So It Begins: No Quick Fix for Calgary Flames As They Continue To Slide

As the Calgary Flames keep plummeting in the Western Conference, there is little left to do but scratch one's head and wonder what could have been.

After Calgary got off to one of their best starts ever, going 17-6-3 in the first 26 games, they have gone 3-6-2 in their last 11 and now find themselves holding on to the last playoff spot in the West by a measly two points over Detroit and Dallas.

While watching the Flames slide has been as frustrating as listening to a gentle instrumental arrangement of a Foo Fighters album in an elevator, it isn't too hard to pinpoint their problem.

During the recent 11-game skid, the team has only scored 20 goals. In fact, on the year the Flames have scored a total of 103 goals; only the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes have scored less thus far this season.

It is an age-old problem that has followed the club since their hay-days of the late '80s and early '90s.

And in the post-lockout era, every general manager in the NHL will tell you that is no easy fix with the lack of bona-fied scorers available.

When you look at the top five teams in the NHL, you will find all but the New Jersey Devils (who have given up a league low 79 goals against), are at the top of the league in goals for.

Out of those top teams, the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins have all had the luxury of selecting high in the NHL Entry Draft in recent years, while Calgary has never had a top five pick in their 30-year history. Since taking Dion Phaneuf ninth overall in 2003, the Flames haven't drafted better than 23rd, which has made it literally impossible for the franchise to take the next step.

That compiled with the fact that under the NHL salary cap, the club has had little choice but to let players like Mike Cammalleri walk rather than re-sign him, though in hindsight that may have been money well spent.

Anyway you look at it, the Calgary Flames aren't going to win a Stanley Cup with playing "old school" hockey, it is simply a neanderthal way of thinking in the "new" NHL.

And as hard as it is to swallow for fans of the Flames, eventually this team is going to have to dismantle or lose in order to put themselves in place of acquiring a top pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Unless they are complacent with mediocre seasons followed by quick exits from the playoffs year after year.

While many will argue the team is close to being a contender, father time is slowly but surely creeping up on the cornerstones of the franchise in Mikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla, and there is no room under the cap for Darryl Sutter to maneuver a trade or free agent splash like he accomplished last season.

As good as they have been, Calgary has yet to really get hit with the injury bug, and that may be the only reason they hold on to eighth in the Western Conference right now.

With the overworked Kiprusoff heading to the Olympics as Finland's No. 1, it is unlikely he will have very much left in the tank if the Flames do find themselves in the playoffs come April.

So what happens next?

Unfortunately there are no quick fixes, unless Darryl Sutter can somehow manage a one-for-one deal and pick up Ilya Kovalchuk from Atlanta for Olli Jokinen, which has about as much chance of happening as me reporting for TSN one day.

The smart move, may just be putting Calgary in position to draft Taylor Hall this season. Let's face it, this team has little chance of playing for the Stanley Cup come June, so they may has well play for the top pick.

Until then, the Flames and their fans are just going to continue with disappointing season's that end up in a 20th overall reward at draft time.

I don't know about you, but for me, Taylor Hall sounds a little more appealing.