It was probably much closer without the Vegas injuries.
Once Vegas could could make room with LTIR it probably wasn't close anymore. Buffalo could get most of what they wanted. The better prospect, a higher chance of a better first rounder, and a really good roster player on a really good cap hit.
Without the Vegas injuries, I still think they were the de facto favorites based on having what Buffalo wanted, but maybe the cap hurdles would have been too tough to overcome and Calgary could have swooped in.
The Flames were probably always 2nd place but more of a toss up until the Vegas LTIR situation.
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