cross16

When they went safe who should they have taken and who was riskier at the time?

For sure it is but that's what I mean by preference. This is just one of many viable paths, it is not the ONLY path and I think it's getting framed as the only path forward. For me it isn't hard to see a scenario that this team has 2-3 good - great years in them, and a team going through a rebuild may only get that too. That's all I mean by preference. People have their various opinions of what they want to see the organization do and therefore there are multiple paths forward on how to achieve that. Shouldn't be framed as so binary. At some point a rebuild becomes obvious to even be a good team (see 2010-2013) but I don't' think this team is there yet. That's all I meant by saying preference.

Got it. I would not hold my breath on those changes though because I think most of what you are suggesting "could" change is not the responsibility of, or created by, the GM. But I do get the desire for an outside voice, perfectly reasonable desire. It is possible that Conroy has a different vision than Treliving did (although that doesn't tend to be the case but it is possible)

Why is the goal to change the culture and what about it needs to be changed the GM can control? I think Maloney is casting a really wide net but I'm getting the sense it's less because he actually wants to hire these individuals and more because he is gathering as much feedback as he can about how the Flames are viewed in league circles. A common tactic , plus there is also the potential he's going to be needed some new Asst GMs too. I think that is why you ae seeing the mix of up and comers paired with some veteran/more experienced candidates.

I think you'd be surprised. Listen i'm not really interested in another big lengthy debate about a rebuild. it's a personal choice and I totally understand the rebuild side but as much as we can recognize that choice I think it's should be recognized rebuilds are not without risks too. They are not the slam sunk sure fire paths to contention that they get sold as. There are pros and cons to both and approaches and I think anyone who follows hockey/the Flames would recognize this.

Nope that was the criteria for a GM. Only comment on the coach is the GM will make that hire. Maloney hasn't commented on what he wants because he says it's not his hire to make.

The game on Friday mirrored the Flames in a lot of ways. Wranglers have really good depth across all 4 lines, but they don't have that 1-2 guys you can count on or that stand out. Pelletier is playing well, but he's not exactly a sniper.

Wranglers backs are to the wall now. Lost 3-2 in Triple OT last night and are now 1 loss away from elimination.

I agree this is a thing (although I do think somewhat negated by the McDavid effect) but it is were the case, then don't bridge him. In 2020 he was an RFA and Holland gave him a 2 year deal walking him right to UFA. The very next summer he gave him the monster deal. Are we sure? We saw Campbell in the regular season right? Hindsight is always 20/20 and there I get the why not give it a try argument but I see why they didn't. There is really nothing out there to believe Campbell was going to fair based on both his play this season and his playoffs last year. I also don't think Skinner was to blame last night.

This would be a pretty normal timeline for an off season GM hire

Seravelli speculating the Oilers could see some change this offseason. Holland to a POHO role and Staois as GM. Didn't realize Staois was in that org again. Did some really good work in the OHL https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-off-season-moves-steve-staios-in-as-gm

I thought Draisaitl was awesome in the first round, but he wasn't good against Vegas when it matters. Games 2 to 6 2 goals 3 points and a minus 6. Can't blame the slash for that IMO. It's part of the problem they have for sure. I get why they wouldn't want to move him but Draistal away from McDavid is just ok. So ideally if you have that 1-2 punch you build around both guys (Penguins model) but I don't think you can with Draisaitl. Can always pair him with McDavid, but they are both similar in that they are more finesse players, so who on that line plays the North -south, forecheck/dig out pucks game you need in the playoffs. I think taking calls on Draisaitl would make a lot of sense and the you use the pices to build around McDavid. I can't see how they can afford both of them anyway. But I also can't see why McDavid stays there. Nurse is one of the worst contracts in the league and IMO it is much worse than the Huberdeau deal. Nurse was a masterclass in how you don't negotiate a contract. They ahd a chance to go term on him and pay for potential but they settled for a bridge. Then during that bridge deal he puts up some high end numbers, mostly due to the fact he plays on a stacked PP, and they fell for it and signed him for elite money in stead of waiting 1 more year to see the real impact. Yes Huberdeau got paid after a career year (never ideal) but at the same time he's been an elite player most of his time in the NHL. Nurse had 1 high end year and the rest is meh. All you had to do was watch Campbell in Toronto and know he wasn't the guy. I don't love the Markstrom deal but he carried a bad Vancouver team into the playoffs and kept them relevant for multiple years. Campbell but up avg numbers playing behind an elite defensive team. Ken Holland has no one to blame for this but himself. Has walked himself into problems when the data was obvious as to what the result was going to be.

Good point and I would agree on the process. I don't agree that this team doesn't want to go there though. Think this team has done a really good job integrating prospects and creating space/roster for them. Sutter set them back a bit but before that I think they were intentional about it.

While you can question the contracts they gave, what they've been excellent at is playing with the cap to maximize their roster. Be in LTIR, trades, call ups etc they've done some pretty amazing work to get cap compliant year after year. Apparently that's Pridham's primary role in the organization.

Really interesting name. He's been in charge of Toronto's cap compliance for the last several years and I think it's obvious to any outsider what an outstanding job he's done there. Good choice for an interview for sure.

Fascinating next 2 seasons for the Oilers here. I just don't see them as close to winning it all. The goaltending isn't there, they can't defend at a high enough level, and their 5 on 5 game is average at best. I just wonder how they go about improving - They have 5.9 mill in cap space for 17 players signed but they have Evan Bouchard as an RFA and he isn't going to come cheap. Was arguably their best dman in the playoffs. The Bouchard-Ekholm pairing got the key mins/situations for the Oilers and rightfully so. Bouchard is a really good player. - Campbell has 4 more years a 5 mill per. who the heck is touching that? I think Skinner is a solid B but the Oilers don't have anything close to a number 1 goalie. Not sure how they find one. - They are too thin down the middle. I think they are going to bank on Holloway here but IMO he isn't a center, he's a winger (and he's bottom 6 at that). - They lack wingers who can forecheck effectively outside Hyman. They need a winger or two who are hounds on pucks, speed to get in behind D, and turn bad pucks into good ones. They have some ok puck possession wingers, but in the playoffs you've got to play north - south. Oilers forwards get exposed in that format. - That Nurse contract..... man. I don't see how you can ever get to a winning formula playing that guy 23-25 mins a night. Such a sub par defender. And on top of that, you've got Draisaitl a UFA in 2 and McDavid in 3. Clock is ticking and options seem limited. I can buy the argument the Leafs can just run it back but I don't se that argument for Edm. Every year it's the same formula as to why they lose. Feels like they need a big move to take the next step but what is that? I think the if the Oilers were smart they would be shopping Nurse but at the same time what's his value? Can they keep Draisaitl? Fascinating to me.

Which is a separate issue entirely and one I would agree with. but one of the biggest priorities a GM has to have in a cap system is you have to give yourself flexibility. Offsetting contracts and taking players on deals well past their prime for non core players is, IMO, how you lose that flexibility really fast. I agree in a perfect world these UFA coming due at the same time would give you a chance to restock and it's unlikely the Flames go down that path. But at least by having so much flexibility they can pivot to different options and not be stuck.

Wranglers did well to get back into the series on Friday. Wolf with a really nice bounce back. Zary with a highlight reel goal. Think they are going to have to find another gear to win the series though. They were inconsistent and tentative on Friday and once Coachella got going they really took it to the wranglers who hung on. Wranglers just haven’t hit a groove in these playoffs yet

I would counter this and say it’s smart. We are not talking about core pieces here we are taking about supporting pieces and generally players 30 years and older. Think it’s smart because it gives you a chance to reset it’s only a misstep to have all your core/young players come due at the same time.

Yup and he's not even good at that....

First team with a GM search off the board. Flyers make the Briere hire official

This is not even remotely true.

Good luck finding that.

If this is true I suspect you will hear a lot of Dubas and Calgary rumors. Not because I necessarily believe there will be a lot of interest (i don't know if there would be) but just based on numbers.

I've been pretty adamant all year i didn't see Phillips coming back but as Heartbreaker notes that may not be the case. The one thing I will add to his excellent post is I believe Craig Conroy is someone who has pushed for Phillips even back to his draft year. if this winds up as Conroy as the GM and Love as the coach I actually think it would be likely he would return.