Quote:
Originally Posted by TheScorpion
This Flames team has a ton of talent. It's just all about finding the right mix. That's why it's important to remember that there's always next year. Maybe this summer they go out and sign a couple cheap vet top-9 forwards with playoff pedigree and it totally changes the dynamic of the team.
|
That's 100% it.
The team has talent - it just needs a bit more speed and tenacity for the playoffs.
And the NHL playoffs are pretty unpredictable year to year. Look at the final four from the last couple years and how they finished the prior year.
2019 Final Four: San Jose (second round), St.Louis (missed playoffs), Boston (second round), Carolina (missed playoffs)
2018 Final Four: Tampa Bay (missed playoffs), Washington (round 2), Winnipeg (missed playoffs), Vegas (Didn't exist)
2017 Final Four: Ottawa (Missed playoffs), Pittsburgh (won cup), Nashville (Round 2), Anaheim (Round 1)
2016 Final Four: St.Louis (Round 1), San Jose (Missed Playoffs), Tampa Bay (Cup Finals), Pittsburgh (Round 1)
The teams that will be in the final four next year are more likely to have been teams that missed the playoffs, or had playoff failures this year, than they are teams that are still playing in the final 4.
Playoff success is rarely a linear path in the NHL. Best bet is to build a top regular season team and give yourself a shot in the playoffs each year.