Flames Open the Season With A Brutal Odds Reality Check

Calgary is staring at the kind of preseason odds that do not inspire much confidence in the room or the stands. Being near the bottom of the board is never flattering, but it does tell you exactly how outsiders see the roster and the rebuild. Odds are not destiny, of course, but they are usually a blunt instrument for measuring how much belief the market has in a team. For the Flames, the number is a reminder that the climb starts before the first puck drops.