Is this team really as bad as many say?

[ComixZone]

Defensive zone coverage is TERRIBLE on this team and it's in no small part due to having the worst group of centers in the league.

Yeah, Kipper has been bad - but you aren't winning anything with a league-worst group of centers.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think this team has a lot more talent than it gets credit for, but the glaring holes (#1 centre and goaltending this year) are just to big to overcome.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

Horrible giveaways, seem to only score goals at home, poor goaltending, not deep in the middle, this team is horrible. Hope the young prospects in the cupboard do better than expected, or its young guns 2 coming up. I give Feaster maybe a year or two and he will be gone. Hope the next GM has more brains, knows how to trade, draft more then wingers and NCAA prospects. I thought before this season they were good for 12th spot in the WC, now more like 27th to 30th in the league.

We have young guns?

We seem to be throwing the puck to the opposition lately, last nights game against Columbus was brutal.

[Caged Great]

we have to face the fact that we are basically an expansion team or will be once any future trades go down. The problem is that 7 of the 8 D-men are offensive D-men. Only the best offensive D-men are good in their own end. Not much of a shocker that they are bad.

Add on that we have no centers and that causes more problems.

[djsFlames]

I think on a lot of nights this team can actually compete with most in the league when it comes to offense. (as long as players have their head in it)

We've got an above average powerplay when it comes to effectiveness.

But there are literally only a handful of players truly committed to playing defense on this team. Even the defensive ranks have a few that seem to like carrying the puck up and pinching on the play more than getting back and putting their all into protecting at our end of the rink. Way too much floating by the team as a whole when playing in their own zone.

I find the team waits too much for the puck to fall on their sticks so that they can start an offensive rush again, than being aggressive enough to break up cycles before they start.

That, coupled with subpar goaltending has spelled our doom. We're not the worst team, but without goaltending, we're definitely one of the upper 'basement' teams.. Like I've said, they remind me a lot of the Lightning from a few years ago. Offensive minded, but easy as hell to rack up the scoreboard on.

[#-3]

The team has some vary good players, but the are constructed poorly.

Only 2 NHL centers, both probably should be 3rd liners if you want to compete for the cup.

A solid top 4 on D, but the entire d-core is vary soft. If Bouwmeester / Wideman / Giordano / Brodie are your top four (which is not a bad thing), than your of other 3 or 4 guys in and out of the line up need to be big, mean, hard hitting, A**holes.

Even for natural right wingers This team is that strong Hudler, Stempniak Jackman???

At left wing they are in great shape

Cammaleri
Tanguay
Glencross
Cervenka
Comeau
Bartschi
Begin

And people wonder why Beartschi is in the minors. We don't need him.


You need guys play roles they know how to play to win.

[puckluck2]

Of course they are as terrible as everyone says.

As much as I hated the TSN rankings before the season started, they've been pretty accurate for quite some time with how bad this team is and where we'd finish.

We've got terrible defence, terrible defensive forwards, and while our goaltending hasn't been great, I think it's the last thing wrong with this team.

[browna]

Talent is there, no comparison to late 90's and early 2000's.

Offense can generate chances and seem to be pretty free flowing. Of course, no centers makes this frustrating, because they can be even better.

But defense is too soft, with Sarich being the only player anywhere near considered "physical".

Finally, the 3rd line which was a Flames trademark of being a momentum changing line due to cycling and wearing down teams, is now smaller then maybe any other 3rd line in the league.

Kipper not gotten in the groove since his injury and is starting to tune out as the turmoil around the team has increased, and I think more then a few guys are guilty of having their minds wander about the off ice stuff the last 15 games or so.

[kmart]

They would've been good 5 years ago, but now they are way too old and can't keep up with younger teams.

[dino7c]

no centers

[timbit]

The biggest problem is that some get caught up comparing the current iteration to past Flames teams.
Try comparing the talent to top 5 teams in the conference.

Not even close.

[ricosuave]

As much as trading Iggy hurt, it is a big step towards redefining what they team should be.

There have been an air of casualness that fell on the shoulders of our senior team members, and with Iggy gone, all of a sudden that country club atmosphere is broken. no bigger piece than trading the captain.

Its going to hurt for a while, but in the end, it will be worth it

[nfotiu]

Bad centers, bad defensive system and bad goalies. They are not really doing anything to keep the puck out of the net. They need to right that ship first in all 3 areas and then build offensive abilities on top.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

As much as trading Iggy hurt, it is a big step towards redefining what they team should be.

There have been an air of casualness that fell on the shoulders of our senior team members, and with Iggy gone, all of a sudden that country club atmosphere is broken. no bigger piece than trading the captain.

Its going to hurt for a while, but in the end, it will be worth it

A lot depends on how the team is managed, a turnaround could be several years away under poor management.

[kehatch]

Reality hasnt set in yet. This team is near last place. Our prospect pool is limited. We are full of holes. And our team is built around vets on expiring contracts. We waited to long to trade our best assets and now get to trade them for little or lose them for nothing.

We are terrible. And we will be terrible for the forseeable future.

[DuffMan]

This team has consistantly played below my expectations for years now.
I would definitely hang a lot of the woes this season on Kipper, he's made some great saves but, his stats don't lie.
The other thing that seems consistant is that this team makes a lot of mistakes and most of them end up as a goal against. Last night against Columbia was a great example.
So, I find it hard to believe the team is as bad as many say, but then I just look at the standings and realize I'm dreaming.

[Sylvanfan]

Built too much like a fantasy team in that they've used guys at center who should not be playing that position. Sure they can score a few goals on occasion, but they are the easiest team to play against in the NHL. Nobody fears having to come play the Flames, worst case is you'll lose a 5-4 game. There is some skill in the lineup, but not a whole lot of compete. Plus skill relative to the rest of the league...it's not all that great.

[HPLovecraft]

I bet Blue Jackets and Leafs fans have been making threads like this for years.

[Sakari]

Yes.

[I_H8_Crawford]

IMO this franchise is worse off (on the ice) than the Young Guns era. Already 3 years with no playoffs, ZERO impact players who are young, very few assets.... This team if flat out HORRIBLE and looks to be that way for many more years.

Also, not to mention that management now is just as bad if not worse than the Young Guns.

There is no plan, the team is haphazardly built, they are locked in with so many NTC and I have no faith that Fleester will be able to maximize returns on the few assets he does have.

This iteration of the Flames is going to make people long for the Young Guns. I hope King and Feaster are proud of their intellectual honesty.