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Just how bad will the Flames be next year?

Jay Feaster

Calgary Flames general manager Jay Feaster speaks to the media about the team’s trades involving Michael Cammalleri being reacquired from the Montreal Canadians, along with goaltender Karri Ramo, in a multi-player exchange for winger Rene Bourque and Patrick Holland in Calgary, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

AP

Headline on PHT (Mar. 28, 2013):

Jay Feaster doesn’t want to call Flames rebuilding

Headline on PHT (June 14, 2013):

Feaster admits team is rebuilding

So when we ask how bad Calgary will be next year, it isn’t meant to ridicule. To the contrary, it’s a totally legitimate question, to which a lot of Flames fans are hoping the answer is, “Really, really bad. Like...the worst.”

The Flames already got three first-round picks at this summer’s draft: Sean Monahan (sixth overall), Emile Poirier (22nd) and Morgan Klimchuk (28th). But that was only the beginning, if you believe the general manager.

“I don’t think there’s a quick fix,” Feaster said, per the Calgary Sun. “The fact of the matter is we have to do a better job as an organization in drafting. We think over the last three years or so that we’ve done a better job. But not enough players are pushing through right now.”

The Flames, of course, traded away two of their best players in Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester last season. It’s also expected that goalie Miikka Kiprusoff will retire.

Granted, there’s still the likes of Mike Cammalleri, Jiri Hudler, Mark Giordano, and Dennis Wideman, but on paper, this team has big question marks in multiple areas. As in, pretty much every area that exists.

In 2013-14, the Flames will be in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, and Edmonton Oilers. The consensus is they’ll be hard-pressed to finish anywhere but last. Which, again, is what many fans are hoping.

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It’s Calgary Flames day on PHT