CSN Atlantic predicts an offseason finish for Flames

[Gaskal]

Great on-point analysis of what went wrong Calgary's last season(goalies, PP/PK, stretch pass, defence) and the changes made through the organization in response (Elliott/Johnson, Brouwer, Glen Gulutzan).

Btw, these guys cover the Capitals and they're doing an analysis on every team in August, starting with the Pacific Division.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washin...lgary-flames-0

Still, the Flames have enough pieces in place to overcome that for the time being. Elliott represents an enormous upgrade in net which will help mitigate the defensive issues that proved to be Calgary’s weakness last season.

It’s always hard to predict what a new coach will bring to a team, but so long as Gulutzan brings a less predictable system that what Hartley did last season, the Flames have enough talent to compete for a spot in the Pacific’s top three and should return to the postseason.

Stupid offseason wait....

[TX_Flame]

Elliott should definitely "mitigate the defensive issues", especially because those "defensive issues" were for the largest part actually goal tending issues.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Elliott should definitely "mitigate the defensive issues", especially because those "defensive issues" were for the largest part actually goal tending issues.

Regarding one aspect of team play & goaltending, they have a point there - there was a pretty big difference in how the defence played with Hiller in net over someone they had more confidence in (Ramo or Ortio... when they weren't being awful). Defence would try to take away the shot instead of the pass, which led to a lot of tap-ins when they cheated to do so.

Why do they do this? They just didn't trust the guy in net to make the saves he should be. Elliott should at least give them enough confidence to cover the pass and trust him to handle the shooter.

[Bill Bumface]

Bold call. Flames make the offseason. Essentially betting that they won't fold before the season is through.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Great on-point analysis of what went wrong Calgary's last season(goalies, PP/PK, stretch pass, defence) and the changes made through the organization in response (Elliott/Johnson, Brouwer, Glen Gulutzan).

Btw, these guys cover the Capitals and they're doing an analysis on every team in August, starting with the Pacific Division.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washin...lgary-flames-0




Stupid offseason wait....

You need to chop some of the top off that picture and make it your signature.

[Textcritic]

"The Flames are about to find themselves in salary cap hell once restricted free agents Gaudreau and Monahan are finally re-signed. Both players are due for big raises which will make the contract Calgary just gave Troy Brouwer really sting.

Brouwer's contract will pay him $4.5 million per season and he looks slotted to play right wing on the team’s top line. His cap hit currently sits as the highest cap hit among the team’s forwards. That will change once Gaudreau and Monahan re-sign, but his contract indicates the Flames may be relying a bit too much on the 30-year-old veteran who managed just 39 points in the regular season in 2015-16."

This is pretty ridiculous.

[Firebot]

It's still completely baffling just how bad Hiller was. Ramo was bad to mediocre, but Hiller was at levels not seen in a long time for a starting goalie. Just look at this article from 2011

http://corbyshockeycentral.blogspot....oaltender.html

Andre “Red Light” Raciot
“Red Light” Raciot served as Patrick Roy’s backup in Montreal for four seasons. How he survived four years in Montreal is a miracle in itself, he a career high 3.20 gaa with a .891%. In the 1992-93 season he actually had a good record going 17-5 but also had a 3.39 gaa. His nickname “Red Light” kind of says it all about his time in Habland. In his final year 94-95, he went 2-6-2 but was banished to minors because of his 4.44 gaa that year.

Hiller was at .879. Yes, even worse then the infamous 'Red Light' Raciot.

[FanIn80]

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/washin...onton-oilers-0

Edmonton is certainly on the right track, but their roster remains very much a work in progress. The Edmonton McDavids are another year away from reaching the playoffs, but they should at least climb out of the basement this season.

[Huntingwhale]

Good write up and on paper the team seems to be improved overall. I don't know if I would call a playoff spot just yet. Obviously Elliot/Johnson will be the biggest reason we either do or don't make it. Then again I was pretty happy last season going in net with both Ramo and Hiller and things can turn sour oh so quickly when you're an NHL goaltender.

One of the main criticisms last season was the Flames luck was unsustainable and they needed more puck possession players. If the Flames were to regress on the puck luck they had, Hamilton and Frolik were supposed to counterbalance that. We all know how that turned out. What gets done on paper never guarantees to fully translate on the ice.

As much as I'd enjoy another visit to the post-season I'm reluctant to say they are a playoff team. The team's rebuild isn't quite done yet and some of the younger talent still needs some maturing. There is usually an adjustment period when a new coach comes in. Can GG get the boys on the same page sooner rather then later?

It will definitely be an interesting season upcoming, that's for sure.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Bold call. Flames make the offseason. Essentially betting that they won't fold before the season is through.

I'm seriously surprised no one else is making jokes about the typo in the title. I came to the thread specifically for the jokes.

[Locke]

Yay Solvency!

Seriously though...there were times when that was something worth cheering for.

[TheScorpion]

The hell is an "offseason finish"?

[BeltlineFan]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Hiller was at .879. Yes, even worse then the infamous 'Red Light' Raciot.

And a 3.39gaa doesn't seem that bad when 21 players get more than 100 points, neither does a 0.891 really during one of the highest scoring periods in nhl history.

[Mister Yamoto]

I don't know if the Flames are a playoff team but I'd also be very surprised if they are completely out of the picture by November.

There are still some major flaws with how the team has been built IMO and the Pacific division is strong despite what the national media would like you to believe.

I like most of the off season moves but I still see the Flames a few notches below the California teams. Greatest team in western Canada though!!

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Regarding one aspect of team play & goaltending, they have a point there - there was a pretty big difference in how the defence played with Hiller in net over someone they had more confidence in (Ramo or Ortio... when they weren't being awful). Defence would try to take away the shot instead of the pass, which led to a lot of tap-ins when they cheated to do so.

Why do they do this? They just didn't trust the guy in net to make the saves he should be. Elliott should at least give them enough confidence to cover the pass and trust him to handle the shooter.

Agreed. Bad goal tending does tend to affect the way a team plays, which goes back to my point that the fundamental problem with the defense was in net.

[rhino]

Originally Posted by TX_Flame

Agreed. Bad goal tending does tend to affect the way a team plays, which goes back to my point that the fundamental problem with the defense was in net.

Statistics are like bikinis, what they reveal can be interesting but what they conceal can be more intriguing. I saw on Corsi stats that the Flames goalies were subjected to the closest range shots in the league. The team last year was not very good at keeping opponents to the perimeter.

[TX_Flame]

Originally Posted by rhino

Statistics are like bikinis, what they reveal can be interesting but what they conceal can be more intriguing. I saw on Corsi stats that the Flames goalies were subjected to the closest range shots in the league. The team last year was not very good at keeping opponents to the perimeter.

Funny... in the Elliot trade thread there is a shot chart that seems to show the exact opposite.