It all starts from drafting.
- Reubenkincade

Well the Flames fluked their way to a Stanley Cup in '89 with something like less than 10 players on that cup winning club were actually drafted by the franchise. It's a building block to be sure but not the be-all-end-all for a championship.

BPA Swede.
- VanHockeyGuy

I don’t mind the Aman-Lockwood swap


Aman has fallen off over the past month or so. Issue with Lockwood is his consistency and two-way play but he’s had some PK reps in the AHL this season so maybe he can stick this time around. Can’t hurt to try. He’s also more physical than Aman

There’s rumours that he refuses to rebuild due to his ageing father being a Canucks fan. It’s a an uncomfortable thing to say but we may have to wait until he’s passed on for FA to take a more long term approach with the team.


Sad part is that this team could’ve potentially been a good one by now if FA did embrace a long term view back when Benning first took over.

I think people forget the team wanted to keep Kesler, he wanted out despite Benning asking him to change his mind. The plan was never to rebuild.

It’s similar with Bo now, Plan A is to sign him long term. Trading him is Plan B
- Nucker101

I can tell you Luigi Aquilini doesn't GAF about hockey, he considers watching a game "idle time".

I can tell you Luigi Aquilini doesn't GAF about hockey, he considers watching a game "idle time".
- VanHockeyGuy

So FA is just dumb then


Back to my “let’s all pretend that we want a re-tool on the fly forever to mind (frank) him” strategy .

Slurpers when VAN is playing 500 hockey...

There’s rumours that he refuses to rebuild due to his ageing father being a Canucks fan. It’s a an uncomfortable thing to say but we may have to wait until he’s passed on for FA to take a more long term approach with the team.


Sad part is that this team could’ve potentially been a good one by now if FA did embrace a long term view back when Benning first took over.

I think people forget the team wanted to keep Kesler, he wanted out despite Benning asking him to change his mind. The plan was never to rebuild.

It’s similar with Bo now, Plan A is to sign him long term. Trading him is Plan B
- Nucker101

I'm still hoping Plan A is trading Miller. It's pretty clear the guy thinks he's above the team.

I’ll probably start looking into these things in May/June, don’t care enough at this point lol
- Nucker101

I have been doing this for over 40 years, old habits are hard to break.

I'm still hoping Plan A is trading Miller. It's pretty clear the guy thinks he's above the team.
- Load Management

Zero chance he's getting traded anytime soon so I wouldn't hold your breath


That ship sailed once that contract was signed.

The (frank)ed up part was they went from close to trading him at the draft to extending him for 7 years a couple of months later

McDonough?
- Nighthawk

IKR, he's a stud and not worth talking about?

I don’t mind the Aman-Lockwood swap


Aman has fallen off over the past month or so. Issue with Lockwood is his consistency and two-way play but he’s had some PK reps in the AHL this season so maybe he can stick this time around. Can’t hurt to try. He’s also more physical than Aman
- Nucker101

Lockwood should have made the team I think.

He had a strong showing at the end of last season. Had a good camp/preseason. Off to Abby he went...

Zero chance he's getting traded anytime soon so I wouldn't hold your breath


That ship sailed once that contract was signed.

The (frank)ed up part was they went from close to trading him at the draft to extending him for 7 years a couple of months later
- Nucker101

Management overestimating the value of their players, kinda like most of the fans.

There’s rumours that he refuses to rebuild due to his ageing father being a Canucks fan. It’s a an uncomfortable thing to say but we may have to wait until he’s passed on for FA to take a more long term approach with the team.


Sad part is that this team could’ve potentially been a good one by now if FA did embrace a long term view back when Benning first took over.

I think people forget the team wanted to keep Kesler, he wanted out despite Benning asking him to change his mind. The plan was never to rebuild.

It’s similar with Bo now, Plan A is to sign him long term. Trading him is Plan B
- Nucker101

No probs resigning Bo imo. It’s wingers that need to move.

Well the Flames fluked their way to a Stanley Cup in '89 with something like less than 10 players on that cup winning club were actually drafted by the franchise. It's a building block to be sure but not the be-all-end-all for a championship.
- LordHumungous

Was that the famous bs Otto goal against us? Idk if I got that right.

I don’t mind the Aman-Lockwood swap


Aman has fallen off over the past month or so. Issue with Lockwood is his consistency and two-way play but he’s had some PK reps in the AHL this season so maybe he can stick this time around. Can’t hurt to try. He’s also more physical than Aman
- Nucker101

Agree & time to give call ups a chance & see what they got. The PK is a HUGE sore spot.

So FA is just dumb then


Back to my “let’s all pretend that we want a re-tool on the fly forever to mind (frank) him” strategy .
- Nucker101

I’m fine with a retool as long as cap space is gained & players not in the picture in 2-3yrs are gone. So it has to be fairly extensive not a tear down though.

No probs resigning Bo imo. It’s wingers that need to move.
- Nighthawk

He's evolved into a great player, no arguments from me. But this team just won't be contending during the rest of his prime in my opinion so logically it made sense to trade Miller and him. I know some people disagree because they're afraid the team will suck, but it sucks anyway so give me the cap flexibility and draft picks/prospect ammo instead because sticking with this core has yet to pay dividends.


Seems like this city(Owner/GM/Media/fans) all have a tough time letting go of players even if it's the right thing to do. Not like there won't be opportunities in the future for this team to draft/trade/sign good players in the future.

I'm still hoping Plan A is trading Miller. It's pretty clear the guy thinks he's above the team.
- Load Management

If not traded then linemates that can pack him on the D side. Miky+

I’m fine with a retool as long as cap space is gained & players not in the picture in 2-3yrs are gone. So it has to be fairly extensive not a tear down though.
- Nighthawk

The way this team views re-tooling, cap space is not valued. They've been right up or near the cap every single year despite icing very flawed teams every year. That's actually hard to do on purpose.


Lets hope they change their strategy from here on out, but again not holding my breath.

Management overestimating the value of their players, kinda like most of the fans.
- Reubenkincade

I disagree with Nucker. I think he's still tradeable. He's just lost the expiring contract charm that contending teams like around the TDL.

Zero chance he's getting traded anytime soon so I wouldn't hold your breath


That ship sailed once that contract was signed.

The (frank)ed up part was they went from close to trading him at the draft to extending him for 7 years a couple of months later
- Nucker101

I didn’t like the rumoured return. I’m 30/70 on the contract but would be ok if the roster was structured better. The D has to much cap tied up in it & the value there just sucks. Cannot wait for Myers gone & his cap hit. OEL is a hurdle we are stuck with I’m afraid cuz giving assets up to move him doesn’t make sense. Oh well.

IKR, he's a stud and not worth talking about?

- boonerbuck

Lol

I figure he’s low risk cheap & mature & could maybe be a 3C or at least push the competition on the wing. I wonder how his 200’ game is. Really think Garland is the one to move & the easiest.

He's evolved into a great player, no arguments from me. But this team just won't be contending during the rest of his prime in my opinion so logically it made sense to trade Miller and him. I know some people disagree because they're afraid the team will suck, but it sucks anyway so give me the cap flexibility and draft picks/prospect ammo instead because sticking with this core has yet to pay dividends.


Seems like this city(Owner/GM/Media/fans) all have a tough time letting go of players even if it's the right thing to do. Not like there won't be opportunities in the future for this team to draft/trade/sign good players in the future.
- Nucker101

Not against Miller & Bo gone but that would signify a tear down type scenario. I’m cool with it but I’d want the D remade fast. There is the big problem that still remains.

The way this team views re-tooling, cap space is not valued. They've been right up or near the cap every single year despite icing very flawed teams every year. That's actually hard to do on purpose.


Lets hope they change their strategy from here on out, but again not holding my breath.
- Nucker101

Cap is valuable & taking less in return on the surface is bad optics but idc cuz if done right it’s the way to go.

I'm still hoping Plan A is trading Miller. It's pretty clear the guy thinks he's above the team.
- Load Management

The Russel Wilson of the NHL…