The Annual NHL team rankings thread (The Athletic and others) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Reggie Dunlop · 10-03-2022, 11:25 AM

Flames in the top four?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1576932095661813760

chummer · 10-03-2022, 11:29 AM

Top 4.

32. Arizona Coyotes
31. Montreal Canadiens
30. Chicago Blackhawks
29. Buffalo Sabres
28. Philadelphia Flyers
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
26. San Jose Sharks
25. Anaheim Ducks
24. Detroit Red Wings
23. Seattle Kraken
22. Ottawa Senators
21. Winnipeg Jets
20. New York Islanders
19. New Jersey Devils
18. Vancouver Canucks
17. St. Louis Blues
16. Los Angeles Kings
15. Vegas Golden Knights
14. New York Rangers
13. Dallas Stars
12. Washington Capitals
11. Nashville Predators
10. Edmonton Oilers
9. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Carolina Hurricanes
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
6. Boston Bruins
5. Minnesota Wild

Textcritic · 10-03-2022, 11:32 AM

LA ahead of Vancouver; Edmonton well back of Calgary. These fans must be losing their minds about this.

Reggie Dunlop · 10-03-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

LA ahead of Vancouver; Edmonton well back of Calgary. These fans must be losing their minds about this.

Assuming they haven't already.

Bingo · 10-03-2022, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I think these rankings are flawed. Hope I’m being too pessimistic, but I don’t see the Flames as having improved over last year - more likely a bit weaker on offence, and without Kylington and a fully recovered Tanev, probably a weaker defense.

Two elite forwards out, two back ... I think more elite out than in as a total.

They were on the same line, so that line is completely dust, so certainly some chemistry building angst. Time will tell.

Not sure I agree on the defense. From reports Tanev had a great surgery, and if he's not ailing physically I doubt the style he plays suffers from missing some camp. Kylington was fading last year so I'm not even sure he's a huge loss if Mackey makes the team. Issue if it's Stone or Valimaki. But Weegar is light years ahead of Gudbranson for impact and that washes out all the concerns.

The team defensively is built better though with three very good centers.

If you're trying to match up against Calgary there is only 6-8 minutes a night of five on five play without one of the three big centers holding down the fort.

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 11:40 AM

Weegar + Mackey/Stone > Kylington + Gudbranson

And when Kylington is back, the D is significantly improved. Very tough to debate otherwise.

Winsor_Pilates · 10-03-2022, 11:44 AM

I'm surprised, didn't think we'd be that high on any rankings. Would have guessed around 10

Textcritic · 10-03-2022, 11:48 AM

I am also responding to this post from another thread ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I think these rankings are flawed. Hope I’m being too pessimistic, but I don’t see the Flames as having improved over last year - more likely a bit weaker on offence, and without Kylington and a fully recovered Tanev, probably a weaker defense.

I think that building equations from simple player-for-player replacement is the wrong way to evaluate what the Flames did this summer. I can agree with Bingo and Enoch on the defence, so no need to rehash that, but for the forward group last year's lineup consisted of a dynamite top line, a competent second line, and then middling players in the bottom six who were fine, but didn't really move the needle much. Treliving has not just swapped players for players; he has completely reshaped the forward group.

So, now there is what looks to be a solid top-line and what looks to be a fantastic second line, which has pushed the already competent 2021 second line down to the third line. Suddenly, the Flames have probably the best middle six group in the entire League, to supplement what should already be a very good top line.

Erick Estrada · 10-03-2022, 11:50 AM

I'm surprised the Flames got to 4th given massive changes to the core of the team. I just feel it could take a bit for the new lines to gel and I don't see any line producing at the level of the 1st line last season.

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 11:53 AM

As for the forwards, here is a comparison (as it currently looks) vs the opening night roster last year:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli < Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk (I don't think the gap is that big)
Mangipane - Kadri - Dube....... > Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Rooney - Backlund - Coleman. >>> Dube - Monahan - Ritchie
Lucic - Eakin - Lewis.............. >> Lucic - Gawdin - Lewis

(they dressed 7 D with Coleman out, but I included him to make this make more sense)

A lot of people suggesting that this year's team will take a step back on offense - I disagree. This year's forward group is more talented than last year, IMO.

genetic_phreek · 10-03-2022, 11:54 AM

When's the top 4 released?

BurningSteel · 10-03-2022, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Assuming they haven't already.

Assuming they have any.

undercoverbrother · 10-03-2022, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Flames in the top four?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1576932095661813760

undercoverbrother · 10-03-2022, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As for the forwards, here is a comparison (as it currently looks) vs the opening night roster last year:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli < Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk (I don't think the gap is that big)
Mangipane - Kadri - Dube....... > Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Rooney - Backlund - Coleman. >>> Dube - Monahan - Ritchie
Lucic - Eakin - Lewis.............. >> Lucic - Gawdin - Lewis

(they dressed 7 D with Coleman out, but I included him to make this make more sense)

A lot of people suggesting that this year's team will take a step back on offense - I disagree. This year's forward group is more talented than last year, IMO.

It certainly looks much stronger down the middle

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 11:57 AM

by position (IMO):

goaltender: A to A+
defense: A+
center: A (Lindholm, Kadri, Backlund is as deep as any team)
LW: B+ to A (Huberdeau is arguably the best LW in the league, and Mangiapane is a pretty good 2nd liner)
RW: C- (not as terrible as some make it out to be, with Toffoli, Dube and Coleman - not great, but not terrible)

Overall, a REALLY deep team.

genetic_phreek · 10-03-2022, 12:03 PM

So Top 4 is Flames, Leafs, Avs, and Panthers. Interesting.

OutOfTheCube · 10-03-2022, 12:20 PM

I know no one really cares about us, but the Sabres are not a bottom 5 team. I think at worst, they're swimming in with Detroit and Ottawa, and if we get some solid goaltending all season long are maybe even a bubble playoff team. A lot of young talent that has really bought in to what the coach is selling.

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I know no one really cares about us, but the Sabres are not a bottom 5 team. I think at worst, they're swimming in with Detroit and Ottawa, and if we get some solid goaltending all season long are maybe even a bubble playoff team. A lot of young talent that has really bought in to what the coach is selling.

Okay sure, but we've seen this act before, with Eichel and many others. They're going to have to prove it first.

Derek Sutton · 10-03-2022, 12:35 PM

Yeesh, I don't get the hard on for Minnesota or the love that still lingers for Boston.

activeStick · 10-03-2022, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

So Top 4 is Flames, Leafs, Avs, and Panthers. Interesting.

It's interesting to me that the Panthers are on the top 4. Their D is not good and their depth up front took a hit after losing some guys compared to last season.

So I'd go 4th Panthers, 3rd Leafs, 2nd Flames, 1st Avs

The games still need to be played but on paper, after Johnny walks and Tkachuk requests a trade, not sure how some still think Treliving deserves to be let go.