11 things the Flames taught us this season

[tvp2003]

I've been a Flames fan ever since 1985/86 when I was just a little kid; however, I don't think I've ever enjoyed a team as much as the 2014/15 Calgary Flames. And I think the reason for it is because my experiences have transcended hockey and even sports in general -- this team has demonstrated so many good things this season that its hard to pin them down to one or two. Instead, I came up with 11 -- feel free to add your own:

1. Never quit. The comebacks. At Game 4, they showed on the jumbotron the top 5 comebacks of this season (not including the Game 3 OT win). The amazing part is that (i) they still left out some great comebacks from this year, and (ii) you would normally be lucky to get 1 or 2 in a season. We got SIX, plus the ones that never even made that list. Unbelievable.

2. Always earned, never given. For a guy like Josh Jooris to force his way into the lineup in training camp (over other prospects in the system) and become a meaningful contributor to a playoff team... truly earned.

3. It's the size of the game, not the size of the player that counts. Johnny Hockey's ability to create magic in just his rookie season... a special, special player.

4. The importance of heart. From an undrafted free agent to a bonafide Norris candidate and All-star, Gio's path to NHL stardom shows that having elite heart can be just as valuable as have elite skill.

5. There is more to life than hockey. Micheal Ferland's success on the ice this year (and especially in the playoffs) is only surpassed by his personal success off the ice. A young man with a solid plan for both hockey and life and I hope he achieves enormous success with both.

6. Greatness can come from unexpected sources and at unexpected times. The Schlemko. 'Nuff said.

7. The importance of leadership. I don't think there is a single coach in the NHL that could have accomplished what Bob Hartley did with this team. Absolutely brilliant.

8. The value of experience. Three years ago, Jiri Hudler and Dennis Wideman were signed as UFA's. Their impact and contributions to this young team far surpassed the gaudy numbers that both put up this season.

9. The reward of hard work. Lance Bouma, a guy who brings his lunch pail into work and sacrifices his body for the team, ends up with 16 goals (all scored at even strength, which at one point late in the season put him ahead of Sidney Crosby!).

10. Knock one down, another will take his place. This was the ultimate team, with no single player greater than the group. Backlund gets injured, Monahan develops into one of the best two-way centres in the conference. Gio goes down, Brodie, Wideman, Russell and Engelland all step up their game. Bouma goes out, Ferland makes an even bigger impact in his place. Even in goal -- Hiller and Ramo work the whole season to make each other better, not to bring the other guy down.

11. The joy of wishing the unthinkable and seeing it become reality. Make the playoffs without our best player by knocking out the defending Stanley Cup Champions? Win round one with an epic comeback from a 3-0 deficit? This team made it fun to be recklessly optimistic, and to expect the improbable, against all odds, because if a team could do it, it would be the Flames.

A season full of incredible stories, lasting memories, and the promise of even more to come. Very grateful to be a Flames fan because we were just treated to a season for the ages...

[Poe969]

How late we can stay up for games if we live in different time zones and still function at work the next day.

How much we can celebrate while staying up late during the work week.

How loud we can be late at night when we celebrate a goal or win without waking others in the house up.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Poe969

How late we can stay up for games if we live in different time zones and still function at work the next day.

How much we can celebrate while staying up late during the work week.

How loud we can be late at night when we celebrate a goal or win without waking others in the house up.

Yeah, about that. This morning I dreamt that I was out and my cell phone alarm went off. I thought that was odd and turned it off.

I was an hour late for work. Huzzah going to bed at 2:30am after being eliminated.

[icarus]

Well said. These are a lot of the same lessons we learned in 2004, most of which were embodied then by someone like Steve Montador, who we tragically lost this year.

It's good to relearn these lessons again as they can too soon and too easily be forgotten. Hopefully that's not the case with these guys and we've got the foundations for a contending team here.

[_Q_]

Add:

12. Advanced stats are no good.

[Gaskal]

I think Treliving not getting a defenceman (like Yandle or something) at the deadline was one of his better moves. A lot of other GM's might have done a knee-jerk and tried to find someone serviceable to replace Gio, but Treliving basically went "Hey guys no help is coming, because we believe you boys have what it takes to still make it to the postseason even without Gio". It really reinforces this whole "Prove your fans right, not your haters wrong" mentality that seems to be taking hold in the Flames organization as well.

[icarus]

That's another good lesson learned: you don't need to be a buyer at the deadline in order to make noise in the playoffs. Those Vancouver and Washington picks feel like found money.

[LChoy]

Nothing galvanizes the Flames like a team brawl and when Hartley gets fined.
Just like the turning point last year, the antics in game 2 against Vancouver motivated them again, and they win both games at home, lost a close one on the road, before the epic come back win to eliminate the Canucks.

[Delthefunky]

Really enjoyed reading that!

[codynw]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Add:

12. Advanced stats are no good.

The stats are fine. It's the turds who act like possession stats are more important than the NHL standings that are no good.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

10. Knock one down, another will take his place...

Hail Hydra?

I think this team's depth is both good and bad. We have depth for secondary scoring but not depth for our primary scoring. I know that doesn't make much sense but we really don't have anyone to produce like a top line player when our top line gets shut down. It's good to have the secondary scoring but I think we need to improve out top line depth. That being said, I think Bennett will be a potential top line player and a great top 6 guy moving forward, we just need a bit more.

[chopper89]

I don't mean this as a downer, but I think we also learned in Round 2 how far they still have to go as a team.

This season was an amazing step forward, but it was just that- a step. Seeing the class of the league in Anaheim will hopefully make this young group even hungrier the next season or two. I think going out like that was actually good for this team- as they won't sit back and will continue to push each other to be even better next season.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by chopper89

I don't mean this as a downer, but I think we also learned in Round 2 how far they still have to go as a team.

This season was an amazing step forward, but it was just that- a step. Seeing the class of the league in Anaheim will hopefully make this young group even hungrier the next season or two. I think going out like that was actually good for this team- as they won't sit back and will continue to push each other to be even better next season.

Exactly correct.
Huge strides taken.
Huge improvement required to actually contend for the Cup.

[heep223]

I was taught about Johnny Gaudreau.

Regular season (rookie season):
80GP; 24G 40A 64P; +11; 4 GWG. 29th in overall league scoring. 2nd on team in points after no points in his first five games. Tied for 1st in rookie scoring. Scored some huge goals and was a major part of the PP. Was often on the ice in key situations offensively and defensively. There were many calls to send him down early in the season and many questioned his ability to play in the NHL. Nominated for Calder and has a real chance to win it.

Same or more points than notables: Kopitar, Kane, Steen, Vrbata, Ladd, Spezza, Carter, Parise, Hossa, Kessel, Wheeler, Plekanec, Iginla, Backes, Marleau, JVR, RNH, Eberle, Bergeron, Duchene, Perry, O'Reilly, Ryan.

Playoffs:

11GP; 4G 5A 9P; -2; 13th in overall league scoring. Again scored some huge goals and was relied upon in all situations. Was the most consistent offensive player on the team through the playoffs. I'll always remember his goal with 20 seconds left to tie it in game 3, roofs it and the place explodes. That's the loudest I've ever heard an arena (and I was at game 6).

Same or more points than notables (with comparable games played that is): Sharp, Stamkos, Kesler, Hudler, Ovechkin, Hossa, Backstrom, Nash, Pacioretty.

This guy is going to be an NHL superstar for many years and will be a key part of our cup winning team. Amazing rookie season and can't wait to see what he does next year.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by chopper89

I don't mean this as a downer, but I think we also learned in Round 2 how far they still have to go as a team.

This season was an amazing step forward, but it was just that- a step. Seeing the class of the league in Anaheim will hopefully make this young group even hungrier the next season or two. I think going out like that was actually good for this team- as they won't sit back and will continue to push each other to be even better next season.

This is essential learning for any team.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Hail Hydra?

Hail Gio:



0:20

[Stay Golden]

The Flames beat all the Vegas odds makers making the playoffs.
All talk was would they be one of lowest 5 places again.
Flames were the ultimate underdogs this year. The players, Hartley and his staff believed they could shock the hockey world and make the playoffs.
They even exceeded that winning the 1st round.
They pushed the top team in the West to beat them in OT.
Last year new a new player became part of the new core, Monohan.
This season and playoffs we got to see 3 more emerge. Johnny, Colborne, Ferland.
Next season add Bennett to that list.
It didn't matter if I was in Eastern or Western Canada for work the buzz around the Flames was the same. "You guys have a great coach in Hartley and what an exciting group of young players along with Hudler, Gio and Brodie"
Very proud of this young team and how guys like Wideman, Russell, and Engelland stepped up and met the challenge of our best player Gio being gone for the rest of the season.
Nobody gave the Flames any chance after Gio went down.