See you next year, Calgary

(Ed. Note: To correspond with our 'Welcome to the Playoffs' burning question feature, we continue to take a closer look at the non-playoff teams.)

Record: 41-29-12, 94 points; 10th Western Conference
Stretch that killed them: Mar. 10 – Mar. 30 (2-5-2)

Similarly to the New Jersey Devils, it was an up-and-down season for the Calgary Flames.

After an abysmal start to the year, things started to turn around in December. On Dec. 23, they stole a shootout win in Dallas that sparked a successful string of games. Days later, GM Darryl Sutter was essentially fired from his post, as Jay Feaster took over operations as Acting GM.

Whether the change at the top of the organization had any correlation to the on-ice success is anyone’s guess. But once Feaster took over, the Flames became one of the more consistent teams in the league. A 22-6-6 stretch helped Calgary leapfrog all the way to fifth in the conference at one point, causing many to believe that an unlikely trip to the playoffs was in store.

However, the Flames ran out of gas in the final month. Jarome Iginla kept up his production, but injuries started piling up and it became too much for Brent Sutter and company to overcome.

With their playoff hopes on the line, Calgary traveled to the west coast for a crucial three-game swing. They blew an important game in Anaheim, were edged out by Los Angeles, and then dominated by San Jose. Even two overtime losses mixed in weren’t enough to save the Flames’ playoff chances.

While a great second half is something the Flames can carry over into next year, Feaster has a lot of work to do (once his ‘acting’ tag is removed). A combination of pricey veterans and little cap room is going to limit Feaster’s abilities to improve the team this summer.

Olli Jokinen, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Cory Sarich are all overpaid with cap hits of $3 million or greater. Veteran Daymond Langkow, a Masterton Trophy candidate, is 34 and only played in four games this season after returning from a serious neck injury. His cap hit is $4.5 million.

If Feaster is unable to move any of these pieces, he’s going to have a hard time re-signing the likes of Alex Tanguay, Brendan Morrison and Curtis Glencross, who are all due raises for next season.

One move that Feaster has already stated that he will not make (despite rumors that won’t go away) is trading Iginla, the face of the franchise.

Two years have gone by without seeing the Flames make the postseason. Feaster has his work cut out for him if he wishes to put a halt to that trend next season.

Photo credit: Getty Images