December on the horizon opponents and record predictions

[Moneyhands23]

Christmas is coming and I'm not so sure I like the gift we as Flames fans will be reciving🎅

The boys now sit with an 8-14-2 Record, tied for dead last with the Oilers...

I can tell you this. The NHL, and their scheduling department has given Flames fans a lump of coal for Christmas this year! The upcoming "Holiday" schedule is a real party pooper. The only major upside being two home stands with some unpleasant house guests.

These opponents have a real likely hood of ruining the eggnog!

Games 25-29 Home stand *(Deck the Halls)

Dallas
Boston
San Jose
Buffalo
NY Rangers

Games 30-33 **(Spreading Holiday Cheer in America)

Nashville
Dallas
St. Louis
Detroit

Games 34-37 ***(New years bring new things)

Winnipeg
Edmonton
Anaheim
Los Angeles

* Probably more of a case of (Decked in the Balls)
** Gift wrapped points to our Southern Neighbour's!
*** Next year I want a shinny new toy in June!

Happy Holidays!

[2ArmBands]

The thing that sucks about being last...

Everyone is better than you and you fear all of them.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

The thing that sucks about being last...

Everyone is better than you and you fear all of them.

No kidding. There are no easy nights when you're the worst. I'm not even confident we'll have a winning record against Edmonton by the end of the year.

[Gaskal]

I'm gonna stop watching games until one or more of the following happens.

-Callups from AHL (that actually get playing time)
-We start playing new system that doesn't suck
-Wideman/Russell gets pressboxed/traded
-Gaudreau gets reunited with Bennett

[saillias]

This team should not be this bad. If you think about the 2013-2014 team that was a putrid roster and they finished about where their talent said they should. But there are talent upgrades and player improvements all across the board since then.

I agree with Gaskal, and to add I wouldn't be opposed to a coaching change.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm gonna stop watching games until one or more of the following happens.

-Callups from AHL (that actually get playing time)
-We start playing new system that doesn't suck
-Wideman/Russell gets pressboxed/traded
-Gaudreau gets reunited with Bennett

I would be happy with one of those four things at least. The frustrating thing is I doubt even one of those things happens.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I would be happy with one of those four things at least. The frustrating thing is I doubt even one of those things happens.

There's one way to make sure all of these things happen. It starts with a f and ends with a "ire Hartley"

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by saillias

There's one way to make sure all of these things happen. It starts with a f and ends with a "ire Hartley"

Not necessarily... if Hartley's shiny toys (aka Wideman/Russell/Bollig) are traded away, he can't play them. But that probably won't happen until the trade deadline where we jettison some.

Up and down the lineup as it stands, I legit think that outside of Jones and maybe Hudler/Engelland that every aging vet can be replaced right now with someone from the farm and the team will be better.

Treliving needs to forcibly wrest control of the lineup away from Hartley at this point.

[dissentowner]

So ridiculous. Hey, let's fire the guy who had this team that is no where near its completion of a rebuild to the 2nd rnd of the playoffs last year. Some people on this board have lost all perspective.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So ridiculous. Hey, let's fire the guy who had this team that is no where near its completion of a rebuild to the 2nd rnd of the playoffs last year. Some people on this board have lost all perspective.

I actually think it's hilarious. Prior to Bob, the team went three full seasons without a playoff berth and another 9 without a series win.

I personally hope Hartley coaches out his entire contract, just like the bum before him was allowed to.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I actually think it's hilarious. Prior to Bob, the team went three full seasons without a playoff berth and another 9 without a series win.

I personally hope Hartley coaches out his entire contract, just like the bum before him was allowed to.

Even if they finish 30th and allow 350 goals?

Last year was great and all but it feels like we're getting back to ground zero. Hartley needs to move the dial, this season has been totally unacceptable.

[saillias]

This is his 4th year. When is it ok to wonder if a team needs a new voice? Especially when the GM just spent more money on payroll for less return. Ownership money is not to be squandered lightly under this group.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So ridiculous. Hey, let's fire the guy who had this team that is no where near its completion of a rebuild to the 2nd rnd of the playoffs last year. Some people on this board have lost all perspective.

He's also the guy who has the team that went to the second round of the playoffs in dead last. There's two sides to every coin, some people look at it one way, and others look at it the other way.

Hockey is a results-oriented business, and as much as that sucks, you have to have a "what have you done for me lately?" attitude. Hartley was great the last three years, and I don't believe he's the reason they're in last right now, but when your team is ahead of 0 teams I think it's more than fair to question the coaches status.

[polak]

How on earth is anyone happy with Hartley this season?! Great he did a good job last year but he is absolutely useless this season. This team is the worst coached team in the nhl. Defensive coverage, Special teams, Roster choices, everything. Hartley literally has nothing right this season. Not a thing.

[Huntingwhale]

Even his quality of quotes are down!

[Moneyhands23]

4-7-2 is my guess at the December record...

[heep223]

Originally Posted by polak

How on earth is anyone happy with Hartley this season?! Great he did a good job last year but he is absolutely useless this season. This team is the worst coached team in the nhl. Defensive coverage, Special teams, Roster choices, everything. Hartley literally has nothing right this season. Not a thing.

I dunno, the team is allowing less high quality scoring chances than last year and has scored more goals 5v5.

I don't know how you can really put horrid goaltending on him.

Agreed that special teams is a huge issue that I lay squarely on the coaches.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So ridiculous. Hey, let's fire the guy who had this team that is no where near its completion of a rebuild to the 2nd rnd of the playoffs last year. Some people on this board have lost all perspective.

Eh, while I'm not on the Fire Hartley wagon (just don't see the point until we have the top-to-bottom talent) your post about 2nd round of the playoffs last years is misleading.

ES Score-Adjusted Fenwick:
2010 (Sutter): 51.5 (9th)
2011 (Sutter): 52.4 (7th)
2012 (Sutter): 46.8 (29th)
2013 (Hartley): 46.9 (24th)
2014 (Hartley): 47.1 (25th)
2015 (Hartley): 45.6 (27th)
2016 (Hartley): 47.8 (20th)

Perspective, would tell you that while Hartley made the playoffs, they didn't do it by following a playoff-worthy process. While Sutter missed the playoffs, he did so twice by following a playoff-worthy process. A coach's job is the process. Hartley cheated the process and made the playoffs and second round. But by cheating the process he arguably stifled the young players' development.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Eh, while I'm not on the Fire Hartley wagon (just don't see the point until we have the top-to-bottom talent) your post about 2nd round of the playoffs last years is misleading.

ES Score-Adjusted Fenwick:
2010 (Sutter): 51.5 (9th)
2011 (Sutter): 52.4 (7th)
2012 (Sutter): 46.8 (29th)
2013 (Hartley): 46.9 (24th)
2014 (Hartley): 47.1 (25th)
2015 (Hartley): 45.6 (27th)
2016 (Hartley): 47.8 (20th)

Perspective, would tell you that while Hartley made the playoffs, they didn't do it by following a playoff-worthy process. While Sutter missed the playoffs, he did so twice by following a playoff-worthy process. A coach's job is the process. Hartley cheated the process and made the playoffs and second round. But by cheating the process he arguably stifled the young players' development.

Sutter was also given far better lineups to work with, including Kipper. Those numbers can tell you very little out of context like that.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I almost posted an exceedingly long post. I will just say this instead.

One thing that even I (as positive a Flames' fan as I thought existed) thought was wrong was the expectations this year that many people had. The line separating a 'successful' season and a 'disappointing' season was suddenly set on surpassing the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I predicted that last year, the team would bottom-out and be the worst it would be during the rebuild. They showed me how unpredictable that was.

Can we as fans say we have endured a single bad season during this rebuild? I can't. A half-season of a lockout shortened season before the plug was finally pulled and the rebuild was kickstarted. Followed by a season where the Flames finished their absolute worst in team history at #4, but were 10+ points up on the teams below them (and an NHL record tying most 1 goal games in a season). Then a miraculous explosion into playoff hockey.

This year, we are being 'treated' to what a rebuild is.

I think many people are still stuck in thinking that the Flames are a bona fide playoff team on the cusp of becoming contenders. I don't see them that way right now.

They are a team in year 3 of a rebuild. They are a team with a really beautiful core shaping up, but with a number of glaring holes (goaltending, size, secondary scoring).

I watch the games to see how the core is doing. I watch the games because I am a hockey fan too. My mind is a blank slate when I watch them now. I also thought that they were ahead of schedule and would have another strong season this year (though getting out of the 1st round of the playoffs to me would just be 'great', not 'expected').

Now I just readjusted into thinking about this team as a rebuilding team. If they turn around the rest of the season and surprise me again like last year - great! If not, well, then also great. They get another high pick that will more than likely turn into an important core piece for the next decade +. Just as importantly, this team won't feel the pressure to retain some of their vets that may not fit-in long term, and will recoup longer-term pieces that hopefully will.

It isn't all doom and gloom. I get to watch a core developing and taking shape.

They say success begets success. Well, sometimes early success begets high expectations which begets pressure to succeed which begets taking shortcuts to reduce the pressure and meet expectations.

The one thing that I really love about this season from Game 1 until now is Treliving. How he is so insistent that he is doing everything he can to make this team better, but that it 'has to make sense long term". Whatever happens, no artificial or temporary shortcuts will be taken.

I am watching a (now) expected rebuilding team have a painful season. Nothing less, nothing more. I don't have any "fire X" and assigning blame to Hartley, or the goalie coach, etc. This is a rebuilding team. It is not as painful to watch once you accept them for what they are - a rebuilding team with some really fun to watch players that are part of the future core that we get to watch grow in front of our eyes.

I will not complain unless this team makes a series of short-term moves to address the lack of success this year. As long as that doesn't happen (and I don't see why it would now), then I will continue to happily watch this team win or lose. It is easier now that I don't expect success this year. I guess year 2 and year 3 of the rebuild just kind of flip-flopped, that's all, and I now expect the Flames to bottom-out this year in the standings. The nice thing about it this time is that there are no obvious tankers this year in the NHL. Just hope the hockey gods don't screw with us in the end with the lottery system.

Hey, this is much better than Edmonton. Can you imagine being a fan of that team for 10 seasons of this? Neither can I.

Still love the Flames.