[FlamesAddiction]

Flexibility is the key and lack of flexibility is a major reason why some good teams can never get over the hump to become great teams. Progression is rarely linear and the team needs to be malleable in order to adapt as other teams around them are also adapting.

Limit the number of NMC/NTC clauses. Have some kind of internal rule and stick to it.

Leave some cap cushion at all times to be able to swing deals when it is advantageous. Some will disagree, but cap space is an asset IMO. Being a team with some space often puts you in a buyers market when other teams are cornered. A team that isn't a Cup contender, does not need to be right at the salary cap.

To that point, avoid buy outs at all cost. Nothing annoys me more than dead cap space. Buy outs are the definition of mortgaging the future.

Simply put, you can't handcuff your team from making tweaks to the roster during the the time they are good, but not yet a contender. You have to keep in mind that every decision may have an opportunity cost attached to it. A lot of the Flames lack of improving I believe is at least partly due to contract clauses and inability to take back salary.