TSN says Flames 14th

[Red_Baron]

Could we just start the damn season already?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

Could we just start the damn season already?

no kidding, everyone is 0-0 predictions mean nothing lets play the games

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

i, like you, have been following the Flames long before the Cup run, and found my way to CP as a result of the official Flames message board implosion following 2004.

now with respect to your post - a fan can still root for a team, even tho they don't think they will be very good - pointing out there flaws does not mean you don't also hope for the best.

the original post was making light of the conspiracy that many Flames fans suggest, every time prediction time comes around and the Flames are picked to finish poorly. The flaws cited are reasonable questions that many analysts probably have and therefore qualify the 14th place finish. This is a team that finished 9th last year, so the adjective of not very good already has standing.

will there be a sense of schadenfreude if the Flames crash and burn? probably, especially against those fans whose fanaticism leads to ad hominems rather than actual discussion or debate.

That said, characterizing people that pick the Flames to do poorly as "non fans" is divisive and simply incorrect.

Perhaps our definition of a fan slightly differs, but I think you're taking things out of context, as I wasn't saying what you think I was saying. I was, in fact, making a point in responding to assumptions made of me (along with other 'upbeat' fans) of being one-track minded, and unable to be critical of the team.

In case you haven't picked up and my other rants on such posters. I'm not calling out or discrediting people who disagree about the team doing well, or having an opinion that may differ from others, I'm calling out the ones who are ripping on fans that are choosing to be supportive just for being so. Because it is somehow 'unrealistic', when the 2013 season hasn't even begun yet. Ones who are not choosing to back up their stance through discussion or debate, but are merely expressing it through presumptive accusations, grouping all such fans as 'cheerleaders', and unable to think for themselves or be critical of the team, and if countering at all, do with a decidedly one-sided view of the team that is seemingly just as ignorant to the other perspective.

Anyways, I don't care to drag out any kind of debate over this. I'm just waiting for the results to speak for themselves and hoping for the best for the team, unlike some here.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Perhaps our definition of a fan slightly differs, but I think you're taking things out of context, as I wasn't saying what you think I was saying. I was, in fact, making a point in responding to assumptions made of me (along with other 'upbeat' fans) of being one-track minded, and unable to be critical of the team.

In case you haven't picked up and my other rants on such posters. I'm not calling out or discrediting people who disagree about the team doing well, or having an opinion that may differ from others, I'm calling out the ones who are ripping on fans that are choosing to be supportive just for being so. Because it is somehow 'unrealistic', when the 2013 season hasn't even begun yet. Ones who are not choosing to back up their stance through discussion or debate, but are merely expressing it through presumptive accusations, grouping all such fans as 'cheerleaders', and unable to think for themselves or be critical of the team, and if countering at all, do with a decidedly one-sided view of the team that is seemingly just as ignorant to the other perspective.

Anyways, I don't care to drag out any kind of debate over this. I'm just waiting for the results to speak for themselves and hoping for the best for the team, unlike some here.

odd - here's exactly what you said:

"If some of you think all our off-season pickups were sh*t, and it's going to be such a horrible result this year, before it's even started, then why even come on here and go on about it, about how you're soo right? Why even care, if it's so surely going to be a flop? Don't you have better things to do with your time? Go be a pens fan if you can't be happy about anything this team does. I strongly encourage it! "

sure sounds like people have to be supportive and not critical to fit into your definition of a fan doesn't it?

Again, my post pointed out flaws in the team that might have given pause to analysts, and provided enough reason to slot the Flames in 14th. Not some vast ubiquitous media hate for Calgary...

After that all hell broke loose, simply because I don't see the team with the same level of optimism, and gasp, happened to state that on a Flames message board.

That aside, one thing we can agree on - the only thing that matters is the results on the ice.

[Fire Park '71]

Meh'. The kid wearing no.47 is going to drag the rest of the team, kicking and screaming, into the playoffs.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So Detroit loses a 2nd liner and their second highest goal scorer, and brings in a guy who has never playes in the NHL. Meanwhile, they lose a generational talent on defense. No worries -all good.

The Flames ADD that 2nd liner, as well as another player who any rational person has to rank at least as highly as Brunner, and puts both of these players on their 3rd line.

Meanwhile, instead of losing an all-world defenseman, the Flames add a top 3 defenseman that fills a massive hole they had - a RH shot to generate offense from the D.

Experts declare: Detroit will make the playoffs, Calgary does not have enough talent and should blow it up.

I don't suspect conspiracies or anything silly like that, but I do demand that they put in some kind of effort and actually deliver a good product (analysis being the product here)

Personally, I doubt Detroit makes the playoffs. However, analysts tend to give them the benefit of the doubt because they have quality coaching, development, leadership, and total buy-in from the players. It's the same reason most pick the Preds to make the playoffs, despite the fact that they're not a very talented team - they have a track record of getting results than their roster should warrant.

Sadly, the Flames have not been one of the those 'better than the sum of its parts' teams since the Cup run. Does a new coach mean that they can turn that around? Sure. Or it might mean more churn, or a 25 game transition period. Not every team that hires a new head coach sees an immediate improvement in the standings, or any improvement at all.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by RobDoupe

Personally, I doubt Detroit makes the playoffs. However, analysts tend to give them the benefit of the doubt because they have quality coaching, development, leadership, and total buy-in from the players...

But the Wings have never had to do it without Nik Lidstrom. I could understand the analysts' opinion if it were any other top-four defenseman, but Lidstrom has not only been the best NHL defenseman of the past decade, he has been the glue that holds the Wings blueline together.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

odd - here's exactly what you said:

"If some of you think all our off-season pickups were sh*t, and it's going to be such a horrible result this year, before it's even started, then why even come on here and go on about it, about how you're soo right? Why even care, if it's so surely going to be a flop? Don't you have better things to do with your time? Go be a pens fan if you can't be happy about anything this team does. I strongly encourage it! "

sure sounds like people have to be supportive and not critical to fit into your definition of a fan doesn't it?

Again, my post pointed out flaws in the team that might have given pause to analysts, and provided enough reason to slot the Flames in 14th. Not some vast ubiquitous media hate for Calgary...

After that all hell broke loose, simply because I don't see the team with the same level of optimism, and gasp, happened to state that on a Flames message board.

That aside, one thing we can agree on - the only thing that matters is the results on the ice.

What did I say? I no longer care to drag it on..

And what can I say.. I was giving the eternal debbie downers a bit of my own advice. Kind of funny that you actually back tracked and nit picked my comments from before. I really don't care if I was in the right or wrong with what I said at some point, because I don't believe there is any right or wrong in such a place as this, just differing opinions. Lol.

So er.... Let's just get the damned season on with?

[T@T]

F(&k TSN, every year they are wrong more than right.

[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by magicpixels

We have a top line?

Last I checked we don't have any #1 center and they were making Tanguay play center. To me it sounds more like they'll be juggling line combinations by week #2 more than anything else. Tanguay has never faired so well playing center I dont see why it would change now.

Most optimism we have is Baertschi. Hoping that he lights it up and can be in on the Calder.

Any line with Iggy on it is a top line Don't want to come off as a fanboy but is this line up better going into this season than the one we finished with last season ? I don't see this team as a bottom feeder nor do I see the Oilers as one as well the western conference will have 2 or 3 teams in the top 8 it did not have last season I say Det Phx Nashville are not in the playoffs this season .

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

What did I say? I no longer care to drag it on..

And what can I say.. I was giving the eternal debbie downers a bit of my own advice. Kind of funny that you actually back tracked and nit picked my comments from before. I really don't care if I was in the right or wrong with what I said at some point, because I don't believe there is any right or wrong in such a place as this, just differing opinions. Lol.

So er.... Let's just get the damned season on with?

Agreed - here's hoping that you are right and that I am wrong...hoping for the best, but we'll see.

peace bro

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by indes

Wideman was 10th in dman points last year...I fail to see how that doesn't instantly make us a better team when one of our big weaknesses was no points from the point last year. In my opinion center is the only hole we have to fill, not saying we couldn't do better in the other areas I just don't see our wings, defense, scoring or goaltending as an issue. Could be the kool aid but I just really see a better team out there.

I was way too lazy to go past page 6 here, but I'm sure a lot of posts will refer to this (be it Wideman, or Hudler, or Camm). You can point to any individual stat and say we improved there, and therefore we should be better. And to that, I would argue the biggest problem for this team won't show up in any stat. Its that every time we came close to making a threat to make the playoffs, we sucked. In the clutch or at the start of the season, we were one of the worst teams in the league. When the pressure was off, we were world beaters. And thats the biggest problem, it was our problem under Playfair, Keenan and Brent... its hard to have the faith. And that problem we had last year and every other year, you would never see it in any stat and no "expert" who doesn't follow the Flames would peg us at 14th. But because thats the way the Flames play, I think you'll see us firmly in the 9th-12th spot for the forseeable future. (I have us pegged at 12th this year)

EDIT : actually not just under Playfair, Keenan and Brent, but the past 15 years... under Page, Brian Sutter, Don Hay, Greg Gilbert... always 9th-12th, except for the few years of playoffs string.

[magicpixels]

Definitely need to keep this post near the top just to see how accurate it ends up being.

Yeah only 5 games in or roughly 1/9th of the season played. But thus far.

Our star captain can't score a goal.
Our star goalie is amongst the worst starters in the league.

Really hoping they can turn this around but c'mon they lose to an Avalanche team that is missing several key starting offensive players that has played 3 games in 4 nights.

All we can say is WTF.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by magicpixels

Definitely need to keep this post near the top just to see how accurate it ends up being.

Yeah only 5 games in or roughly 1/9th of the season played. But thus far.

Our star captain can't score a goal.
Our star goalie is amongst the worst starters in the league.

Really hoping they can turn this around but c'mon they lose to an Avalanche team that is missing several key starting offensive players that has played 3 games in 4 nights.

All we can say is WTF.

You have got to be one of the biggest trolls on this forum now.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by magicpixels

Definitely need to keep this post near the top just to see how accurate it ends up being.

Yeah only 5 games in or roughly 1/9th of the season played. But thus far.

Our star captain can't score a goal.
Our star goalie is amongst the worst starters in the league.

Really hoping they can turn this around but c'mon they lose to an Avalanche team that is missing several key starting offensive players that has played 3 games in 4 nights.

All we can say is WTF.

Thanks Mr obvious

[Yamer]

5 games.

5.....####ing.....games.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by magicpixels

Definitely need to keep this post near the top just to see how accurate it ends up being.

Yeah only 5 games in or roughly 1/9th of the season played. But thus far.

Our star captain can't score a goal.
Our star goalie is amongst the worst starters in the league.

Really hoping they can turn this around but c'mon they lose to an Avalanche team that is missing several key starting offensive players that has played 3 games in 4 nights.

All we can say is WTF.

Go away.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by magicpixels

Definitely need to keep this post near the top just to see how accurate it ends up being.

Yeah only 5 games in or roughly 1/9th of the season played. But thus far.

Our star captain can't score a goal.
Our star goalie is amongst the worst starters in the league.

Really hoping they can turn this around but c'mon they lose to an Avalanche team that is missing several key starting offensive players that has played 3 games in 4 nights.

All we can say is WTF.

Still thinking Wideman, Cervenka and Hudler wont produce this year? LOL

[Roof-Daddy]

You see, a normal person would just post his thoughts in the PGT, but an idiotic "troll" has to bump a long forgotten thread to make sure he gets noticed.

[memphusk]

Sure is a lot of crying about trolls in CalgaryPuck.