Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
I can't fathom any instance where this team isn't picking in the top 5 draft slots next year and that opinion certainly won't be swayed by a 7 game stretch that has seen the team go 4-3 while playing what is probably the highest level of hockey they can manage without an influx of talent.
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You also have to figure that we were vastly outplayed during each of the Vancouver Edmonton (first 2 periods) Nashville, Chicago, Columbus (first 2 periods) and Jets (1st period) games. If not for the combination of hot goaltending and good defense, I could easily see the Flames being 1-6 or 0-7 right now instead of 4-3. Teams are still getting in game shape, and once they do, the Flames will have a hard time adapting to that. Last year, we started equally hot (8 points in the first 7 gp) and yet hit the wall in November when other teams pushed back.
We only have two top 6 forwards in Raymond and Hudler and Raymond's more of a 2nd/3rd line tweener like Glencross used to be before. Having that shallow of depth up front will make it a challenge to continue getting wins, especially when neither of those forwards are really game breakers on their own (Like Iginla was)
It's nice they are doing good now, but expecting them to keep it up is setting yourself up for disappointment once other teams start catching up in work ethic.