The Calgary Flames epitomize a team in flux. Last season, the team featured a new general manager, a new coach, a disgruntled star, a two-month holdout by a key defenseman, a goaltending controversy and an alarming amount of man games lost to concussions.

	2000-01 by the numbers
	Record: 27-36-15-4, 73 points (20th overall, 11th West, 4th Northwest) Man-games lost to injury: 290 (7th) Goals for: 197/2.40 (25th) Goals against: 236/2.88 (20th) Differential: -39 (22nd overall) 20-goal scorers: Jarome Iginla (31), Valeri Bure* (27), Marc Savard (23), Cory Stillman* (21) 50-point scorers: Iginla (71), Savard (65), Bure (55) * - no longer on team

To no one's surprise, the Flames missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

Looking at next season
Improvement should be easy for a team that has nowhere to go but up. However, considering the team's lack of financial resources, general manager Craig Button went on a calculated spending spree to bolster the team's grit factor with the intention of letting the young players develop.

Before adding any new players to the lineup, Button promoted assistant Greg Gilbert to head coach. Gilbert took over interim duties after Don Hay was fired on March 14 and was named a permanent replacement on May 1. While it's Gilbert's first head coaching position at the NHL level, he proved his mettle through tough practices and by benching star winger Valeri Bure.

Button cured a major headache by dispatching Bure, whose attitude and effort level were waning in Calgary, and center Jason Wiemer to Florida for center Rob Niedermayer and a second-round pick in June's draft.

In ridding themselves of their ailment, the Flames gave up more offense than they got in return, although Button said he believes Niedermayer can return to his 50-point form, which he eclipsed twice in his eight-year career. Button also thinks he'll have Niedermayer and Dean McAmmond, who was acquired from Philadelphia, signed before camp. Both players entered the Flames' fold as restricted free agents.

Because of budget concerns and the list of restricted free agents who still need to be signed, it's unlikely the Flames will add another forward -- though they could use one. A legitimate scoring winger next to Niedermayer, coupled with Jarome Iginla and Marc Savard on another line would give the Flames two decent lines.

Last season, it was difficult to determine who the Flames' No. 1 goalie was. It shouldn't be anymore. Because few teams are interested in inheriting Mike Vernon's $2.5 million a year contract, the Flames traded their top goalie -- the one with the most minutes and the best numbers -- Fred Brathwaite to the Blues for Roman Turek. They also signed free agent veteran Kay Whitmore for depth.

Despite Turek's unraveling against the Avalanche in the conference finals, he's posted a 66-33-19 record with a 2.10 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in his two seasons as the Blues' starter.

One of Button's biggest signings -- in contract size and stature -- flew in under the radar. The addition of 6-foot-2, 203-pound Bob Boughner came at a hefty price (three years, $6.3 million), but it brings much needed toughness to a talented defensive corps that includes veterans Phil Housley and Igor Kravchuk, and youngsters Derek Morris, Robyn Regehr and Denis Gauthier. It also gives the Flames flexibility in future deals.

The one question mark on defense is the status of Brad Werenka, who suffered a concussion on Dec. 29 and missed the rest of the season.

When Button was hired in June of 2000, it was clear he inherited a reclamation project. The Flames will definitely be more competitive next season. However, because they reside in the highly-competitive Western Conference, it's unlikely they will fare much better in the standings.

Sherry Skalko is the NHL editor for ESPN.com.