Worst Case Scenario for the 2015-16 Season?

[GranteedEV]

The season's far from over, the Flames can still turn things around. That said, with things looking bleak, what would be the least desirable outcome in your opinion?

[polak]

playing like this

EDIT: You added a poll. I voted last place finish not because the outcome is the worse (i.e. 1 OA pick) but cause if they play like this then I don't think I'll be able to stomach it. They aren't playing like plucky kids who try and lose but show bright spots. They're a complete tire fire.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Same as what was expected last year; a bottom five finish during what (in spite of last year) is still a young team in the midst of a re-build. A good draft pick to add to the crop.

[Ashasx]

Probably doing what Colorado did last year (terrible start, playoff bubble at the end), or absolute worst case, trade for Stamkos and he doesn't sign.

[nik-]

I voted trading the pick, but bubble team just out is second, and would also be crappy.

[troutman]

CGY could start the season 1-9 with some tough games upcoming.

To get to 95 points, the Flames would then need a record of 41-17-9. Not very likely.

Generally, I'm against trading picks for rentals.

I mis-read the question - thought it was asking what will happen, not what is worse for the franchise.

[dammage79]

Bubble team. Not confident on how deep this draft is so that pick being just outside the bubble of the good talent would be worst case scenario for me if they miss the playoffs.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Finishing last is still the worst case scenario, no matter what the expectations. This isn't oiler country.

[codynw]

Trade the first round pick, miss playoffs, "win" lottery.

Followed closely by "trade for Stamkos, lose him for nothing in July".

[adc]

I don't see trading the first round pick as a realistic option since we traded last pick and I can't think of a deal during the season that would make sense for this team to move their first round pick. They aren't using it to add a "final piece" for a run at the Cup and big deals that would involve a 1st round pick and bring in a long term option are rarely made mid-season.

So that leaves bubble team missing the play-offs with a crap pick as the worst option for me. If the team was full of sub-25 year olds and/or had finished bottom 5 maybe that result would be ok and sold as progress but considering last season and the amount of vets a finish like that would raise questions about what was the real quality of this team and leave us with a maybe/maybe not prospect.

People can get on their high horse about not wanting to be a bottom team and that teaches young guys losing or some other crap like that but adding a top level talent to this team would at least give fans something out of a crap season and no play-offs.

[Frequitude]

Regressing to a bottom 10 finish or high value lottery pick would be of little concern to me. Only concern would be putting up with the I-told-you-so's.

Worst case scenario would be being a major buyer at the deadline. We're not there yet in our development.

[Schultzie]

Worst-in-NHL finish. This team overachieved last year, but they're far from the worst roster in the league. If they finish dead last, there are problems with the Flames that a lottery pick won't fix.

[polak]

Another reason why worst in the NHL is the worst:

That means Gio and Hamilton continue to play like they are. All of the sudden the Flames have 2 massive contracts that look terrible and could handcuff us for years.

[GranteedEV]

Interesting from the votes so far that there doesn't seem to be a consensus "Plan B". It really is playoffs-or-bust.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

I picked last, but only beacuse it would bring about the true worst case. All the stats monkeys crowing how they were right. I couldn't handle that.

[Badgers Nose]

It's a rebuild, if last year was a fluke - thank you - now get back to plan A and keep making progress on the plan.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by codynw

Trade the first round pick, miss playoffs, "win" lottery.

Followed closely by "trade for Stamkos, lose him for nothing in July".

This + some career ending injury to one of the young stars

[Vinny01]

Picking 11th-14th in the draft. I don't see the flames trading their first round pick again. Worst case is they finish just outside the playoffs

[trublmaker]

finishing worst in the NHL doesn't get any worse so voted worst in the league

[EVERLAST]

wheres the suicide booth pic when you need it??