Originally Posted by Enoch Root
I think the skill issue has been hugely overblown - is there a difference from team to team? Of course. But in a cap world, that difference is marginal. Are the Flames elite in that regard? No. Are they terrible? I doubt it very much, looking at the historical performance of the players.
There is a random, luck element to it. And confidence plays a HUGE factor. It has been a tough season for the Flames, and the worse things go, the harder everyone tries. And the harder you try, the less it flows naturally.
The Flames lead the league in posts hit - that is a luck/confidence thing for sure. A few more of those go in - let's say 10 (out of 50) - and most of their offensive numbers look fine.
As far as I know, there is no stat for it, but I bet they are also at or near the top of the league in missing the net with high danger chances - again, confidence: when things are going well, you hit the corner, and when things aren't going well, you try a little harder, and end up hitting the post or missing the net.
My guess is that next, year, things will normalize again. Fresh year, fresh start, and confidence returns. Suggesting this team has less talent, and somehow can't shoot as well as other teams, is a pretty silly conclusion to make, IMO. A little more luck, and a little more confidence (that comes with that luck), and they are right back where they should be.
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