It’s still too early to be making meaningful projections. Teams are still refining their rosters and some of the players have yet to get into top shape or get the line chemistry going. For the Flames, the bottom 6 forwards still need sorting out, Jankowski and Hamonic look like they’re just settling in; the backup goalie situation isn’t settled; and I’m sure other teams close to the Flames in the standings are going through similar growing pains. All it would take would be a 4 or 5 game losing or winning streak, for the Flames or their rivals to be in very different projected playoff shape. IIRC, Anaheim looked pretty much out of contention around this time last year....
|