic remarks the other day too on "Are the Flames Rushing Sam Bennett".


There's a whole bunch of stupid flying around TSN at the moment. But what else is new.

[Ashasx]

The only ones on TSN giving the Flames any praise are McKenzie and Button, and one of them is the brother of our head scout.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The only ones on TSN giving the Flames any praise are McKenzie and Button, and one of them is the brother of our head scout.

Not entirely true, I've heard Ward and Johnson (now with Sportsnet) praise the Flames as well. It's Oiler/Leaf homers like Dreger and Ferraro that constantly harp on the Flames, for really unknown reasons in some cases.

[sa226]

I don't really buy into the whole "Homer" thing with national media. Some guys are just a bit more professional than others.

What I will say is that off the top of my head only Bob Mckenzie and Eric Duhatchek, maybe Hrudey as well when he was an analyst, are guys who don't sensationalize anything just because they are in front of a camera.

That whole "Thats Hockey" Segment with Lebrun and Biron was a bit ridiculous, but they're just trying to make "sound bites" for television. Dreger does it, Kypreos does it. Some of the other clowns do it. Francis personifies it.

I just wish some of the talking heads would realize that the average Canadian hockey fan is actually quite smart and doesn't need this exaggerated crap to be entertained.

[calgarybornnraised]

Lebrun said Gio should have been in the top 50.