[Cali Panthers Fan]

That's one of the most thorough pieces I've read on this team in some time. Well done sir!

It pretty much confirms what I've seen this year: 5 on 5 offense is down, but our top players have been below par much of the season, dropping that high danger shooting percentage; goaltending has had some good moments, but overall they are giving up too many goals compared to the rest of the league; team defense is much, much, much stronger than we've seen in some time.

The last point gives me hope, since the teams that often do well in the playoffs know how to play a tight defensive game for long stretches. The Flames have done that this year, and it's been a very long time since I've been able to say that (from the Sutter coaching days). Teams that have talent, but play loose, often are out in the 1st round.

So when people talk about firing Gulutzan, I shake my head. Patience has paid off. The guy knows what he's doing, it's just a team missing a few key pieces at the moment.

We might make the playoffs this year, and we might even surprise a team in the 1st round, but even if we don't the foundation is being laid and we will see in a season or two that this team has been slowly making all the right moves to become a perennial playoff threat. That's the goal, and I'm encouraged to see they're moving in the right direction.