Mëds wrote:When you look at the state of Flamedom, you have to at least give a nod to the Oiler brass (of the time) for recognizing that they needed to rebuild.
2004: The Flames ride Kiprusoff to the finals and lose in game 7. For some unknown reason hockey "minds" everywhere are suddenly calling them next year's favorites to win it all.....and Calgary's management and fans drank that Kool-Aid like it was the gospel when what they should have done is seen that Iginla and Kiprusoff do not a team make. They painted some of their players as the type of guy that every team should build around when really they only had two who fit that bill. Now, almost 10 years later they are one of the worst teams in the league, and got next to nothing for their two superstars at the end of the day. It's hilarious really, in 8 seasons they never added a single piece that got them closer to being a contender, they didn't draft anyone of note other than Phaneuf, a neanderthal who ended up proving he actually did look the part. I almost pity them.
2006: The Oilers ride a hot goaltender, a lucky Horcoff, and Chris Pronger, to the finals and come up a game short. The next year Pronger is gone, and they recognize that it is time to consider re-tooling. They make a few moves that don't pan out, and then tank hard enough to start rebuilding via the draft. They didn't hang on to some blind hope that 2006 wasn't just a fluke, they called a spade a spade, and the only truly bone-headed thing they did was overpay Horcoff by almost 75% of what he's actually worth. Now they just can't attract talent and are proving that they don't actually know how to draft.
Sorry Mëds,
Your heart is in the right place, but I'll have to disagree with some comments.
Calgary: The 2004 Flames were much more than just a hot goalie. After a very slow start to the season, they played about .700 hockey the rest of the way and were a damn good team by the time the playoffs hit. Iginla was an absolute beast in the playoffs, and the entire team was extremely hard working and fought tooth and nail in the corners. Sutter coached that team exceptionally well. Even in 2005/2006, the Ducks were actually pretty lucky to get by the Flames. It was a 7 game series that probably should have gone the Flames' way. The Flames lost a few close 1st rounders over the next few years......before they were finally soundly spanked by the Hawks in 09' (6 game series but should have been worse) and faded into oblivion.
Edmonton: Roloson was obviously on fire during the playoffs that year, but the Oilers were a damn good team in 2006. The only reason why the Oilers were an 8th seeded team that year, was because they had a minor league calibre goalie tending their nets for most of the season (before they made the Roloson deal at the deadline). Pronger's wife then destroyed that city, LOL. I agree with the rest of your assessement here.