CALGARY, AB - DECEMBER 10: Dougie Hamilton #27 of the Calgary Flames celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 10, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
The bottom end of the Flames' defensive totem pole has received its fair share of criticism.
If anything, this season is more like one for treading water for the Flames. We generally expect them to take a much bigger step forward next season. When Ladislav Smid is finally officially off the books; when Deryk Engelland and Dennis Wideman's deals are no more and the expansion draft is in the past, then the Flames will finally - hopefully - be able to complete one thing that's been eluding them for some time: rounding out their top four defencemen.