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It should be of no surprise to anyone when I say that the Calgary Flames will need to focus their energy on improving the overall talent found in their roster.
What we saw last year was a strong, dedicated group who proved that adversity can be overcome. Despite being picked to finish dead last and not offer much in terms of competition, the Flames managed to keep a surprisingly high number of games within one goal, and ended the year on a much more positive note than I believe most fans expected.
With that said, there is a clear need to improve year after year if your claim to be “rebuilding… is to be taken seriously. It is understood that a team who is amidst a rebuild will suffer for a few years, however it does not need to mean that there is no level of improvement each passing year.
If a GM’s goal is to merely sit back and let the team “tank…, as it were, in order to restock the organization with draft picks and higher rated prospects, it is likely that said GM will find himself with a serious problem when his players are not able to demonstrate winning qualities, typically found in properly developed players.
By surrounding a young roster with quality veterans while also giving the proper amount of time to prospects to develop, a team will generally yield more long term success than one who looks for that first overall draft pick as a year-end consolation prize.
Where am I going with this? Well, the Flames happen to have a few players, both young and old, that fans would seemingly like to see part ways. Taking the above made points into consideration, it should stand to reason that the numerous points I’ve made toward keeping Mike Cammalleri makes a little more sense to some of you; at least I hope I’m starting to make sense.
Cammalleri was arguably the highest rated player for the Flames last year, and removing him from the lineup for a mid-level pick or prospect simply isn’t going to do any good. What Mike brings to this team is a certain level of hockey patronage, if you will, in the sense that he would be a strong supportive player and veteran presence in the locker room.
The Flames will, in my opinion, need to resign Mike to a fair number given what he can likely fetch on the free market, and it will pay dividends in the development of their team, but most importantly, their youth.
In terms of the youth, there is an outcry from fans with respect to Sven Baertschi – and let me point out that this all began when Brian Burke stated that he wasn’t happy with his 200ft game. Since, Baertschi has made some positive strides while playing for the Heat of the AHL, registering 29 points in 41 games. Unfortunately, however, Baertschi recently injured himself in the Wolds Championship where he fractured his rib during his first game.
This news is certainly not what fans and Flames management want to see at this point in the young player’s career. Struggling to earn himself a fulltime spot with the Flames, Sven will now be set back in his development as he will likely miss a good chunk of hockey over the summer, and possibly the Flames Prospect Camp in July.
With all that established, here’s what needs to be considered with this player – he has a ton of raw NHL talent and will be a solid player in the NHL one day. Remain patient with this one folks, not all players develop the same way and Sven will be a household name in just a matter of a few short years provided that the organization takes their time and develops him properly. By forcing the issue or giving up so early on a 21 year old rookie, Calgary could certainly find themselves wishing for an undo button when if Baertschi reaches his potential with another club who gave him the time.
If the Flames have anything to offer at this point in their rebuild its patience. There is no reason why management should be setting any near future timelines for this kid, and another year in the AHL if needed wouldn’t be a bad thing. As mentioned, these are the two names which I see most often in terms of Flames on-ice personnel who fans would seemingly like to move. Both players, for two different reasons I argue, should remain a part of this organization as it will only strengthen the team in terms of any long term goals.
Thanks for reading.