Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Flames have 6 games left until April 3 Trade deadline

JayP · 03-19-2013, 12:24 PM

The post-trade deadline schedule should be the key for any rational organization. Here's what it looks like:

- 5 home games versus 8 road games
- 3 back-to-backs
- no breaks longer than one day
- 13 games in 22 days
- 4 games against non-playoff teams (currently)
- 4 game road trip to end the season vs. Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago

It's an absolutely brutal schedule for any team - let alone a bubble team (at best) like the Flames.

For the Flames to have any shot, they have to be at least in a playoff spot by April 3rd (And that's even a major stretch, IMO). None of this "we're only 3-4 points back" where there's 3-6 teams between us and 8th crap. The chances of the Flames going on a good run and outplaying several teams by several points over that stretch is essentially nil. The Flames have to recognize this and know that if there is any chance at playoffs it has to be set up by the trade deadline. If it hasn't, then "intellectual honesty" says you're sellers.

The Flames have had an easy schedule thus far (more home games than away, lots of 2+ day breaks) and we're sitting in 14th. It's not simply a matter of playing better than we have thus far. With our schedule, the Flames are going to have to play significantly better than we have.

03-19-2013, 12:24 PM	#5
JayP Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Exp:	The post-trade deadline schedule should be the key for any rational organization. Here's what it looks like: - 5 home games versus 8 road games - 3 back-to-backs - no breaks longer than one day - 13 games in 22 days - 4 games against non-playoff teams (currently) - 4 game road trip to end the season vs. Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago It's an absolutely brutal schedule for any team - let alone a bubble team (at best) like the Flames. For the Flames to have any shot, they have to be at least in a playoff spot by April 3rd (And that's even a major stretch, IMO). None of this "we're only 3-4 points back" where there's 3-6 teams between us and 8th crap. The chances of the Flames going on a good run and outplaying several teams by several points over that stretch is essentially nil. The Flames have to recognize this and know that if there is any chance at playoffs it has to be set up by the trade deadline. If it hasn't, then "intellectual honesty" says you're sellers. The Flames have had an easy schedule thus far (more home games than away, lots of 2+ day breaks) and we're sitting in 14th. It's not simply a matter of playing better than we have thus far. With our schedule, the Flames are going to have to play significantly better than we have.