Article: There Are Some Silver Linings

[Caged Great]

With another frustrating effort in Dallas, the Calgary Flames are once again mired in a quandary. On the surface, the Flames are close to a playoff spot, only four points out of 8th, but are also stuck in 14th place, ahead of only four teams in the entire NHL. Unfortunately, when looking deeper into the math of the current situation, it does not smile kindly on the Flames side at this point.

The rough estimate for the threshold for 8th place is going to be around 54 points. The Flames currently have 26 points in the 27 games played, which puts them on pace for about 46. Unfortunately, that’s quite a bit off the pace for 8th. In order for the Flames to get up to 54 points the Flames need to acquire an additional 28 points, with only 21 games remaining, or having a record of 14-7. That doesn’t look that difficult on the surface, however, that translates to a .667 point percentage the rest of the way. Giving a comparison over an 82 game schedule, that’s a 109 point pace. Something which only 3 teams managed last year. The picture looks a fair bit uglier if the actual points necessary for 8th is any higher.

So, it appears as if we are headed for another season on the outside of the playoff picture, barring a 7 or 8 game winning streak sometime in the immediate future. The situation is fairly bleak for the current iteration of the Calgary Flames. Organizationally though, the cards are not stacked so decidedly against the Flames.

The rest of the article is here.



http://www.firesidechat.ca/2013/03/1...ilver-linings/

[UKflames]

An interesting read, especially when you bring in the cap space available, which is something a lot of people forget about on here when they are shedding players like skin cells.

Fingers crossed it turns out like this because the 'Don't trade anyone' alternative just doesn't bear thinking about.

[Erick Estrada]

I said as much yesterday that some teams have a great opportunity this season to stock up on talent and the Flames have more potential of any team at the deadline to pick up multiple draft picks and prospects. Iginla, Stempniak, Bouwmeester, Kipper, etc may all be in demand at the time of year where GM's feeling they are close to winning the cup will pay the prices they normally would consider highway robbery the rest of the year. If the Flames play their cards right at the deadline this season may be looked at in history for Flames fans as a turning point to something better. If we see a repeat of last year's deadling it could also be looked back at as dark times for the franchise. I am really hopeful that common sense prevails at Flames headquarters but given recent history I am fearing the worst.

[GGG]

A good read but I would trade a few different guys. Mainly disagree with on jbo as I think he is a number 2 guy on a playoff team in 3 years so should be resigned. And if you are trading him his value peaks at next year s deadline as with the cap coming down having his full salary for next year is difficult to fit in. I also think glencross and stephniak have high value at the deadline given the limited number of offensive players available

Cammy
Stephniak
Glencross
Gio
Iggy
Kipper at draft

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Good stuff, totally agree.

I hate to say it but I pray for them to keep losing for the next two weeks so management have to make some tough calls and trade guys. The worst thing would be for this team to win 4 in a row and think they were im the hunt.

All we can do is hope this is the year they do what should have been done 2 years ago.

[Poe969]

So if Feaster reads this, he'll think we should pick up Ribero or Statsny.