The future is bright! The future is when?

[Lanny_McDonald]

The season is over but what a great season for the Flames. This was supposed to be a transition year and boy, did they transition to a new generation of players. We got to see the development of a new first line and watch as it grew into one of the best in the NHL. Standouts were aplenty.



Several veterans played up to and beyond expectations for a change. Matt Stajan and Jiri Hudler were good mentors up front. Dennis Wideman and Kris Russell were excellent on the back end, complimenting the Norris Trophy caliber season Mark Giordano was having until his injury. While these guys were important I think it was the “next generation” of players made the difference to this team though.



Sean Monahan proved last year was no fluke, turning into not only a great two way center, but a scorer as well. Lance Bouma turned into a quality third liner who could provide some secondary scoring. Mikeal Backland continued his progression as a solid checker. Joe Colborne continues to develop into the power forward the Leafs hoped he would be. TJ Brodie was equally as good as Giordano, especially when the captain went down with injury.



Just an amazing year from the guys under 25, but it was a rookie that made the most difference. The amazing Johnny Gaudreau continued to prove his doubters wrong and not only stepped into the NHL, he became a top player for the club.


As the year progressed we got to see some other flashes of brilliance that will make the summer seem extra long as we pine for next season to begin. The arrival of Micheal Ferland has been much anticipated, but did he burst onto the scene in the post-season. We also got to see Sam Bennett become a regular in the lineup and look like another player with a bright future ahead.


What is really exciting is to think of the continued influx of youth that could find its way onto the NHL roster this fall. Markus Granlund showed he was NHL ready up front. Drew Shore didn’t look out of place on the lower lines. Tyler Wotherspoon is likely on the verge of cracking the defense. These guys are givens, as they have been on radar for a couple seasons, but there are others knocking on the door. Kenny Agostino and Billy Arnold both have the NHL size and skill to make the jump. They both have championship pedigree, which you can’t have too much of on your team. Then there is Emile Poirier, who has the speed and hands to compliment our top two centers to become a big scoring threat. The only thing really missing in the mix is a defenseman or two, or a goaltender that could challenge for job come the fall.


Something for the Flames to look forward to is maybe the rapid development of players answering those two shortcomings from players that just signed contracts. The additions of goaltender John Gillies and defenseman Kenney Morrison, both from the college ranks, could see both of them make the jump sooner than later, if they show success in the AHL.


That still leaves a few really nice players in the system with potential to step in and have an impact in the not too distant future as well. Mark Jankowski, Morgan Klimchuk, John Gilmour, Brandon Hickey and Rushan Rafikov all still look to be quality players in development and should arrive in the next year or two



2014-15 was a season we should all remember positively as it has set them team up for great success moving forward. Playoffs was gravy this season, as it provided great experience for our kids. This off season and next training camp will be that much more exciting as we get too see a new crop of rookies try to force their way onto the roster and improve our depth. What an awesome time to be a Flames fan! The only big question I have, is when does this team arrive? When is all of this young talent going to achieve critical mass and become a contender? 2016-17? 2017-18? 2018-19? I think it will be soon, but I hope we don't let this past season raise expectations to where we place too much pressure on this developing team to perform.

[BigRed]

If development trajectories go as hoped, I would expect the team to be a legitimate contender in 3 seasons, or 2018-19. Giordano will still be highly effective but Brodie will have taken over as #1, Russell will be barely post-apex and Wideman will be an effective PP specialist. We'll need some young D to step up but I suspect we'll have landed a big UFA to fill the 2/3 role.

Up front, Monahan and Gaudreau will be an elite 1st line, likely not with Hudler anymore; and Bennett and Ferland will be the mainstays on the 2nd line, maybe with Poirier on RW. Backlund and Bouma will be the core of the 3rd line, with Colbourne playing RW. 4th line will be Jooris and some plug and play youngsters with some jam.

I fully expect Ortio to be #1 in G, but the ideal situation is him and Gillies competing for the crease and pushign each other.

[Buff]

I have been thinking about this. It is hard to say what will happen next year or when the group will become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, if ever. The future is always yet to come. If a team is properly managed they will always have some good young guys in the system, so the future should always be bright. Alas, that is hard to do, and trading off prospects to solidify your team for a deep playoff run is too tempting to do. Hopefully Treliving learned from this year that you don't need to do that.

One thought on Gaudreau. He is only coming off of his rookie year? It feels like he has been here for a couple of years now. They way he quickly became a key player it doesn't feel like we had a couple of years watching this guy develop into what he is right now. Can you imagine if he continues to get better?

Anyway, right now we're all riding on a high. The Flames had an unexpectedly good season, overcoming the odds that the naysayers put on the Flames. This team wasn't supposed to be good. Bottom 5 or bottom 10 team in the league. Most of us die hard fans all thought the same. Then all of a sudden playoffs looked like a reality. Then all of a sudden we're in round 2!

Hard not to get caught up in that and expect growth for next year. What if we fall back a bit? What if we miss the playoffs by 1 point, or 10 points? Plenty of panic will ensue, but hopefully only in the eyes of the fans and not from within management. Flip slide, we did well without our top player and captain. Should a key player like Monahan or Gaudreau have an off year, or get injured for a long period, this team should be able to do well in spite of that... or was this year setting the bar too high?

The future does indeed look bright, but to avoid disappointment, and to help make it more fun when they do improve, I'm going to approach the future with guarded optimism.

[BurningSteel]

Next season is gonna be a gooder.

[Enoch Root]

Three years from now

[Resolute 14]

One thing that helps is the fact that the Pacific is still wide open. We probably won't be an .800 team (or whatever it ended up as) within the division, but we really could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th, depending on how many players continue to move forward, and if they overcome the players who will inevitably stagnate or regress next year.

[Vinny01]

Gotta think the Sharks and Canucks take steps back next year. The Yotes likely still have a couple years before they can start pushing. The Kings will likely bounce back but fave serious roster issues. The Ducks will again be in good shape to walk all over the division. The Oilers will be better next year the question is how much.


I like the Flames chances of second in the division but that is if things improve for our top young players and we still get good contributions from our vets

[BigRed]

Ducks and Kings will surely be ahead of us. Don't know what happened to LA this year but various distractions made them seem nowhere near as good as they are. They're contenders, period.

Sharks will slip, Canucks will slip, Oilers might put up more of a fight, and AZ isn't even on the map. I think we slot in solidly at 3rd but SJ and Van could have more life than I'm giving them credit for.

[ForeverFlameFan]

This year's season proves that we are trending upward much faster than expected. I expect us to be really contending with Anaheim for the #1 spot in the 17/18 season.

[getbak]

[JBR]

"The future is.. soon" - Ken King

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Ducks and Kings will surely be ahead of us. Don't know what happened to LA this year but various distractions made them seem nowhere near as good as they are. They're contenders, period.

Sharks will slip, Canucks will slip, Oilers might put up more of a fight, and AZ isn't even on the map. I think we slot in solidly at 3rd but SJ and Van could have more life than I'm giving them credit for.

I never thought of it this way, but it's tough to argue with anything you've said. If Niemi signs somewhere else and leaves SJ without a proven starter, I won't like their chances. The Canucks do not have any improving young players with elite skill (Horvat has almost no chance of being a first liner in my eyes). We'll have to wait and see what the Oilers do over the summer.

In the central division, I can see a few teams like Minnesota and Chicago regressing a bit. Even St. Louis might be a bit volatile if they finally fire their coach. Dallas and Colorado will likely rebound a bit though.

[Vinny01]

I just don't see Vancouver having much at all lest in the tank. Didn't they have something like 28 of their home games this year against a team that played the night before? We made fairly easy work of them in the playoffs and their roster gets another year older. I have no faith that Sven will all of a sudden become a top 6 forward or Vey for that matter. Is Horvat going to double his production? Will Virtanen or Shinkarauk make the team and contribute. Vrbata, Burrows, Higgins are not going to get any better. Bonino is a 3rd liner pretending to be a 2nd line C.

To me they need to win some trades this summer and I don't think they have the assets to do it. One pick in the top 90 and very little else.

Last year they were the 2009 Flames. A great regular season but beaten by a better, younger up and coming team. Next year they are the 2010-2012 Flames. They will hover around but finish 9th-10th in the conference

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Ducks and Kings will surely be ahead of us. Don't know what happened to LA this year but various distractions made them seem nowhere near as good as they are. They're contenders, period.

Sharks will slip, Canucks will slip, Oilers might put up more of a fight, and AZ isn't even on the map. I think we slot in solidly at 3rd but SJ and Van could have more life than I'm giving them credit for.

since when are the kings a good regular season team?

I mean they could be ahead of Calgary but its far from a sure thing...they have a capped out team that is not getting any younger

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by dino7c

since when are the kings a good regular season team?

I mean they could be ahead of Calgary but its far from a sure thing...they have a capped out team that is not getting any younger

They only missed the playoffs this year because of a terrible OT/Shootout record.

That stuff will even out next year.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

They only missed the playoffs this year because of a terrible OT/Shootout record.

That stuff will even out next year.

if you say so, results are always easy to predict on the off season...I would suggest some of you look at playoff predictions from last summer before speaking certain terms

Kings had 100 points the previous season...that is barely a playoff team these days and they are two years older now. Heck their first cup year they were in the low 90s and only made the playoffs because of the Flames turrible shootout record.

Kings are 50/50 for the playoffs if you ask me

[flylock shox]

I think the Flames become a contender when Bennett takes over 1st line duties from Monahan.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

They only missed the playoffs this year because of a terrible OT/Shootout record.

That stuff will even out next year.

2012 Kings (Champions) and 2015 Kings had an identical record.

[FlameZilla]

This team has all the makings of a contender, only all the major ingredients are a bit undercooked.

I have a gut feeling that next season might be a bit of a disappointment, especially as there will be a weight of expectation on the boys which wasn't there this year. All the commentators will be spouting out garbage about how this season was a statistical anomaly etc etc...

I'm half expecting a 'sophomore slump' for the whole team next season before the team establishes itself as a perennial playoff participant in 2016-17. Just a gut feeling. Guys like Bennett & Ferland could have a lot to say about that!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

This team has all the makings of a contender, only all the major ingredients are a bit undercooked.

I have a gut feeling that next season might be a bit of a disappointment, especially as there will be a weight of expectation on the boys which wasn't there this year. All the commentators will be spouting out garbage about how this season was a statistical anomaly etc etc...

I'm half expecting a 'sophomore slump' for the whole team next season before the team establishes itself as a perennial playoff participant in 2016-17. Just a gut feeling. Guys like Bennett & Ferland could have a lot to say about that!

I hope the bolded part is exactly what the commentators say coming into camp. I hope they write the Flames off as a fluke or as another Toronto or Colorado. I hope they make us another underdog. Any pressure to repeat will be removed.

I also hope the Flames keep the youth movement going. I see another four or five guys that should step in sometime this fall (Arnold, Agostino, Poirier, Wotherspoon and possibly Culkin) and continue to push this team toward being a contender. I'm still not sure when this team arrives, but if they continue with the youth movement, I wouldn't be surprised to see that critical mass achieved by the 2016-2017 season. At that point we will have a team that is not talked about as an up-and-comer, but a team that is ready to challenge the big boys in the league and be considered a lock for a playoff spot.