The article basically states that if everything ends up not working, if basically everyone underachieves and none of the prospects take the next step, that the Flames won't be contenders. Brilliant.
Even if that happens though (lol), he's still dead wrong, because their window won't shut.
The core is all very young except for Giordano. So they need to replace one defenseman in the next 3-5 years (and they have one of the best collection of D prospects in the NHL).
Frolik is 29 - oh noes! He is easily replacable when his contract runs out. And the Flames' future is hardly resting on his shoulders.
Whether the goaltending works or fails, the future is being built around Parsons and Gillies. If they don't develop, the Flames will look for other solutions. But Lambert is putting way too much weight on Smith and Lack's shoulders, the team will be contenders long past their contributions.
He is suggesting the window is 1 or 2 years. He's dead wrong. The window is 5 years, maybe more.
It's a desperate and sad article. Slanting their ages, ridiculous opinions of Bennett and Ferland among others... it's just pathetic really.
But we expect nothing else from him. And I look forward to him being wildly wrong yet again.
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