Calgary likely will be predicted to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and if the Flames don't surprise and make a run at a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, another high draft pick would infuse more talent into the rebuild. The Flames need 2013 first-round pick Sean Monahan and 2011 picks Sven Baertschi and Johnny Gaudreau to develop; Calgary hasn't drafted and developed an impact player since Dion Phaneuf in 2003.
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The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
"Calgary likely will be predicted to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings"
What a clever way to predict the Flames will finish near last without actually being accountable for it. Almost a "don't shoot the messenger" sort of approach.
Either way, hard to argue that the Flames don't belong in that position. Until they prove otherwise, they are one of the weaker teams in the division and the conference.
The more I read articles like this, the more I don't want crappy pickups like grabovski for the sake of a couple of goals and theoretically a few more points. We need to rebuild as fast as we can, but we have to grab some elite players at the top of the draft first.
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Franchise > Team > Player
Future historians will celebrate June 24, 2024 as the date when the timeline corrected itself.
I love our free-agent acquisitions! Ramo and Berra.
You would figure that an NHL article would have a bit more research put into it. Not a terrible article, but those kinds of mistakes just shouldn't happen.
No one expects much from the flames this season but the exact same thing was said about Montreal and Columbus last year... And Ottawa the year before that. If they can use this season to work out the goaltending, the flames will turn this around faster than anyone thinks. Ramo, Berra, gillies, and broissoit... Lots of great goaltending prospects - good chance that at least one of then will be a great #1 goalie
I think it's unlikely that Monahan makes the team if it's at to be Knight's expense.
I doubt it would be at Knight's expense. By all indications Knight would be a good #4 center right now with potential to be an excellent #3 center. Since he has the size, can play physical and is sold defensively it wouldn't hurt him starting on the 4th line with Monahan as the #3 center. Or if they both prove to be top 9 worthy then someone else can get bumped or moved to the wing.
That's my guess for the lineup for opening night. Reinhart will have a good chance at the 4th line centre spot but I give the edge to knight. Horak will likely be the extra forward who may find a spot in the top 9 and move up with injuries.
After trying to put together the defence pairings I realize even more how much the flames need stay at home, shut down defenseman. They have lots of puck-moving defensemen like wideman, brodie, giordano, and cundari. That may give breen a real shot at making the team. The good thing is that the flames have a few really good shutdown dman prospects in Wotherspoon and sieloff. Can't wait for the season to start!
NHL.com's 30 in 30 - Flames Edition
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