[PGT] Yep, we’re as soft as toilet paper. Flames lose to bottom feeding Sharks 3-1.

[Erick Estrada]

I said a few weeks ago they either needed to go on a run of wins on this stretch of games against teams they are fighting for a playoff spot or lose the majority and fall out so the GM couldn't make any foolish moves for a rental. So far they are 1-2 and staring at 1-3 with the Preds on the horizon which is fine with me. I'm a Flames fan but this isn't my Flames team. I don't like this team and would be perfectly fine with them falling out of the playoff race to force the GM's hand into getting rid of a bunch of these players that are punching the clock.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Crazy thing is that they're still 2 points back of 2nd.

Entirely salvageable but given the look of this team since, well, the end of 2018 I'm not sure its worth salvaging.

I think that's the rub right there. Could we limp into the playoffs? Probably. Is it worth it? Dubious... nothing we have seen from this group over the last two years indicates they will fight to win when it counts.

[kyuss275]

Last nights game was far more concering than the Edmonton game. They played a great 1st period then fizzled from there. That third period was a joke. They got out played by a team who had 1 win in the last 7.

I've been on board for Tre to acquire a top 6 RW with term. I'm not so sure now , especailly with what could be a substantial Gio injury. Hope Tre doesn't hit panic mode and trade off assets for a dman to replace Gio.

[flambers]

Weird game, Flames play well in the first however they look like a team that has zero offensively ability. Goals quite simply don't come easily.

Sense of urgency dropped off dramatically in the second and the Sharks completely controlled the 3rd period.

[daveinspruce]

This team is awful....This team has to many mediocre hockey players.
Why the hell Backlund is on this team and was signed is beyond me. guy is completely useless.
For gawd sakes hire a gawd damn Coach that is proven.
Trade Johnny now.
Get rid of lucic.
And get rid of Treliving.
year after year after year this team sucks. and year after year we are told change is coming.
the only change I've seen is we are getting worse. leave last year out of this that seems like some sort of fluke.
Treliving hasn't done a great job with this team.

Need players with talent and hart.

[madmike]

I won’t cheer against the Flames, but this group is really hard to cheer for. I just hope Treliving doesn’t make the mistake of wasting picks to try and bolster a faulty core. I’m a bit worried because I think he must be getting desperate. He got an extension but given that the team hasn’t improved since he arrived he has to be feeling some pressure.

[kukkudo]

Tre needs to convince himself and the ownership group that selling right now is the right move going forward. Especially if Gio is out for a while. Restock picks at the deadline, retool the core and hire a legit coach in the off-season and get right back at it next season.

[Flames_F.T.W]

People calling for a rebuild are out to lunch. This team needs a retool and to move out a 1-2 core pieces for similarly aged players in different positions or with different skill sets. Essentially a hockey trade involving a couple core players (off season) as well selling off any UFAs they don't intend on retaining (ie Hamonic) at this deadline.

Best case scenario we trade expiring contracts and squeak into the playoffs like the Glencross year

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Its almost like Monahan and Gaudreau didn't like the fact that Tkachuk makes more money than them so they decided to sit out this season.

This is exactly what I think happened and I mentioned it months ago. Ever since the deal was signed, Gaudreau has been a shadow of his former self.

[GioforPM]

I think the team is too complacent and expects easy results. They were embarrassed the previous game and therefore they got off to a real energetic start. They didn't score in the first but then were finally rewarded with a nice goal in the second. Then they figured "OK, now we're set" and relaxed, only to be scored on right away. They rallied a bit from that and re-established their play. To me it then looked like they figured "OK,. it's tied but we're clearly the better team" and relaxed into a lazier game. Of course they then got scored on twice and were in too big of a hole to get out. Gio being gone only made it worse.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

This is exactly what I think happened and I mentioned it months ago. Ever since the deal was signed, Gaudreau has been a shadow of his former self.

His decline started after the all star break last year, well before Tkachuk's new deal.

[direwolf]

Watching that game was a frustrating experience, and was just as bad as the Edmonton game in regards to overall effort (other than the 1st period, where they actually looked good). This team has a serious problem in the goal scoring department and needs some help ASAP if they want to make the playoffs. But the most concerning thing is the way they seem to wilt and give up at the first sign of adversity. This team needs a serious re-tool this summer.

I think I'm gonna take a break from these guys for a few games. I just have no interest in watching lazy, inept, uninspired hockey. I hope the Flames can prove me wrong and find a way to string some wins together. But sadly I just don't see it happening with this current group.

[TheKurgan]

Team is lost, no consistency, no identity, no heart.

Above all, we need to get a real NHL Head Coach. Someone with playoff experience and history of winning. Without that I don't think adding a Top 6 forward or Top 4 Dman will make any difference.

[Lil Pedro]

Can we all agree that Sam Bennett is a bust now? Guy was an absolute train wreck on the ice last night

[Strange Brew]

I don't really believe the Flames tapered off after the first, it was more that the Sharks absolutely didn't show up at first. As a result, the Flames carried the play but there was no drive to finish plays and most of the chances were on the periphery.

Once the Sharks realized they had an opponent ripe for the taking, they began to take over.

It was an abysmal 60 minute effort really IMO.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Can we all agree that Sam Bennett is a bust now? Guy was an absolute train wreck on the ice last night

Jekyl and Hyde, more often Hyde. Actually it's like Hyde is taking over more and more often too.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

A bad chef can make a mess of good ingredients.
A good chef can do wonders with good ingredients.

We have bad, overpriced, expired, rotten, flavourless ingredients.

And a really good chef can do wonders with pretty crappy ingredients. (My ex and both of my sons!) Have you ever had "stone soup" prepped by someone who knows what they're doing? It's about the mix sometimes.

Seems to me the Flames have the wrong mix. I'm not smart enough to figure out who/what/where/which etc...but surely to goodness SOMEONE is. Or not....

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

This team is awful....This team has to many mediocre hockey players.
Why the hell Backlund is on this team and was signed is beyond me. guy is completely useless.
For gawd sakes hire a gawd damn Coach that is proven.
Trade Johnny now.
Get rid of lucic.
And get rid of Treliving.
year after year after year this team sucks. and year after year we are told change is coming.
the only change I've seen is we are getting worse. leave last year out of this that seems like some sort of fluke.
Treliving hasn't done a great job with this team.

Need players with talent and hart.

I agree with a lot of this except the Treliving part. Every year we see the coach killers not perform, Johnny at the top of that list. Johnny really seems to want out so let him go. Get some defencemen that are big and hard to play against. We all want to crap on Hamonic but when you are the only guy (maybe Andersson also) who physically tries to change things then we are screwed. Gio is done, too slow, thinks the game too slow (passing to guys who aren't moving, takes too long looking around instead of moving the puck).

But like all fan bases we want to blame the Backlund, Jankowsi, Bennett type players when they actually play a small part. If your stars play like idiots switch them up. I would rather have 2 or 3 Coutourier type players (not him specifically but good two way guys) than a guy like Johnny. So disappointing watching the complete lack of effort every game.

[indes]

It's amazing how stark the difference is between watching a highlight package and watching the flames play. They seem to play sooo slow, it is truly reminiscent of the GG days. Tons of D to D passes, players standing still, dump and kind of chase. The flames of last year had a killer transition game with stretch plays and one touch passes, what the hell happened to these guys? Their attack is extremely telegraphed and most of their goals seem to be come off of unforced errors of the other team or lucky bounces.

This team is just no fun to watch. Lack of creativity, speed and intensity has waned my interest substantially.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Can we all agree that Sam Bennett is a bust now? Guy was an absolute train wreck on the ice last night

Not sure why Bennett is even brought up though. He is the same player as he was last year, when the Flames finished 1st. He isn't helping, but he isn't the difference maker one way or the other and he never was.