[Sylvanfan]

If you really want to know how not to run a Franchise...maybe look at Buffalo.
Whatever they are doing...make damn sure you don't.

Realistically I think the Flames need a slight rebuild. Too many cap bogeys for the next two years, and your best player is still young enough that you will able to win with him 3 years from today on a new contact while still having some other usefull pieces at decent cap numbers.

So you sell what you can, keep your pick, and if your players sulk and suck...hope it improves your draft lottery odds. The players had 60+ games to prove something, and they frankly failed.