QOTD: When will our Calgary Flames make the playoffs?

[RoughRiderRowdy]

I have really liked the progress and moves we have made in drafting, and transactions this offseason. When realistically do we make the playoffs?

AND GO!

-My prediction is the 2016-2017 season.

[CsInMyBlood]

Yeah, I would say three years is a pretty safe bet.

We add a couple more nice pieces via the draft over the next couple of years, our high end prospects become close to what we hope they will be and this team will be a serious contender.

I cannot wait.

[Bingo]

I've been toying with the idea of a Question of the Day feature on the forums (QOTD), so I just hijacked this sucker and added a poll to it.

Good a question as any.

[-TC-]

3 years...as long as the talent acquisition continues

[_Q_]

2015/16 for me. This team isn't that far off.

[Otto-matic]

I said 3 as well, but I have a gut feeling it'll be closer to 4/5. Not because of lack of talent or prospects but because the top tier teams will finally start to slow down.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Bottom 5 team this year, (26th-30th), then we make significant progress next year to become 2 spots away from a WC spot. Then, I think we hit the #5-8 seed in 16-17.

[SportsJunky]

Yeah, three years sounds right. I don't see Ramo or Hiller leading Calgary to the promised land but through trade or perhaps Gillies/Ortio they might find the guy to do it. That will take some time and three years sounds about right. Plus Bennett and Gaudreau need some time imo. Monohan will be a beast down the middle in three years. They will definitely have a strong contender by that time I think.

[Jacks]

Two things need to happen. We need improve and the other teams need to decline.

CHI/LA/Ana/Col/STL/DAL should easily hold playoff spots for the next few years. SJ and MIN don't exactly suck either. I think it will be at least 3 years.

[You Need a Thneed]

March 29.

[puckedoff]

Disappointed in there not being a 2013/14 option.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Disappointed in there not being a 2013/14 option.

Last year?

[Bingo]

I will say this ...

experts generally don't know a whole lot. Do fans? No but who follows a team closer than fans? Local media? I think they see a lot of what fans do but can't be as honest about things for fear of looking like Jones at the Edmonton Sun (pom poms)

The Flames are not as bad as they are supposed to be, and therefore could once again be better than expected. They seem to exceed the sum of their parts. It's possible that their parts are actually undervalued and they are further ahead, and if that's the case, the addition of

a) top prospects

and

b) having a lot of cap space

could move this team forward really quickly.

Imagine if Gaudreau, Baertschi, Granlund etc push the team into a 8-10 spot by late January ... do they buy at the deadline with their cap space and go for it?

Will be fun to watch.

[herashak]

14-15: bottom 5 finnish, gets us a cornerstone to franchise player
15-16: bottom 10 finnish, roster is full of prospects/ young guys
16-17: we make a push for a low seed, either barely miss out on playoffs or get a wildcard

[442scotty]

I suppose it could be this year. Not hoping for it but crazy things can happen when you get a hard working team, add in some hot goal tending, throw it some rookies and second year guys all wanting to make a statement about their future... Its going to be fun to watch.. All I ask for is that they work as hard as they did last year. Anything else is gravy

[Puppet Guy]

3 years should be right.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Next year.

The top 5 of Chicago, L.A., St. Louis, Anaheim, and Colorado are likely going to remain playoff teams for a few years. San Jose is starting to decline and will probably retool that season, putting them on the bubble. Minnesota and Dallas are likely to improve and remain playoff teams. Arizona, Vancouver, Nashville, are in full decline mode as well. Edmonton is no good. Winnipeg is the wild card because they have enough young talent to be in the playoffs, but poor management that will likely keep them out.

IMO, the Flames will have to outperform San Jose and Winnipeg to make the playoffs. I think it's doable next season if they stick to the current trajectory.

[Phanuthier]

I think it will take as long as it takes to pick up 1-2 top 4 defenseman. Whether that is is via draft, FA, trade, or Wotherspoon/Sieloff being that guy, who knows. but IMO you can't really go anywhere till you got a stable blueline. This year is probably a writeoff, but the year after I hope we are in the mix for a top pairing d-man and we have the cap room to blow on it.

[FBI]

I don't think I have enough patience for 2016-2017 so I am going to say we make another step forward this year, Gaudreau, Baertschi etc show some upper echelon skill and then the addition of Bennett in 2015-2016 sneaks us into a spot. So 2015-2016.

[Poe969]

should be an option "before the oilers"