Just over a week ago the Calgary Flames, one of the NHL's best teams from February on, were preparing for what they hoped would be a lengthy playoff run.
They didn't exactly get their wish as they were shockingly swept out of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks.
While there is a lot to like on the Flames roster, there still figures to be some notable changes made this off-season.
Before the team can get to that, they have to decide who will be making said changes. There have been some rumblings GM Brad Treliving, whose contract soon expires, is not certain to be extended. I think he deserves a new deal with the Flames, and expect him to get one, but there will be a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the organization until that is dealt with.
Rightly or wrongly, let's assume Treliving gets a new deal.
The most important thing he'll have to address is goaltending. I would have liked to see Brian Elliott return at a moderate cost but that ship seems to have sailed after his playoff performance. Chad Johnson may be brought back but he won't be starting so the Flames will need at least one new goaltender.
There are a lot of decisions to be made on defense, too. Dennis Wideman won't be back, Deryk Engelland (likely) won't be back, and I don't think they're sold on Michael Stone as a top-4 guy (nor am I). If he'll sign cheap to be a 3rd pairing defenseman, fine, but I don't see that happening. I think Brett Kulak is NHL-ready and Rasmus Andersson isn't far off, if at all, but they are still going to need a couple bodies on the back-end.
Up front, Kris Versteeg, Micheal Ferland, and Sam Bennett all need new contracts. I don't think any of them will break the bank but they'll dent the dollars enough to cause some problems when the team looks to put together a new bottom-3 (or four) on the back-end and solidify the goaltending (I doubt they'll find a capable tandem as cheap as Elliott/Johnson were this year).
Shedding a bad contract like Troy Brouwer, Lance Bouma or Matt Stajan (he is a very solid depth option but makes too much) would certainly help but doing so is easier said than done.
The Flames have an excellent core in place, no doubt, but there is a lot of work to do around the edges. This should be an eventful summer.
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