[Fire of the Phoenix]

We're built nothing like those two teams but people still think we're going to regress because of poor possession stats *YAWN*. This is mostly jealous Oiler/Canuck fans as far as I can tell, but the endless parroting is still annoying. There's a "Are the Flames for real?" thread on HF and suprise, suprise, a bunch of goofs with Mc in front of their name think we're going to regress despite roster upgrades and expected internal growth. Last year's Corsi stats are apparently the be all to end all, and nothing that has happened since or likely will happen matters to the face of that infallible crystal ball.

We added Hamilton and Frolik, as well as Giordano, to the team that finished the season. All three have great possession stats. Add in Bennett along with more internal growth among other players. Brodie, Poirier, Ferland, Ortio, Colborne, Granlund, Shore, Wotherspoon primarily are players I see improving to some degree if everything goes right. Monahan, Gaudreau may have even more to offer as well but to expect it would be foolish as they are both several years from their prime and some peaks and valleys should be expected. Even if Hudler, Bouma, Wideman and Russell regress to an extent (bank on it), I think the other factors I mentioned will cover that up and then some. Ramo and Hiller aren't great but if we made it with them last year, we can do so again since the rest of the team is demonstrably better. Sure they're not Varlamov or even Bernier, but that's okay because our defense is SO much better than the Leafs or the Avs... almost like the difference between an average AHL defense compared to an average NHL defense... it's laughable really that anyone still compares us to them. I think if you put Ramo or Hiller on Toronto or Colorado last year, they put up stats closer to a Joey MacDonald-level than what they did last year.

I would've said we had a 50/50 shot at best to make the playoffs before the Hamilton trade. The regression crowd had a bit of a case then but it was still mindless/hopeful parroting for the most part as far as I'm concerned. They basically said we were a fluke and WILL regress... it was just asinine. However, now with the additions of Hamilton and Frolik as well as factoring in internal growth I think you would basically be stupid to bet against this team. They aren't a lock, no team truly is, but I would give them an 80-90% of making it, this is a good team.