"The Flames finished with more than 90 points twice during the four-year span in which they've missed the playoffs. That might have created a mixed message: Were they close to being a playoff team or was the postseason the object in the mirror that was closer than it appeared?"
"Moving on from Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri in exchange for significant draft capital, it appears as if the Flames are about to embrace the full freight of a true rebuild rather than a retool on the fly."
"The Flames finished in the top 10 of most scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes and the most high-danger chances allowed per 60, which illustrates their defensive challenges."
The Flames are shifting towards a full rebuild after failing to make the playoffs for four consecutive years. They have acknowledged their reality by trading key players for draft capital, which will enhance their already strong prospect pipeline. Despite finishing with over 90 points in two of those seasons, their defensive struggles were evident, as they ranked poorly in scoring chances allowed. The team aims to improve through trades, free agency, and the draft, with eight picks in the first three rounds this summer.
Read at ESPN.com
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