[Igottago]

Originally Posted by timbit

IMO, the rebuild is not done and some key pieces are far from fully reaching their potential.

Bennett , Mark Jankowski, and some other not so clearly defined NHL prospects at forward

Parsons, Gillies, Rittich, in Goal

Andersson, Fox, Valimaki, Kylington, Kulak, Hamilton, on D.


With some realistic hopefulness, all or most of the above are close (1 to 3 seasons) to being legitimate NHL contributors.

They hold moderate to considerable value as Flame improvements ( replacements), allowing Flames to trade active Flame players or trading these young assets to ameliorate the Flames specific needs. ( primary ,secondary and tertiary offense for starters).

IMO, the Flames are two to four seasons away from being legitimately done with their rebuild.

Smith and potentially Giordano being the only major cogs that will be on their downside or done.

That is how the bottom 6 will legitimately improve , as well as the bottom 4 D and goaltending....leading to a legitimate and sustainable contender.

If the Iginla trade was the starting point of the rebuild, that was essentially 5 years ago. Another 2 - 4 years from now? If its the latter that's nearing a decade of rebuild time. That is insanely long. There are careers that come and go in that span. I think its reasonable to expect the team to be starting to make some real noise around about now.