Quote:
Originally Posted by Apollo
I like the optimism for the Flames, but there's just no way we will take 4th in the West. Not until Wideman, Engelland, Smid, Bollig and Stajan are off the books and their cap is used for much better players. Our bottom 3 has to sorted out and a top RW comes forward. We will definitely improve with the changes we have made, but the bad contracts are weighing us down right now.
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There is definitely a way.
I think it would be surprising if we weren't in playoff contention. Now, last year 8th was pretty far back from the pack, but there was only a 7 point difference between 4th and 7th.
Is it likely the Flames finish 4th? No, but with as much parity as there is, there are many teams 'likely' to be in the top four.
I think another year of maturity for Johnny and Monny as well as solid goaltending, a better system, and a few top teams getting worse could easily spell a significant leap in the standings.
Besides, Smid and Bollig are irrelevant (LTIR/low contract), Engelland has been good, Wideman can contribute normally (last season was horrible), and Stajan is solid. The last three are overpaid, but they aren't negatively impacting the team. We could've signed nearly any free agent we wanted to this summer, therefore there is no evidence their contracts are holding us back. Plus, you always overpay for FA.