I think that this was the year that BA took his shot at The Prize (Bedard). Only problem was that the team believed in itself and in its coaches too much to really go for the ring like Chicago and Anaheim did. I'd say the only other true tank season we've been in was the McDavid draft - I mean, a real gutting of the roster down to the nub to get the best 1OA odds. The other seasons I'd call "misery seasons," but not a real rebuild harbinger.
From this point on - regardless of where we end up drafting - we need to be improving. I agree with you - let it bake. Build on what we have. But no more teardowns, no more resets. We may have to suffer more misery in the near term but the overall goal should be a clear and significant trend toward less of that misery with each passing minute.