[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I actually think it is possible for the Flames to cut their GA considerably this season, for the following reasons:


1) IIRC, the Flames basically already cut down their GA in the last 15 or 20 games of the season. Small sample size, so who knows if it sticks (also fair to think that it may not hold when playing against every other team in the NHL this season). However, there was no training camp for Sutter to really get his changes down - his changes were tweaks and orders about playing with more pace. I do think his system will help to keep the GA lower, but we will have to see.


2) Forwards - forwards like Lewis and Richardson weren't brought in to be face-punchers (not that I think you are implying this at all - just for the people who may be reading this that assume they are just 4th line plugs good at playing 'smashmouth hockey'). The additions have strong underlying metrics, especially defensively. Coleman is a strong 2 way forward. Pitlick to me should boost Backlund's line back up (though Backlund's line has been consistently good IMO) to the level of Backlund-Frolik (when Frolik was super strong defensively), but with a boost of grit over what Frolik brought. I really do think that the forwards overall will help reduce the GA this season.


3) Defence - This worries me offensively, but defensively? I think they will be fine. Hanifin should continue to shine defensively, Tanev is basically as 'good as it gets' defensively. Zadorov has good underlying metrics in shot suppression. WIll Andersson bounce-back a bit - I thought he was putrid for most of last season, but being coached by Sutter should help him recover somewhat I think. Valimaki is young and improving, and I wouldn't bet against him for taking a step forward this season. Gudbranson for all his warts, can be a reliable bottom-pairing defencemen (key word there - bottom-pairing). Fans in Pittsburgh, Nashville and Anaheim seemed to generally agree that he was a mistake-free bottom-pairing defencemen for them - so it gives me room for optimism. Plus Stone was better than Nesterov defensively, and if Gudbranson is not up to snuff, he can step in.


4) Ability to play at pace. Conditioning was seen as an underlying reason as to why the Flames weren't able to play with the speed and effort in all 3 periods over the last few years. Darryl has made a point to call this out, and to get every player training properly this off-season. Hard to get back on defence when you are pooped.



I am really not worried about this team not making it into the 'top 10 best defensive teams' ranking - in fact, I think they will be in the top 4 or 5, but I accept that I may be drinking the kool-aid. I just think that a bunch of rational reasons stacked-up leads me to believe that this team will be one of the stingiest in the NHL. The offence worries me (especially from the D, and the transition overall), but defence is one area that this team should now excel at.

I agree with most of these points, but they are really glass half full/wishful thinking. If those things work out, that would be awesome, and then we will have a great team on our hands. I expect us to cut down the GA with a better SV% from Markstrom, and Sutter hockey. I also believe that we will be a top 10 team in the league in that department. I just don't expect them to beat the best team in the league by 5 goals against this season. It was VGK last year, that's why I was so surprised.

Here are the couple of things I disagree with/can pick on:

1. We all hope that Sutter would have a great effect on our players, and they did show improvement for a burst. Those players did well in the first year of Peters before tuning him out. If we look further down the road the Hartley team did the same(I believe only Gaudreau, Monahan, and Backlund were members so it's a moot point). The room might just start tuning Sutter out, like they did with previous coaches. Again, I doubt it, but it could happen.
   
   Also, I get that Sutter is an elite coach, but from the discussions around here, it sounds like he can fix any deficiency a player has.
2. I mostly agree with your points about the forwards.
   
   The only push-back I could have is that all of Lucic/Lewis/Richardson are a year older, and you never know when the wheels would fall off. Even if it does happen I am sure they can be replaced.
   
   In addition, the Monahan line would be a line the opposition will try to exploit defensively. I hope they will be up to the task, because team defense is only as strong as it's weakest link.
3. Again you make some good points, but you address the best case scenario with the Defense. Hanifin and Tanev had career years, so they will just keep performing at the same level, or even improve. Andersson who had a bad year will come back to average. Each of the three could easily happen, but that's wishful thinking that they all will. As for Zadorov, I look forward to having him, hopefully he can handle a little tougher deployment than in Chicago. In the case of Gudbranson, I don't remember when was the last time he was a reliable defenseman in the league. Valimaki, is the same as Hanifin/Andersson you hope he takes the next step, but prospect development is far from a linear thing.
4. I also agree with this one, again the only knock I have against it is that we added some players who are closer to 35 and as long as there isn't a big drop off in their game we will be good.