[Makarov]

I'm in a strange place this morning. I've come to terms with the situation. The Flames are playing with intensity, guts and purpose so far. I can't fault them on that front. However, subject to what happens in the next couple of games, its becoming increasingly clear that the four months last season where they were one of the best teams in the league was an anomaly. This team, with most of its star players in the middle of their primes, does not appear to be one of the best teams in the league.

So it may soon be time to once again recite the tried-and-true Flames fan mantra: where do we go from here? Is it time to accept that this is yet another failed Flames team (joining the post-Stanley Cup Fleury-led team, the "Young Guns" [shudder], and the post-2004 Iginla-led team)? It feels that way.

I'm happy about the emergence of Dube and Bennett. I'm excited about Valimaki and hoping that Kylington still has room to grow. I'm pretty concerned with the way Hanifin and Andersson were caved in over the past few games. I'm even more concerned about the lack of blue chip prospects (with legitimate elite potential) in the development system.

Its too bad. I was so excited about the future of this team after the win against Vancouver in 2015. It seemed like we were on the cusp of something good. Sigh. Maybe one day.