Wind Changing the Fire Direction
Posted 8:20 PM ET | Comments 1
A few weeks ago I posed a question to my fellow flames fans “If the flames make the playoffs does the idea of a rebuild change?” This led to some heated discussions with some people throughout the thread that viewed the idea as completely ludicrous. For those who don’t know me I have a couple of values that I find to be very important, one never say something bad about someone without saying two good things after and two always try to hear both sides of the story. My point is that I truly value this site in that I can gain different perspectives from fans who watch the same games that I do, but may or may not have the same view or stand point that I do.
So back to the question which I must say; there appeared to be more people objecting to the notion of changing the rebuild philosophy and more or less staying the course. I respect that idea and fully expect that the management at this juncture in time will continue to mold this young team into what all us flames fans can already see as something special. Let the coaches continue to do their jobs let the scouts make there picks and let management sit back and enjoy the show.
My personal opinion is slightly different however, I would prefer that the flames try and move up in the draft In hopes of landing someone that maybe more NHL ready. Or target a player who might just need a change of scenery. This type of move has paid huge dividends to a team like Minnesota when they got Nino. Now I will not get into how this can be done because at the end of the day none of us “bloggers in our underwear in the basement” know what it would take to land player X. I am not saying go for the home run here by targeting Kessel or even recently hearing Milan Luicic. I am in favor of baby steps and this is why:
1. Mark Giordano will be 32 at the beginning of next season. I get that his age hasn’t caught up with him yet and I get that he will command a pay raise along with a few other guys. That’s why I would target the draft as a place to either move up or move a pick for an NHL ready player. Mark isn’t getting any younger and for anyone who’s hit the 30 mark knows that things start to hurt just from sleeping the wrong way.
2. This team has an abundance of centermen that could get on with some teams and start on their third line right away. Good problem to have, but at the end of the day, you will eventually have young players that will be knocking at the door and could potentially develop the same attitude that Sven Baertschi had. (Not saying Granlund does but just an example)
3. Back to GIO; this guy is in his prime and by prime I mean top 5 in the league arguably. We should try and get him some immediate help that he can either mentor the same way he worked wonders on Brodie.
4. This team isn’t perfect, there are players that don’t fit the long term plan. The players I’m talking about are the guys you like some games and then other games you find yourself telling him from your TV screen how you to play the game like you could do any better. Jones, Bollig, Raymond, Smid, England ECT
5. Cap is not an issue for this team. Yes players will command a pay raise but if I’m not mistaken we must be around second in the league as far as cap space is concerned with plenty of cap freeing up consistently.
6. One thing I criticized the mighty Oil for the last 15 years (I can’t remember when that rebuild started) was for talking the talk but never actually walking the talk!? “Next year we are going to be good,” “well if not this year… the year after that.” I’m not saying management is doing any chirping buy any stretch, as Muhamma Ali once said “He who is not courage’s enough to take a risks will accomplish nothing in life.” I don’t want to see this team regress and just because other teams do it doesn’t mean we will. I just don’t want us to sit in 17th place next year and say “anything can happen in the playoffs.”
7. This team is further ahead than most people give them credit for. Center position is stacked (knock on wood) our defense is so underrated. We have goalies playing for the team and coming up in the system with high promise. We have the Jack Adams, and Calder candidates! If we didn’t have an injury to one player the Norris trophy was potentially ours to. Serious hardware for a team 2 ½ years into a rebuild.
Whatever your view is on this topic I respect and don’t disagree as its been clearly working. Just don’t twist my words into the idea that I’m saying go for the home run or I’m trying to tweak a team in a similar fashion that Sutter had done. I’m saying that under the right circumstances when the sun is just right I’m in favor of making a move or two. One thing I can say is that I have faith that the management will make the right decision even if it’s not mine. Now how sweet is it to be getting ready to play some good old Canadian puck with another great Canadian organization! Go flames Go.
So back to the question which I must say; there appeared to be more people objecting to the notion of changing the rebuild philosophy and more or less staying the course. I respect that idea and fully expect that the management at this juncture in time will continue to mold this young team into what all us flames fans can already see as something special. Let the coaches continue to do their jobs let the scouts make there picks and let management sit back and enjoy the show.
My personal opinion is slightly different however, I would prefer that the flames try and move up in the draft In hopes of landing someone that maybe more NHL ready. Or target a player who might just need a change of scenery. This type of move has paid huge dividends to a team like Minnesota when they got Nino. Now I will not get into how this can be done because at the end of the day none of us “bloggers in our underwear in the basement” know what it would take to land player X. I am not saying go for the home run here by targeting Kessel or even recently hearing Milan Luicic. I am in favor of baby steps and this is why:
1. Mark Giordano will be 32 at the beginning of next season. I get that his age hasn’t caught up with him yet and I get that he will command a pay raise along with a few other guys. That’s why I would target the draft as a place to either move up or move a pick for an NHL ready player. Mark isn’t getting any younger and for anyone who’s hit the 30 mark knows that things start to hurt just from sleeping the wrong way.
2. This team has an abundance of centermen that could get on with some teams and start on their third line right away. Good problem to have, but at the end of the day, you will eventually have young players that will be knocking at the door and could potentially develop the same attitude that Sven Baertschi had. (Not saying Granlund does but just an example)
3. Back to GIO; this guy is in his prime and by prime I mean top 5 in the league arguably. We should try and get him some immediate help that he can either mentor the same way he worked wonders on Brodie.
4. This team isn’t perfect, there are players that don’t fit the long term plan. The players I’m talking about are the guys you like some games and then other games you find yourself telling him from your TV screen how you to play the game like you could do any better. Jones, Bollig, Raymond, Smid, England ECT
5. Cap is not an issue for this team. Yes players will command a pay raise but if I’m not mistaken we must be around second in the league as far as cap space is concerned with plenty of cap freeing up consistently.
6. One thing I criticized the mighty Oil for the last 15 years (I can’t remember when that rebuild started) was for talking the talk but never actually walking the talk!? “Next year we are going to be good,” “well if not this year… the year after that.” I’m not saying management is doing any chirping buy any stretch, as Muhamma Ali once said “He who is not courage’s enough to take a risks will accomplish nothing in life.” I don’t want to see this team regress and just because other teams do it doesn’t mean we will. I just don’t want us to sit in 17th place next year and say “anything can happen in the playoffs.”
7. This team is further ahead than most people give them credit for. Center position is stacked (knock on wood) our defense is so underrated. We have goalies playing for the team and coming up in the system with high promise. We have the Jack Adams, and Calder candidates! If we didn’t have an injury to one player the Norris trophy was potentially ours to. Serious hardware for a team 2 ½ years into a rebuild.
Whatever your view is on this topic I respect and don’t disagree as its been clearly working. Just don’t twist my words into the idea that I’m saying go for the home run or I’m trying to tweak a team in a similar fashion that Sutter had done. I’m saying that under the right circumstances when the sun is just right I’m in favor of making a move or two. One thing I can say is that I have faith that the management will make the right decision even if it’s not mine. Now how sweet is it to be getting ready to play some good old Canadian puck with another great Canadian organization! Go flames Go.
Excellent read...