Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames have been one of the more surprising success stories in the NHL this season, and a large part of that has been thanks to rookie winger Johnny Gaudreau’s performance this season. The rookie scoring leader was named rookie of the month by the NHL for a stellar showing in March, according to NHL.com.  

At just 21 years old, the left winger has accumulated 60 points this year, earned the rookie of the month award twice and has been key in the Flames' push for the Stanley Cup playoffs in the Western Conference.

Embroiled in the battle in the Pacific Division, the Flames won nine of 15 games in March, with Gaudreau’s 16 points playing a big role.

It has been an unexpected turnaround for Calgary, who lost star player and captain Mark Giordano to an upper-body injury at the end of February, and it was expected to fall out of the race for a playoff spot.

The early development of Gaudreau has the Flames in a strong position in the standings, with the Los Angeles Kings starting to falter in the Pacific. Although Calgary is still likely to be eliminated in the early stages of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the future beyond this season looks bright.

As reported by Randy Miller of NJ.com, Gaudreau has the support for the rookie of the year award from those involved with the Flames organization.

"He has my vote," coach Bob Hartley said March 19.

"The first game that he played in Vancouver, you could see that he was a special player," center Sean Monahan said.

If Giordano returns next year at a similar level to what he did before the injury this season—the defenseman had 48 points including 37 assists before his injury—and Gaudreau continues to grow, the Flames could jump to the top of the West in the next few seasons.

We are gathered here today to fondly remember the 2014-15 Calgary Flames. No, this is not a sad day, for they would want not us to cry for them. They would want us to celebrate them.

We all knew from the drop of the puck that their demise was inevitable. Doomed from the outset by a lack of talent, we knew this day would come.

But in the famous words of the computer hacker Switch in The Matrix...not like this. Not like this.

The death of Mark Giordano's season was a catastrophic blow to the Flames. He was the heart, brains, liver and every other vital organ of the team. The Flames were on life support, their pulse weakening, their life-force draining with each passing day. No one wanted to see the Flames go out so swiftly.

At least, not like this.

The passing of the Flames was not unlike what happened to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Low expectations, a hot start, continued success in the face of horrendous possession numbers, success based on unsustainable numbers, the continuous dread that the rug would be pulled out at any point. Then an injury to Jonathan Bernier compounded the failures of the vital signs of the Leafs, resulting in an untimely end.

Now Toronto is a hockey wasteland, the joy of those first 60-plus games of 2013-14 wiped from memory.

Is this Calgary's fate? As Giordano readies for biceps surgery, will this be the legacy of these unexpectedly delightful 60-plus games of 2014-15?

Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan alone make this a blessed season, one that should not be cried over. Then there's Sam Bennett marinating in the minors, recovering from shoulder surgery but ready to make an impact in 2015-16. T.J. Brodie, Giordano's running partner and one of the most unappreciated elite defensemen in the league, isn't going anywhere.

Joe Colborne, cast aside by the Leafs, looks like he has a future. There are enough secondary parts to build around the young core that while the first 60 games of this season were about as fluky as this Brodie goal that won a game in overtime, this is not a sad day.

Are there some questions about the defenders behind Giordano and Brodie? Oh sure. Is it worrisome that Jonas Hiller, signed for one more season, has been losing playing time to Karri Ramo? You bet.

But with around $20 million in salary-cap space for next season, general manager Brad Treliving can address those needs. This season need not have died in vain.

We'd be remiss to not mention why we are standing in front of this orange and red casket with most of Alberta weeping about a sixth consecutive postseason absence. This season would want us to be honest about that.

The Flames are 28th in unblocked shot attempt percentage (45.7), a vexing number when you consider it was two points better last season. In three seasons under coach Bob Hartley, the Flames' unblocked shot attempt percentages have gone from 47.7 to 47.5 to 46.7, a troubling trend if you believe the Flames have improved talent-wise over that time.

Hartley signed a multiyear extension in December.

The Flames will likely have less than a two percent chance of winning the draft lottery, which in a way is a shame for the franchise; if the Flames hadn't thrived on luck, comebacks and breaks, they'd have been one of the few teams that could've gone from also-rans to the playoffs in one season with Connor McDavid in the fold.

Let us not mourn too long for the Flames, for this is probably the most fun fans have had in years. 

This ending was inevitable, but the fun could've lasted a few more weeks.

Value of First-Round Picks

Dating to the Penguins getting David Perron from the Oilers in January, seven first-round picks have changed hands this season. The value of the picks, some conditional, is impossible to pinpoint at the time of their respective deals. Some are later in the first round than others, too, making it more difficult for them to land long-term NHL talent.

We won't know for years how these picks will pan out. 

In 2006-07, 11 first-rounders were used to land the likes of Craig Conroy, Mattias Nordstrom, Ladislav Smid Dainius Zubrus and Shane O'Brien in trades. How did those picks pan out?

In 2007, those first-round picks became Alex Plante (15th), Nick Petrecki (28th), Max Pacioretty (22nd), Mikael Backlund (24th), Colton Gillies (16th), Jonathon Blum (23rd), Riley Nash (21st), Ian Cole (18th) and, coincidentally, Perron (26th).

In 2008, one more pick was used: Viktor Tikhonov went 28th. 

Pacioretty and Perron are the standout names on that list while Backlund and Cole have become quality players. That's about one out of every three first-round picks, all mid- to late picks, turning into something substantial. 

It's anecdotal, of course, as the quality of draft classes are different. It's just something to keep in mind about all the first-rounders, which will be mid- to late picks, swapped this season.

Who Is Connor McDavid-ing This Week?

The tank battle for Connor McDavid will be quite the scene this season as teams stumble over each other to finish last in the standings, thus guaranteeing either McDavid or future American hero Jack Eichel.

30. Buffalo Sabres (19-39-5, 43 points): Tanking is one thing; the Sabres are doing something beyond tanking now. Hyper-tanking? Super-tanking? They were expected to deal pending unrestricted free agents at the deadline, but Michal Neuvirth? A very good, young goaltender with a .918 save percentage this season? Good luck sinking below a team starting Anders Lindback and Chad Johnson the rest of the way.

29. Edmonton Oilers (18-35-10, 46 points): The Oilers aren't even tanking at this point; they are just doing what comes natural. It's hard to make a case they are unintentionally/intentionally trying to lose; it seems like they are just losing. Four of their next five games are against Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Pittsburgh, so hope is not lost for 30th place.

28. Arizona Coyotes (20-36-7, 47 points): They have lost nine straight in regulation and parted ways with Keith Yandle at the deadline, acquiring zero assets that can help between now and the end of the season. The race to last is by far the most interesting thing to happen to the NHL regular season in at least a decade.

Goal of the Week

Let's watch Jaromir Jagr score a goal for the Panthers, a team that did not exist when he made his NHL debut in 1990. 

Jagr forever.

Questions and Answers

Got a question? Tweet me @davelozo or email me at dave111177@gmail.com, but please don't call before 9 a.m. I will answer any of your questions about hockey or whatever if it's a good question.

@DaveLozo Who should the Coyotes draft if they don't pick #1 or #2?

— Brendan Porter (@brendanporter) March 2, 2015

If we're being honest, this question scared me back at the beginning of the season. I thought, if I do a radio interview and someone asked me that question, I'd have no idea who to say. I'd say, "The third pick is likely to be Tarnblom Knifebottom of Saule St. La Lac," then hang up and throw my phone in the river.

I don't know a thing about any kid playing junior/college hockey other than what junior/college hockey experts say. I'm not looking to pretend I know this stuff because I don't. I could've told you Vince Young would be a bad NFL quarterback before he was drafted because I watch college football. Here, I'm not equipped.

Just about every draft board has Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin going third. It's hard to argue, but just about everyone has center Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters, Connor McDavid's team, going fourth or fifth.

I don't know how badly the Coyotes need a defenseman, as they have a lot of good young ones about to get their chance, but if Hanifin is truly the best defenseman available, I'm taking him. That's my secondarily informed guess.

https://twitter.com/remin92/status/572544588612808705

Nothing. Run your team as you see fit within the rules. No matter how the league adjusts percentages, teams will weigh them the same way they are now and tanking will still be a viable option. Tanking is cool and so are you!

@DaveLozo Which move at the deadline impressed you the most and which left you scratching your head?

— Jason Broadwell (@JBinthe813) March 2, 2015

Assuming this isn't a shot at my dry skin problem right now, the best move and head-scratcher was David Clarkson for Nathan Horton. Great job by Toronto. Head-scratcher for Columbus.

For Toronto, the explanation is easy: They got rid of a bad player making a lot of money for a very long time and in return got a player with a really sad medical condition that can be placed on long-term injured reserve. The Leafs are still paying around $5 million per season to a player, but they gain cap space.

For Columbus, I simply don't get the notion of "We can't afford to pay a guy not to play." But you can afford to pay Clarkson to play? He's downright not good. I question whether he's actually an NHL player at this point, never mind over the life of the contract. I feel like the Blue Jackets have lost their way in the past year or so.

@DaveLozo with Giordano's injury, who becomes the frontrunner in the Noris Trophy race?

— Mathieu Szabo (@matszabqc) March 2, 2015

It was between Drew Doughty and Mark Giordano for me, so my vote is probably going to Doughty. He's lugged the Kings' depleted defense on his back all season, faces the toughest the other team has to offer on almost every shift, dominates possession, leads the league in ice time and is in the top 20 in scoring. It's not even close for me.

Some people will tell you it's Shea Weber, but they are wrong. Listen to me. I am correct.

All statistics via NHL.com and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. Cap information via Spotrac.

Dave Lozo covers the NHL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter: @DaveLozo.

The Calgary Flames are in the midst of a six-game losing streak and are one of the league's worst possession teams for a third season in a row under coach Bob Hartley.

So, of course, the Flames on Wednesday announced a multiyear contract extension for Hartley.

The #Flames have signed head coach Bob Hartley to a multi-year contract extension! ~ http://t.co/bkr2eqV2M4 pic.twitter.com/XopES2HqQY

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 17, 2014

The timing is humorous but also representative of Hartley's time in Calgary. A fluky, downright miraculous start to this season despite getting destroyed at 5-on-5 that had pundits talking about the heart and toughness of the Flames was followed with six regulation losses, a comeuppance that better represents the quality of this club.

The Flames have trailed after two periods 16 times this season—only Carolina (18) and Edmonton (17) have been down more often after 40 minutes—but have a league-high six victories in that situation. They have the third-best winning percentage in the league when trailing after two periods; it's up to you to decide if that's a repeatable skill based on grit and heart or a heavy dose of fortunate outcomes.

(Hint: It's the second one.)

This, on the heels of two subpar seasons, earned Hartley more years of employment?

Ever work at a company that featured an employee who was almost unanimously considered bad at his/her job, yet that person continued to receive raises and promotions? And the only explanation was one person—the boss—somehow thought that person was doing a great job, and that's all that mattered?

If you look at Hartley's time in Calgary, a deep love and unrivaled devotion from team president Brian Burke and general manager Brad Treliving is the only explanation for Hartley's job security.

"I know we have the right guy steering the boat." - Treliving

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 17, 2014

"There's a consistency with him that I admire." - Treliving

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 17, 2014

Here's Hartley's coaching record and related numbers since he became the Flames coach before the 2013 season and the season prior.

Season	Record	Points	Fenwick	Fenwick Rank
2011-12	37-29-16	90	46.7	29th
2013	19-25-4	42	47.5	23rd
2013-14	35-40-7	77	47.7	25th
2014-15	17-14-2	36	46.4	27th

What exactly about the past two-plus seasons says Hartley is making progress? The consistency is certainly there; there's no arguing that. But being consistently bad at possessing the puck for three years isn't what most teams want from a coach.

There are only three teams below the Flames in Fenwick this season—Colorado, Ottawa and Buffalo, three teams that are among the worst in the standings. The Flames' record through 27 games (17-8-2) flew in the face of their dismal possession numbers, yet it was likely evidence in the eyes of Flames management that Hartley had the team headed in the right direction.

In Hartley's defense, he was asked to win a car race in a vehicle with three wheels that's powered by unicorn breath.

The Flames have Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie, arguably the best all-round defensive pair in the NHL. They drive possession and post great offensive numbers along the way, a rarity and luxury for any team, never mind one as unequipped to win as this one.

Considering the first offseason under Treliving featured the signings of Mason Raymond (out 18 games with injury), Devin Setoguchi (now plying his trade in the AHL), Jonas Hiller (losing time to Karri Ramo) and three years for Deryk Engelland (LOL), it's not as if Hartley was placed in perfect position to win a Stanley Cup.

But this team should be better.

Johnny Gaudreau. Jiri Hudler. Curtis Glencross. Sean Monahan. Josh Jooris. The Flames are in no way a playoff team, but they're certainly not a team that should have the Avalanche breathing down its neck in most possession metrics. Point to the Flames' record right now all you want, but with possession numbers like these, it's extremely unlikely the Flames take a significant step forward from last season's 77-point finish.

The Flames are nothing more than a two-line team with a great top defensive pairing, but that's not an excuse for being this bad at puck possession.

Maybe the Flames are going with the devil-you-already-know approach; after all, there are plenty of underperforming squads in 2014-15 (New Jersey, Philadelphia, Minnesota) that are sticking with their coaches. If there isn't anyone else out there, perhaps the right move is sticking with the current coach.

Then again...

Hartley hasn't won a playoff game since 2001, which covers nine seasons with the Avalanche, Thrashers and Flames. His only playoff trip in the past eight seasons was with the Thrashers in 2007, and that ended with a four-game sweep. In a league slowly moving away from fighting, he had a fight instructor come to training camp.

If this season ends with the Flames missing the playoffs while getting crushed at 5-on-5, what exactly is the foundation for Treliving's faith in Hartley?

No one is saying Hartley should be fired now, but waiting to see how this season played out was the way to go before offering a contract extension.

All statistics via NHL.com and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.

Dave Lozo covers the NHL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter: @DaveLozo.

Though the Calgary Flames finished 27th overall in 2013-14, an unexpected sense of hope surrounds a team that had stripped itself down to its bare bones.

A gritty work ethic and sense of promise surrounding the Flames' young players formed the foundation of what's hoped will be a relatively quick rebuilding process in Calgary.

What We Learned in 2013-14

It would be an understatement to say that expectations for the 2013-14 Calgary Flames were low. Longtime stars Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff had moved on, and the team needed to establish a new identity built around a new core of young players.

The Flames' arena, the Scotiabank Saddledome, was also badly damaged during a summer flood, but the enthusiastic community spirit surrounding the restoration process throughout the city may have set the tone for the commitment and team spirit that Calgary's players showed on the ice during the season.

Rookie Sean Monahan also offered Calgary fans a glimmer of hope for the new regime when the sixth pick from the 2013 NHL draft stepped right into the lineup. Six goals and three assists in his first eight NHL games earned him a spot on the Flames' roster for the full season, where the skilled center finished with 22 goals and 34 points.

The leadership void left in the Flames' room after Iginla's departure was filled admirably by new captain Mark Giordano. The 30-year-old defenseman led by example with a career-high 47 points despite missing 18 games due to injury. Giordano also found himself in consideration for Canada's Olympic team in Sochi.

In the front office, Brian Burke was named president of hockey operations in September 2013, but vowed to stay in the background of the team's organizational structure. "I'm not the general manager of the Calgary Flames," he declared to the Canadian Press (via TSN). "Jay Feaster is. He is going to be in charge, but with my guidance."

On December 12, Burke inevitably moved front and centre when he fired Feaster and assistant general manager John Weisbrod, assuming the role of acting general manager for the rest of the season.

https://twitter.com/jeffonjackYYC/status/411243316798185472

The news of Feaster's dismissal was somewhat overshadowed by Burke's unruly hair at the press conference announcing the dismissal.

The Flames finished 27th overall in 2013-14, missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, but their 77 points in 82 games (.939) marked a step forward from 42 points in 48 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season (.875). Defense and goaltending improved slightly, while scoring dropped off.

Outlook for 2014-15

Brian Burke's most significant offseason move was the hiring of new general manager Brad Treliving in April 2014. An assistant coach with the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes for more than a decade, Treliving shares Burke's enthusiasm for teams that play a physical style. At a televised press conference, Treliving said, "I think the style of play, people talk about big and whatever word you want to use, I think you need to have heavy teams now," he said. "I think you have to play a heavy game."

While coach Bob Hartley remains behind the bench, Treliving has spent the summer retooling his management team and his roster.

Top goal scorer Mike Cammalleri moved on as a free agent, as did winger TJ Galiardi and defenseman Chris Butler, while the Flames used a compliance buyout to part ways with Shane O'Brien.

New additions include free-agent acquisitions Mason Raymond, Brandon Bollig and Devin Setoguchi up front, Deryk Engelland and Corey Potter on defense and Jonas Hiller in goal.

After using unproven Karri Ramo and Reto Berra in net 2013-14, established veteran Hiller could be the key to helping Calgary put up more points in the new season.

Here's a look at Calgary's projected roster for the upcoming season.

	Forwards
	Defense
	Goal
Curtis Glencross	Mikael Backlund	Jiri Hudler
Johnny Gaudreau	Sean Monahan	Devin Setoguchi
Mason Raymond	Matt Stajan	David Jones
Brandon Bollig	Joe Colborne	Lance Bouma
Paul Byron		Brian McGrattan
T.J. Brodie		Mark Giordano
Ladislav Smid		Dennis Wideman
Kris Russell		Deryk Engelland
Mark Cundari
	Jonas Hiller
	Karri Ramo

According to Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald, captain Mark Giordano has spent his summer touching base with his new teammates.

"I’ve pretty much reached out to all of the guys that have been signed by our team or added through free agency," says Giordano, who also made a point of speaking with prospect Sam Bennett after the Flames chose him fourth overall in the 2014 NHL draft:

I just wanted to make him feel as comfortable as possible. As a young guy, it can be intimidating...but the young guys on our team are the ones coming up and are going to help us push for that playoff spot in years to come.

Bennett and talented NCAA alumnus Johnny Gaudreau are the young players with the best chance of cracking Calgary's roster.

According to CapGeek.com, the Flames have built their 23-man NHL roster with $15 million in cap space to spare. They're well positioned as a potential trading partner for cap-challenged teams that need to shed salary before the new season begins.

Though their improvements didn't show in the standings in 2013-14, the Flames look like a team that's poised to take the next step forward in the post-Iginla era, especially with Hiller in net.

Question marks surround the $8.75 million contract handed to third-pairing defenseman Deryk Engelland, while skilled forwards Mason Raymond and Devin Setoguchi aren't the names that come to mind when Treliving talks about his team playing a "heavy" game, but if the Flames stay committed to their team game, they could execute their franchise turnaround much more quickly and effectively than their rivals to the north, the Edmonton Oilers.

Goalie Jonas Hiller has never played an NHL game for a team other than the Anaheim Ducks, but the Swiss backstop will embark upon a new journey this season after signing a reported two-year deal with the Calgary Flames:

Bob McKenzie of TSN was first to report the news on Hiller's deal:  

Hiller experienced plenty of highs and lows during his seven seasons in Anaheim. While he posted solid numbers on a consistent basis, it always seemed as though there was someone breathing down his neck and pushing him for playing time.     

Never was that truer than during the 2013-14 playoffs. Hiller won 29 games and had respectable peripherals with a 2.48 goals against average and .911 save percentage during the regular season. Despite that, he played in just six postseason games and ceded the starting job to a pair of rookies in Frederik Andersen and then John Gibson.      

With head coach Bruce Boudreau turning to inexperienced netminders like Andersen and Gibson, Hiller essentially saw the writing on the wall, according to Greg Beachem of the Associated Press:

Hiller replaced Gibson in Anaheim's blowout loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals and figured that was the final stanza in his Ducks career, per Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register:

Hitting free agency gave Hiller a golden opportunity to pick and choose a more favorable landing spot. Goalies aren't necessarily at a premium these days, but plenty of teams entered free agency with a need at the position.

Even though Hiller was looking forward to a new beginning at the end of the season, he admitted that leaving Anaheim after so many great moments and memories would be difficult, according to the Associated Press., via CBC.ca:

There's probably a real good chance that I've played my last game with the Ducks. Thinking about it kind of makes me feel sad, because (it's been) quite a few great years here. It always feels weird when something like that comes to an end. You're kind of always hoping, but at the same time, sometimes you have to face reality. ... If it's going to be a new challenge, I'm excited about that, too.

If negotiations had gone a bit differently, though, it is entirely possible that Hiller would still be a Duck. Per Beachem, Hiller was in talks to re-sign during his best stretch of the 2013-14 season, but nothing came to fruition:

It is tough to blame the Ducks for switching gears since both Andersen and Gibson are talented, young goalies with bright futures. Hiller is a solid, established guy, but he isn't exactly a spring chicken at 32 years of age.

The manner in which Hiller was handled during the playoffs was definitely questionable, though. His numbers weren't bad by any means, yet Boudreau seemed extremely reluctant and unwilling to hand the reins over to him fully.

It is entirely possible that the same problem will manifest itself in Hiller's new locale, but he most definitely needed a fresh start. Hiller isn't an elite goaltender, but he is a former All-Star who has proven capable of leading teams to great success in the regular season.

That has yet to translate to the playoffs, but it isn't uncommon for goalies to be late bloomers in that regard.

Hiller didn't always get a fair shake in Anaheim, but this is his chance to prove that he can carry the load and be something more than a caretaker between the pipes. He figures to have a chip on his shoulder this season and beyond, and that should make him a very tough goalie to play against.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Player: Sam Bennett

Drafted By: Calgary Flames (4th overall)

Position: Left Wing

Final Central Scouting Ranking: No. 1 North American skater

Height/Weight: 6'0'', 181 lbs

DOB: June 20, 1996 (18 years old)

Most Recent Affiliation: OHL, Kingston Frontenacs

Background

Sam Bennett is the top-rated North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. Bennett had a breakout season in 2013-14, doubling his goal total from his rookie OHL season and more than doubling his point total over the 2012-13 season.

During the regular season, Bennett tallied 91 points in 57 games, adding nine points in seven contests during the playoffs despite playing with a groin injury.

There are a ton of reasons why Bennett earned the top rating from Central Scouting. The biggest reason is his all-around versatility and competitive spirit. 

Full Scouting Report

While Bennett is 6’0” and just 181 pounds, he plays a non-stop physical game that belies his lack of bulk. Bennett doesn't have one area of his game that is outstanding but is very good at almost every aspect of the game and in all three zones. Of all the top prospects in this year's draft, Bennett is the most responsible in his own zone.

Bennett goes all out on the ice. Central Scouting's David Gregory had this to say about him before the draft:

He plays the kind of game you think cannot be sustained for a whole season because it’s a high-energy game and compete game at all ends of the ice. He ends up playing that game for the whole year. He just never stops, and put that with the skill package he has and how well he thinks the game, he’s pretty much a top-notch player.

Another scout told The Hockey News in their draft preview issue that Bennett has "Elite offensive skill and vision. May have the strongest stick in the league. Never gets outmuscled and torques his body to win battles."

NHL Player Comparison

Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. Bennett plays well in all three zones, is capable of being physical despite having only average size and has great vision, speed and hockey sense. He also possesses leadership qualities.

NHL Timetable

Bennett has elite talent, but his lack of size and his failure to do even one pull-up at the scouting combine means he may be one year away from playing in the NHL. He will get his nine-game tryout, after which his new team will decide to either keep him in the NHL or return him to Kingston for one more year of junior hockey. Either way, he'll be in the NHL by 2015-16 at the latest.

Top-End Potential

At his top potential, Bennett is an All-Star, first-line center who can top out at 90-95 points. He could become a team captain down the road and a regular at the NHL Awards and All-Star Game.

Bennett can score 30-35 goals a year with his hockey smarts and his habit of keeping his stick on the ice. His vision and playmaking skills mean he is capable of 50-60 assists as well. He should be one of those players who makes his linemates better.

The Calgary Flames absolutely manhandled the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night, beating the second overall team in the NHL, 7-2. The win moved the Flames up in the league standings to 26th overall and is exactly the wrong thing for the Flames to be doing at this late stage of the season.

The simple reality this season is that the Flames are rebuilding after years of coming close but missing the playoffs. And while getting a top-15 pick every year is nice, it clearly isn't making this team any better.

The surest predictor of success in the NHL is goalscoring, and that's something Calgary does not have. The top seven teams in the NHL right now also happen to be the top seven teams in goals for. The Flames, meanwhile, are 28th in goals for (159), and their best scorer this year, Jiri Hudler, is 66th in the league in points (44).

I'm a fan of Hudler, but he's not going to be the guy to deliver the Flames to the promised land. What they need is a couple front-line scorers, and the longer you have to wait to make your first pick, the less likely you'll get one of those guys.

More than three-quarters of the way through the 2013-2014 season, six of the top 20 scorers in the NHL are former first overall draft picks: Sydney Crosby (88 PTS), Alex Ovechkin (67 PTS), Patrick Kane (67 PTS), John Tavares (66 PTS), Joe Thornton (64 PTS) and Taylor Hall (61 PTS).

Two more members of the top 20 are former second overall picks: Tyler Seguin (67 PTS) and Evgeni Malkin (66 PTS). And another two are third overall picks: Jonathan Toews (62 PTS) and Matt Duchene (62 PTS). So fully one half of the top 20 came from the first three picks of the draft.

While there is little chance anyone can catch the Buffalo Sabres for worst in the NHL and the driver's seat in the draft lottery, the next three spots are all up for grabs right now. A late-season hot streak from the Flames could cost them a shot at a top prospect.

TSN's Bob McKenzie's list of the top 50 prospects identifies four forwards in his top five that project out to elite scorers: Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Michael Dal Colle and Leon Draisaitl. Calgary badly needs to lock down one of those players.

I've seen Reinhart and Draisaitl play this year, and both were very impressive. (Reinhart, for example, has picked up nine points in the three games I've seen him play this season for the Kootenay Ice.) Either one could step onto an NHL team next year and make an impact. 

But if the Flames stay hot for the remainder of the season, they could take themselves right out of contention for a blue-chip prospect of that caliber.

Don't get me wrong. Head coach Bob Hartley has done a great job of getting this team to give it their all on every shift. It's encouraging for the future of this franchise to see the team out-hustling their competition every game this year—even if they don't have the talent to win consistently, and I'd like to see them continue this trend.

But now is the time to ensure call-ups from the Abbotsford Heat—whether it's Corban Knight, who scored his first career NHL goal last night, or Markus Granlund, Max Reinhart or Ben Street—are getting as much playing time as possible. Prioritize player development over victories. 

This season is already a write-off for the Flames. There's no sense in picking up a bunch of wins and wasting the opportunity to get better faster.

Follow me on Twitter @calgaryjimbo