I'd like the Flames to target up-and-coming players and start the team's next core with a youth movement.
I'm not talking a full tear down, but the movement of a couple of core veteran pieces (e.g. Monahan, Tkachuk, Backlund, Giordano) for players with pedigree who are on the cusp of - or have a realistic chance of being - impact players.
For example, Eichel's name comes up a lot, but I think Buffalo have shown they're willing to open the vault to surround him with talent. I'd therefore be much more inclined to see if a deal can be worked around a player like Cozens - perhaps in a swap for Tkachuk - that would give the Flames an emerging Center who could grow along with the young players the Flames already have on their roster, and who they might add via other trades.
If moves like that aren't available, I'd aim to score high draft picks in the next two drafts to the extent possible.
In terms of people to keep, I would hold onto Gaudreau unless it seemed probable he will leave when his contract expires. I'd also keep Mangiapane, Lindholm, Dube, Valimaki, Andersson, Tanev, and Hanifin for the rebuild (though would deal any of them if it were a must in order to land a blue chip player/prospect). Markstrom pretty much has to stay by default now that Rittich is gone - there simply aren't other viable short-term options to provide stability in net, and the guy was lights-out at the beginning of the year.
All told, I think the Flames should take heart from Ottawa's example: just because you're rebuilding doesn't mean you have to be utterly terrible. And as the Flames have proven, just because you're not rebuilding and you have a good roster on paper doesn't mean you're actually any good...
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