How long does the media's "no talent" motif last regarding the Flames?

[nik-]

I've noticed lately that some media members have started to state things like "This team is more talented than people give them credit for" but overall, it's still referred to as a lunch bucket team that has to work hard because we have no talent. We don't have flashy 1st overall picks or Art Ross winners, but there are some talented hockey players on this team that just lack the name recognition.

The hockey media is notoriously slow to turn around on something once they've built it into their collective mindset. For example, look how long we were a "team built for the playoffs" when in actuality we just kind sucked. How long do you think that think that this lasts?

I predict at least another year after this, even if we make the playoffs this season.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I think it's already started. As you said, it started with the "maybe they have a little more talent than we thought, but boy do they work hard" to now more acknowledgment of jus how good Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie and even some of the others are.

If they keep winning I think by after Xmas there will be a lot of focus on the talent in the pipe, not just Hartley's coaching and the work ethic.

[PIMking]

i dont care, doubt em all the time and they will keep that chip on their shoulder

[1stLand]

Its funny because people say that the Oilers have so much Talent on Forward.
But I think Hudler, Monahan, Gaudreau, Jooris, Raymond, Colborne are more talented than Nugent-Hopkins, Yak, Hall, Eberle.
Brodie, Wideman & Gio are top Defenceman in this league

[nik-]

Originally Posted by PIMking

i dont care, doubt em all the time and they will keep that chip on their shoulder

Yeah I don't care either, and I don't really intend this to be a "look how the media is portraying us!" complaint. I'm just curious as to how long it will take the perception to turn around.

[Righteous1]

Oilers keep getting pumped up and sucking..

Flames keep getting told they're not good enough and keep winning..

I'm okay with it

[Gaudfather]

What the media is saying much more consistently now is that the Flames are "fun to watch". I would like to see the HNIC ratings for the Blackhawks/Oilers game last night. Someone at Sportsnet is going to wake up and realize they had better start putting more Flames games on their national coverage for the drama/excitement factors.

[Psytic]

Slightly less raw talent than some other young teams with top 5 picks but high on chemistry and coachabilty which counts for more IMO. The peices coming up are a good fit for Hartleys system. I feel we play like the Hawks but we are built kind of like St. Louis with quite a few under the rader talents.

[Goriders]

Best to use the underdog moniker for as long as you can. It doesn't last forever.

[DownhillGoat]

I find general view is up a lot from the start of the season. Used to be any time we won it was qualified as "A game the Flames had no business being in" regardless of play.

But it'll last at least a season, even if we make playoffs this year. Actually, especially if we make playoffs.

But put me in the camp of don't care. The longer we're portrayed as a team not to take seriously the better IMO.

[sa226]

On a more general level, I don't remember the last time such a large majority of the media has had such positive things to say about the team. Most of the negativity is from the advanced stats stuff, with the odd fool bring up the whole tanking thing.

Most of the blowhard talking heads are having just as much fun watching the team as the rest of us

[Vinny01]

I have heard a few in the media (Ray Ferraro among others) that have said they mis-judged the talent of the team. Right now the biggest group against the Flames is the advanced stat community

[waner]

Likely a full season of this.

We have seen players/teams get off to hot starts before and fizzle back to where they were historically/expected to be.

And I am not sure who people have been listening to that are pumping up the Oilers. The media has been pretty harsh on them the past two years.

[Hemi-Cuda]

The Flames have the 2nd best offense in the league right now. If they keep that up the media will have no choice but to change their tune

[kn]

It will take a while. After the game, Strombo still referred to the Oilers core as on the verge of becoming superstars. The Flames? It's coaching, systems, hard work, goaltending, resilience, not talent.

[AcGold]

Does it matter? The most important as echoed by many players is that they believe in each other, passing off or letting a guy cover on a pinch is crucial. I'd prefer the media keep doubting the Flames, just adds fuel on the fire.

[Brewmaster]

When a few of our younger players put together a full season or two of high point totals. Right now many of the most talented Flames like Gaudreau, Monahan and Brodie are just breaking into the league or just coming into their own. If those 3 guys start putting up 40 or 50+ points, they'll get recognized as being more talented players. Media types, especially those with an Eastern bias, will need a greater sample size before they start calling the Flames a talented team.

[Geeoff]

Flames games end at like 1 AM on the East Coast. It will probably last a while.

[GioforPM]

Hartley would love the meme to continue. Makes motivation easier. Makes him look more like a genius for getting results.

The last thing we need is for our kids to get the treatment Edmonton's kids did by the media. Not that our management and coaching would let the same thing happen, but why even go there?