[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Increasingly there is quite a lot of variability in the NHL where you have teams move around the standings more. Basically there are really good teams (very few) and really bad teams and then a huge squishy middle that shifts around.

When we talked about things required to go right this season so far many have with perhaps some bonus items:
- Rasmus has rebounded after a pretty bad year
- Tanev has continued to play really well
- Kylington has taken a step
- Gudbransson has exceeded expectations (at least fan ones)
- Hanifin isn't a world beater but is delivering to expectation.

So that has stabilized the blueline.

That's one.

Markstrom has rebounded from a bad second half in a big way to be the guy the Flames thought they were getting

That's two.

Then you have a pretty fantastic start from key offensive contributors led by Jonny, Lindholm, Eat Bread and increasingly Tkachuk.

That's three.

Now can all those things sustain themselves? Probably not but as long as they have a few of those key things continue - they'll be in good shape. And then you have the possibility of Monahan rounding back into form, and possible increased contributions from someone like Dube who seems on the verge of going on a heater.

How much of that credit goes to Sutter v. Tree? I don't know and I don't know that I care. No question that Sutter has this team playing with more of a identity and as a unit. It's had a bigger impact than I would have expected. But I don't think that means that one can't also give Tree credit for giving Sutter a team that matches his style. And the acquisitions of the last couple years (Coleman, Markstrom, Tanev) are large factors. And this year's depth acquisitions (Vladar, Gud, Lewis, Pitlik) are fitting in their roles nicely. I would say Zadarov is the only disappointment but he has been better of late, though scares the sh** out of me whenever he's got the puck.

I would add the team does seem better conditioned this year. The big question for me is still the mental toughness. Last night was a good sign, that was a pressure game - to avoid a losing streak which would have stretched to 3, in front of a home crowd, on HNIC, and after all the hub-bub over the game the night before for NYR. This team hasn't performed well in big games the last couple years - that was different last night.

Need to see it though more. How do they handle their first real losing streak for instance. How quickly do they snap out of it.

Still lots of open questions, but this start is a massive exceeding of expectations. You don't make the playoffs in the first few weeks but you can sure miss them.

I wonder how much weight to put on the fact that 3 of the top forwards are in contract years? You look at Capfriendly and exactly half of the NHL roster do not have contracts for next year. Add a coach with a track record for success and you have the recipe for a highly motivated group.