Duha article - Flames spinning their wheels?

[dash]

Normally, I think Eric D is spot on with his analysis, but I think he misses the mark here, especially with his conclusion. The model Edmonton has adopted has worked time and time again, eh? Shall we ask fans in Atlanta, Florida, and Columbus how well it has worked? Personally, I prefer the Detroit and New Jersey models myself (i.e. trying to win year in and year out with strong management, great scouting and smart personnel decisions).

Long-term, the model that Edmonton adopted has worked time and again, provided the team makes enough smart choices at the draft table. By contrast, the blueprint that Calgary follows generally results in year after year of frustration and has the ability to delude you into thinking you’re better than you actually are.

Choose for yourself which way you’d rather go – trading short-term pain for long-term gain the way Edmonton has, or following Calgary’s approach? That involves endlessly spinning your wheels, better than some, but never quite good enough to challenge the high-end clubs, with the big-time talent, for the hardware that really matters to players and fans alike, the Stanley Cup.

Signing Hall important step for Oilers - The Globe and Mail

 

[mooger_35]

the blueprint that Calgary follows generally results in year after year of frustration and has the ability to delude you into thinking you’re better than you actually are.

Well at least that sounds right...

 

[Automattic]

I wasn't aware that Edmontons short term pain has been traded in. Unless long term gain refers to the number of years on everybodies contracts all added up.

 

[Dupster]

I'm not sure what Edmonton's "long-term gain" has been since the Oilers dynasty dismantling. They kept Doug Weight around a year or two more than expected, but that's about it. They can have the best drafts in the world, doesn't change the fact that most significant UFA's will be looking elsewhere when the RFA contract is up.

 

[dash]

Well at least that sounds right...

I don't think any kind of scorched earth rebuild of the Flames will occur without shipping out Iggy and Kipper. Maybe that should happen sooner rather than later (and with a GM that can fetch high draft picks/high end prospects), but the other side of that coin is I think the majority of the Flames fans also don't want to go through four consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs like the Oilers.

Edit: That's a tough message to send to your season ticket base as well.

 

[pixburgher66]

soooo...their new plan is to get lucky then?

 

[Automattic]

soooo...their new plan is to get lucky then?

Don't laugh. That's been my plan for about 18 to 20 years now...

 

[Automattic]

My problem with the Oilers is, looking at their draft picks over the last ten years. Their first round picks have been easy for the most part. (a couple forward picks were questionable) The years they dicked off 1st round picks provided nothing in return. Drafting in the later rounds has sucked. Who's panned out? Lombardi, and...I guess Stortini makes a good mascot.

 

[awaz]

i would rather my team be pretty competitive year in and year out.. like the devils, or the flyers, sabres, bruins, and habs (can you tell i'm from the east?).. teams that consistently go to the playoffs and go deep fairly often.. teams that put themselves in position to compete for the cup year in and year out.. rather than loading up on draft picks and taking 5-6 years to accumulate talent (aka suck.) and then have a cup winning run like the hawks (see Summer of 2010 mass exodus)..

i'd rather be able to intently follow hockey and have multiple heart attacks a week in april, may and june consistently, then to have 1 glorious run per decade

only thing with that is, in the cap era teams are locking guys up long term, so taking those 5 or so years to accumulate talent, if done correctly, can win you the cup and then keep you competitive afterwards (see Pittsburgh).. only problem with that is it gives opposing fan-bases ammunition when your team does succeed

and the problem with the flames, is they are consistent, but consistently in competition to make the playoffs, not really go deep.. (is that a fair assesment?, not trying to knock the flames but thats the way it seems to me)

 

[dash]

and the problem with the flames, is they are consistent, but consistently in competition to make the playoffs, not really go deep.. (is that a fair assesment?, not trying to knock the flames but thats the way it seems to me)

Yeah, I think that's very fair, they have some very good pieces, but they just can't get them to gel together at the right time in order to put together a playoff run (or even make the playoffs last season). Defense and goaltending still looks good to me, will this team be able to score goals is still the unanswered question.

 

[awaz]

this is just me being curious.. but what do the flames do at the draft? i cant remember any of their picks of late, and i dont recall any recently drafted young studs playing for them in a long time, especially offensively.. they did draft phaneuf though if memory serves.. and didnt they have nabakov and toskala at a younger ages?

i feel bad for iggy i feel like he's out there alone as far as offense goes.. he's gotta look at a bunch of decent guys, and hope that one has a breakthrough season

EDIT: and they have mikael backlund now i think? he's supposed to be a solid player

 

[dash]

this is just me being curious.. but what do the flames do at the draft? i cant remember any of their picks of late, and i dont recall any recently drafted young studs playing for them in a long time, especially offensively.. they did draft phaneuf though if memory serves.. and didnt they have nabakov and toskala at a younger ages?

i feel bad for iggy i feel like he's out there alone as far as offense goes.. he's gotta look at a bunch of decent guys, and hope that one has a breakthrough season

EDIT: and they have mikael backlund now i think? he's supposed to be a solid player

They didn't have a pick this year until round 3 (pick 64 overall) due to trades etc. in previous years. Mikael Backlund does look good, and Tim Erixon (1st round pick in last year's draft) looks to have good potential as well. Unfortunately, the Flames drafting history from the early 90's to present day has been a combination of poor selections and bad luck/horrible tragedy (two draft picks died).

 

[awaz]

thanks dash.. i've decided i need to know a little more about the west, watch a few more games this year.. i know enough about the east, gotta balance it out a little bit