Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach
I will say, I do think there was a point when the Flames did look to have close to that level of talent not that long ago in 2019. With Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Lindholm, Gio, Brodie, Backlund firing on all cylinders. That group when everyone had their a game was a contending team. It was missing another top line RW and a top goalie. Big pieces no doubt and they were blown up by MacKinnon and the Avs in a hard lesson on what playoff hockey was and haven't really recovered.
That is when they should have hired Sutter IMO.
Either way, it is the past and we are here now, but I don't think we can be faulted for thinking a team that won the West a few years ago is a good team if it could just be consistent.
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The Avs just showcased to the rest of the league how easy it can be to stop the Flames and rest of the league followed suit. The Flames have always had the struggles with tight checking games especially the top line. Parts of this season and last season, the Flames were exposed for what they are. Their best play drivers are on the wing and once teams realized that they just need to drop back, clog up the middle and double/triple team the puck carrier, it was game over. Turnovers left and right, ineffective dump and chase, one and dones. The way the Flames are built is their biggest problem, back end heavy and average at center ice.