[djsFlames]

They would play an easier schedule against mainly more "finesse" teams that wouldn't make them look challenged because of their size (except Boston), which would allow for them to thrive more often than not with the current style of play. And arguably, after the same amount of games, would have a better record than they have now and be right in the playoff bubble. Playing Florida, Carolina, Devils, lowly Philly, Caps (who they've played well against), Islanders all the time? Oh yeah, you'd bet they'd be in contention.

Problem for the Flames is that the league has fallen into a strange situation where all the power lies in the West right now. The scale is very unbalanced for elite level teams vs middle of the road teams, where the East has clearly two upper echelon teams and the West has 7, arguably even 8, which then occupy all the western playoff berths to begin with. It puts the Flames at a severe disadvantage.

The power in the league is just very lopsided, and it hasn't been this way in many years. The east right now is dominated by very average teams that the Flames could compete with most nights, some without even putting in a full 60 minutes of hard work, which is the way they must play most nights against these western teams to find any success, which can be very tiring for a team lacking in top end talent.

So definitely, they'd be in the 6-10 range in the east, easily. I don't see how anyone could argue that. Their record vs the east says enough.