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Old 08-13-2024, 11:11 AM   #1
Iniggywetrust
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Default What would need to happen for the Flames to make the Playoffs in 2024/25?

I saw a list that had Huberdeau as the top bounce back candidate in 2024/2025, and it got me thinking that should that happen, it would improve our playoff chances (for better or worse).

So, let's leave the discussion about whether it is a good thing or bad thing to make the playoffs, and just focus on what would need to happen for the Flames to make the playoffs next year?

It's tough to say what is number one of the list, but...

1) Dustin Wolf breaks out as a true legit number 1 goalie and is at least in the Vezina talk all year long
2) Huberdeau fully bounces back and has a 90+p season
3) Kuzmenko finds chemistry on the power play and puts up 40g 80+p
4) Two of Bahl, Miromanov, or Bean firmly cement themselves as top 4 defensemen with one taking over top PP duties
5) Andersson bounces back and puts up 20/20 while shutting down top lines
5) Kadri, Weeger, Sharagovich all carry on their strong play from last year
6) Zary shows progression and take over as C2
7) Coronato breaks out and scores 25
8) A surprise prospect (Stromgren?) makes the team out of camp and plays 15 minutes of strong hockey per night

What else would need to happen? Would that be enough?
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:15 AM   #2
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I would also add Mantha solidifying himself in the top 6, putting up 25+ goals and being a key PP performer.

In general, we would need to be a top 10 PP team to have any sniff at playoffs.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:15 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust View Post
I saw a list that had Huberdeau as the top bounce back candidate in 2024/2025, and it got me thinking that should that happen, it would improve our playoff chances (for better or worse).

So, let's leave the discussion about whether it is a good thing or bad thing to make the playoffs, and just focus on what would need to happen for the Flames to make the playoffs next year?

It's tough to say what is number one of the list, but...

1) Dustin Wolf breaks out as a true legit number 1 goalie and is at least in the Vezina talk all year long
2) Huberdeau fully bounces back and has a 90+p season
3) Kuzmenko finds chemistry on the power play and puts up 40g 80+p
4) Two of Bahl, Miromanov, or Bean firmly cement themselves as top 4 defensemen with one taking over top PP duties
5) Andersson bounces back and puts up 20/20 while shutting down top lines
5) Kadri, Weeger, Sharagovich all carry on their strong play from last year
6) Zary shows progression and take over as C2
7) Coronato breaks out and scores 25
8) A surprise prospect (Stromgren?) makes the team out of camp and plays 15 minutes of strong hockey per night

What else would need to happen? Would that be enough?
If # 1 happens, you can ignore #4 and 5, as Wolf won't win the Vezina without a strong defence behind him. And if #1 happens, Calgary could well be a playoff team.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:16 AM   #4
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Those sound about right. I know it’s a lot of things to go well but that should be enough for the flames to at least compete for a playoff spot. I know that’s not an ideal situation for the long term plan with the flames but I could see it being more possible than most would think.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:17 AM   #5
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A holy miracle.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:21 AM   #6
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A complete faceplant from the entire pacific division.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:22 AM   #7
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Playoffs? We'll be lucky to win a game!
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:32 AM   #8
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It's not what needs to happen. There's no doubt any crappy team in the league can make the playoffs but does a rebuilding team want to just make the playoffs or does the team need to rebuild with proper drafting? In addition, if the Flames do get out of the protected draft position, they're giving up their higher pick to the Habs rather than the one that they're getting from the Panthers. I hope we don't go through another Treliving moment going forward.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:36 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust View Post
I saw a list that had Huberdeau as the top bounce back candidate in 2024/2025, and it got me thinking that should that happen, it would improve our playoff chances (for better or worse).

So, let's leave the discussion about whether it is a good thing or bad thing to make the playoffs, and just focus on what would need to happen for the Flames to make the playoffs next year?

It's tough to say what is number one of the list, but...

1) Dustin Wolf breaks out as a true legit number 1 goalie and is at least in the Vezina talk all year long
2) Huberdeau fully bounces back and has a 90+p season
3) Kuzmenko finds chemistry on the power play and puts up 40g 80+p
4) Two of Bahl, Miromanov, or Bean firmly cement themselves as top 4 defensemen with one taking over top PP duties
5) Andersson bounces back and puts up 20/20 while shutting down top lines
5) Kadri, Weeger, Sharagovich all carry on their strong play from last year
6) Zary shows progression and take over as C2
7) Coronato breaks out and scores 25
8) A surprise prospect (Stromgren?) makes the team out of camp and plays 15 minutes of strong hockey per night

What else would need to happen? Would that be enough?
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:40 AM   #10
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Wolf establishing himself as not only a true #1G, but a top 10 one at that. Vladar would have to follow suit and show himself to be a 1b. Basically, Flames would need elite goaltending from start to finish of the season.

Huberdeau would have to somehow turn himself into a top 5 F like he was in FLA. He would have to become a true gamebreaker and be able to take over games on his own.

The D would have to somehow gel perfectly and have a solid 1-4 with good rotations of 5-7.

PP and PK would both have to be better than league average.

A true #1C would have to emerge, but that is the least likeliest of all scenarios that have to take place.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CSharp View Post
It's not what needs to happen. There's no doubt any crappy team in the league can make the playoffs but does a rebuilding team want to just make the playoffs or does the team need to rebuild with proper drafting? In addition, if the Flames do get out of the protected draft position, they're giving up their higher pick to the Habs rather than the one that they're getting from the Panthers. I hope we don't go through another Treliving moment going forward.
As mentioned, we've discussed whether it should be done ad nauseum, this is simply a what would need to happen if we were to be a playoff team.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:42 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Huntingwhale View Post
Wolf establishing himself as not only a true #1G, but a top 10 one at that. Vladar would have to follow suit and show himself to be a 1b. Basically, Flames would need elite goaltending from start to finish of the season.

Huberdeau would have to somehow turn himself into a top 5 F like he was in FLA. He would have to become a true gamebreaker and be able to take over games on his own.

The D would have to somehow gel perfectly and have a solid 1-4 with good rotations of 5-7.

PP and PK would both have to be better than league average.

A true #1C would have to emerge, but that is the least likeliest of all scenarios that have to take place.
The top 10 PP & PK points are bang on too. We probably won't be one of the better 5on5 teams.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:45 AM   #13
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A holy miracle.
Don't be so sure. Do I think the Flames will make the playoffs next year? No. Would I be shocked if they did? No. It happens every year, a couple teams nobody expects to be good are exactly that and a few teams that are supposed to be contenders crap the bed. Hockey is a tough sport to predict.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:47 AM   #14
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They will need Honzek to emerge in training camp as a top 6 cetner
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:47 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust View Post
I saw a list that had Huberdeau as the top bounce back candidate in 2024/2025, and it got me thinking that should that happen, it would improve our playoff chances (for better or worse).

So, let's leave the discussion about whether it is a good thing or bad thing to make the playoffs, and just focus on what would need to happen for the Flames to make the playoffs next year?

It's tough to say what is number one of the list, but...

1) Dustin Wolf breaks out as a true legit number 1 goalie and is at least in the Vezina talk all year long
2) Huberdeau fully bounces back and has a 90+p season

3) Kuzmenko finds chemistry on the power play and puts up 40g 80+p
4) Two of Bahl, Miromanov, or Bean firmly cement themselves as top 4 defensemen with one taking over top PP duties
5) Andersson bounces back and puts up 20/20 while shutting down top lines
5) Kadri, Weeger, Sharagovich all carry on their strong play from last year
6) Zary shows progression and take over as C2
7) Coronato breaks out and scores 25
8) A surprise prospect (Stromgren?) makes the team out of camp and plays 15 minutes of strong hockey per night

What else would need to happen? Would that be enough?
I think you nailed it with 1 & 2.
A lot of the other things like a decent PP and defence would be correlated with those two happening anyway.
So essentially we'd be going from zero superstars to 2 superstars.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:48 AM   #16
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Major blunders from a few Pacific division teams. Or injuries. Highly doubt we make it regardless.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:50 AM   #17
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Put me in the group (not sure if there's many of us), who don't see this team as being as bad as some are predicting. Looking at the roster, I feel we more likely to be a outside the playoffs bubble team than a bottom dweller. Knowing the conditions of the Montreal trade I'd prefer to finish bottom 10 but my gut is just telling me were going to finish just outside.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:56 AM   #18
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Good list and summary. Some are more important than others, but I think even just a handful of those things happening has Calgary knocking at the door.

There are a few items there that I wouldn't mind see happen either way.
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Old 08-13-2024, 11:59 AM   #19
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A Vezina-calibre season from Wolf could do it alone.

That level of goaltending can mask mistakes and create a level of confidence that raises everyone’s game.
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Old 08-13-2024, 12:02 PM   #20
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Put me in the group (not sure if there's many of us), who don't see this team as being as bad as some are predicting. Looking at the roster, I feel we more likely to be a outside the playoffs bubble team than a bottom dweller. Knowing the conditions of the Montreal trade I'd prefer to finish bottom 10 but my gut is just telling me were going to finish just outside.
When you look at the team after the trade deadline, (I think) they were only better than Chicago and San Jose.

I find it hard to believe that subtracting guys like Chris Tanev is going to result in some sort of dark cloud that was covering the locker room being removed so that the team can truly shine.

I think the team is bad. We are (effectively) tied with the Anaheim Ducks for the lowest pay roll in the entire league - and we're carrying $1.875M in dead cap-space.

Anything can happen in this league - but I don't think we're sitting on a Johnny Gaudreau rookie season about to pop off to help carry us through a surprise season.

What would it take for the Flames to make the playoffs in 24/25?

1. Wolf wins Vezina
2. Wolf + Vladar win Jennings
3. Kuzmenko scores PPG+
4. Huberdeau scores PPG+
5. Weegar wins Norris
6. Kadri puts up a career year
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