Late Summer Reverse Standings Poll - 28th

[Bingo]

Clearly I'm not running 30 rounds of this ... just looking to establish either a bottom five, or as far as we need to go to see where Calgary comes in.

1. Buffalo 48% - McDavid
2. Calgary 32% - Echiel

[puckedoff]

Really guys? Calgary at 28?!

Below Edmonton?! Yikes.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Really guys? Calgary at 28?!

Below Edmonton?! Yikes.

Even though they did overpay, the players they got did improve their team. If they can get another top 6 center, they should be much better (but still no good).

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by codynw

Even though they did overpay, the players they got did improve their team. If they can get another top 6 center, they should be much better (but still no good).

If they wanted another top-6 centre, they would have one by now.

The brutal centre depth is the mechanism by which they are tanking this year.

The centre depth is the "safety valve" by which MacTavish can improve the team but still make sure the Oilers don't miss out on a high draft pick.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by codynw

Even though they did overpay, the players they got did improve their team. If they can get another top 6 center, they should be much better (but still no good).

I disagree.

Sure they added a couple NHL players to their depth, but the key players are the same, the PP is the same, the defensive system (read: complete lack of) is the same, the dressing room is the same, the lack of leadership is unchanged, the entitlement is unchanged, the coach (read: in WAY over his head) is the same.

I don't think they'll achieve the levels of suck that they showed at the low point of last season, but I see nothing that tells me they have solved any of their issues.

I think we'll see the team we saw for the last 20 or 30 games of last season: worthy of 70-80 pts and a solid 25-27th overall

I also think we'll see a revolt from the players towards the coach at some point

In summary: Edmonton is still no good

[Erick Estrada]

After a few years of overachieving Ottawa crashed back to earth and was a pretty bad team last year. Murray's response was to let talent go and not adequately replace it. Say what you want about Spezza but he was by far their most talented forward and a Clarke MacArthur, Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan first line looks like the first line of a team that isn't expecting to make the playoffs. Looks to me like they are purposely taking a step back in a good draft year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Guys…Ottawa had 88 points last year. 21st overall and 5 points out of a playoff spot and finishing ahead of both Toronto and Vancouver (who nobody is mentioning for some reason). They are NOT that bad, seriously. Losing Spezza will hurt, but they won't be in the bottom 3, no chance. Too much talent at every other position.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Carolina.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I cannot believe people think the Edmonton freakin' Oilers are going to finish ahead of the Ottawa Senators. Apparently CP is affected by amnesia of the last almost decade of suckitude.

[Oil Stain]

Florida.

They were even worse then the Oilers last year.

They picked up a couple of names but they still have zero scoring and that will catch up to them over the season. Unlike Nashville and Phoenix they don;t have a strong defensive system either. Picked up some injury cases as well.

I don't think anyone goes there for the hockey. Rather for the climate and the beach.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by codynw

Even though they did overpay, the players they got did improve their team. If they can get another top 6 center, they should be much better (but still no good).

The Oilers are not trading for a second line centre. I think you forget how truly unbelievably bad the Oilers were last season. They had a goal differential in excess of minus 70, and finished a full 10 points clear of the team in front of them in the WC. I can see them being better, but even if they make dramatic improvements, they are still the worst team in the West, and firmly entrenched in the bottom five of the league.

[Itse]

Yeah, the Oilers need to be a lot better and the Flames a lot worse for them to end up above us in the standings. Could happen, but I don't see it.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Florida.

They were even worse then the Oilers last year.

They picked up a couple of names but they still have zero scoring and that will catch up to them over the season. Unlike Nashville and Phoenix they don;t have a strong defensive system either. Picked up some injury cases as well.

I don't think anyone goes there for the hockey. Rather for the climate and the beach.

This is possible for sure. If there's another team besides Edmonton that has to battle against a losing culture, it's Florida. The hope is that guys like Bolland, Mitchell, MacKenzie, and Thornton will help turn around a locker room to make them competitive at the NHL level, even though their on-ice contributions won't be significant enough. Jokinen should at least be a solid 2-way second line option.

Gallant is the coach this year and there's hope that he will turn things around culturally. He started the process in Columbus, but wasn't around to see it through, and he was an assistant in Montreal during their transformation from the team that Cammalleri said had a "losing culture" to the one now where they are quite strong. There's reason to believe Gallant can do the same in Florida.

Plus, you have a very good young core to build around. Barkov, Huberdeau, Bjugstad, Ekblad, Gudbranson, Kulikov, Olsen, Pirri, Trochek etc. They are a team on the upswing, but haven't proven anything yet, and until they do they would be a good candidate for the bottom 3.

[Bingo]

So the plan on this? As I said I have no intention of running 30 of these, but thought it would be interesting to see where the non vocal majority sits on the Flames chances.

That worked in that the comments were more pro-Calgary than the vote, and the Flames drafted 2nd.

Was planning on doing the bottom 5 and then calling it, but now should I do an Ottawa - Edmonton run off or is this not all that exciting?

[Vinny01]

I keep picking the Yotes. Not a fan of their offseason at all

[troutman]

If you know your history,
Then you would know where you coming from,

EDM will be 30.

[_Q_]

I'm not sure how Calgary got voted to finish second worst in this.

I think a lot of it is wishful thinking honestly. The Flames have two decent goalies, a good defence group with an above average top pairing, and a young, gritty forward group that has potential to break out this season. Plus Hartley is a great coach. I'm not calling them a playoff team just yet, but on paper, there are about 5 or 6 teams that are clearly worse than Calgary this year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Really guys? Calgary at 28?!

Below Edmonton?! Yikes.

As much as I love ragging on the Grease they simply have too much young talent that is maturing going into this season. I hate to say it but I would not be shocked if they grabbed the #8 seed.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I cannot believe people think the Edmonton freakin' Oilers are going to finish ahead of the Ottawa Senators. Apparently CP is affected by amnesia of the last almost decade of suckitude.

I will avatar bet you that the Oilers finish with more points than the Senators.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As much as I love ragging on the Grease they simply have too much young talent that is maturing going into this season. I hate to say it but I would not be shocked if they grabbed the #8 seed.

As long as the Oilers don't win the cup and don't get a top pick, I'm alright with that. Let them make the playoffs and get swept by one of the California teams.