I really do believe that in the 2025/26 season, Calgary will still be bad. This is a rebuild, not a retool. it just not a 'to the studs' rebuild.
I think it will be 2-3 years of drafting high then the team starts rising in the standings. I think the plan will be to:
2023/24 - sell this year, and get a lot of picks (duh - already happening!)
2024/25 - sell more next year, bottom out. Mangiapane, Sharangovich(?), Kuzmenko(?), Vladar(?). Who knows which other players Calgary gets back in trades or signs as UFAs for one year deals.
2025/26 - Will they really be going back up? I think they will be at the bottom of the standings for 2 full seasons. I think they will be in the McKenna lottery. Maybe not the best chance, but one of the 3-4 worst teams in the NHL that year. Unfortunately, there will be some teams who will probably be very determined to tank that year.
I think that next year they rebound back up. Flames should have been in the 2015 McDavid lottery as well, but suddenly they made the playoffs, and then kept trying to make the playoffs.
I think a 'down to the studs' rebuild takes 5 years if you are lucky, and if everything goes right. I think a rebuild leaves you at 2-3 years, lasting 5 if you are unlucky. Some markets can speed things up drastically - like the Rangers where everyone wants to play for them. There won't be a lineup trying to bust down the door here in Calgary. I think they should still be in the McKenna lottery, and with a new building around the corner from there, Bettman will want to make sure that enough tickets will be sold!
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