Quote:
Originally Posted by GoJetsGo
Does the bolded above mean you don't think the Flames are poised to improve this year?
Or one further, that we don't have young talent to be excited about as dismissed on the last page?
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No. It means that using teams that improved by changing their on-ice personnel have no bearing on why the Flames could improve due to magic, so using Tampa and Winnipeg as examples are simply stupid. At least until such a time that the Flames bring in players who are expected to be major upgrades on what they have. And that's an issue internally who is filing the major holes? Their best prospects are defensively, and that's not the issue with the Flames. Tkachuk could/will improve, but he was already a significant contributor.
Gaudreau could improve, but why can't Taresenko or Benn?
Hamilton could improve, but why can't Klingberg or Parayko?
Jankowski could breakout, but what about Nichushkin coming back or Barbashev?
And then there's the Oilers who's top point producers and top pairing are all under 25. There's a lot of teams who think next year is their year, that's what being a fan is all about.
Weird things happen, coaches matter, Colorado surprised (especially with getting rid of Duchene) and is a good example of what people are getting at but even then Rantanen went from an 19 year old rookie to an 84 point producer, a major contributor to the big jump.
So realistically, for the Flames to improve I think it will come to external changes. If they can grab a top RW in UFA or make a trade, find some bottom 6 depth then sure, why wouldn't they improve? If they go into the season with no other changes, I don't expect much fringe-fighting for the playoffs if everything goes smoothly.