What should we absolutely NOT screw up going forward?

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I think trading Markstrom now would be good asset management. It’s trading him at his highest value where as trading Vladar would be trading him at his lowest value. As mentioned before, Vladar tends to play better when playing more frequently. With Wolf playing as his backup next year, Vladar can be used to shelter Wolf a bit in his first year. If Vladar turns into a decent starter next year, his value only goes up. If Wolf continues his development and still looks to be the flames future starter, you could trade Vladar at an inflated value. If Vladar struggles next year as a starter, I doubt you get any less value than he is right now.

It’s all about asset management right now.

I can't believe there's someone here who actually gets it rather than just bring up the whole frickin AHL team and throw them into the fire and see if they burn or thrive!

[dino7c]

Sign Kylington to a fair deal all around...basically just the same deal

[GreenLantern2814]

Don’t bungle the 1st round of the draft.

Their own pick is going to be top-10 at worst - whoever it is needs to become top-6F/top-4D. Flubbing this would be devastating.

Theyre also likely to have two additional 1st round picks. One of those two needs to hit - they can’t afford another Poirier/Klimchuk debacle.

If one of them could be a superstar in waiting, so much the better.

But they can’t be nobodies.

[Number 39]

Compared to what the Flames traditionally do perhaps the George Costanza approach makes sense.

“If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right”

[Infinit47]

Be patient and don't try to rush the final stages of the rebuild.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Be patient and don't try to rush the final stages of the rebuild.

They haven’t even started the rebuild yet, how did they already get to rushing the end?

[The Original FFIV]

Move 88 for whatever you can. Make room for a wrangler.

[Finger Cookin]

We should win games. Every game is an opportunity to not screw up. Don't screw up, win. Never lose again.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

They haven’t even started the rebuild yet, how did they already get to rushing the end?

Not the Flames specifically, but lots of teams try to short the end of the rebuild as soon as things start looking good at all. Start signing UFA's to bolster the lineup instead of staying the course of building from within.

[NewFan]

Needs draft top 3 two years in a row.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Don't fall in love with your own players and over evaluate them. Matthew Tkachuck and Johnny Gaudreau were star players. But no one else was. You want to be careful about having too many players on long term deals around the same time.

Super important point. Need that flexibility for sure but have to lock up your young stars. Mangiapane is a good example of not being a core piece but at least we did not signing him to really long term.

BTs insistence on icing a team right at cap ceiling gave him no flexibility with Tkachuk to sign the long term deal. Perhaps with Tkachuk there was no inkling at the time that he wanted out and was playing BT for a bridge deal. But that bridge deal was a big mistake. Tkachuk was undeniably a core piece at the time. Already the second or third best player in that draft year.

I have always wondered what is truly "core". Is it 4 untouchables or more?

Elite center, elite winger, elite 1D, elite goalie?

Maybe 7. If you add another 2C, W, 2D.

If your entry level guy is clearly one of those 7. Got to try and get that 8 year deal I think.

Would be interesting to look back and see how often that approach was a big fail.

[GullFoss]

I think the flames have to realize that draft picks slotted for key roles won't all work out due to injuries, randomness of development, etc. The best way to overcome this risk is to overdraft core players prior to exiting the rebuild. The flames need to overbuild

From the last rebuild, Monahan had his career derailed by injury and Bennett didn't develop as expected. So from their core players of Bennett, Monahan, Tkachuk, Johnny.... 2/4 came up short. Then with the Flames Chuckie broke his wrist/hand in round 1 of 2022.

Redo that playoffs with a Bennett that developed as expected, a healthy Monahan and a non-injured Tkachuk. It ends up completely differently and they can probably adjust better if Johnny/Tkachuk want out in the off-season.

If the flames had rebuilt for another 2 seasons, they get two more core pieces to offset Bennett and Monahan

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by blankall

Wolf is nowhere close to being a starter, or, honestly, even a full time backup. He needs more NHL games, but not too many.

The overall plan is a bit of a tough call. If you go full scorched earth you risk losing out on Pelletier, Zary, Coronato, etc's... prime years. The team actually has a great group of prospects and young players. In fact, the best I can remember. The team also has great depth, particularly on defence.

The team is obviously missing star power.

The plan should be to move out Lindholm, Tanev, and possibly Hanifin. Maybe Coleman, Kadri, and Backlund, but only if there are good offers.

Then you load up on as many picks and young players (see Sharingovich) as you can over the next couple of years. Don't sign any of our vets, and hope the Flames can turn it around quickly.

Sign Kylington. He looked like he belongs in the NHL, despite missing so much time. Plus d-men last a lot longer than most forwards seem to these days.

Wolf isn't even close to a backup? We have different definitions of "close".

[browna]

There is also a balance of not letting things go too far off the rails, like it or not.

That doesn't come necessarily with bad results for a year or two for a semi rebuilding team, but it goes with the way that semi rebuild occurs, as it relates to communication to the players that will be here through that, and for the UFAs and other available players and convincing the types of players (and agents) you need to come to Calgary the next couple of years.

Treliving's predecessor RUINED the reputation the Flames had with agents and other GM's. Sutter as GM hs the Flames positioned in that regard as no nonsense, fair, and the players were stood behind by the organization when they came here. When the "say whatever it takes" windbag undermined him and then got the full time gig, that went away quickly. No one liked or trusted anything said around the league. The O'Reilly saga was really the perfect if the incompetentance, and then his rushed reutnr (and the organization stepped in to assist because they did trust him) for the returns for Iginla and Bouemeester were a joke. The joke that the Flames has become things to that idiot, forced Edwards to first try and get Shanahan, and when his wife turned the offer, further forced Edwards to basically write a blank offer to Burke to fill in, to bring back the reputation of the Flames within the circle of GMs and agents.

Now, of course I don't see that happening here with the GM, but point is the Flames have to manage this change the right way to be able to continue to attract the types of players the need as part of the semi rebuild. Also they'll have players they signed like Kadri, Weeger, and Huberdeau, who will have to go through this, who have agents that you'll need to keep happy (as those agents have other clients if theirs). They'll have currentl players they will want to extend, going through this.

What will help immensely as a light at the end of the tunnel is a new rink and new facilities.

Regardless, the Flames have to properly handle this mini rebuild on the ice with letting younher players develop on their own but also with the right mentorship of other players in those positions or in leadership roles. It's why the Oilers besides McDavid , fsiled. They expect Yakupov, Hall and other top picks to just make the leap to the NHL and do it alone. Even Drisital would be somewhere else now if McDavid didn't come along a couple years after. The young players have to be supported by the organization as well off the ice, and, the organization has to still be able to bring players in to help that development process.

And that development process doesn't mean automatically "learn to lose so you learn to win" either...properly executed and with some luck, the down/development times aren't as down or take along as expected...so that's the goal with a mini rebuild. Have the right mix of like minded veterans that can still win games and help younger players develop quicker than a set of uninterested vets looking to collect a pay check.
It's a fine balance, but it starts with a strong organization with a plan, and can communicate that plan to the current players, potential players (and agents) and do their best to play well and develop the team over a couple years into a contender. Flames didn't have that stability internally with the last mini rebuild in the mid 2010s and it cost them extra years, they have to nail this one so by the time they are in the new building, all is trending up.

[cam_wmh]

Draft Tij & Joe.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Needs draft top 3 two years in a row.

I unfortunately don't see the Flames getting to the top 3 unless Markstrom is moved. I think the Flames can get #6 overall this year if they move Lindholm and Tanev, might be top 5 next year. If Markstrom is moved now, then #6 this year, and top 3 the next year, and anything beyond that depends on how the team develops. If, for example, Wolf finds a way to be successful at the NHL level, like he has been at other levels, the team is not getting a top 3 pick two years in a row.

[Spurs]

The main thing we cannot screw up is choosing to try to retool and not rebuild. This team is not set up for a retool in anyway. We have zero elite or even very good/great talent, especially up front. Nobody on the team or in the system is a 1st line player and the defense lacks a true #1 for a contending team. The most likely way to get those is from drafting in the top 5, ideally top 3 of the draft. Trying to retool and hope that we get lucky getting those drafting around 10th and hitting on gems later in the draft is a terrible way to try and build a contender. A rebuild is far from a guarantee that we win or compete for the Cup but with how we are set up it is by far the best way forward for us.

A retool will most likely have us ending up in the same situation we are in now trying to compete for 8th and hoping for the fantasy of "anything can happen if you get in."

[Gaskal]

I suppose the shortlist for me is,

Don't try to pretend there's a window when it's not there
Don't let superstars walk for free (aka, don't get Johnny'd)
Don't be tempted into making big splashes on July 1
Don't trade picks for career AHLers
Give the youngsters some rope on the ice but rein them in off of it

Afterthought:
Face punchers are good but not if you're going to play them more than 5 min a game

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Needs draft top 3 two years in a row.

I think a top 5 pick, 2 out of 3 years would suffice.

[calumniate]

Mankini for Celibrini

Oh wait this is the what not to do thread? Now I'm confused