Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
This raises a number of questions for me:
The obvious one is whether players ought to be graded purely on results or expectations. I lean more to the former, largely because individual players can only control so much, and with all the contributing factors which will affect a player's performance—New Era's observation of how Brodie's own performance is reflected on Hamonic is a case in point—it is far too difficult to get any kind of tangible read on the achievability of expectations from a distance.
Second, what is an "average" NHL team? In a league in which 49% of teams make the playoffs, then "average" suggests that the playoff bubble is the measure. But then again, with the level of parity in the league, and with how narrow the margin is between teams clustered around the centre I also think it is fair to suggest that there are a lot more good NHL teams than bad ones. I reject the notion that the Flames are a "bad" team considering how long they were in contention for a division playoff berth—they certainly are not a "very bad team."
I think at worst as of today the Flames are "average," and as such it seems pretty reasonable to see a few "B's" and lots of "C's" being awarded to players.
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I just can't agree they were an average team, and certainly not "at worst they are average."
They finished 20th. Their goal differential was 8th worst (And that is with the bonus final game 7-1 win). Their special teams were dreadful.
The 1st half of the season they had basically no injuries, great goaltending, and were battling for a playoff spot. A team like Anaheim had their entire team injured, and were right there with us.
Look at it a different way: Which teams underperformed more or as much then the Flames and could use the same argument they are not a 'bad' team?
Edmonton
Ottawa
Chicago
NYR
Dallas
Maybe Montreal
Now if the contention is all of those are also average teams, and all playoff teams are at least average, then I guess I can get behind the Flames being an average team.
We are better then at least 6 teams in the league for sure
For me at best they are an above average team that coach killed, and at worst they are one of the worst 10 franchises in the NHL, with no picks, and aging goaltender, and their stars all coming off career years....