Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
They SHOULD be bottom 5 bad - but the league is unpredictable.
The best teams in the league have a 55% xGF, the worst teams generally around 45% xGF.
Most games are a toss up and I think people underestimate that.
When I look at the teams who will be competing with the Flames for a top 5 pick there are 4 teams that were worse than the Flames last year that are probably still worse:
Columbus: It's tragic but probably the front runner for 1st overall pick
Anaheim: Still worse than the Flames IMO
Chicago: Outside of Bedard probably still worse but it will be close if he becomes a 100 point star this year.
San Jose: Improved but backend is even worse than Calgary, depends how good Smith/Celebrini/Askarov are from day 1.
Personally I'd rank the Flames right about here in pre-season power rankings but I think it's possible they could pass some of the teams ahead of them.
These teams finished behind the Flames last year but should be better this year but it's close:
Montreal: Lots of potential, should be much improved but very young and play in a tough division.
Ottawa: Lost Tarasenko and Chycrun...added Ullmark...if he doesn't improve their goaltending they could be worse this season.
Utah: Added Sergachev and should be better, but that team could easily finish behind Calgary still.
Seattle: Don't think they improved a whole lot, at the cap, and could easily also be a bottom 5 team.
And I think there are a couple of teams that finished ahead of Calgary that could easily be drafting top 10 this season.
Minnesota: Kaprizov, Faber, Spurgeon, Boldy and a bunch of filler IMO.
Washington: Not really sure what to think about this team.
Detroit: Think they are going to have a rough season.
That right there are the Flames and 11 other teams. I don't think they are a playoff team but much like most of last season they could pick anywhere from 1st OV to 12th OV and it wouldn't surprise me.
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*Edmonton*: started 2023/2024 season 7-12-1. Were bottom dwellers most of the season (minus 1 winning streak) and now have signed Drai to a retirement contract and have yet to fire their head coach for that ‘new coach pump’. The oilers have drafted first overall in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. This is a team that knows a thing or two about tanking.
Never under estimate the power of: E=NG