In many ways, life was easier for NHL clubs before the introduction of the salary cap in 2005. Sure, there was a disparity between clubs in terms of resourcing, but an uneven playing field also meant that some teams could spend their way out of mistakes.
The introduction of the cap eliminated that possibility overnight, and suddenly made smart drafting and player development a necessity for teams in the modern era. The Calgary Flames are one of several organizations that have adjusted to this new necessity on the fly, as well as the list of complexities added during the COVID-19 pandemic.