Do you think the Flames will contend for the Cup with this core?

[Vinny01]

I for one am extremely pleased with the work Treliving has done this summer. I love the additions of Lindholm, Hanifin, and Neal to the core that includes Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Giordano, Backlund.

I personally thought Gulutzan held this team back in his 2 years here (even though they had more points in his 2 seasons than the last season under Hartley). Having said that replacing him with Bill Peters is by far a guaranteed improvement. I am happy GG was gone but have been nothing going short of skeptical when it comes to Peters.

I was skimming through HF today and stumbled across the thread where a fan states that this core is heading to the treadmill and will never be good enough to succeed in the playoffs. The Wild were a team I saw them compared to. We have all watched the NHL preview video where Mike Johnson and Dan Rosen state this is a bubble team that can go either way.

The argument many have against the Flames is the lack of gambreaking talent, weak prospect pool (overblown in my opinion thanks to the athletic article), and aging Gio/Smith.

I could be guilty of wearing the rose colored glasses here but at feel Calgary is one of if not the most improved team this summer. I think many fans on this site are as well. It appears the views outside our bubble are mixed at best. Ultimately the Flames need a season like Winnipeg had last year to break this stigma and I think they can be in the mix for the Pacific title this year.

I am interested to hear what others on CP think. Maybe we can get a poll?

A) they will certainly be labeled a legit contender with this core
B) they need to add a legit number 1C to get over the hump
C) their only shot is a miricle run
D) they will be a treadmill team with this core

Here is the link to the discussion on the other board.

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threa...lames.2527127/

[neo45]

It’s right that aging Smith/Gio is a huge concern moving forward. They were two of our top 5 players last year and will need to be again this year for us to be a good team.


I just think anything can happen once you get into the playoffs and we are probably good enough to get into the playoffs. Most people had written off Washington’s chances of winning the cup after so many early exits but they finally broke through.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I for one am extremely pleased with the work Treliving has done this summer. I love the additions of Lindholm, Hanifin, and Neal to the core that includes Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Giordano, Backlund.

I personally thought Gulutzan held this team back in his 2 years here (even though they had more points in his 2 seasons than the last season under Hartley). Having said that replacing him with Bill Peters is by far a guaranteed improvement. I am happy GG was gone but have been nothing going short of skeptical when it comes to Peters.

I was skimming through HF today and stumbled across the thread where a fan states that this core is heading to the treadmill and will never be good enough to succeed in the playoffs. The Wild were a team I saw them compared to. We have all watched the NHL preview video where Mike Johnson and Dan Rosen state this is a bubble team that can go either way.

The argument many have against the Flames is the lack of gambreaking talent, weak prospect pool (overblown in my opinion thanks to the athletic article), and aging Gio/Smith.

I could be guilty of wearing the rose colored glasses here but at feel Calgary is one of if not the most improved team this summer. I think many fans on this site are as well. It appears the views outside our bubble are mixed at best. Ultimately the Flames need a season like Winnipeg had last year to break this stigma and I think they can be in the mix for the Pacific title this year.

I am interested to hear what others on CP think. Maybe we can get a poll?

A) they will certainly be labeled a legit contender with this core
B) they need to add a legit number 1C to get over the hump
C) their only shot is a miricle run
D) they will be a treadmill team with this core

Here is the link to the discussion on the other board.

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threa...lames.2527127/

I would say that this Core is a potential contender, but I don't think they are there yet. I think this season is likely going to be better then last year, and they will make the playoffs where anything can happen. But making the playoffs and being a contender are two different things, and with as much flux in personnel that we have seen, this is going to be a year for gelling as a group. The good news is that these guys are locked up as a group for the relevant future, and if we can get a legit "goalie of the future" (no offense smitty, your a beauty) you could see them transition to a contender in the next year or two.

[nik-]

legit cup contenders no. Bennett not turning into Monahan level or better like was hoped was a critical blow to the rebuild.

It can be a really nice team, a round or two team, but not all the way.

[dissentowner]

Predicting hockey is a fools game imo so the answer is maybe.

[powderjunkie]

Our top 3-4 forwards just aren't good enough (yet), and probably the wrong composition (has anyone won a cup in recent memory when their best forward was a small, one-way winger?). I'd love them to prove me wrong.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Our top 3-4 forwards just aren't good enough (yet), and probably the wrong composition (has anyone won a cup in recent memory when their best forward was a small, one-way winger?). I'd love them to prove me wrong.

Chicago won a couple, and Kane isn't huge.

[GreenLantern2814]

If Peters is a capable coach, they're a goaltender away. If Mike Smith is healthy and on his game, yes.

[CliffFletcher]

With goaltending, a core of Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Lindholm, Neal, Giordano, Hanifin could be one of the 6 or 7 teams in the mix.

But who knows how goaltending will play out. Teams can have a top goalie fall into their lap (CBJ), have a prospect make a huge leap (PIT), or they can wander the wilderness for decades (PHI). Smith probably isn't the answer, unless you think the Flames can make a run this season. So it's a big question mark.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanTrev

Chicago won a couple, and Kane isn't huge.

It seems to me that there have previously been other comparisons between the current Flames and the Black Hawks prior to their cup runs.

[CaptainCrunch]

Why not man?


Why not?

[the-rasta-masta]

I think the core is strong enough, there is no question. If you look at every team in the league and ask them to put together their young core group, Calgary looks strong. The question is whether or not those that surround them are up to the task. For the most part you know what to expect with the core, the difference is it’s what everybody else will do. Above or slightly above average goaltending and good coaching and we are there.

[Parallex]

Maybe.

I mean the talent is there with the skaters but we'll need three things...

1: We'll need Smith (and whomever replaces Smith) to be healthy and on his "A" game come the post-season.

2: We'll need a coach who isn't stubbornly attached to his own personal dogma like Gulutzan was (The Brouwer-Play, obsession with L-R D-pairings etc. etc.)

3: We'll need the additions that Treliving did this summer to work out. We did not get the kind of scoring depth that a cup contender has to have last year... we were basically a two line squad and we need more production from lines 3 and 4.

... and of course we'll also need the luck dragons to decide to not bite us in the ass.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by nik-

legit cup contenders no. Bennett not turning into Monahan level or better like was hoped was a critical blow to the rebuild.

It can be a really nice team, a round or two team, but not all the way.

So a 1a/1b center duo is a must in your opinion in order to contend?

Would be interesting to see the top two centers for each team that made the finals in a last several years. There is some evidence to support that given the Caps and Pens have elite center depth.

Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund, Ryan, Jankowski is a pool of center options that isn't elite in its high end (although I think we're about to see Monahan take another step), but is a deep group with a higher floor than most of the league.

I guess what may play into it is how much Lindholm and Jankowski in particular progress. And Bennett too. He's not a bust as of yet.

[Jacks]

Anyone can win if they get in (Carolina) but I think we are still one big piece away. An elite goalie would do the trick, Smith is great when he is in the zone but he's no spring chicken.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

I feel like too much has changed since last season to make a prediction with any level of accuracy. I will say that I am looking forward to the season though, I havent been this confident in a Flames roster before.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Anyone can win if they get in (Carolina) but I think we are still one big piece away.

FYI, Carolina was not some sort of Cinderella team. They won their division and were 4th in the league, and second in the East, with 112 points that year. Cinderella teams can go far...but they almost never win.

Personally I think this team is a legit #1 goalie and an elite scorer/game breaker away from being a legit contender. You can get that goalie through a trade, but that elite scorer tends to come through the draft unless you want to destroy some other part of your lineup.

[djsFlames]

Part of it is the western conference too. It doesn't have the top end or juggernaut teams it used to.

See: expansion team (deep but no elite top end) going to the finals with no one taking them the distance in any series to get there.

This plays a part, and is why there is an opening for the Flames potentially in the next couple season, depending on goaltending.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Table 5

FYI, Carolina was not some sort of Cinderella team. They won their division and were 4th in the league, and second in the East, with 112 points that year. Cinderella teams can go far...but they almost never win.



Personally I think this team is a legit #1 goalie and an elite scorer/game breaker away from being a legit contender. You can get that goalie through a trade, but that elite scorer tends to come through the draft unless you want to destroy some other part of your lineup.

Yeah, like trading away an elite, superstar defenceman like Adam Larsson.

[blankall]

A lot of things will have to go right for the Flames to be contenders.

From a goal differential standpoint, they'll need about 20 fewer goals against and 30 goals more to put them in the contender category. As crazy as that sounds, it's not that huge of a mountain to climb. Basically, they need:

1. To not totally collapse at one point of the season.
2. Not lose their goaltender to injuries.
3. Have the backup goalies play well.
4. Much better depth scoring.
5. Guys like Tkachuk and Gaudreau to consistently play as stars.
6. All around better defence.

It's a lot of things, but not out of the realm of possibility.

I also don't believe there's one single formula for success. The notion that you need 2 elite centres has been skewed by having the Crosby/Malkin win so many cups recently. Without Crosby in the league, you see a lot of different ways to win. Vegas is a great example. Without Ovechkin willing his way to a cup, they win playing a team game.