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Calgary Flames Post Game thoughts // The Edmonton Oilers Perpetual Rebuild

February 19, 2013, 4:06 PM ET [298 Comments]
Colin Dambrauskas
Calgary Flames Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter for updates and discussions: @ColinDJD
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The Islanders were beat 7-0 last night against Chicago so at least Calgary wasn’t the worst game on TV last night…

It only took 41 seconds for Keith Yandle to score on Monday night, and though the Flames would hold strong through the 1st and 2nd periods, a 3rd period breakdown caused a 4-0 loss in Pheonix. It seems that the Flames have a terrible case of 1 step forward, 2 steps backwards.

Danny Taylor had his first NHL start and got off to a rocky start but overall he saved 33 shots and it doesn’t really matters what back up goalie they play at this point. The inconsistency with which the Flames have played this season is causing most fans to question their heart. After a tough fight back Sunday night, they absolutely faded in the 3rd period last night; it barely looked like the same team. I suppose fans can chalk it up to back to back games but even so, we’re all wondering when we will see Flames hockey again.

If there is a silver lining, it’s the Flames physicality on the ice, they out hit the Coyotes 41-24 and Tim Jackman made the most of his short ice time, dropping the gloves with Bissonnette. Other than that, they were out shot 37-30 and their face off percentage was under 40%. They need to improve their face off percentage or they will constantly be chasing the puck.

It was a bad game and a tough loss. Let’s hope the Flames went home as disappointed as the fans and come back looking for redemption against Los Angeles Wednesday night at the Saddledome.


***

Now, onto this “rebuild/no rebuild debate” between the Flames and Oilers fans. Since I began blogging for this website a few months ago, I have had no other choice but to listen to both Edmonton and Calgary fans fight over which team is taking the better approach to turning a franchise around for the better. In an effort to provide some clarity, let’s break it down from both sides.

Cloutier, my fellow blogger, has already taken the first steps and discussed why he feels the Flames are burning out, and why the Oilers will be hockey’s next greatest thing since composite sticks. While I share the opinion that the Oilers will be a great team in a few years, I don’t share the same level of enthusiasm as Cloutier and his fellow Oiler fans. I suppose my lack of contentment has to do with the way that the Oilers essentially achieved their current level of “success”, which in and of itself is a debatable point.
Before we get any further, we also need to consider the state of Edmonton’s fan base, ticket holders, and sponsorship deals.

Edmonton has decided that rather than doing everything in their power to appease the above mentioned, they would rather sit back and let their team fall in the standings year after year in order to gain the strongest draft positions. While “tanking” is certainly a sure-shot way to achieve high draft selections, the question becomes: is it really the “best” plan?

There are ways of doing things in life that come easier than others, but the easier way isn’t always the best (as mom used to tell me). Over the past ten years, the Oilers have made the playoffs only twice, successfully making it to the Finals in 2006. The Flames have conversely made the playoffs five times, reaching the Finals in 2004. What is the difference between the two after ten years? The Oilers are further in rebuilding their team, for now.


With that being said, the “bigger” difference is the mindset of each opposing team. One is willing to welcome a losing environment in order to (hopefully) be successful again in 4-5 years, while the other aspires to fight every year to keep their team competitive. Please don’t misinterpret this blog as me saying the Flames are awesome and the Oilers suck. Neither team has done a whole lot, although the Flames have made the playoffs most consistently and have stayed out of the NHL’s metaphorical basement.

The Flames are certainly placing themselves on a path where they will have to start selling assets if they don’t find more consistency. And although this is likely an inevitable circumstance for the current GM, he will not be taking the route of moving key pieces for picks/prospects which consequently leaves the Flames less able to fight for wins on a nightly basis.


Calgary will certainly begin making moves to improve their roster. They won’t sit back and watch as their team plummets in hopes that it yields high draft picks. Rather, the Flames will continue to move assets for slightly younger players who can immediately help their roster, as well as address their future needs. The Flames have reduced the average age of their roster quite a bit in the past few years and are showing no signs of increasing it. While they do not currently hold many NHL ready prospects like Hall, Eberle or RNH, they do have guys like Baertschi, Gaudreau, Sieloff, Brossoit, and Jankowski who will all contribute to the team in upcoming years. Though these players may not ever be on the same level as the first round selections from Edmonton, these will be players who will play an important role in the Flames future successes.

The Flames have played some fantastic hockey this year, but they have also played their share of horrendous hockey too. The difference between their current place in the standings and that of Edmonton has to do with their changes in personnel, more than their play. The Flames, for the most part, have played strong hockey this year and they also have a team that could battle for the playoffs, when it is healthy. If they are not able to reach the postseason, the Flames also have a few assets who could be moved for NHL-ready players, prospects, or draft selections…all of which could help keep the team above water. Now, although the Flames’ approach to find success may not be as cut and dry as Edmonton’s…they have decided that the on ice product is very important, and taking short cuts in order to find success down the road isn’t something they are willing to entertain.

Furthermore, the Oilers aren’t exactly a team filled with youth who are missing supporting players needed to win games. They have their talented youth, they have some supportive players, a few vets, and above average goaltending. So… what gives? Thing is, you can’t expect to continuously draft young talent and throw them all out there to fend for themselves. They need a proper foundation. They need direction. They need something to work with. The Oilers have not supported their youth enough in past years and their rebuild seems to be never ending. Anyone remember the hype over Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano? Somehow they are no longer prized possessions of the Oil. When will the organization try to get better, rather than increasingly getting younger?

For all those who enjoy passing on their “secretive and insightful” knowledge that the Flames would be best to tank and rebuild, I have some bad news for you… It’s not going to happen with this organization. The Flames will continue to fight for their success and tweak their team each passing year until the right pieces fall into place. Jay Feaster has only been GM for a short period of time and I feel as though the fans have already been able to appreciate the slight turn around. The Flames have prospects, some which could turn out to be very strong, and have acquired some offshore assets which many overlooked.

The Flames have brought in a strong coaching staff that, despite no preseason games or practice time, has shown what they can do with this group. Feaster and his Calgary Flames are not about to start burning out…and they shouldn’t really be compared to a team who’s already been noted as the next cup champs despite being last in the standings for the past three seasons and not actively moving up this year, either.

Creating a losing environment in order to draft high is great, however does this environment have any effects on the team who had to play through it? I guess this is still left to be seen as the Edmonton Oilers still have the most “unsuccessful successful” rebuild I’ve witnessed to date.

Anyone else sick of hearing “next year, the Oilers will be great”?
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