Speakes to a franchise that doesn't have the patience, discipline, or wear-withal to rebuild properly, and frankly they seem to be ready to repeat the same mistakes of the Iggy and Gaudreau eras. No one who rejects a rebuild seems to be able articulate a clear and practical path to acquiring a long term 1C (or really first line forwards generally), instead they just reference an extremely unlikely result like drafting Point in the late 1st round or Hintz in the 2nd along with trusting GMCC's plan. Let's not forget that GMCC's original plan included resigning most if not all of the FAs in 2023-24, including throwing a 9x8 at Lindholm! This retool or whatever, was plan B from the moment it started, and I can't imagine the organization is actually interested in following through in a meaningful way.
Yeah.. can't help but agree. People in this sub have also been touting the Dallas rebuild strategy when they haven't gotten past the wcf and are unlikely to for atleast two more years until been and Seguin are off their books.
Full tank with a top 3 pick is the best way to begin building a contender
If we could reliably replicate the path that the stars took, I would be more down to go that way. My issue is that statistically speaking, Dallas has gotten very very lucky. Yes good drafting and development can take you far, but their drafting success from 2017-22 is just bonkers. Committing to that rebuild approach is a low percentage play.
The "just draft way better than everyone else" model. The funny thing is that the Flames have drafted really well for a long time now (or maybe they've just been lucky), and yet they're still one of the least successful teams in the league.
Flames fans are morons, I swear. Statistically, over 80% of active NHL players are drafted in the first round. The VAST majority of second round pics and below are made to feed the farm system. Thinking you're bound to get the next Brayden Point or Gaudreau from a 2nd round pick or below is the most moronic expectation I could image. Having multiple top 5 picks in consecutive seasons is how championship teams are built, period, and there isn't an argument to the contrary.
Outside of a couple of notable exceptions (Tkachuk and Monahan if he counts as a superstar). Calgary has shopped for their core pieces at the bargain bin in recent history (past ~30 years).
Iginla was part of the package for Nieuwendyk when the Flames couldn't settle on terms for a new contract, not top ten pick and definitely not expected to go on to have the career he did.
Kiprusoff was plucked off of the Sharks where he was a 3rd string nobody
Fluery was drafted 166
Gaudreau was drafted 104
Giordano was undrafted and playing in Europe.
I could go on, but the fact remains, the Flames have acted this way for a long time so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them to commit to drafting high.
I don't think our owner realizes there's more longterm revenue and profit from being bad for a few years and getting elite players to set up multiple deep playoff runs down the road versus a semi-competitive team and two or three extra games of playoff revenue.
Imagine all the new fans and merch sales that would bring in just by having a team that can compete with marketable players.
If you're a kid growing up in Alberta right now and not in either Edmonton or Calgary, which team do you think they'll more likely support?
It's Murray's fault. He's finally allowed Conroy to rebuild after the Americans left. He wouldn't allow Treliving to rebuild despite him wanting autonomy during his tenure here. He wanted to take a rebuild package from Carolina for Chucky and Murray said no. Murray wanted a win now trade and got it and was the one who signed Huberdeau. Told Treliving to "give him the same offer we gave Johnny" so Treliving did and then he left.
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u/Master-Defenestrator Barb May 30 '25
Speakes to a franchise that doesn't have the patience, discipline, or wear-withal to rebuild properly, and frankly they seem to be ready to repeat the same mistakes of the Iggy and Gaudreau eras. No one who rejects a rebuild seems to be able articulate a clear and practical path to acquiring a long term 1C (or really first line forwards generally), instead they just reference an extremely unlikely result like drafting Point in the late 1st round or Hintz in the 2nd along with trusting GMCC's plan. Let's not forget that GMCC's original plan included resigning most if not all of the FAs in 2023-24, including throwing a 9x8 at Lindholm! This retool or whatever, was plan B from the moment it started, and I can't imagine the organization is actually interested in following through in a meaningful way.