Will the flames make the playoffs next year (2015/2016 season) ?

[FBI]

Poll if possible too mods..

My guess is Yes. Johnny in 2nd year with no sophomore slump, Monahan continuing to improve, and Bennett takes over as our new rookie phenom.
We'll have a full year (hopefully) of Ferland, Bouma, Gio.. We'll have some sort of #5/#6 D solution (still hoping it's Wotherspoon) and we'll have young guys nipping at the heels of the Raymonds and Jones of the world.

A lot of us seem to think this year everything went right and we were a flash in the pan, but I'm feeling pretty optimistic.

[Otto-matic]

As much as I want to say yes, my brain is telling me no.

IMO Anaheim, Chicago, St.Louis and Minnesota are the locks with Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, LA, Dallas, Winnipeg and San Jose all being tossed up for the last 4 spots.

As much as it pains me to say, Edmonton could be in that mix too all baring on the moves made this summer.

A lot will need to align properly again for the Flames to make the dance. That's the prob

[heep223]

The Flames will win the cup next year.

[jayswin]

It would take a lot for us to make the playoffs again. In the east? Sure, but out west is a different story.

The East basically has 6-7 playoff teams per year, so it leaves 1 - 2 spots open for bubble teams/feel good stories. The West has 9-10 playoff teams, so two playoff caliber teams aren't getting in.

My prediction is 9/10th and the usual doom posters are on the ledge, calling for coaches/Gm's heads and claiming they knew all along this team wasn't for real and a bunch of other BS.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

As much as I want to say yes, my brain is telling me no.

IMO Anaheim, Chicago, St.Louis and Minnesota are the locks with Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, LA, Dallas and San Jose all being tossed up for the last 4 spots.

As much as it pains me to say, Edmonton could be in that mix too all baring on the moves made this summer.

A lot will need to align properly again for the Flames to make the dance.

While all this may be true, your locks only include Anaheim in our division. I think we have a decent chance at landing in the 2/3 spot in the Pacific.

[Psytic]

I think so. I think we should try to pinpoint the depth guys with crappy possession numbers and replace them. We were great at Counter attacking and putting pucks in the net, but I think our weakness was actual position time.

A few decent trades or suprises from the farm and we are good.

[GioforPM]

Overall, it doesn't really matter. The long term is great.

There may be guys who take a step back - the top line players each had a phenomenal year. But everyone predicted Hudler and Monahan wouldn't do better than in 2013-14 and they did.

Could Bouma slide some? Sure. But I think Backlund, Raymond, Jones have more goals in them. Byron for sure does, if he's around. And Ferland was not productive in the regular season, but has now found his gear. They will have almost assured production from Bennett.

Defensively, Gio is so consistent. Brodie is improving - he has yet to play his best hockey. I don't see Russell regressing. Wideman could have an off year, but I tend to think he's now found his comfort zone. And I'm betting the bottom pair will be better.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

While all this may be true, your locks only include Anaheim in our division. I think we have a decent chance at landing in the 2/3 spot in the Pacific.

I was on the fence about putting LA as a lock, I just cant see them faltering again.


But like others said, its all gravy right now regardless of where they end up. The future is extremely bright for the Flames.

[GranteedEV]

104 Points. Book it.

[SofaProfessor]

I think yes, only because the Flames are in the Pacific (what a weird thing to say considering how dominant everyone thought this division was even a year ago). Anaheim will take 1st most likely. Does LA bounce back after last season? Does Vancouver regress, improve, stay the same? I don't know if I see San Jose getting better. Edmonton should get better but good enough to be top 3? Arizona will be a bottom feeder for sure.

I think the 2nd and 3rd seeds are wide open and that benefits the Flames. If they were in the Central I don't think it would be the same story.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

As much as I want to say yes, my brain is telling me no.

IMO Anaheim, Chicago, St.Louis and Minnesota are the locks with Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, LA, Dallas, Winnipeg and San Jose all being tossed up for the last 4 spots.

As much as it pains me to say, Edmonton could be in that mix too all baring on the moves made this summer.

A lot will need to align properly again for the Flames to make the dance. That's the prob

That's a 35 point gain for Edmonton, why so optimistic for their chances? You've also listed 6 teams from the Central, whereas one is out for sure.

[heep223]

How could anyone have LA as a lock when they just missed the playoffs this year? They're getting older and are in cap hell. I personally don't see them as a lock. Obviously they have the pedigree and could be a powerhouse again but I just don't see it.

It's also possible that SJ has a terrible year and goes into full rebuild, Vancouver falls off as they age and quite frankly they just suck, Edm and Ari continue to be bottom dwellers.

The only "lock" in my mind is that Anaheim is going to win the division. The Flames are an up and coming young team with emerging star power, great D, great leadership and good depth at F in a division full of question marks. The Flames have a realistic shot at 2nd or 3rd in the division.

I just hope that we're not fighting for a wild card spot because it's the Central division that's stacked.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I was on the fence about putting LA as a lock, I just cant see them faltering again.


But like others said, its all gravy right now regardless of where they end up. The future is extremely bright for the Flames.

I personally don't think LA is a lock, but I know what you mean. I think their problem are the costly vets (Richards,Brown) eating up capspace. If they can figure out what to do with Voynov and the D, they could be better.

It is a fine line between making and missing, but if the Flames can shore up the 5/6 D and perhaps improve on the goaltending (I mean if Ortio/Hiller/Ramo improve), I like their chances.

Gravy for sure. They will be in the mix.

[MelBridgeman]

The Flames just need to finish in the top 3 in their division - Anaheim, Vancouver, Calgary, Los Angeles and maybe San Jose are the threats for those 3 spots. I can see LA replacing Vancouver and San Jose missing again. Teams like Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg only come into the equation if they are trying to secure a wild card spot

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

While all this may be true, your locks only include Anaheim in our division. I think we have a decent chance at landing in the 2/3 spot in the Pacific.

That's what I'm thinking.
L.A. - They should rebound next year but they have problems and their defence is looking thinner.
Van - They should be worse next year.
SJ - Can't see them being a lot better.
Edm - They should be vastly improved, it would be hard to get worse.
I think it's very feasible that we are better than 3 of those teams. Thank god we aren't in the Central, they should claim both wildcard spots next year.

[GioforPM]

The other thing to remember is that, as magical as the season was in all our memories, they still had the 7 game losing streak (without even any loser points). Get half of those points and they finish at 104, ahead of the Canucks.

If they eliminate such a streak next year, they are easily in IMO.

[Roof-Daddy]

Funny how quickly our division turned to crap (at least compared to the Central).

As long as both LA and San Jose don't rebound, it's very possible for Calgary to return to the playoffs again next season, as IMO only Anaheim is a playoff lock.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by the2bears

That's a 35 point gain for Edmonton, why so optimistic for their chances? You've also listed 6 teams from the Central, whereas one is out for sure.

If they can get a real goaltender this summer, I dont see it out the realm of possibility.

[Roof-Daddy]

One key thing to remember about Calgary, a team that made the playoffs and won one round, is that most of our key contributing players were under 30 years old, and many of them were 25 years old or younger.

Hudler, Wideman and Gio are really the only "key" players in the line up that are over 30 years old....and @ 31, 32 & 31 respectively, they certainly aren't over the hill.

That alone bodes well for this team heading into next season and beyond.

Now, just imagine if Treliving can find a way to improve the goaltending. (Hopefully Ortio helps this)

[Coach]

Gio wants his Norris. That equals playoffs for the Flames.