its...almost tee-time for the Flames

It seems ironic that my last post on here was about playoffs, although that was about football playoffs. and what do you know, those also provided disappointing results for fans of a Calgary based team.
As I'm sure you know, the Stamps lost to the Riders in the west final last November. the Riders went on to lose the Grey Cup (played in Calgary, I was there!) after a big mistake cost them, and the Allouettes got their revenge after losing the Grey Cup at home the prior season. The 97th Grey Cup will go down in history. the Riders took control in the first half, and a solid lead into the 4th quarter. the Allouettes though charged back with an 8 point converted touchdown, and a 6 point touchdown to pull within 2 points. they had a chance at a 45 yard field goal to win with no time left, and missed. the Riders forgot how to count (or something like that) and had too many players on the field. Als got another chance from the 35 and nailed the winner. the Riders blew it.
ok, on to our similarly disappointing Flames team.
The Flames were supposed to compete for the division and possibly 2nd in the conference. after a great November they stumbled and at one point had a 9 game losing streak. soon after, Phaneuf was traded for 2nd liners from Toronto and a great defenceman, and Jokinen was traded for Kotalik, in a baffling move for most Flames fans and NHL fans. Kotalik?
after a great olympic break, the Flames needed about 14 wins in their last 20 to get a playoff spot, and they traded for Staios from Edmonton to make a playoff push, sitting a point out of 8th. since then the Flames have gone 7-6 and have lost ground on Detroit, Nashville and Colorado. the Flames had a decent chance until losing to the New York Islanders in a poor effort on thursday and today a brutal performance in Boston, losing 5-0. This team has serious problems. they are now 6 points out with 7 games left, and the two teams they are chasing (Detroit/Colorado) have a game in hand and are on pace to finish with one more point than the Flames can get if the y finish 7-0. The Flames appear to have given up, and if they want to make it they have to run the table, 7-0, against teams like Chicago, San Jose, Washington and Pheonix.
It is sad to see where this team is at, with the expectations. maybe we thought this team was better than it is, maybe the core is to blame, Iginla hasn't shown up much this season and his captaincy has to be questioned as he declines. the GM is also to blame here, with poor drafting, questionable trades and a poor ability to adapt his team to the post-lockout era. after years of change every year and first round exits, the only two constants remaining through this have been the core and the GM.
the core is overvalued because of a cup run, in a year of clutch and grab and an amazing goaltender, the Flames had trouble scoring then too.
the Flames have few truly valuable parts left, Iginla, White, Backlund, Kipper, Bourque and Giordano.

the question is where do the Flames go from here, assuming they miss the playoffs (there is a 1.6% chance of them making the playoffs)?
they have alot of long-term expensive contracts, with some having no trade clauses, so trading is going to be tough.
the Flames can stand pat and see how it goes with the current team next year, but fans don't want that. last season I said they need to blow it up if they lose in the first round again this year, and now they won't even make it (likely). it appears it is time to blow it up, and maybe with a new GM. I have been supportive of Sutter, but a change would be nice, and I wouldn't mind seeing Steve Yzerman or someone be the Flames GM. start anew, get rid of the old guys and rebuild, with some improved drafting. It would be tough to watch a few years of rebuilding and such, but the teams that have been succesful recently have rebuilt (except detroit).
maybe you get rid of the GM and keep the team the same, maybe a change in the style of play and management will improve the core's attitude.
another option is to strip Iggy of the captaincy, ala San Jose and Marleau, and hope that changes things.

As a fan, I am ready for a full-rebuild, but I doubt it will happen. It should be an interesting off-season, but this teams hands are tied. Iggy is getting older, so we need to get younger and build around those players (like Backlund)
They could be like Ottawa, who missed the playoffs last year, made one trade and are now back in a good position.

on a more positive note, the Hitmen are in the playoffs, down 3-2 in the series with Moose Jaw, with game 6 tonight. and the benefit of the Flames rebuilding, is lower expectations which means we are happier after wins and not as upset and disspointed after a loss. kind of like in 2004, the fans didn't expect a cup run, but I would rather not see them miss the playoffs for another 6 years.