Predicting when every NHL team will win its next Stanley Cup

Calgary Flames

The pressure is as high as its ever been in Calgary for the Flames to only making consistent deep runs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but for the Flames to end their 27-year championship drought.

Calgary made a statement when it released a newly appointed head coach in Glen Gulutzan after just two seasons and named Bill Peters the new voice behind the bench for the Flames this past offseason. The Flames also wasted no time buying out forward Troy Brouwer this summer, and added a veteran forward with uncanny playoff experience in James Neal.

Let’s not forget that Calgary finally parted ways with a blue liner in Dougie Hamilton, and acquired some promising assets with the likes of center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin.

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The expectations are for Calgary to win, now. There are no more excuses, especially after the team essentially just overhauled its roster in less than one month this past offseason. With a better squad if front of the team’s net, goaltender Mike Smith should be able to have one, or two, more solid seasons between the pipes in Western Canada.

Smith, 36, has only won 30 or more games once in his NHL career, and the former fifth-round draft pick (2001) arguably needs to post career numbers this season to take Calgary back to the promise land.

However, there are a number of positives for Calgary that aren’t so, well, grey. Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk have proven that they’re a potential dynasty trio to be reckoned with in the Western Conference – they just needed some depth and support.

If Calgary were to win its next Stanley Cup, then the Cup would make its way back to Western Canada in 2022.