So let’s be clear proper off the hop right here. This isn’t going to be a deeply researched submit, however I’ll have some extra stuff coming once I’ve shuffled by way of the receipts and made an actual case. That mentioned, we’re in a tragic state of affairs right here in Cowtown and one thing wants to alter now that pens have been put to paper and the entrance workplace is locked in.
First issues first, Connie and Iggy are faultless angels and till they offer me a purpose to not belief them, I belief them. So far as the entrance workplace extensions go some are dangerous, however for these two, no notes. Pay them, allow them to cook dinner. I genuinely imagine that Conroy and Iginla perceive that ending 14th to 18th within the league yearly shouldn’t be a recipe for extended success, or extended employment. As followers we’ve got struggled in opposition to the chains of mediocrity for years and Conroy provides me the sense that he realizes you both should decide to win now or win later.
We will’t win now.
On that bummer be aware, let’s handle some much less thrilling stuff. Dave “Paid Clarkson $36m” Nonis and Don Maloney the Coyote Killer someway managed to search out an extension affords of their inboxes, regardless of doing the whole lot they may probably think about to maintain this crew as middling and ineffective as attainable. It was an enormous downer to have fun locking Conroy in, solely to be instantly instructed the best rivals of progress would even be sticking round to make his life tough. For the primary time since I moved to Calgary, the fan voices have stopped chanting “We will do that” and have shifted to “Promote the crew” as a result of our possession is the one factor worse for us than the President and VP of Hockey Ops.
Murray Edwards, the oil tycoon who purchased himself a hockey crew and thinks which means he is aware of hockey, not too long ago mentioned just a few issues that each one are dangerous because it pertains to our present scenario. Firstly he mentioned he doesn’t wish to commerce Kadri as a result of “he believes within the core of this crew”. I like our core, however they’re not gonna win us a cup. You possibly can like somebody and know they’re not gonna get a sure job achieved for you. Secondly he mentioned that Flames followers who embrace the tank aren’t actual followers, and went as far as to indicate that we’re losers. Powerful. Look. My dude.
In truth, I’ve an inventory of needs, hell let’s name them Christmas needs, for this squad shifting ahead however I’m sure they received’t pan out. Rasmus Andersson must be traded to a contender. As Texas’ Personal Jeff Fink quoted me as saying yesterday, the Stars are someway nonetheless discovering success although the one that writes the “(Participant Title) might be out for (timeframe) with a (harm description)” posts is the toughest employee within the constructing proper now. They’ve a severe contagious case of boo boos and ouchies. They’re in a spot now the place they should be keen to overpay for a high pair blueliner. Kadri might symbolize an unimaginable center 6 presence for a contender who lacks depth. Coleman is a grit man who finds the web extra typically than somebody of comparable ability based mostly on uncooked effort. Deal all of them. I like every one in all them however they want a professional likelihood to win, and we have to begin filling the buying cart of the longer term. I don’t assume anybody aside from Maloney or Treliving is dumb sufficient to swallow any quantity of Huberdeau’s contract, so until we are able to trick the Leafs, he’s going to symbolize the veteran presence within the room for the longer term.
Wolf hasn’t been taking part in his greatest hockey this yr however he’s coming off a Calder candidate rookie marketing campaign. That is nothing greater than the sophomore stoop, he’ll be again. That mentioned, Cooley has been a) stable by way of letting us know he might be part of a successful tandem and b) tremendously enjoyable to look at on social media. See beneath:
Now we have a legitimately deep prospect pool of future NHLers. Parekh, Kerins, Gridin, Brzustewicz, Reschny, Potter, Wyttenbach, the record continues. Are all these guys future Corridor of Famers? No. Can these guys all be developed into contributors to a profitable franchise? Hockey Gods keen, I hope so.
So with all that mentioned, right here is my record of priorities that Murray Edwards (and, as you’ll see, his successor) ought to deal with for this crew:
- Promote the crew to somebody who has any distant quantity of data about how hockey works.
- Hearth Maloney and Nonis, rent a President and VP who will assist Conroy by way of an actual rebuild.
- Cease performing like rebuild is a foul phrase.
- Commerce Raz, Coleman, and Kadri for as many draft picks and legit prospects as you may.
- Examine on Devin Cooley’s well-being recurrently.
- Let. Connie. Prepare dinner.
- Be good in 2-3 years so I can get hammered on The Purple Mile earlier than I flip 40.
As all the time, keep frosty Flames Nation. The factor about all-time low is that there’s no oil beneath us, so even Murray can’t drive us to go deeper.
