[JohnnyB]

I think the Flames are a contender for the coming few years, but an outside contender. They're not likely to be the favourites without some super star talent up front but they should be a regular threat for the next few years.

Adding Stone and Hamonic on the back end makes the D look rock solid, and the way they were coached into playing a very solid team game by the end of the year I have confidence that they will be able to play against anyone in the league, but they lack an unstoppable force up front capable of taking it to any opposition. If they had that one star up front with the rest of the team as-is, they would be a pretty intimidating group.