Unless the manage to tread water with a Tkachuk trade (unlikely) the right move is to rebuild. Markstrom, Lindholm, Tkachuk, and Mangiapane will get a big haul. The Flames have good guys on D that are young enough to stick around for a rebuild. Guys like Tanev, Backlund, and Coleman are good veterans to have during a rebuild. Wolf, Pelletier, Mackey, Valimaki, and a few others are likely ready to graduate. Pick high for a two seasons and cash in the futures you get from your big trades and turn things around fast.
But the Flames almost certainly won't. They will trade Tkachuk for NHLers or lose him for nothing. They will hold onto Lindholm and watch his value tank. They will keep Markstrom until he has no value. They will sign Mangiapane to a regrettable contract because they are under pressure to do so.
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