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Calgary4LIfe · 10-11-2021, 10:42 AM

I know one of my biggest question marks heading into the season was the backup goaltending. I don't think you can ride Markstrom - he is often injured, and this was a huge concern of mine.

Vladar has been great. Yes, he has let in a couple of soft ones, but you definitely expect that especially in preseason. For a non-starter, he has been excellent and really looks to be a bona fide backup with some potential beyond that. I am happy with him. Have some more options in the organization as well for a game here and there without thinking it will be an automatic loss as well. Goaltending is legitimately deeper IMO than it has ever been in the history of the franchise - bold claim I know, but that's what I think. Top end is at least top 3 - Vernon won a cup so tough to dispute him, Kipper was simply amazing - I think Markstrom may end up as the third best ever in Calgary, and that's good enough to win a cup with IMO. You can't ask for more than 'good enough to win a cup with'.

I have the Flames winning the division this year. I think they have taken a step back on D this year, but there is enough young players who may rise to the occasion to compensate there. Kylington sure has shown more than he has in the past, for instance. I still see it as the biggest question mark by far as I worry about how it will affect the transition, which affects the overall 'speed' of how the Flames play, and will lead to less offence. Tough to judge that in preseason, and we probably won't be able to tell until games 15 or 20, but hopefully this has been an overblown worry of mine. Vastly more physical now, however. Who was the last big threat on the blueline for the Flames in physicality? Sarich? I must be having a brain fart right now, but I think it was Sarich. Now you have Zadorov blowing guys up, and though nobody seems to like him much, I am still thinking Gudbranson will be giving this team solid minutes on the bottom pairing while also keeping the other team more honest out there. This is the best chance for the young players to show that they can move up the lineup though - this team absolutely needs strong puckmovers to step up.

Forwards - love it. Honestly love it. Fast, skilled, defensively responsible. They will be hard to play against. Best top 6 I have seen. I think Coleman is going to be a revelation this year for a lot of people. Two legitimate scoring lines + a third line that can check and defend as well as any team in the league. Backlund + Pitlick is going to transition against. Dube is going to really learn how to be a solid 2-way player on this line too.

I know a lot of people liked Ryan here. I hated the signing originally, and I hated him for a while as I thought he was sucking in Calgary at first (and he was). However, something eventually clicked and he was a really strong 2-way player, and I loved him. However, I didn't love him last season. I think he isn't an effective 4th liner. I like the look of the 4th line a lot more this year than last.

Vegas is taking a step back this year IMO. I think Calgary will catch them. Edmonton is built on a shaky foundation IMO - goaltending and defence. With the way McDavid seems intent on continuing being reckless, he is going to be out with a long injury one of these seasons again too, and that's crippling for them. Vancouver won't be as bad as last season.. but they will be bad. I think Seattle will be middle-of-the-pack - a bubble team. The California teams all suck at the moment. I really think that something has to go very wrong for the Flames not to make the playoffs, and I do think they are poised to be divisional champs this year.

Even looking at the Central, who is a contender there? I see Colorado and Colorado only. The Jets? They are fighting with the Blues for the 2nd best team, and neither of them are great right now. Chicago is doing its' thing rebuilding I guess.. sort of. Not a contender anyway, though I am sure they will be better. Nashville is rebuilding by the looks of it. Point is, there may be 4 teams from each division in the playoffs this year, as they only have one really good team, a few average teams, and some teams that are either rebuilding or should be rebuilding (hello Minny with your high cap hits of players not playing for you any longer).

I like the Flames' chances this year of not only getting into the playoffs, but making a bit of noise. Contenders? No, but that's ok. I only have one contender in the west, and that's Colorado, and I think the Flames are better than most teams right now. If Sutter can get this defence to work well, I think this team will really surprise people.

They are going to be one of the toughest teams to score on, however, and the least liked team to play against. That does count for something.

10-11-2021, 10:42 AM	#68
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I know one of my biggest question marks heading into the season was the backup goaltending. I don't think you can ride Markstrom - he is often injured, and this was a huge concern of mine. Vladar has been great. Yes, he has let in a couple of soft ones, but you definitely expect that especially in preseason. For a non-starter, he has been excellent and really looks to be a bona fide backup with some potential beyond that. I am happy with him. Have some more options in the organization as well for a game here and there without thinking it will be an automatic loss as well. Goaltending is legitimately deeper IMO than it has ever been in the history of the franchise - bold claim I know, but that's what I think. Top end is at least top 3 - Vernon won a cup so tough to dispute him, Kipper was simply amazing - I think Markstrom may end up as the third best ever in Calgary, and that's good enough to win a cup with IMO. You can't ask for more than 'good enough to win a cup with'. I have the Flames winning the division this year. I think they have taken a step back on D this year, but there is enough young players who may rise to the occasion to compensate there. Kylington sure has shown more than he has in the past, for instance. I still see it as the biggest question mark by far as I worry about how it will affect the transition, which affects the overall 'speed' of how the Flames play, and will lead to less offence. Tough to judge that in preseason, and we probably won't be able to tell until games 15 or 20, but hopefully this has been an overblown worry of mine. Vastly more physical now, however. Who was the last big threat on the blueline for the Flames in physicality? Sarich? I must be having a brain fart right now, but I think it was Sarich. Now you have Zadorov blowing guys up, and though nobody seems to like him much, I am still thinking Gudbranson will be giving this team solid minutes on the bottom pairing while also keeping the other team more honest out there. This is the best chance for the young players to show that they can move up the lineup though - this team absolutely needs strong puckmovers to step up. Forwards - love it. Honestly love it. Fast, skilled, defensively responsible. They will be hard to play against. Best top 6 I have seen. I think Coleman is going to be a revelation this year for a lot of people. Two legitimate scoring lines + a third line that can check and defend as well as any team in the league. Backlund + Pitlick is going to transition against. Dube is going to really learn how to be a solid 2-way player on this line too. I know a lot of people liked Ryan here. I hated the signing originally, and I hated him for a while as I thought he was sucking in Calgary at first (and he was). However, something eventually clicked and he was a really strong 2-way player, and I loved him. However, I didn't love him last season. I think he isn't an effective 4th liner. I like the look of the 4th line a lot more this year than last. Vegas is taking a step back this year IMO. I think Calgary will catch them. Edmonton is built on a shaky foundation IMO - goaltending and defence. With the way McDavid seems intent on continuing being reckless, he is going to be out with a long injury one of these seasons again too, and that's crippling for them. Vancouver won't be as bad as last season.. but they will be bad. I think Seattle will be middle-of-the-pack - a bubble team. The California teams all suck at the moment. I really think that something has to go very wrong for the Flames not to make the playoffs, and I do think they are poised to be divisional champs this year. Even looking at the Central, who is a contender there? I see Colorado and Colorado only. The Jets? They are fighting with the Blues for the 2nd best team, and neither of them are great right now. Chicago is doing its' thing rebuilding I guess.. sort of. Not a contender anyway, though I am sure they will be better. Nashville is rebuilding by the looks of it. Point is, there may be 4 teams from each division in the playoffs this year, as they only have one really good team, a few average teams, and some teams that are either rebuilding or should be rebuilding (hello Minny with your high cap hits of players not playing for you any longer). I like the Flames' chances this year of not only getting into the playoffs, but making a bit of noise. Contenders? No, but that's ok. I only have one contender in the west, and that's Colorado, and I think the Flames are better than most teams right now. If Sutter can get this defence to work well, I think this team will really surprise people. They are going to be one of the toughest teams to score on, however, and the least liked team to play against. That does count for something.