It’s been 14 months and change since the Calgary Stampeders were hoisting the Grey Cup inside BC Place.
A lot has changed since then.
Dave Dickenson is now in charge of the sideline, while John Hufnagel is the full-time GM, one that has been watching a whole lot of talent exit town since claiming the second championship of his tenure.
They’re still expected to be one of the top teams in the league in 2016, but another 14-plus win season — it would be their fourth straight — is likely asking a lot.
There’s no doubt it’s an important off-season for the organization in terms of rebuilding a roster that is getting worse, not better.
That process will begin in earnest Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. when the CFL free-agent market opens.
Here’s a look at five players who could pique Hufnagel’s interest:
WR Nick Moore, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
He’ll be 30 when the season starts and he’s coming off two subpar seasons in the ‘Peg, but Calgary could be the perfect landing spot to rejuvenate his career. Going from the Bombers quarterbacks to Bo Levi Mitchell would help any receiver and he may be a bargain compared to some of the other receiver options on the market.
RB/KR Kendial Lawrence, Edmonton Eskimos
With the Montreal Alouettes locking up Stefan Logan and the B.C. Lions taking Chris Rainey off the market Monday, Lawrence is the top kick-return option remaining. His numbers from last year are underwhelming, but he’s explosive and versatile and he’s still only 24 years old.
DE Justin Capicciotti, Ottawa RedBlacks
This would represent a fairly big splash for the Stampeders and one that would give them two Canadians on the defensive line next to the tackle trio of Junior Turner, Quinn Smith and Derek Wiggan. It would also give them a player with 23 sacks over the past two seasons and ratio flexibility in case injuries strike.
LB Mike Edem, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
He was the player coming west in a Buddy Jackson trade that was nixed due to a failed physical last fall, so it makes sense they’d be interested again. Edem hasn’t been able to match his sensational rookie season of 2013, but a fresh start in the city he played his college ball with the Dinos might be just what the doctor ordered.
DE Jason Vega, Toronto Argonauts
After going down to the NFL in 2013, Vega hasn’t been able to find his footing since returning, but he’s still produced seven sacks in his last 14 games. With 11-sack man Freddie Bishop III signing with the New York Jets, throwing Vega into a competition with Brandon Boudreaux, Frank Beltre and a couple of young Americans in training camp might be a good idea.