The Flames are in for a couple of hard years with a light at the end of the tunnel, I think that with some of the posts here there are a number of people who are heavily banking on prospects to come in and make an immediate and positive contribution to the team. The vast majority of prospects take 2-3 years to develop into bubble NHL players, a couple years in junior/europe, a year in the AHL and then break in sheltered positions on the third line with spot duty on the second line. There are very few players from the 2011 draft or the 2012 draft who have played in the NHL. You start seeing more players from 2010 who broke into the league this past year and those in 2009 having just played in their second NHL season.
Right now the Flames should be looking for 2015-16 for their young players to be making their way into the league with a 2-3 year development curve, I anticipate that if all goes well the Flames will be contenders for the playoffs in 2018 and the cup in 2020ish.
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