Colin Dambrauskas: Rebuilding in the NHL; Difference of Opinions + Brief Q&A with Jay Feaster

Colin Dambrauskas: Rebuilding in the NHL; Difference of Opinions + Brief Q&A with Jay Feaster
- Colin Dambrauskas

You're right Colin...there isn't a perfect blueprint for a rebuild, and no 2 are alike. I'd like to throw the Sens into the hat too. 2 years ago they were left for dead, now look at them.

That's why I always hate when people compare what is going on in Calgary right now to what has happened in Edmonton, because it's completely different.

At the end of the day it all comes down to the mix of players and attitude in the dressing room. There's no other explanation.....is Edmonton more talented than Ottawa? Probably. They have a lot more talent than a lot of teams, but they just haven't found the right mix yet. Who knows, it may never come either, no guarantees, and that goes for the Flames too!

I don't disagree that you need a guy like Mike, but the problem is he isn't the right fit.

Go out and get those vets that are still good, but only have a year or two left in their careers. Guys that have won cups and are just looking for a pay cheque or guys that have issues such as being fat asses or injury prone. Sign a Connolly and Wellwood and make it clear that if they can stay slim/healthy that come TDD they will have value and a chance to go to a contender.

Everyone wins.

I don't disagree that you need a guy like Mike, but the problem is he isn't the right fit.

Go out and get those vets that are still good, but only have a year or two left in their careers. Guys that have won cups and are just looking for a pay cheque or guys that have issues such as being fat asses or injury prone. Sign a Connolly and Wellwood and make it clear that if they can stay slim/healthy that come TDD they will have value and a chance to go to a contender.

Everyone wins.
- Lahey

Ya I guess the jury is out on whether or not Cammy is the "right" guy or not.

Honestly he has gotten a bad rap lately for whatever reason. A few people had some things to say about him and it snowballed into him being the most selfish player in the NHL.

That being said he still has to show he wants to be here, and we should see that on the ice pretty easily during the first few weeks of the season.

Regardless of his performance I would expect him to be gone at the TDL though.

Ya I guess the jury is out on whether or not Cammy is the "right" guy or not.

Honestly he has gotten a bad rap lately for whatever reason. A few people had some things to say about him and it snowballed into him being the most selfish player in the NHL.

That being said he still has to show he wants to be here, and we should see that on the ice pretty easily during the first few weeks of the season.

Regardless of his performance I would expect him to be gone at the TDL though.
- The-O-G

I just don't see why he'd want to stick around. It really has nothing to do with how he's been perceived as of late either.

The guy is 31, has fought injuries and has never won a cup before. Regardless of the name on the back of the sweater that is 3 things that leads me to believe he won't stick around. If he does then you slap that C on his chest.

I don't agree with him doing well the first few makes equals him wanting to stay. He is a pro after all and I don't think he'd just mail it in. Even if he was a jackass that wanted out he has too much to lose by mailing it in.

Rebuilds are simple (ala NYI, PIT, CHI, etc):

-Sell off all assets for draft picks in the next two drafts

-Suck so badly you get top 5 picks in each round for atleast the next two years

-Draft 10+ players in the next two drafts because you have all of those draft picks from the trades

-By draft 3 and 4 you hope to establish a younger core from those two years of many draft picks - picks in draft 3 and 4 will round out your core by draft 6-7

-Draft 5 you sign a couple of mid-tier UFAs to round out your core of young studs

-Draft 6+ you should be contending for a 6-8 seed by now


Rebuilds take 5-6 years to come to fruition


Through drafts 1-4 you fill your roster with plugs, guys ending careers, etc. At the trade deadlines you pick up more draft picks by selling off some of these assets to contenders.

More picks, more prospects, more potential to find some diamonds in the rough to round out your depth.

Rebuilds are simple (ala NYI, PIT, CHI, etc):

-Sell off all assets for draft picks in the next two drafts

-Suck so badly you get top 5 picks in each round for atleast the next two years

-Draft 10+ players in the next two drafts because you have all of those draft picks from the trades

-By draft 3 and 4 you hope to establish a younger core from those two years of many draft picks - picks in draft 3 and 4 will round out your core by draft 6-7

-Draft 5 you sign a couple of mid-tier UFAs to round out your core of young studs

-Draft 6+ you should be contending for a 6-8 seed by now


Rebuilds take 5-6 years to come to fruition
- kcNYI

Those 3 teams that you listed all went into rebuild modes because their ownerships were to cheap to commit any money to the team. It took until one of the owners died for one of the teams to actual get better.

It's hard to get an owner on board with going through a rebuild when he is willing to spend to the cap.

I just don't see why he'd want to stick around. It really has nothing to do with how he's been perceived as of late either.

The guy is 31, has fought injuries and has never won a cup before. Regardless of the name on the back of the sweater that is 3 things that leads me to believe he won't stick around. If he does then you slap that C on his chest.

I don't agree with him doing well the first few makes equals him wanting to stay. He is a pro after all and I don't think he'd just mail it in. Even if he was a jackass that wanted out he has too much to lose by mailing it in.
- Lahey

Ya I don't necessarily believe if he plays good that means he wants to say. But I think the coaches will be able to tell with his attitude pretty easily.

IMO it can go three ways:

1. He actually enjoys being around the kids, being a leader, embraces his role, and plays well.

2. Doesn't want to be a part of the rebuild, but continues on as a professional, plays well, and quietly lobbies to be moved somewhere where he has a chance.

3. Completely mails it in, waits for a trade.

Those 3 teams that you listed all went into rebuild modes because their ownerships were to cheap to commit any money to the team. It took until one of the owners died for one of the teams to actual get better.

It's hard to get an owner on board with going through a rebuild when he is willing to spend to the cap.
- Lahey

Spending doesnt equal winning (see: Flyers, Philadelphia ...see: Maple Leafs, Toronto)

Successful teams were those built through sucking for a while, building through the draft for 3-5 years, and signing a few UFAs to round out the core.

Even LAK and BOS are an example to this method to some extent. Boston signs a few more players and trades a bit more but they still have a ton of home grown talent.

Home many players on the Flyers or Maple Leafs were drafted by that team respectively? Probably single digits, ala you cant really buy players to win.

Those 3 teams that you listed all went into rebuild modes because their ownerships were to cheap to commit any money to the team. It took until one of the owners died for one of the teams to actual get better.

It's hard to get an owner on board with going through a rebuild when he is willing to spend to the cap.
- Lahey

Not to mention the Isles aren't even good yet.....they appear to be on the right track but who knows. Very far from being Pitt or Chi. What about teams like Florida? Columbus? Always stuck in purgatory.

Rebuilding is so much more that getting high draft picks....people just don't understand.

Spending doesnt equal winning (see: Flyers, Philadelphia ...see: Maple Leafs, Toronto)

Successful teams were those built through sucking for a while, building through the draft for 3-5 years, and signing a few UFAs to round out the core.

Even LAK and BOS are an example to this method to some extent. Boston signs a few more players and trades a bit more but they still have a ton of home grown talent.

Home many players on the Flyers or Maple Leafs were drafted by that team respectively? Probably single digits, ala you cant really buy players to win.
- kcNYI

Boston? Really? They built their team through awesome moves.

How about trading for Chara? Or Rask? Or the Kessel trade?

You're wayyyyy off base here.

Not to mention the Isles aren't even good yet.....they appear to be on the right track but who knows. Very far from being Pitt or Chi. What about teams like Florida? Columbus? Always stuck in purgatory.

Rebuilding is so much more that getting high draft picks....people just don't understand.
- The-O-G

You response lacks any of the depth I went into...


I never mentioned high draft picks exclusively, I mentioned culminating a LOT of draft picks, which gives you a better chance of picking some future NHLers, and creating a core. Then building off of that core after 3-5 years with UFAs.

More draft picks also means more prospects, so you have a growing pool of talent in Juniors and the AHL who are now competing for NHL roster spots. This allows you to keep them in lower leagues longer to grow and mature as well as face some stiff competition, which ultimately makes the prospects better players.



The Isles are a bit better then the Flames right now...


EDIT: Florida signed like 7 3rd line players a few years ago to fill their roster. You could aruge they are in the midst of a rebuild now, around the third year as Dale Tallon joined the team in 2010.

Tallon filled out the roster with ehhh-UFAs and is drafting to build a core (which is almost done). He has drafted and is constructing some complementary players for depth and the Panthers should be a good team in about 3 years.

Boston? Really? They built their team through awesome moves.

How about trading for Chara? Or Rask? Or the Kessel trade?

You're wayyyyy off base here.
- The-O-G

They also drafted Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Krecji, Hamilton, Krug, etc.

I said "to some extent Boston" ...open your eyes and READ

Spending doesnt equal winning (see: Flyers, Philadelphia ...see: Maple Leafs, Toronto)

Successful teams were those built through sucking for a while, building through the draft for 3-5 years, and signing a few UFAs to round out the core.

Even LAK and BOS are an example to this method to some extent. Boston signs a few more players and trades a bit more but they still have a ton of home grown talent.

Home many players on the Flyers or Maple Leafs were drafted by that team respectively? Probably single digits, ala you cant really buy players to win.
- kcNYI

Very true

For me its what " right veterans" means from Feaster. Yes you need quality veterans, but do quality veterans feel the same way? Cammi is UFA at the end of this season and seems to be a guy who would rather be on a contending team than a rebuilding team. Just because the flames might want him to stay, does not mean Cammi would want to stay.

Also when the rumours that Cammi was on the block at the draft, Feaster said that he had no offers but to give him a call. Sounds like he knows Cammi does not want to re-sign with a rebuilding team or the flames just dont think he is the "right fit".

You response lacks any of the depth I went into...


I never mentioned high draft picks exclusively, I mentioned culminating a LOT of draft picks, which gives you a better chance of picking some future NHLers, and creating a core. Then building off of that core after 3-5 years with UFAs.

More draft picks also means more prospects, so you have a growing pool of talent in Juniors and the AHL who are now competing for NHL roster spots. This allows you to keep them in lower leagues longer to grow and mature as well as face some stiff competition, which ultimately makes the prospects better players.



The Isles are a bit better then the Flames right now...
- kcNYI

Look man I get it......congrats on what the isles have achieved (nothing).

You lump them in with Pitt and Chi? haha, now THAT was a good one.

All I'm saying is that rebuilding is wayyyyy more than sucking and getting lot's of draft pics.

If it were that easy everyone would do it.

One constant is that every team who has rebuilt has at least three years of very bad hockey. The oilers were especially bad becaise of the vets around them were lazy and used to losing already with bad attitudes. Not because of the young guys, that is what needs to be avoided in every rebuild.

They also drafted Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Krecji, Hamilton, Krug, etc.

I said "to some extent Boston" ...open your eyes and READ
- kcNYI

Bergeron - 45th overall (2003)

Marchand - 71st overall (2006)

Lucic - 50th overall (2006)

Krejci - 63rd overall (2004)

Hamilton - Seguin Trade

Krug - Undrafted

NONE of those players were acquired using your patented re-build theory. They are there because of good scouting and smart trades.

Your whole "suck, draft high, draft lots, sign UFA's, rebuild complete" theory is garbage.

As much as I dislike the Flames, I'll give my two cents, because it's an open forum. I believe the Flames are in a much better situation that the Oilers were when they started their rebuild, they had a terrible roster four years ago.

They Flames on the other hand have a few good young players already in the system, not many, but a few decent ones. Kind of like the Nuckleheads.

In 09/10 the Oilers had a 20 year old Sam Gagner and 22 year old Gilbert Brule as their 1/2 centers in terms of scoring, Brule doesn't even play in the league anymore. That was just a bad bad team! You build through the middle, the Flames will recover more quickly than the division rival Oilers.

You lack a facking brain...I just explained to you in depth with my last 3 comments what "wayyyyyy more" means. Learn to express an opinion rather then make lazy comments.
- kcNYI

Your powdered wig on too tight or something? Dial it back a bit, goddamn...

Spending doesnt equal winning (see: Flyers, Philadelphia ...see: Maple Leafs, Toronto)

.
- kcNYI

Never said it was, just saying that it's a hurdle for franchises that are successful on the business sides of things.

You response lacks any of the depth I went into...


I never mentioned high draft picks exclusively, I mentioned culminating a LOT of draft picks, which gives you a better chance of picking some future NHLers, and creating a core. Then building off of that core after 3-5 years with UFAs.
.
- kcNYI

-Suck so badly you get top 5 picks in each round for atleast the next two years
So ya you made it a point of something that needs to be done at the top of your list.

As much as I dislike the Flames, I'll give my two cents, because it's an open forum. I believe the Flames are in a much better situation that the Oilers were when they started their rebuild, they had a terrible roster four years ago.

They Flames on the other hand have a few good young players already in the system, not many, but a few decent ones. Kind of like the Nuckleheads.

In 09/10 the Oilers had a 20 year old Sam Gagner and 22 year old Gilbert Brule as their 1/2 centers in terms of scoring, Brule doesn't even play in the league anymore. That was just a bad bad team! You build through the middle, the Flames will recover more quickly than the division rival Oilers.
- LeftCoaster

I hope so dude

The good part about the Flames is that they already have some really good players in the system thanks to a couple a strong drafts since feaster took over. Sure the "official" rebuild started last season, but they aren't starting from scratch.

Not to mention they have youngish established guys like backlund (if he can ever stay healthy), glencross, brodie, giordano etc. Things aren't so bad IMO.

What gets me most excited is John Gillies. I read an article on him a few days ago and people think he could be a pretty big deal once he turns pro.

I agree completely there is no one way to rebuild. It drives me nuts when people say 'scorched Earth' is the only way to go.

People says the future is very bright for Florida but didn't we hear that same song with Horton, Weiss, Bouwmeester, Luongo and co.

The key to success is savvy management, good drafting and just as important proper development.

Top 3 picks are not the be all end all.

I think Cammalleri stickin around is a benefit to Calgary. Throw a bunch of young 20 year olds together and letting them figure it out can backfire. Some things need to be earned as well ie ice time. Learning all the little things like how to be a pro, train, be media savvy. You need a few quality vets.

I agree completely there is no one way to rebuild. It drives me nuts when people say 'scorched Earth' is the only way to go.

People says the future is very bright for Florida but didn't we hear that same song with Horton, Weiss, Bouwmeester, Luongo and co.

The key to success is savvy management, good drafting and just as important proper development.

Top 3 picks are not the be all end all.

I think Cammalleri stickin around is a benefit to Calgary. Throw a bunch of young 20 year olds together and letting them figure it out can backfire. Some things need to be earned as well ie ice time. Learning all the little things like how to be a pro, train, be media savvy. You need a few quality vets.
- Blazed

Well said dude