I've always looked at sustained time at the top of divisions and conferences, and then looking at playoff runs. Teams that look good for a number of years generally have more favorable outcomes in the playoffs, and can eventually win it all, sometimes on multiple occasions. Its not linear, but there is reason to believe they can contend based on spending time at or near the top echelon of the league. Sure making the playoffs is a necessary step, but the Flames have done that 50% of the time during the rebuild and its not like anyone is happy. That is a step but its not a goal, nor should it be a goal of a team that is supposed to be at the apex of their rebuild.
If the Flames make the playoffs this season and get smashed up in the first round that would technically qualify as fulfilling Treliving's goal. They made the playoffs and saw what happened. And no one will be happy about fulfilling that goal.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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