What are your expectations for the 2017/2018 season?

[FBI]

How do you think the flames will do in the regular season and playoffs?
What will you be happy with?

I heard some of us talking about it's still not even that likely that the Flames will make the playoffs. I strongly disagree with this and would be HUGELY disappointed if that were the case. I'm starting to get pumped again about the young talent on this team with another year of growth. And the possibility of more consistent goaltending.

I'm thinking what if Bennett really comes around, Janko steps in, Tkachuk DOESN'T have a sophomore slump, and we have Stone as #4 for the whole season. Things will be looking pretty good.

My expectations are for the flames to have a much stronger regular season - finish maybe 4th-6th in the West, and win a playoff round.
I also hope we do better in the 2nd round then we did last time around, I would consider that a modest success.

We could even do a poll here if mods were interested. I'm pretty interested in the percentage of people that don't think the flames will make the playoffs.

[Bunk]

Top 3 pacific division. Win at minimum one round, be in a position to take a run deep.

[troutman]

Assuming the Kings and Stars are improved, a playoff spot will be tough.

[Otto-matic]

Finally win in Anaheim.

Everything else will be gravy after that.

[ComixZone]

...or you know, just for everyone to play and have fun.

[Gaskal]

Top 3 in Pacific, win a playoff round.

[GranteedEV]

If Vegas takes Brouwer:
Top Seed in West baby.
If Vegas takes Kulak:
Meh, hope we make the playoffs and get good trade deadline returns on Bouma and Stajan.

[undercoverbrother]

NO idea.


Some consistency in the team would be nice.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by troutman

Assuming the Kings and Stars are improved, a playoff spot will be tough.

Why on earth would you assume the Kings will improve? They were old and slow last season and next season they'll be older and slower... and they won't have as good a coach behind the bench, and they'll likely have the "new coach adjustment" slump.

__________________________________________________ ____

Anyhoo... the Flames. If Treliving can avoid making a Brouwer level brainfart in off-season acquisitions my expectation is a divisional playoff spot.

[stone hands]

Playoffs

That's pretty much my only expectation

I like going to the dome in shorts

[DJones]

A 3rd line of Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland plus an elite top 4 will make this team a nightmare match-up for most teams.

Top 2 in the Pacific.

They over performed my expectations last year as I was happy to just make the play-offs but this year is go time.

[Savvy27]

I expect them to be in the race for the Pacific division and would be disappointed with a first round loss. There are plenty of good pieces on this team and there were some unusual obstacles last season that hamstrung the regular season along with Elliott's collapse in the playoffs. I really do think last season was a growth year and expect a highly competitive team.

[CaptainCrunch]

finish way ahead of the Oilers

Playoffs

Be really competitive or win a round.

[PepsiFree]

Playoffs, a good start, and no absolutely miserable stretches of hockey.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Wow, this thread is premature.

We don't even know who our 4-6 defensemen are going to be, or who our backup goaltender is likely to be.

It seems like there are a LOT of questions to be answered in the coming weeks after the following:

1) Expansion draft; INCLUDING all the trades that are likely to happen through Vegas.

2) Entry draft; INCLUDING all the trades that are likely to happen on draft day.

3) Free agency; ESPECIALLY with a new franchise creating 23 more NHL jobs and removing a roster player from each of the other 30 NHL teams, and thus diluting the talent pool. This will increase the demand for quality NHL players without changing the supply significantly. I imagine there will be a LOT of competition for free agents.

I feel like this thread should be locked until we see how we fair, as well as all of our competitors. Only then could there be a realistic answer.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by troutman

Assuming the Kings and Stars are improved, a playoff spot will be tough.

People always say this but if they are winning more games somebody is losing more games (hopefully not the Flames)

Point totals needed to make the playoffs are always in the same range...low to mid 90s almost always gets it done especially with this parity.


and how the hell have the Kings improved?

[prizefighterinferno]

If Smith stays healthy, we add a legitimate top four defenceman, and get a bounceback year from certain players (Bennett, Brodie, Gaudreau to an extent), I think they could be a top team in the west (which is what we were from November on last season).

Alternatively, if Smith's health doesn't hold up and we fail to improve on last years bottom three on D somehow, it will likely be difficult to make the post-season as there are always bouncebacks and surprises among the teams "in the mix".

I do think that whatever happens, the forward group as a whole has enough offense, play-driving/shut-down acumen and (to a certain extent) depth that they will score enough to keep the team competitive. However, it would be ideal to add one more quality top 6 guy on RW to really balance out the forward lines and make it especially difficult for opposing teams to match up against the Flames, which would help push them into that upper echelon of teams.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Wow, this thread is premature.

We don't even know who our 4-6 defensemen are going to be, or who our backup goaltender is likely to be.

It seems like there are a LOT of questions to be answered in the coming weeks after the following:

1) Expansion draft; INCLUDING all the trades that are likely to happen through Vegas.

2) Entry draft; INCLUDING all the trades that are likely to happen on draft day.

3) Free agency; ESPECIALLY with a new franchise creating 23 more NHL jobs and removing a roster player from each of the other 30 NHL teams, and thus diluting the talent pool. This will increase the demand for quality NHL players without changing the supply significantly. I imagine there will be a LOT of competition for free agents.

I feel like this thread should be locked until we see how we fair, as well as all of our competitors. Only then could there be a realistic answer.

With Smith the core is set and the defense can be assumed well enough. Same with the expansion draft. Feels like it's already priced in.

An unknown upgrade of our bottom pairing and #1 RW are good to know but won't change the team outlook.

[CMPunk]

No expectations as always

[codynw]

Make the playoffs and get swept by the Ducks.