After a third straight season outside of the playoffs, even the most faithful Flames fans in Calgary are starting to ask the same question pundits and others outside of the city have been asking for several years:

Why don’t the Flames rebuild?

The organization hasn’t won a playoff series since 2004 despite boasting one of the most expensive rosters in the league. Calgary’s prospect pool is middling and its marquee players are aging. They remain competitive enough to routinely challenge for a playoff spot, but are as far away from elite now as they have ever been post-lockout. It’s a grim, uncertain future for the team. A clearing of the decks and reboot seems in order: trade the aging stars for kids and picks, up the club’s cap flexibility and prepare for a few rough years…

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