Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
I'm about to feel really gross saying this but
The 2017 Flames were more of a contender than the 2017 Predators. Goaltending and coaching were the difference. Rinne was drafted by Nashville. Gulutzan was a bad hire, and got outcoached by Randy Carlyle, who got clowned by Peter Laviolette. Either way, that team was a lot better than its outcome. John Gibson largely stole that first round series despite everything else.
The 2019 Flames were as much of a contender as teams 2019 Blues. While the Avs series left a bad taste, let's not forget that teams peak at different times. That Flames team peaked early and was the #1 seed in the west, while that blues team peaked at just the right time, winning the Cup despite being DFL in the NHL in January
The 2022 Flames were a contender, too. There wasn't one area they didn't look like one, until a Tanev injury at the worst time cascaded with a Coleman no-goal that was absolutely a goal cascaded with Markstrom going from strength to liability
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You could probably make any playoff team a contender if you're going to look at it so openly.