Given the record of the team so far, and the expectations going into this season given the offseason moves, I get the sense of pessimism from folks and the desire to see something attempted to address the current on ice woes. I do.
Personally, I look at the results to date and while I find them disappointing to say the least, I'm not concerned at this point. I just can't be. I'd rather see the team playing like this in December than in April. Last season was one of the most exciting Flames seasons to watch in what, 20 years? 30? Longer? It was thrilling to see a top line of skilled players run roughshod over the league for most of the season. It was great seeing a goalie stonewall teams and get consideration for a Vezina trophy. It was arguably one of the most successful seasons in team history in terms of individual accomplishments and recognition.
It didn't matter much at all when the season ended.
Would seeing someone being interjected into the lineup be at least something to pin some hopes to as we enter the dog days of the season? Whether they arrive from the AHL or elsewhere? Sure. I'd like to see some guys go on a heater. I'd love our goalie to rediscover his game. I'd like to see some swagger back with this group.
But It's not keeping me up at night. I'm not watching the transaction pages and refreshing them every ten minutes. I can't. Because for me, personally, what this team does during this regular season doesn't matter until we know whether we're in the playoffs or we're not. If we're not, I can appreciate how there might be a lot of hindsight wisdom and whataboutism and the likes about how the season could have been turned around. But we're not in that place yet.
If we make the playoffs, and I still firmly believe we will, than this stretch of poor hockey won't matter. Because how the group has gelled by April, how they're playing when the playoffs start, how they look against the opposition at that time -- that will matter.
Calling up a player now, scratching others, shuffling lines, playing backups more and starters less...it's just window dressing. For me, personally. Obviously your mileage may vary, and there's going to be a variety of opinions on a forum where fans come to express themselves.
I get it. I do. But personally, I can't get caught up in at all as the calendar flips over to December.
As you were.
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