Blow it up!

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Dion

Yeah but Markstrom and Tanev are key players we didn't have last year.

Markstrom won't make Monahan or Gaudreau better playoff performers, the book about them has been out for years now. Tanev doesn't move the needle compared to Brodie.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by SoulOfTheFlame

I'll change it to SouloftheSeas.

Now you sound like a cruise ship.

[Poe969]

I don't get the skepticism, it's only 6 games in. It's not like it's the same basic team that hasn't produced when it matters for the past few years. Not only did they add a legit starting goalie and a solid defender, they've added guys like Simon, Leivo, Nesterov and Nordstrom! I mean that has to solve all their problems right there won't it? Not only have they added players of that caliber, guys like Gio, Backlund, Ryan and Lucic are all a year older and have another year of growth under their belt.

All they really need to do is trade a couple of draft picks and prospects for a little more help in a position they're deep at like LW or maybe 5-6 defenders.

You just have to change some names around and you can say this almost every year!

[Da_Chief]

There just isn't enough talent on this team. Zero Elite players.

People are still blaming the 2014 draft pick that busted? That pick was 7 years ago.

This isn't a cup contender. Its a playoff contender in a weak division, easy first round out if they make it.

It's going to be one of CGY, EDM, VAN that gets the 4th spot. If they get in, that'll be good enough as the GM, coach, players did enough. Everyone retained.

[1qqaaz]

I must not be a very good critical thinker, because I agree with everything everyone is saying.

It should be noted that most of the Flames' losses have only been by 1 goal. The Flames might get the winning edge if the 4th line can produce. The fact that Lucic is 6th on team scoring is pretty sketchy. Tkahuck and Backlund will probably pick it at some point. Valimaki will probably see tremendous improvement. I don't agree with the people who are putting a ton of weight on Dube's absence. If one middle six player results in your team losing several game, then your team lacks high end depth. There will practically always be at least one top 6 forward at any given moment. It's too common of a circumstance to be a valid excuse.

I'm also curious to see how the Flames would play with an experienced high-end coach. But it's far too early to make those kinds of changes.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

There just isn't enough talent on this team. Zero Elite players.

People are still blaming the 2014 draft pick that busted? That pick was 7 years ago.

This isn't a cup contender. Its a playoff contender in a weak division, easy first round out if they make it.

It's going to be one of CGY, EDM, VAN that gets the 4th spot. If they get in, that'll be good enough as the GM, coach, players did enough. Everyone retained.

I was actually thinking last night once Gaudreau leaves in free agency next year the team will have maybe one elite talent in Tkachuk and even he may not be long for the organization. After that there's nothing close to an elite player in the pipeline. The reality is that this team is probably one year away from requiring a scorched earth rebuild. Maybe we should just sit back and try to enjoy this season before we go back to the drawing board and ice a team like the Senators for a few seasons.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I was actually thinking last night once Gaudreau leaves in free agency next year the team will have maybe one elite talent in Tkachuk and even he may not be long for the organization. After that there's nothing close to an elite player in the pipeline. The reality is that this team is probably one year away from requiring a scorched earth rebuild. Maybe we should just sit back and try to enjoy this season before we go back to the drawing board and ice a team like the Senators for a few seasons.

Or they could just go ahead and make the tough moves now and do a quick retool. JG, Monahan and Chucky could fetch a lot of return. Hopefully they would get players that can be effective in the playoffs.
We will probably not get a 99 point player for JG (his best)or a 30 goal guy for Monahan, but these guys get regularly out shined by a 25-30 point Sam Bennett in the playoffs. Improving on them should be a given.
Tkachuk is a tough call, but there has to be some jitters about him staying in Calgary long term or giving him a huge $$$ deal. After all, he has not been a difference maker in the playoffs either. Is throwing money and term at him wise?

And seeing these 3 disappear for long stretches you wonder how much they'd actually be missed on the ice.

But I can see how thats a tough sell to the owners and fans. It will never happen. They will just try to add a supporting cast again and hope for internal improvement.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm shocked people can't see a multi year pattern and keep saying things like "rough patch of games".

Thank you! It's been like this since the 2019 all-star break! This IS the Calgary Flames, it's not a "rough patch" with greatness simmering just below the surface

[browntrout]

The top two lines have been good in my opinion, it's the bottom two lines that have been absolute garbage,

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I was actually thinking last night once Gaudreau leaves in free agency next year the team will have maybe one elite talent in Tkachuk and even he may not be long for the organization.

I've thought about this too. Now this is pure paranoia on my part, but with Friedman suggesting that Tkachuk was upset his teammates didn't stick up for him and the recent examples of young players deciding they didn't want to stick around and opting to leave I admit I'm a bit concerned.

They all toe the company line during interviews. Its a close room and they want to play for each other. But I wonder how true that is sometimes.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I know the Flames are inconsistent, but are they really more inconsistent than any other NHL team? I think inconsistency is the new norm in the NHL, has been for years.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Thank you! It's been like this since the 2019 all-star break! This IS the Calgary Flames, it's not a "rough patch" with greatness simmering just below the surface

Its been this way for 10 years outside 50 games in 2019

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I've thought about this too. Now this is pure paranoia on my part, but with Friedman suggesting that Tkachuk was upset his teammates didn't stick up for him and the recent examples of young players deciding they didn't want to stick around and opting to leave I admit I'm a bit concerned.

They all toe the company line during interviews. Its a close room and they want to play for each other. But I wonder how true that is sometimes.

Well the reality is that if Tkachuk truly values winning then he's probably counting the days until free agency to leave. You think he wants to play for guys like Gulutzan and Ward for the rest of his career?

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

There just isn't enough talent on this team. Zero Elite players.

People are still blaming the 2014 draft pick that busted? That pick was 7 years ago.

This isn't a cup contender. Its a playoff contender in a weak division, easy first round out if they make it.

It's going to be one of CGY, EDM, VAN that gets the 4th spot. If they get in, that'll be good enough as the GM, coach, players did enough. Everyone retained.

Ding Ding Ding

The problem is people think JG and Monny have the ability to be 2 superstars and drive this team. They don't. They aren't paid like it. They are paid like complementary 1st line players or very good 2nd line players.

This is a poorly constructed team missing the top end talent other teams have.

We waste too much cap on useless players, and they haven't hit on a high end/star in the draft since JG.

This has been the Flames for 20 years. Inability to draft stars and overpaying for support players.

This team is what it is. Their star players are all signed to relatively market deals (Not on entry level deals) and we are capped out with very little depth and flexibility.

They aren't going to go full rebuild moving into a new stadium. They aren't going to get better by trading JG and Monny (Can you imagine the offensive creativity of this team removing JG... I shudder that they would be on an even new level of unwatchable) - Or at least not to a level that matters. You don't win with depth. You win with stars. And we dont have enough.

[tkflames]

I hope the flames win the Stanley cup for a number of reasons....but the icing on the cake would be the ability to bring this thread back to page for the game 6 over reaction after playing a goalie that hasn't played meaningful hockey in a year and chasing the game the rest of the way.

[Badgers Nose]

Rebuilds are more fun. Lower expectations and wide open exciting hockey.

I’m ready for a new cycle too.

Even though I was highly invested in our youngsters when this last cycle started, I just don’t care about this team anymore after Hartley was fired. This team lost its soul with that change because we replaced him with a succession of bad coaches. I have enjoyed very few games since he left.

I’d like a new GM too. Someone with a project plan and identity versus process with no end.

[EVERLAST]

We've lacked difference makers for so long.

When you have Tkachuk having to drag his team into anything competitive and he only has 5 or 6 guys on the team paying any attention to it....wow.

This IS entirely on the players BUT it does not help when a nice guy like Geoff Ward is your coach.

I miss the hard ass approach of either Sutter and Hartley who wouldn't accept what we saw last night .

We have to inject our youth into the lineup and sit guys who aren't high on the GAF meter .

There's something wrong in the room though. I'm not sure who that Influence is but I'd say its guys whove been here the longest and make the least impact in the playoffs .

Sure maybe its only 6 games certain people keep saying but losing early points in a shortened season sure doesn't help.

[shogged]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Rebuilds are more fun.

Barf. Edmonton is 3 hours north and would love your attitude

[Ducay]

I dunno about blowing it up, but I can't forsee much success when the team is built around an all-star goalie (no problem there), a lone 37 y/o D-man, and a top F line that nightly includes 2 guys who would be 2 or 3rd liners on other 'good' NHL teams.

[Vinny01]

Frustration on hot takes go hand in hand.

This team unfortunately never seems to start well. It is very frustrating so I get it but this team will go on a decent run here and beat a bunch of teams and get back in the mix. I was definitely in favor of the huge trade this offseason that did not come to fruition and I was also in favor of going and getting the proven coach.

I am not going to freak out yet because I have noticed a few good things to start the year. End of the day this team needs to win a round of the playoffs this year or huge changes are required.

Observations:
- Hanifin and Tanev are the best d pair on the team
- Markstrom has been good but I think he will get better once he is settled in
- Monahan and Gaudreau look good when gifted offensive opportunities keep doing this
- The minimum contract forwards are all mediocre at best
- Valimaki is going to take more time to look decent because he has been meh so far
- bottom 6 has been mediocre
- I have been a huge Bennett fan but felt the organization missed an opportunity not selling high this past offseason. Same old story with Sam and I think an eventual split will be better for the player
- Gio and Backlund need to get better
-Tkachuk and Lindholm looks like a good combo
- Rittich looks like a horrible backup in his 2 brief appearances in buildings without fans

Not going to write this team off at all but I agree with the frustration that this season looks like the same old story from every year. The team was all talk about getting off to a great start and we can blame the 6 day break but the Habs just had a 5 day break and had no problem.