I’m not sure it’s a matter of particular forwards having a career year or a goalie standing on their head. Hockey is a funny game. There’s always a team or two in the mix to make the playoffs who don’t have anyone playing lights-out, but they do have buy-in and trust in each other.
Look at the this roster and tell me it screams playoff team:
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...089812023.html
The Flames are going to have a lot of guys on the roster next season who have something to prove. Veterans playing for a contract. Rookies trying to establish themselves in the league. Guys who have been here a while and didn’t ask for a rebuild. Give them a hot start and they’ll start to believe in themselves.