Quote:
Originally Posted by dino7c
Reality check on how hard it is to finish last
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Actually the standing are shaping up to be very favourable to make a run at last.
Pretty sure you listed teams before the season that are too bad.
Chicago - 8 points
Anaheim - 7 points
Buffalo - 6 points
Columbus - 6 points
Philly - 7 points
Seattle - 8 points
Vancouver - 8 points
Pittsburgh - 10 points
SJ - 2 points
Pittsburgh was a team that said they were rebuilding. Vancouver was a threat to rebuild if they got off to a bad start.
The rest of these teams were predicted by most people as teams that are too bad for the Flames to lose to or have GM's that will make the moves to finish last. SJ looks bad, but they will not sell off certain players to lose. Really, they have been bad long enough they probably won't go full tank and sell off a bunch of players. Chicago was the other team that was a for sure at the bottom and very bad. They are over .500 and are looking to build now and their young players are getting better. They also added Knight who could solidify their goalies.
Ottawa, Tampa, LA will not be at the bottom for long. LA if they sold off a Kempe could embrace a tank, but I doubt they will do this as they have a good team with Byfield and Clarke improving.
Boston could choose to go full tank. But if MacAvoy stays healthy, they still have high end players that they will not move and players like Lindholm that they just added that they can't trade.
Nashville too. They could flip to a full rebuild, but they have a ton of NMC so it could be difficult to run some players out of town.
Flames could easily if they choose to tank trade half their team. Really, Huberdeau, Wolf, Coronato, Sharangovich, Hanley, Pachal, Backlund and Weegar are the only players we have that will not be moved. Anyone else could be moved and teams will be interested. Flames choose to trade 3-5 players; they are set up very well to finish last.