I really think the season was lost at the FA time. When Calgary signed Boumeister! While he is a solid player and should be better than he played this season. STILL another D-man was the last thing the Flames needed. They need scoring depth, and there really wasn't a lot of that available on the FA market. SO, don't spend the money and leave yourself cap room to make a deal.
With a cap, trades are harder to make. Not only do you need to find a team with something you need and you have what they need; but also have to find a team with cap space if a high priced player is involved. BY, leaving himself some cap room, Sutter gives himself far more options. The signing this FA D-man, he limited those and therefore made it harder to make a trade.
The only way signing Boumeister makes sense, is if Sutter had a trade lined up with another team. Trading a d-man (or 2) for some scoring.... He didn't. The bottom line... the failure the Flames this season rests squarely on one man's shoulders.....MR GM! Time for a change, Sutter has been given a fair chance and he's failed...plain and simple.