Has any team wasted an entire year like Calgary?

[Kcb12345]

Dallas has wasted some prime years of Benn and Seguin. Also wasted Spezza when he was still a consistent 60+ point guy. God I hope they can turn it around before Klingberg/Seguin start getting closer to 30 years old. Very lucky they're still pretty young. Let's also hope they don't waste anymore years of Radulov being good. He was outstanding this season and it's all likely gonna go to waste

 

[LeafsNation75]

Looks like Burke would learn the first time that trading a bunch of picks for player before the season starts is not a good idea. At least “lottery protect” the 1st round pick.

I'm sure any Flames fans will defend that and say Burke is not their GM, however I wonder if he's the one who gave final approval of the trade?

 

[egelband]

I know Brian Burke is not the Flames GM but isn't it funny he's still apart of their team when they traded their 2018 1st round pick which was unprotected, which is the same thing he did when he traded for Phil Kessel.

Well, he did have six kids.

 

[BlueDream]

Maybe the Flames should look into hiring a good coach...

 

[HugginThePost]

"The flames aren't bad because the oilers are worse" -half the people in this thread

So what you are saying is that you weren't actually asking a question, you were stating your question as fact?

Because it is clear that a team that was picked as one of the favorites to win the cup, who have the best player in the league on an ELC and who probably have the best center depth at least in the West, are going to finish near the bottom of the league. That is a wasted season, no? More so than missing out on a mid level first and some second rounders that would be a reach to become "good" NHL players.

The fact is we have a good D man for the next two years because of those lost picks. It's not exactly doom and gloom.

 

[613Leafer]

Every season you don't win the Cup is a waste by that standard. It's a bit of a silly point to make, because those picks weren't going to help the Flames be better next year, anyway.

Definitely a disappointing season, but they have every opportunity to fix things for next year.

It would be a waste if there was some kind of time limit on keeping this team together, but there really isn't.

So first part of your post emphasizes how the picks won't help next year, and second part that there's no rush or time limit. Seems a bit contradictory - if there's no rush, then trading a whole bunch of draft picks for "win now" moves that don't work seems like a waste.

Those picks could definitely help while Gaudreau, Hamilton, Monahan, etc are all still in their primes. So yes, it does matter and it can definitely have an effect on the teams long-term ability to compete.

 

[TKB21]

So what you are saying is that you weren't actually asking a question, you were stating your question as fact?

Because it is clear that a team that was picked as one of the favorites to win the cup, who have the best player in the league on an ELC and who probably have the best center depth at least in the West, are going to finish near the bottom of the league. That is a wasted season, no? More so than missing out on a mid level first and some second rounders that would be a reach to become "good" NHL players.

The fact is we have a good D man for the next two years because of those lost picks. It's not exactly doom and gloom.

Hamonic is far from being a good Dman. Two terrible seasons in a row for him now. The flames paid a premium for a guy that slots in the 4-5 spot.

 

[HugginThePost]

Hamonic is far from being a good Dman. Two terrible seasons in a row for him now. The flames paid a premium for a guy that slots in the 4-5 spot.

Define terrible. Was he bad the first 20 games on a new team learning a new system, yup. But he has been far from terrible the remainder of the year. Ask any Flames fan, you'll not hear too many people claiming they want him off the team. He makes the defense better, not worse.

Stop listening to the group think on HF......

 

[Baxterman]

Hamonic is far from being a good Dman. Two terrible seasons in a row for him now. The flames paid a premium for a guy that slots in the 4-5 spot.

Well if we are just lying now then the trade was the greatest deal ever as Hamonic is not only our top d-man, he is our number 1C and slots in the #1 Goalie slot as well.

 

[McDrai]

What an ugly thread. You could pretty much make the case for 90% of the teams "wasting" seasons but I won't name any teams in case I trigger a fanbase

 

[Beige Van]

If the Habs don't win the lottery, I hope the Islanders win it with the pick from Calgary. This board would crash so hard!

 

[DCDM]

If the Habs don't win the lottery, I hope the Islanders win it with the pick from Calgary. This board would crash so hard!

It wouldn't be that bad. Optically it would look undesirable but most Flames fans are fine if the Isles win the lottery because it keeps Dahlin out of the Pacific/West. Where the pick lands really doesn't impact us much at all.

 

[SchwenningerWildWing]

I think the Islanders also threw away that season. They have a top 5 offense this season, Barzal and Tavares have 70+ points, Bailey a career year and Lee is on pace for 40+ goals. But that defense is just horrible and it was visible from the get go, but in December it was clear this team is going nowhere with this defense. And everything their GM did was acquiring Davidson. With this offense you should be in the playoffs moreso when it is possibly the last season with Tavares.

 

[Anglesmith]

So first part of your post emphasizes how the picks won't help next year, and second part that there's no rush or time limit. Seems a bit contradictory - if there's no rush, then trading a whole bunch of draft picks for "win now" moves that don't work seems like a waste.

Those picks could definitely help while Gaudreau, Hamilton, Monahan, etc are all still in their primes. So yes, it does matter and it can definitely have an effect on the teams long-term ability to compete.

Yes, and Hamonic is also having an affect on the team's long-term ability to compete for multiple years during those guys' primes. So what's your point?

The Flames are in win-now mode with the caveat that "now" doesn't refer to one season, but many. The Flames are at a stage where they are trying to win every season. They failed this season, and will try to win again next season. And the season after that. There isn't a rush in that the core (Hamonic included) can easily be kept together for a good few years, giving them many opportunities to get the mix right and become contenders.

 

[Paperbagofglory]

I will shit talk the flames anyday. They are a trash organization with trash players and trash human beings employed at all levels. Their building is trash. I however would be envious if one team wasted just one season and not an entire decade like the real dumpster fire that is the Oilers.

At least the flames had some pride and were competitive in most of these 10 years. Can't say the same thing about the dumpster fire up north. Lets not get carried away. Who would you rather cheer for, The Cleveland Browns or the Cincinatti Bengals? Sure both suck, but one clearly sucks so much worse than the other.

 

[Erndog]

It wouldn't be that bad. Optically it would look undesirable but most Flames fans are fine if the Isles win the lottery because it keeps Dahlin out of the Pacific/West. Where the pick lands really doesn't impact us much at all.

Glad you've convinced yourself.

 

[Bank Shot]

The Flames are in win-now mode with the caveat that "now" doesn't refer to one season, but many. The Flames are at a stage where they are trying to win every season. They failed this season, and will try to win again next season. And the season after that.

They missed the playoffs two of the last 3 seasons and their high watermark is essentially a tie for 8th place in the conference.

They traded away picks like a top four seed trying to get over the top. They are mortgaging the future just to try and make the playoffs.

Thats just a bad place to be.

 

[Anglesmith]

They missed the playoffs two of the last 3 seasons and their high watermark is essentially a tie for 8th place in the conference.

They traded away picks like a top four seed trying to get over the top. They are mortgaging the future just to try and make the playoffs.

Thats just a bad place to be.

They aren't mortgaging the future at all. Most of the future is already on the team. And they aren't trading away picks just to make the playoffs. They were already a playoff team when they traded those picks. They did it to solidify their core and address areas of weakness. They'll probably continue with that strategy going forward, too. Because improving the team should lead to improvement in results over the long-term.

 

[Haj]

Florida wasted last year by stupidly firing Gallant.

 

[Bando]

This thread is 90% oiler fans, the frustration is palpable!

The flames didn't "mortgage" the future, and the doom and gloom as if not having a first round pick this year is catastrophic is ridiculous. The flames have some very promising AHL players who are knocking on the NHL door. A first round pick could be wasted like years past shown by the oilers anyway. Missing one draft is not some sort of end all.

 

[Paperbagofglory]

This thread is 90% oiler fans, the frustration is palpable!

The flames didn't "mortgage" the future, and the doom and gloom as if not having a first round pick this year is catastrophic is ridiculous. The flames have some very promising AHL players who are knocking on the NHL door. A first round pick could be wasted like years past shown by the oilers anyway. Missing one draft is not some sort of end all.

Hey man i defended the Flames. Do i get a cookie?

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

I will **** talk the flames anyday. They are a trash organization with trash players and trash human beings employed at all levels. Their building is trash. I however would be envious if one team wasted just one season and not an entire decade like the real dumpster fire that is the Oilers.

At least the flames had some pride and were competitive in most of these 10 years. Can't say the same thing about the dumpster fire up north. Lets not get carried away. Who would you rather cheer for, The Cleveland Browns or the Cincinatti Bengals? Sure both suck, but one clearly sucks so much worse than the other.

Browns have been a new level of bad, and still won a playoff game more recently than the Bengals.

Which in a way, is much more embarrassing when you have so many cracks at it.

 

[Bank Shot]

They aren't mortgaging the future at all. Most of the future is already on the team. And they aren't trading away picks just to make the playoffs. They were already a playoff team when they traded those picks. They did it to solidify their core and address areas of weakness. They'll probably continue with that strategy going forward, too. Because improving the team should lead to improvement in results over the long-term.

Trading for a 36 year old goalie is the definition of that.

Hamonic is a good top four on a great contract. When it expires after two seasons, he'll be 30 looking for his bloated retirement contract with too many years tacked on the end.

If Hamonic walks after 2 more years of bubble finishes for the Flames, was giving up so many high picks still be seen as a good move by you?

Both of those moves are win now moves. Each of these closes the future window a bit, and neither of them fix a long term hole.

 

[AvroArrow]

Toronto 2010-11

 

[Anglesmith]

Trading for a 36 year old goalie is the definition of that.

Hamonic is a good top four on a great contract. When it expires after two seasons, he'll be 30 looking for his bloated retirement contract with too many years tacked on the end.

If Hamonic walks after 2 more years of bubble finishes for the Flames, was giving up so many high picks still be seen as a good move by you?

Both of those moves are win now moves. Each of these closes the future window a bit, and neither of them fix a long term hole.

Ho boy, that's a lot of hypotheticals.

And please, tell me more about the important assets we sacrificed in order to have good goaltending this year.