I think the Flames have plenty of scoring potential on the roster. Their possession numbers and transition game are going to be better than last year - that should help.
I also expect more (than last year) from Gaudreau, Bennett, Ferland and possibly Tkachuk. That's 4 offensive forwards that should have better seasons than last year. Maybe Monahan too.
Foo is a wildcard.
Last year the D put up 176 points. I have a theory that I have been sort of tracking for the last 5 or 6 years or so, and that it that if your defense puts up more than 150 points, you're a playoff team. If not, you're not. And if the D puts up more like 200 points, you're an elite team offensively.
That 176 points last year was basically on the backs of the top 3 guys - and Brodie didn't even have a good year. I expect that, playing with Hamonic, Brodie will be better. And I expect more from the bottom 4 than we got last year.
tl/dr: more offence from the D
The Flames were 14th in goals allowed last year, and I expect they will move into the top 10 this year. They were 17th in goals scored. I expect improvement, but hard to say how much.
The important thing is goal differential. Last year they were 16th in goal differential at +5, despite a horrific start that had them last, or very nearly last, after the first month or so. I expect that they will move into the top 10 in goal differential this year. If the offence is significantly improved from last year, they will move into the top 5 or 6, and that basically means contender.
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