Sim mode

[TurnedTheCorner]

Seems like all (more accurately, many) of the threads around here are not focused on enjoying the here and now, the team we have, the roster as it stands. It's all about the trade deadline, the roster build, next year's entry draft, who should be moved out for what prospect, what the future depth chart will look like, and so on.

I get that the future possibilities can be sexy. I understand that people want the best for the organization -- whether that's through existing prospects developing, getting good return for potential UFAs, winning trades, whaetver.

But is the here and now that dull? That uninteresting? That depressing? Do we have to fast forward past everything in the mean time like an EA sim mode to get to the next draft or the next season? Two years, five years, or beyond?

Can we enjoy Cammalleri being healthy for a few games without worrying about trading him? Can we see how McDonald plays this season before worrying what it means to our goaltending depth next year and beyond? Can we let Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak develop some chemistry and play some games together before dealing one or all of them off for pieces and prospects and picks?

It just seems all of the fortune telling and tea leave reading is dominating the discussion these days. I'm wondering if it's OK to simply enjoy the surprising start for now, and let the course of time do its thing. The deadline will happen when it happens. The draft will happen when it happens. The FA season will happen when it happens. And I can wait for them to happen without dissecting, analyzing, debating, and forecasting each future event every day until they arrive.

The start has been fun. Monahan has been a revelation. Giordano has rebounded beyond my wildest expectations. Colborne has been a pickup that can help an organizational need.

It's been a fun season so far. Hopefully the future has it's share of fun as well.

[nik-]

Well, this organization, independant of GM's, has had a history of getting suckered and thinking it's a better team than it is. I don't think it's wrong for some people to get worried about the willingness to stay the course.

It's early ... for both sides of the coin.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'm fully on board with enjoying this team as it is, but I see some major flaws in this team that are going to be difficult to overcome (mostly defensemen and goaltending). It's for that reason that I myself am looking forward to the future rather than dwelling on this current team too much.

I absolutely love the current players, even the veterans, but I recognize that most of them will not be with us past this season, so it's ok to speculate a little as to their future, even if we are only interested to see what will happen.

I agree that every time Cammalleri scores a goal we shouldn't be talking about his trade value, and game time should be spent talking about the here and now, but once that's done, it's ok to think about it a little. I do not consider people putting together packages to trade him tomorrow to be worthwhile because clearly he isn't going anywhere until the deadline, and even then we don't know if he will go anywhere. Things will change between now and then and we don't know the landscape for any trades until we get closer to the deadline, so really it's kinda pointless.

Basically, this is a long-winded way of saying we should keep the talk of trading players at a minimum until it becomes evident that something is likely to happen. Enjoy the team. I was certain we were going to be miles worse this year and I enjoy being pleasantly surprised.

[The Swedish Flame]

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm having a blast watching this team play. I'll worry about 'everything' else later.

[Itse]

I think it's mostly in your head.

With GDT, GT, PGT, Game Takes and player threads we have lots of threads that are essentially about the here and now. Or, as much about the here and now as any discussion is at this point of the season. Lots of trade talk about doing something here and now also going on. (Should we get a goalie, should we get a defenseman...)

The season is still young, there's not that many ways you can say "yeah they've looked surprisingly good but it's too soon to say anything conclusive".


There seems to be less traffic than previous years, but that could be my imagination.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I'm fully on board with enjoying this team as it is, but I see some major flaws in this team that are going to be difficult to overcome (mostly defensemen and goaltending). It's for that reason that I myself am looking forward to the future rather than dwelling on this current team too much.

I absolutely love the current players, even the veterans, but I recognize that most of them will not be with us past this season, so it's ok to speculate a little as to their future, even if we are only interested to see what will happen.

I agree that every time Cammalleri scores a goal we shouldn't be talking about his trade value, and game time should be spent talking about the here and now, but once that's done, it's ok to think about it a little. I do not consider people putting together packages to trade him tomorrow to be worthwhile because clearly he isn't going anywhere until the deadline, and even then we don't know if he will go anywhere. Things will change between now and then and we don't know the landscape for any trades until we get closer to the deadline, so really it's kinda pointless.

Basically, this is a long-winded way of saying we should keep the talk of trading players at a minimum until it becomes evident that something is likely to happen. Enjoy the team. I was certain we were going to be miles worse this year and I enjoy being pleasantly surprised.

This. This website is for discussion and debate, but mostly it's a celebration of being a Flames fan. Just keep the trade talk out of the game threads and out of at least the first few pages of the PGT.

[FBI]

Is it ok to enjoy the here and now but yet also talk about the future?

I'm having fun with both.

[GGG]

I think because the team is doing better than expected there isnt much to discuss about the here and now. And as much fun as this team is its not making the playoffs so the thing to get excited about is the future. So I quite enjoy the games but in terms of discussion I see little value in discussing things that dont center around development.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by FBI

Is it ok to enjoy the here and now but yet also talk about the future?

I'm having fun with both.

After consideration, I'll allow it.

[powderjunkie]

Here and now is fun, but we have far exceeded expectations so far, and are still out of the playoffs

[pylon]

100% agreed. My favourite concept is the "X player is available, therefore the flames must be a front runner to get him!!" crowd.

[Dion]

I'm enjoying the season more than the previous three. No more enduring being just good enough to miss the playoffs and what a crappy coach Sutter is. For the first time in a number of years the fan base is excited about the future and the prospects we have in our organization.

Anyone who is not enjoying the ride we've been on needs to have thier head examined.

[Poe969]

I care more about the future, I am happy the Flames are doing well but I don't think it'll last because they aren't built for it. I'm not saying go full "sim mode" because I am more excited about seeing how our youth plays than how the team has done in the past 5 seasons. Build for the future but have fun along the way

[mikephoen]

This year has been great so far! The Flames haven't been awful and the oilers have. And the media is finally, slowly, turning on the oilers.