Earlier in the rebuild, the term "asset management" was a frequently used (and sometimes cringe-worthy) catchphrase of the day. However, looking at the current roster and how it was compiled, some interesting things jump off the page:
1. Drafted:
Brodie (4th)
Backlund (1st)
Gaudreau (4th)
Bouma (3rd)
Monahan (1st)
Granlund (2nd)
2. Undrafted FA:
Giordano
Jooris
3. Traded for a mid/late pick:
Russell
Colborne
Bollig
4. Signed as a UFA:
Hiller
Wideman (rights acquired just prior to UFA status)
Glencross
Raymond
Hudler
Engelland
Diaz
5. Traded for roster player(s):
Smid
Stajan
Jones
Byron
Ramo
15 games or less: Baertschi (drafted 1st), Ferland (drafted 5th), Ortio (drafted 6th), Reinhart (drafted 3rd), Wolf (Undrafted FA)
First, the players in first three categories more or less make up the key "core" of the team, and likely will for years to come. Guys like Granlund and Jooris still have some more developing to do, but I think they've proven enough this year that they are part of the solution going forward. The only exception is Bollig -- I'm willing to give him until the end of the season (and playoffs?) to show that he fits in on this team as an everyday player.
Second, every player in the first three categories is basically a home run in terms of where/how they were acquired (again, only exception is Bollig). Gaudreau and Gio are probably "grand slams", but you get the point. In other words, the "returns" on those 10 players are probably as good as could be reasonably expected, if not better (and in some cases, much, much better). I think that's a sign of smart drafting and good player development, and ideally is how you want to (re-)build a team.
Third, the last two categories are primarily vets that are the "added parts" you need to make a successful team. Aside from Hiller and Hudler, a lot of these guys are interchangeable from year to year (not to minimize their contributions this year -- I just think they aren't the key pieces that you build your team around; we haven't).
Fourth, of the players in the last two categories, none have completely unreasonable terms and/or NMC/NTC's (I'd say the worst is Raymond's three-year deal; Stajan's is longer but he's versatile enough to play in many different roles). We can argue the dollar amount for some guys (like Engelland) but for a cap floor team it's really a non-issue right now. Again, smart allocation of resources knowing that we'll need the future cap space to lock up the guys in the first three categories.
Fifth, of the guys we've traded for (and who are on the current roster), none have cost us important assets like a high draft pick. At worst, second rounders were used in the trades to get Ramo and Byron, but neither were considered key players in the deal (at the time). Mostly parts for parts, which for a rebuilding team is the way it should be.
That doesn't mean all the moves we've made have been winners -- nobody from the Iginla/Bouwmeester trades are currently contributing to the team, and the trade down to pick Jankowski is looking bad because he's still at best two years away, when we could have had someone contributing now. However, we also have enough upcoming prospects to bolster the rest of the core (Bennett, Poirier, Klimchuk, Wotherspoon, Ortio) -- all drafted by the Flames and developing within the organization.
Conclusion: I can't imagine a better foundation to build a team. Strong down the middle, young, improving, strong character and hockey sense, well coached, fun to watch. Such a contrast to where this team was at as recently as 3-4 years ago.