Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
Here:
05/06: Lost in Round 1
06/07: Lost in Round 1
07/08: Lost in Round 1
08/09: Lost in Round 1
09/10: Missed
10/11: Missed
11/12: Missed
12/13: Missed
13/14: Missed
14/15: Lost in Round 2
15/16: Missed
16/17: Lost in Round 1
17/18: Missed
18/19: Lost in Round 1
19/20: Lost in Round 1
20/21: Missed
21/22: Lost in Round 2
22/23: Missed
The Flames were never bad on purpose. They were also so mis-managed that they never correctly assessed their own teams.
Why shouldn't the Flames try a different approach? Two playoff round victories in 18 seasons. We're incompetent, and refuse to acknowledge it so we never get any better.
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Your point still stands - but think you were wrong about never being bad on purpose.
They were supposed to be bad on purpose after trading Iggy and Bouwmeester, and Kipper retired.
The were bad to end 2013 and had 3 1sts (Monahan, Poirier, and Klimchuk). And they were bad in 13/14...it was just really tough to outsuck Edmonton, Buffalo, and Florida during that era. And the Flames got the 4th overall pick - which unfortunately never panned out for them.
And they should have sucked again in 14/15 - most people predicted a top 5 pick going into that season.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...-lift-the-cup/ (2 of 5 experts had Flames picking 1st overall)
https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/9/...season-preview (either us or Edmonton finishing last in the Pacific)
We were supposed to be bad. Then Monahan happened, Gaudreau happened, Hudler lead the league in Even Strength points, Gio became a Norris candidate, and they got a great PDO.
The real problem was they actually drafted too well to get guys like Brodie, Gaudreau, and Monahan, and all of a sudden they were in the playoff contention space again.
I've said this a lot...but as fun as that 14-15 season was at the time it is probably the biggest thing that set this franchise back long term. Imagine if we suck like we were supposed to and come away from that draft with McDavid or Eichel.
And really even then I think this past iteration of the Flames had enough "early draft picks" on the roster to do damage. Treliving actually reset the 14-15 season by turning the 1st from that season (plus Ferland and some other picks) into Hanifin and Lindholm. In the end Lindholm, Monahan, Tkachuk, Hanifin, Bennett were all top 6 picks, which is kind of like tanking for 6 years. Tanking never guarantees you getting a 1st overall pick - and really this organization will probably never have the luck to get one.