I HATE losing, and I especially hate losing against rivals - Oilers and Canucks - the most. On top of this, I hate losing to Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg (Ottawa is ok, but I prefer to beat Ottawa too). This season, please beat Vegas every game - not only do we all dislike them, but it helps the value of that pick!
Anyway, I am entering this season as I did last season - love the wins, hate the losses, but the losses are slightly easier to accept after the fact as you take them with a spoonful of sugar. I expect a high draft pick this in the 2026 draft. Rasmus can give his opinion on people like me who don't play hockey, so we are irrelevant all he wants. People can say that I am 'pissing on this team' all they want too. Even if I squint really damn hard, I don't see a contending team. I see a bubble team if everything works out.
The Flames played on those margins all season long last year. Will they continue to have that same effort level this year? I have definitely seen alternating Jekyll and Hyde years with better rosters, so excuse me if I am not convinced at this point - and haven't seen much to convince me thus far either. Doesn't mean I dislike the team, or I am not a fan. Underdogs sometimes win. There are definite Cinderella teams that make it far in the playoffs - why not the Flames, right? I will definitely relish it if it happens for the Flames this year.
I am not cheering for losses. I accept them easier the next day knowing that it is probably the best thing for this team in the long run. I wasn't happy last night though... not that I am happy today either. I just accept it more today.
I find good things in every game. Last night, I liked:
- The emotion of this team - how they fight for one another.
- Gridin looks really good. Yes, advanced metrics didn't necessarily support it, but there was a tonne of talent and hockey sense on display from this kid.
- Bean looks good on the eye test - I have noticed him making some smart plays consistently out there, and has been moving the puck well
- Zary worries me as he seems like he is always getting hit dangerously, but he is playing well
- Klapka has been good. A couple of bad penalties against the Oilers, but he has been mostly good, and has been a decent playmaker too.
- Wolf is looking good. Sure, he looked more human last night, but it was hardly a terrible game really.
Hopefully we will see the Parekh show tomorrow night. I will expect a few egregious turnovers and some poor decision making on the backend a few times, and this is going to happen for the next couple of seasons probably. That's ok. He is young, and defence is a very difficult position to play - he will get there in this organization, I have no doubt. I will just enjoy the good things that he does well, and accept the poor things for now, just like I am doing for the entire team this season.
Two games in and there is already too much hostility. This is a rebuilding team, with lots of youth, and some really aging vets. Just enjoy hockey again, since it has been way too long since we have seen Flames Hockey. Win or lose, this team is fun to watch, and has many interesting story lines to follow.