[CliffFletcher]

As a fan of 33 years, I don't even get upset at these playoff collapses anymore. Choking is in the makeup of the franchise, transmitted from roster to roster like venereal crabs in a dormitory couch.

So once again, let's play the How to Fix This Team in the Offseason game.

Gaudreau: He's taking a lot of unwarranted criticism. He tried to drive play. He backchecked. He played hard. But the game is called differently in the playoffs, and teams are always going to key on him. He simply isn't strong enough to power through the checks when games get tight. It is what it is. Johnny needs help. He needs another dynamic player on his line who can sometimes gain the zone and take some of the heat off him. He doesn't have it now.

The Flames should not be shopping him. But they should listen to any offers from the obvious teams out east. He may be worth more to a team trying to sell tickets than his is to the Flames.

For his part, Gaudreau could help his cause by starting to take diet and training seriously. He has enough disadvantages in the NHL without compounding them with those of his own making.

Monahan: A pure sniper who brings almost nothing to the game when he isn't sniping. When your #1C is the worst forward on your roster without the puck, you have a problem. A serious problem.

It's not easy to acquire a true #1C. A couple changed hands over the last year (O'Reilly, Duchene), so there's always a chance. Maybe a Seguin or Stamkos comes available. But the Flames might need to address the C position with depth instead, like the Preds have.

If the Flames do decide to move on from Monahan, his contract will certainly make him attractive, especially to teams with low payroll budgets (Arizona, Carolina, Anaheim). Of course, teams are going to wonder how much of Monahan's production has been down to playing with Gaudreau.

Goaltending: Was this Smith's swan song, or do the Flames re-sign him for another season until they know what they have in Rittich? This position is still clear as mud. The Coyotes might be willing to let one of Raanta or Kuemper go, given the strong play both have shown.

Coaching: Peters did a great job with this team, bringing structure that played to the strengths of the roster. Never let the team fall into a long swoon. But he was schooled by Bednar in this series. He had no solution to the Avs forecheck that disrupted any efforts to transition the pucks to forward with speed. He had four games to figure out counter-tactics, and failed.

This was his first playoffs as a head coach. Hopefully he'll learn how to gameplan for a series and adapt once the series gets underway.

Treliving: Has enough playoff games with this core to identify where the weaknesses are. Heat seems to be on from ownership, so expect his moves to be of the Win Now kind. I'm skeptical we'll be making a pick in the first round.

Move on from: Brodie will find a home somewhere, either for picks or as part of a package for a centre. Seems like Peters isn't a fan of Frolik, so expect him to be moved. Jankowski does not seem able to elevate his game, and PK specialists need to bring some energy to their game 5 on 5. Neal is unmovable.

Targets: Kevin Hayes, Nazim Kadri, Jason Zucker, Darcy Kuemper.