This is a rebuild

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Reminds me of the Craig Button era.

Craig Button was arguably the worst GM in NHL history
So bad that nobody wanted him other than TSN

Conroy can not possibly replicate his performance

[Burning Beard]

Conroy seems to have a good read on the room and the players needed to slot in and be a good fit. It will be interesting to see how he approaches it. I don't see any reason for me to get upset if he chooses to go a different way than I personally would. I'm just some bozo posting on a Flames fan message board on a Sunday morning.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

If this is true, Flames are staying mediocre for a long time. Time to stock up draft picks make the picks and keep doing it for another few years.

I know this is the general consensus and I am not even saying I disagree. I am just saying what I have heard, this is definitely a retool on the fly and ownership wants a quick one at that. Unfortunately in the end it doesn't matter what we want or even if Conroy and the rest of management sees it that way. Conroy's marching orders were to get the team into the playoffs this year, it will be the same for next year. So if you are Conroy you have to try and do that while also doing what you believe is best by getting younger, not an enviable position to be in.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Also, from everything I have heard when I look at the big picture this is absolutely not a rebuild. Maybe it should be but I think Conroy is going to deal a lot of that draft capital and other moves to get this team back in the playoffs as soon as possible. He won't use it on old aging vets but I expect he is going to bring in young pieces ready to contribute now. Everything I have heard indicates ownership wants a quick turnaround back to the playoffs.

Not what I want to hear but also not surprising if true.

Good luck building a legit, sustainable contender Connie if this is the direction from ownership.

[Bingo]

If the retool means moving draft capital for guys that are older and need to be re-signed it's a disaster.

If it's to bring in 22-24 year old players with term and talent it's not.

I think fans over react to the terms being used. I'm sure out of 4 hockey executives one of them will bring up the downside of being in the first lane.

[memphusk]

Whichever direction it goes this was the right start. Youth matters.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Craig Button was arguably the worst GM in NHL history
So bad that nobody wanted him other than TSN

Conroy can not possibly replicate his performance

Button gave us Conroy.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Bingo

If the retool means moving draft capital for guys that are older and need to be re-signed it's a disaster.

If it's to bring in 22-24 year old players with term and talent it's not.

I think fans over react to the terms being used. I'm sure out of 4 hockey executives one of them will bring up the downside of being in the first lane.

Agree.

The only thing I can really think about why ownership would want to muzzle the use of the phrase re-build is that it might push them into committing to truly large investments like say... construction of a new arena.

That ship is sailing, so I truly don't understand the aversion to using the term.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Bingo

If the retool means moving draft capital for guys that are older and need to be re-signed it's a disaster.

If it's to bring in 22-24 year old players with term and talent it's not.

I think fans over react to the terms being used. I'm sure out of 4 hockey executives one of them will bring up the downside of being in the first lane.

Yeah, sounds like Conroy might look to pull off a 2015 draft "Dougie Hamilton" type trade if one is out there.

I could see him going after Zegras in this manner, although I doubt Anaheim has much desire to deal him in division.

This isn't terrible but it could be a mistake long term. While Boston completely whiffed on the 1st and two 2nds they got from Tre for Hamilton, there were players there that could have been taken instead who would have been better long term for the franchise than Dougie was and might have even outlasted Lindholm/Hanifin as well.

[1qqaaz]

I just want to know how the team plans on acquiring an elite #1 center. No one will disagree that this is a near essential piece for winning a cup.

It's possible to get guys like Point, Miller, and Aho outside of the top 3 in a draft. But it's very rare and it's ridiculous to expect this kind of outcome.

Generally speaking, nearly all of the league's franchise centers were taken at the top of their respective drafts. And as good as Point, Miller, and Aho are, they are no Matthews, Crosby, MacKinnon, Hughes, McDavid, etc.

Mediocrity is closely correlated to a general lack of franchise centers. Calgary, Minnesota, Montreal, Columbus, Nashville, Ottawa, they've all been missing that piece for a while.

Next year's draft is quite a bit more center-heavy than this year's draft. We'll see how that plays out.

[Bingo]

Plus if the NHL is going more NBA ... players dictate where they want to play the Flames will need to be ruthless with contracts and constantly move out established players for younger assets.

If they draft and develop better than say 80% of teams the can compete.

But they will be a disadvantaged franchise going forward (along with a half dozen to ten others)

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Plus if the NHL is going more NBA ... players dictate where they want to play the Flames will need to be ruthless with contracts and constantly move out established players for younger assets.

If they draft and develop better than say 80% of teams the can compete.

But they will be a disadvantaged franchise going forward (along with a half dozen to ten others)

If only CGY born kids wanted play here the way Americans want to be in America or kids from TO want to be there.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If only CGY born kids wanted play here the way Americans want to be in America or kids from TO want to be there.

I bet a new arena changes a lot of the perception about playing here. If you are getting paid millions you also probably want to play in a nice cutting edge facility.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I bet a new arena changes a lot of the perception about playing here. If you are getting paid millions you also probably want to play in a nice cutting edge facility.

Hope so, might be able to keep the next core around assuming it's a good core.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I just want to know how the team plans on acquiring an elite #1 center. No one will disagree that this is a near essential piece for winning a cup.

It's possible to get guys like Point, Miller, and Aho outside of the top 3 in a draft. But it's very rare and it's ridiculous to expect this kind of outcome.

Generally speaking, nearly all of the league's franchise centers were taken at the top of their respective drafts. And as good as Point, Miller, and Aho are, they are no Matthews, Crosby, MacKinnon, Hughes, McDavid, etc.

Mediocrity is closely correlated to a general lack of franchise centers. Calgary, Minnesota, Montreal, Columbus, Nashville, Ottawa, they've all been missing that piece for a while.

Next year's draft is quite a bit more center-heavy than this year's draft. We'll see how that plays out.

Point has played in 8 seasons and has 2 cups. Matthews, Hughes, MacKinnon, McDavid have played in 33 seasons and have 1 Cup. Those guys need to actual win something before they can be compared to Point.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Point has played in 8 seasons and has 2 cups. Matthews, Hughes, MacKinnon, McDavid have played in 33 seasons and have 1 Cup. Those guys need to actual win something before they can be compared to Point.

Are you suggesting that Point is better than McKinnon because he had 1 more cup?

[Igottago]

I don't see how the Flames are going to be able to get truly elite/special players with this philosophy unless they get lucky, so good luck to them. Really like what Conroy has started to do here but the concern remains that this franchise doesn't have the mentality to truly accept some pain for better long term results. Its not like the Flames stocked up on a bunch of top 10 picks this year. What are they going to be able to bring in for late first rounders or 2nds?
I really hope the team just falls apart on the ice at this point of the season. Its better for the future of the organization.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Are you suggesting that Point is better than McKinnon because he had 1 more cup?

Maybe the idea is that you don't need a Matthews, Hughes, McKinnon, or McDavid to win a Cup.

Could be that it's a team sport. But I'm just spitballing here.

[Flamesfan05]

Point has Kucherov, Hedman and Vas

I would say they are in the class with McDavid, McKinnon, Matthews and Huges

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Point has Kucherov, Hedman and Vas

I would say they are in the class with McDavid, McKinnon, Matthews and Huges

Kucherov: drafted 58th overall.
Vasilevskiy: 19th.
Hedman: 2nd.

Apparently you don't need to win the lottery to get talented players. Which is what the argument has been about all along.