[Mattman]

I see three ways the Flames can go from this off season going into the 2018-19 season.

Option A.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Brouwer
Mangiapane - Shore - Hathaway

Gio - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone

Smith
Gillies/Rittich

Same old, same old. No panic by Treliving and he keeps the same looking and same structured roster as last season, but this time it's under Bill Peters. They sit and wait to see what he can do with the Flames before making any major moves. Maybe a UFA signing or minor bottom 6 trade but nothing drastic.

Option B.

Gaudreau - Monahan - XXX
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Jankowski - XXX
Mangiapane - Shore - Hathaway

Gio - Hamilton
XXX - Hamonic
Kulak - Andersson

Smith
Gilles/Rittich

Management feels the need to make a change. Significant changes to the RW amd the forward core. Flames make a move for someone who can mesh with the Johnny and Mony duo, forcing Ferland into our bottom 6 to provide depth. Flames also make a move for a prospective RW, who becomes part of our core, and can push Frolik to the 3rd creating more depth in the bottom 6. Flames move a defender not named Gio or Hamilton to make space for Andersson, Valimaki or Kylington. Or they sign a UFA.

Option C.

Gaudreau - Monahan - XXX
Tkachuk - XXX - Bennett
Ferland - Janko/Backs - Frolik
Mangiapane - Shore - Hathaway

Gio - Brodie
Kulak - Hamonic
XXX - Andersson

Flames managment gets panicky. They feel it's now or never and go all in. They make a move for a top tier center which creates a 1a and 1b for the top two lines. Doing this causes the next in line C to become expendable, Jankowski or Backlund. They still make a chase for a solid RW to play with Johnny and Mony. In the process of getting a 1st line C and 1st line RW, Dougie Hamilton is moved, forcing Peters to get crafty with his defensive pairings. Quebec City gets an expansion team and Brian Burke does up his tie.