Quote:
Originally Posted by howard_the_duck
They won the division the next season.
That 04/05 team was maybe the best Flames team I’ve watched in my adult life, including their 2nd OA season recently. Some tough luck against Anaheim, propped up by Niedermayer and an emerging Getzlaf and Perry, but that could have been a cup team had they gotten out of that round IMO.
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They were good. Also good in 2008-2010 where they ran into the Sharks and Hawks unfortunately.
The quality of the team during those years was such that I have trouble with the declaration that the Flames are historically mediocre, declarations that get repeated until they become believed, especially by those who weren't old enough to remember it well.
That era of Flames team was absolutely good enough to win it all, they just couldn't get it done against other top teams.
Part of the agony of being a sports fan, particularly of a good team that fails, is respecting how good the team was. It hurts because of what could have been. I prefer to remember it for how it was than just say they "sucked" or were simply mediocre. They weren't.
Even the 2015 team or the 2018-19 team weren't mediocre. They were both exceptional and very fun to watch.
Whatever. The ups and downs are what keeps me keen.
Man, I'm ready for hockey to start.