Watching VGK and Seattle outperform the Flames this year made me think about how long it would take to build a cup contender from absolutely nothing. But then, what is "nothing" in terms of a hockey team? Expansion teams didn't start from nothing... and every team gets its draft picks replenished every year.
You could say a team with no players on contract, holding no prospect or RFA rights, and filling their roster with league minimum replacement level players on 1-year contracts has zero assets. Start the year like that, trade away all this year's draft picks for expiring players (every year), and see where that gets you. All with zero long term asset management. That team would suck but every once in a while you'd hit paydirt with expiring contacts.
Take that approach, then add in Bedard for the max amount you're allowed to pay him...and i think that team wins a cup before the Flames, with their current "assets."
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