2015 was clearly an anomaly and many said as much with our high shooting %, and knack for late game comebacks (pretty sure the Flames had a positive goal differential with the goalie pulled that year). Last year was the wake up call many saw coming and while it was a painful year Matthew Tkachuk was a great consolation prize.
The team this year is Treliving's team almost top to bottom. His coach is behind the bench and outside of our number 4 D (Wideman) and 4th line center (Stajan) Treliving has acquired or at least signed every Flames player to their current deal.
The team is in a dogfight for a playoff spot which is where many saw them at the start of the season. It is surprising they are here though with Monahan, Gaudreau, Brodie, Giordano, Bennett all underperforming.
Hopefully this team is able to push through to the playoffs but regardless I think Treliving deserves an extension. His fleecing of Boston for Hamilton, and his Glencross and Russell rental deals were great trades.
In his 3 drafts Hickey, Andersen, Kylington, Mangipane, Dube, Parsons, Fox all look like good picks outside the first round
|