THN Flames prediction - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 09-03-2014, 12:33 PM

this is out today, didn't see it posted anywhere

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/th...algary-flames/

Quote:

Bottom Line: If things go better than expected in Calgary, the Flames will miss out on one of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel or Noah Hanifin as top prospects in the 2015 draft, but still miss the playoffs. If the Flames predictably struggle, they’ll add another high pick blue-chipper to the prospect stable. Expect Calgary to grind out a lot of close games under well-liked coach Bob Hartley, keeping in mind that most of those matches will be losses.

BigRed · 09-03-2014, 12:36 PM

Sounds about right. Really don't want to finish 7th last.

Fire · 09-03-2014, 12:57 PM

7th in the Pacific is certainly possible, but the Oilers are going to need major improvement from their young players to pass the Flames.

Tacoman · 09-03-2014, 01:03 PM

Yup. Pretty tough to argue what's been said. Despite that, I can't wait to watch them again this year. Last year was the best fan experience I've had in the last 8 years.

Samiz · 09-03-2014, 01:34 PM

The dream is to finish past the Oilers and Canucks, and win the lottery.

The other dream is to squeak into the playoffs and win the cup

Goriders · 09-03-2014, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samiz

The dream is to finish past the Oilers and Canucks, and win the lottery.

The other dream is to squeak into the playoffs and win the cup

Good thing you said dream.

That being said we may finish ahead of the Oilers. THEY ARE SO GOOD AT BEING SO BAD!!

Plett25 · 09-03-2014, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samiz

The dream is to finish past the Oilers and Canucks, and win the lottery.

The other dream is to squeak into the playoffs and win the cup

Dream bigger!

Like this... for the Flames to play hard all season, be in 9th in the west at the trade deadline, trade Glencross and Wideman for 1st rounders, make the playoffs anyway, go on a cup run with Gaudreau channeling his inner Fleury.

Glencross and Wideman's new teams go into a tailspin after the deadline, finish out of the playoffs and come 1 & 2 in the draft lottery. Then we draft Eichel and McDavid.

That's a dream.

edslunch · 09-03-2014, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plett25

Dream bigger!

Like this... for the Flames to play hard all season, be in 9th in the west at the trade deadline, trade Glencross and Wideman for 1st rounders, make the playoffs anyway, go on a cup run with Gaudreau channeling his inner Fleury.

Glencross and Wideman's new teams go into a tailspin after the deadline, finish out of the playoffs and come 1 & 2 in the draft lottery. Then we draft Eichel and McDavid.

That's a dream.

Pass the pipe brother! I want to dream your dreams

stemit14 · 09-03-2014, 04:19 PM

Everybody talks a big game in the offseason about wanting the flames to finish last to get that pick... But once the season starts all of us want them to win every game. We cheer for wins and not losses. Let the oiler fans cheer for lottery picks... Their franchise is cursed anyways so they can have who they want and will still be no good.

Parallex · 09-03-2014, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stemit14

Everybody talks a big game in the offseason about wanting the flames to finish last to get that pick... But once the season starts all of us want them to win every game.

Nobody "wants" the Flames to finish last to get that pick.

Pretty sure we all want the Flames to have a 164 point regular season and a parade thereafter... but we're all sane enough to know that that isn't happening so while we cheer for wins we know they'll be relatively few and accept that draft pick as colsolation (for now).

Schraderbrau · 09-03-2014, 05:46 PM

Please finish last this year and win the McDavid lotto. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a player like. McDavid to watch every night. Watching iggy was always a treat, McDavid could be even better.

dissentowner · 09-03-2014, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schraderbrau

Please finish last this year and win the McDavid lotto. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a player like. McDavid to watch every night. Watching iggy was always a treat, McDavid could be even better.

Screw McDavid, I want playoffs. I can't cheer for us to finish last, can't do it.

killer_carlson · 09-03-2014, 10:54 PM

Easy year to be a fan.

Expectations are that we will lose most games. If we lose, we meet expectations. If we win, we exceed expectations.

Only unacceptable losses are to Edm and Vancouver.

dino7c · 09-03-2014, 10:57 PM

So they finish last...then what 80% chance of NOT getting the top pick

besides they wont be last so forget about it. I would rather the young guys we have NOW play well enough to make the team half decent

stemit14 · 09-03-2014, 11:12 PM

I want the same identity as last year... a hard working team that it's never easy to beat. Plus I want to see the flames establish old school protection for the young guys with all the grit built up in the organization... Guys like mcgrattan, Bollig, wolf, ferland, bouma, glencross, engelland, etc. Winning games is always the goal but setting the standard for making teams pay for targeting the young guys is just as important. Somebody takes a run at gaudreau... Release the hounds. Even if there's five minutes left in a one goal game... Absolutely no tolerance.

The young guys will get to develop properly and play their game with the muscle watching their back. And if it costs the flames a few games this year it will be worth it in the long run knowing the kids were well protected in their developing years. And if it leads to the flames getting McDavid so be it.

Samuelsson · 09-04-2014, 02:48 AM

I'd say that's about right. When you look at our losses and additions, I think it evens out overall. Obviously the losses being Stemp and Cammy, you lose a lot of goals (ok, some goals in Stemp's case) and Cammy's leadership - but our gains are Raymond, Setoguchi being on a point-proving year, along with Baertschi and Gaudreau.

Would still be ideal to finish in that top 3. I can't say I know a lot about McDavid, but I've been hearing about him for the last 2-3 years now.

Freeway · 09-04-2014, 02:57 AM

If the identity and work ethic erodes, Hartley is as good as gone.

N26 · 09-04-2014, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Easy year to be a fan.

Expectations are that we will lose most games. If we lose, we meet expectations. If we win, we exceed expectations.

Only unacceptable losses are to Edm and Vancouver.

And Toronto. I want both those games too. Really dislike that fanbase.

And Winnipeg. Because it's a western Canadian team and cause Hawerchuk still sucks.

And the last time we play on Hockey Night in Canada, which, I think, is against Edmonton.

I want those 14 wins and to go down fighting in every loss. Anything above that is gravy.

Gary83 · 09-04-2014, 05:53 AM

If Baertschi and Gaudreau establish themselves as legit, top 6 nhl'ers, I'd be really surprised if the Flames finish with a bottom 5 pick and I'd be incredibly fine with that.

Ending up as a bad team with a good, solid pick to hopefully add to our core would be a nice silver lining, but I'd much prefer to see our current prospects take some good steps towards improvement.

Bingo · 09-04-2014, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freeway

If the identity and work ethic erodes, Hartley is as good as gone.

I still wonder why they waited to extend him if they didn't plan on doing so. Its not as if they don't know what this season is going to be.

The season is set up to lose, the roster wasn't built up to make a run, it was set up knowing they will struggle again this year and miss the playoffs, likely with a bottom five pick.

So I see it as a Hartley can't win scenario to be honest. The chances of any coach keeping a team working that hard for 24 months is pretty slim, so its almost like they want that trigger to pull when it inevitably slides.

He's gone by Xmas.