To use the Brian Burke crawl, walk, run analogy. This year will be the the first year in the walk phase IMO. I think the previous years still had a lot to do with them still learning what is needed to win. With what the young core has learned (make no mistake the playoff appearance was huge for that development, but was a very opportunistic situation) and the changes the that management has made (namely the back end), I do think they have a chance to make the playoffs this year.
You have to start making it to the playoffs in successive years before you can say you have made it to the run stage. The Flames aren't there right now and that won't be known for at least three year.
|