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Calgary4LIfe · 05-17-2021, 09:02 PM

You don't need to look so far in trying to find hope IMO.

This whole team has under-performed for most of the season. Is it because we all thought this team was more skilled that it is? Sure, in some cases, expectations might have been overblown (depending on how high expectations were). However, they are not this inept as they are showing. In fact, there are legitimate signs that this team has a bit of a pulse.

The most talented player on the team bar none is Gaudreau. He is as pure of a talent as there is in the NHL. Remember how we ALL thought he was elite? Suddenly, after the ASG under Peters, that kind of disappeared? He was doing well at the start of the season, but I don't think he was playing well. He rode a sky-high SH%, and was living-off the PP (which was also red-hot at the time). When those things came back down to earth, he suddenly 'sucked'. To be more precise, the entire team sucked.

Under Sutter, he is playing faster. That's important. What is JUST as important is that a lot of other players are playing faster too. He has returned to his 'elite level play'. That's pretty damn exciting. His game game back during the stretch in trying to make the playoffs, not once the dust settled. He came up big. That's a huge reason for optimism right there.

Lindholm is looking better too. Even Tkachuk who I have been critical of has started looking better. Maybe Monahan's injury was legitimately keeping him back. He was producing at the start of the season, but I also don't think he was particularly effective - but the whole team was ineffective. That's key for me - if it is just one or two key players having bad seasons, and this team still being inept overall, then that's a different discussion.

We have all seen Bennett explode in a new situation. Why can't that new situation be here in Calgary under Sutter? He will have a different system implemented next season, and I bet that he can alter some of it to fit this team better too. My entire position is that some of the players are showing life under Sutter (let's not forget the captain either - he is looking young and fresh too!).

There are going to be moves. Maybe big ones. Maybe the GM. Maybe a couple of important pieces move, a couple of important pieces return, and hopefully this team can start being more successful and more fun to watch again. The last few games have been... painfully terrible in many ways, and performances (good and bad) can't be measured other than the very young guys giving their all to impress for next season, or the UFA vets giving their all to try and earn an extension (and even in these cases, should be taken with a grain of salt). The games when they mattered are the ones that should be really looked at, and some players were showing a lot of life.

In the end, even if you may be doggedly negative on everything with the Flames, and see the next season become an even worse disaster than we have seen this season, then just remember that disasters eventually get rebuilt. Disasters are horrible to go through, but they bring change, and life springs up out of nowhere to show us some hope.

So basically:

1) Some of this team's important players have been showing some life for a stretch now
2) The underlying metrics have vastly improved under Sutter
3) I expect Sutter to return with a better game-plan, and will better be able to deal with whatever players are here next season
4) There will be change - that's exciting anyway
5) If the retool fails, then the next step is a rebuild - there is a new building on the way, and the owners are actually shrewd businessmen. There are two rules to marketing a sports team - if you can't sell people on a winning team, then you better sell them on the hope of a winning team. Next season I am sure will be the last kick at the proverbial can, and if it fails, there will be more of a big change.

That's enough hope for me.

Things are often cyclical. It is tough to predict success in sports. Sometimes you think your team is going to have a great season, and you become bitterly disappointed. However, I remember '89 well. For me, it was the culmination of watching a great team finally getting rewarded after being a great team for many years. It was kind of expected, but a huge thrill. It more than made up for the bitterness of '86.

Then in 2004, it was this rather unexpected run, but also expected in a way with how well they were going. That team was a machine to me, and it was one of those rare teams that galvanized many hockey fans into cheering for it.

Heck, let's throw 2015 as a huge thrill all on its' own. If you can't stand up and applaud that gutsy team for playing hard in every game and never giving up, then I feel sorry for you. That was one of the highlights for this organization.

That's sports. If you can't handle the ups and downs, you really need to either stop following sports, or at least stop following a smaller market team that only rarely becomes elite as compared to the rest of the league. Go cheer for New York, or Boston, or Chicago. You might find yourself very bitter there too, as there are far from any guarantees, but maybe you will be less troubled there.

WHEN the Flames eventually win their next cup, I won't be jumping up and down screaming like an idiot with the rest of the bandwagon fans of the year (and that's fine to me - I hope they make a heck of a lot of noise and have as much fun as possible). I will be the guy all choked up because I will remember all the disappointing seasons it took to get there.

As a fan, that's what I will always hope for. To win when this team is elite, and accept the bitterness of disappointments. To appreciate whatever successes my team might have one day. And to cry like a blubbering idiot when my team finally raises the cup again. You learn to appreciate it so much more because of seasons like the one this team just had.

05-17-2021, 09:02 PM	#47
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	You don't need to look so far in trying to find hope IMO. This whole team has under-performed for most of the season. Is it because we all thought this team was more skilled that it is? Sure, in some cases, expectations might have been overblown (depending on how high expectations were). However, they are not this inept as they are showing. In fact, there are legitimate signs that this team has a bit of a pulse. The most talented player on the team bar none is Gaudreau. He is as pure of a talent as there is in the NHL. Remember how we ALL thought he was elite? Suddenly, after the ASG under Peters, that kind of disappeared? He was doing well at the start of the season, but I don't think he was playing well. He rode a sky-high SH%, and was living-off the PP (which was also red-hot at the time). When those things came back down to earth, he suddenly 'sucked'. To be more precise, the entire team sucked. Under Sutter, he is playing faster. That's important. What is JUST as important is that a lot of other players are playing faster too. He has returned to his 'elite level play'. That's pretty damn exciting. His game game back during the stretch in trying to make the playoffs, not once the dust settled. He came up big. That's a huge reason for optimism right there. Lindholm is looking better too. Even Tkachuk who I have been critical of has started looking better. Maybe Monahan's injury was legitimately keeping him back. He was producing at the start of the season, but I also don't think he was particularly effective - but the whole team was ineffective. That's key for me - if it is just one or two key players having bad seasons, and this team still being inept overall, then that's a different discussion. We have all seen Bennett explode in a new situation. Why can't that new situation be here in Calgary under Sutter? He will have a different system implemented next season, and I bet that he can alter some of it to fit this team better too. My entire position is that some of the players are showing life under Sutter (let's not forget the captain either - he is looking young and fresh too!). There are going to be moves. Maybe big ones. Maybe the GM. Maybe a couple of important pieces move, a couple of important pieces return, and hopefully this team can start being more successful and more fun to watch again. The last few games have been... painfully terrible in many ways, and performances (good and bad) can't be measured other than the very young guys giving their all to impress for next season, or the UFA vets giving their all to try and earn an extension (and even in these cases, should be taken with a grain of salt). The games when they mattered are the ones that should be really looked at, and some players were showing a lot of life. In the end, even if you may be doggedly negative on everything with the Flames, and see the next season become an even worse disaster than we have seen this season, then just remember that disasters eventually get rebuilt. Disasters are horrible to go through, but they bring change, and life springs up out of nowhere to show us some hope. So basically: 1) Some of this team's important players have been showing some life for a stretch now 2) The underlying metrics have vastly improved under Sutter 3) I expect Sutter to return with a better game-plan, and will better be able to deal with whatever players are here next season 4) There will be change - that's exciting anyway 5) If the retool fails, then the next step is a rebuild - there is a new building on the way, and the owners are actually shrewd businessmen. There are two rules to marketing a sports team - if you can't sell people on a winning team, then you better sell them on the hope of a winning team. Next season I am sure will be the last kick at the proverbial can, and if it fails, there will be more of a big change. That's enough hope for me. Things are often cyclical. It is tough to predict success in sports. Sometimes you think your team is going to have a great season, and you become bitterly disappointed. However, I remember '89 well. For me, it was the culmination of watching a great team finally getting rewarded after being a great team for many years. It was kind of expected, but a huge thrill. It more than made up for the bitterness of '86. Then in 2004, it was this rather unexpected run, but also expected in a way with how well they were going. That team was a machine to me, and it was one of those rare teams that galvanized many hockey fans into cheering for it. Heck, let's throw 2015 as a huge thrill all on its' own. If you can't stand up and applaud that gutsy team for playing hard in every game and never giving up, then I feel sorry for you. That was one of the highlights for this organization. That's sports. If you can't handle the ups and downs, you really need to either stop following sports, or at least stop following a smaller market team that only rarely becomes elite as compared to the rest of the league. Go cheer for New York, or Boston, or Chicago. You might find yourself very bitter there too, as there are far from any guarantees, but maybe you will be less troubled there. WHEN the Flames eventually win their next cup, I won't be jumping up and down screaming like an idiot with the rest of the bandwagon fans of the year (and that's fine to me - I hope they make a heck of a lot of noise and have as much fun as possible). I will be the guy all choked up because I will remember all the disappointing seasons it took to get there. As a fan, that's what I will always hope for. To win when this team is elite, and accept the bitterness of disappointments. To appreciate whatever successes my team might have one day. And to cry like a blubbering idiot when my team finally raises the cup again. You learn to appreciate it so much more because of seasons like the one this team just had.