Great effort, I thought they generated well, and as everyone points out, poor finish.
That's ok. The real muscle of this team is young, and learning. Coronato is there already (and will improve more). I would be shocked if Zary doesn't take another couple of steps forward. Gridin and Parekh are just starting out. Wolf will be improving as well. Even Bahl is still young and will improve. Klapka has is improving before our eyes, and who knows when he will finally plateau. I am adamant that Honzek will be an important piece of the equation moving forward.
There is a tonne to like about this team. I suspect they bottom out this year simply because the talent that is breaking through is still young, they need to get a bit faster, a bit stronger, and a bit more experienced. I can't see this team bottoming-out for 4 season. I really think they touch down for 1-2 seasons, and then start taking off again. There is just too many good pieces in the pipeline already, and too many pieces coming through already.
I think what we have seen so far is just the evidence of that - kids need time to adjust, the team needs more of these talented kids to break through, and the team probably needs a couple of high-end picks to also be difference makers and help everyone slot better. Slotting is important.
Who knows, however. Maybe this team gets pushed by these youngsters, and the wins start coming this season. I don't think so, but I wouldn't cross it off the list of possibilities this season. There is a serious amount of good young talent popping now, with much more to come. I think they deserved to win, but St. Louis has the more experience players and a better core right now. I don't think they are a great team by any stretch, but their core is more of the prime age, and they will find ways to win games like this.
Snuggard is an interesting pick. He will be competing for the Calder this year. Playing with top players on the team, and on the #1 PP unit - I imagine his stats get padded this season. Going to be quite the race for the Calder this year - best race in many years I bet. Lots of candidates (and the Flames have 2 at least! 3 if Honzek sticks and starts finding the back of the net!).
This is what I call a very good loss. Flames looked great, they were competitive, and this is the right kind of environment for these young kids to really grow in. If the Flames exceed expectations and start winning, that's great too. If they don't, it may be better in the long run, as frustrating as it may be to have that kind of losing season or two. I expect them to, but this doesn't mean I will enjoy it.
Let's see what the next game brings. The kids have looked great. Parekh I thought looked really good out there for most of the game, specifically. Honzek was so unlucky. Coronato might get 40 this year by the looks of it. Gridin I bet doesn't look back. Losses suck, but watching these kids is quite fun!
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