[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

Players who are "good" in a season get checked harder the following season. If they respond to that increased level of scrutiny, and produce at an even higher rate, they get elevated to the level of "great". If, instead, they respond by falling back, they get relegated to the level of "flash-in-the-pan". Guess which ones are paid ground-breaking money and guess which ones are paid like 'end-of-their-career' has-beens. Johnny is 'good' but he is not 'great'. The Flames are currently hoping like crazy that Monahan picks it up, that Sammy is not the player we have seen all year, and that Tkachuk is as good as his dad; because betting the farm on Johnny isn't going to pay off.

The 'Powers That Be' of this team (ownership) signed off on the belief that this team was actually good. Now they are finding out that the best they can hope for is to scrape into the playoffs... Just like every other year. The players that they banked on are not as good as the players that other 'rebuilding' teams (Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa) banked on. As a result, all they can hope for is to blow it up again and hope for better draft picks. This team, as it is currently constructed can only hope to squeak into the playoffs based on the injuries of other (better) teams. Such is being a fan of the Flames. But hey, keep filling the 'Dome.

I imagine this was the logic of Hawks fans with Kane in 2011/2012. Probably the logic of Kings fans with Kopitar in 08/09. Those two definitely turned out to be duds.