Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
How much of an impact on team standing did Monahan have in his first season. McDavid even? Fairly little. If we're keeping the discussion within next season then neither Laine nor Tkachuk are going to push either team over the top. Few rookies in recent history are good enough that quickly to be able to have that kind of impact. Long term is another conversation. But yeah.
Goaltending was by far the most hindering issue on Calgary's end given that they were the 10th best offensive team last season. Which also flies in the face of Ressurection's statement that the Jets, who were 21st, are more skilled. If we're talking about skilled as being the ability to put up offense. You could say they have more 'skill' players and that'd probably be true. But I think that the Flames' top guys are bigger game breakers than the Jets' top guys. We definitely have more dead weight in our team depth, though. The Jets have some nice depth and prospects that can step in. Thank goodness some of those no good contracts will be coming off.
With the league's SV% leader last season between the pipes and Gaudreau and Monahan developing further, I just fail to see how Calgary isn't the most playoff ready in western Canada this season going in (who knows how injuries can play out though..).
|
looking at Goalies records 2014-15
Hiller 26-19-4 2.36 GA .918 sv %
Elliott 26-14-3 2.26 GA .917 sv%
Hiller imploded playing behind Hartley's run and gun small skilled game
I am pretty sure that Elliott would not have had a league leading sv% playing for last years Flame's He was playing for 3rd overall Blues... who the Flames outscored by 7 goals.
Trevling and Burke figured that Hartley's system was not viable and fired him. The Flames are in a big reset mode.
Now the big question is if the Flames have the personnel to play a more standard system where the defensemen all don't put up 40+ pts.