... which I think is pretty ridiculous. ESPN says the Flames' roster ranks 23rd, their prospects rank 24th, and both their cap situation and management ranks 32nd.
There's being realistic and then there's underrating the hell out of things. I'm inclined to think this is the latter.
https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/ins...coaches-roster
Quote:
Why they're here: Why they're here: Great question. The experts didn't like the Flames' current roster (23rd) despite them finishing 16th in the NHL during 2022-23. They ranked 24th in prospect pool. What sent them tumbling into the basement was a pair of last-place finishes: The Flames were ranked 32nd overall in contract management and 32nd overall in owner/coach/GM -- probably due to the fact that GM Craig Conroy and coach Ryan Huska are brand new to their gigs. Someone had to finish last, and our voters decided to snuff out the Flames. -- Wyshynski
Points of concern: Right now, the Flames' roster is split into two parts: the players who have more than two years left on their contracts and the ones who could be elsewhere a year from now. Both of those dynamics present their own set of questions. For the long-term group: How do the Flames get Jonathan Huberdeau and his $10.5 million cap hit over the next seven years back to being the player who averaged more than a point per game? For the short-term crowd? It's about what will happen with pending UFAs such as Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm and whether the Flames can keep them in Calgary. Then there are the questions about a farm system that is thought to be in the bottom third, which is compounded by the fact the Flames have had just five of their draft picks reach the NHL since 2017. -- Clark
Reason for hope: Calgary was victim to some serious bad luck last season, and the organization has undergone an appropriate face lift -- new coach, new GM, etc. -- since the spring. Make no mistake, though, the Flames' roster is solid right now and there are a few exciting players in the pipeline, too. The fresh start Calgary needs is right in front of it, and top-tier talents like Lindholm, Nazem Kadri and Noah Hanifin should all be motivated to help the Flames get back on a playoff trajectory. Plus, Calgary has to be emboldened by Lindholm's public declaration he wants to re-sign with the team. After all the talent the Flames have lost in recent years, retaining the services of an elite center like Lindholm would go a long way in every aspect. -- Shilton
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