The Calgary Flames are trying to rebuild without really rebuilding. Article content

It’s an understandable impulse. No organization wants to sell its fans on five or more years of pain, especially in a city that already has seen its share of false starts and roster churn. Article content Article content

But by refusing to bottom out, GM Craig Conroy has chosen one of the narrowest paths a hockey team can take in trying to find a franchise forward without ever drafting at the top of the board.

That path became even trickier after last season. The emergence of Dustin Wolf as a legitimate NHL starter (and the team’s late push for a playoff spot) effectively accelerated the rebuild timeline.

What was supposed to be a gradual reset suddenly looks more like a race against the ticking c

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