For a team rebuild, making the playoffs is a bonus. However, for a team that is a contender and not making the playoffs, that's a huge failure financially for the team, economically for the City, and emotionally for the fans. The Flames making it into the playoffs during a rebuild last year was a huge bonus, especially when the made it into the second round. That was an amazing and successful season IMO. However, to expect them to get in this was a stretch. I really believe that if McDavid sweepstakes wasn't in play last year, maybe the Flames might not even make the playoffs. But who cares, that's history. The Flames need to be better than just a bubble team and build on being a contender for the Cup. Just making the playoffs and exiting in the first round is just almost just as bad as sitting in 9th, 10th, and 11th place in the conference.
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