Expectations for the season

[You Need a Thneed]

Stanley Cup, or blow it up.

[Poe969]

It's fair to say that people aren't expecting much from the team this year so how about we start to ask; what roster changes do you see coming this year?

[Vinny01]

Continue to acquire assets by trading vets and expiring contracts. Unless Ramo is the 2nd coming of kipper we are in for a bottom 10 finish. I would be happy getting a top 3 pick with the kids getting a long look after Christmas. Continued patience is required

[FlamesAddiction]

I expect that we will finish somewhere between 25th and 30th, but I still believe that anything is possible.

I feel that this season should have a focus on player development, so as long as the right players are getting ice-time and games in, I will be happy.

[OzSome]

No expectations at all. I'll be happy to see them compete at a high level every single game (win or lose). Tanking like others wants is not an option.

[JBR]

Play hard, every game. I'll be happy to see every player strive to be a SOB to play against.

[stemit14]

I expect them to surprise alot of people. They are being underestimated from day 1

[Buff]

For me, the Flames position in the standings is irrelevant. All I hope to see is growth from the young guys, hard work and a never quit attitude.

I'm excited for this season because of the "What's to come?" type atmosphere. No more trying to build a contender with the square peg in a round hole way of doing things.

[edn88]

I have pretty low expectations - nothing to suggest they are going to be better than a team that misses the playoffs by a lot, however, hope to be proved wrong.

[Rerun]

• Entertaining hockey.
• Not too many goals for.
• Lots of goals against.
• Hard work by the players.
• Cammy and Stajan will be traded at the deadline for draft choices.
• To finish in the bottom 3 in the league.... which is fine with me as it will give us a good shot at either drafting Reinhart or Ekblad.

[dissentowner]

I think the Flames will have no problem scoring goals, too much talent throughout the lineup. Sure there is only 1 borderline 1st liner in Cammalleri but there is an abundance of quality second line guys. I see the Flames finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of GF. GA is another story. The defence will be terrible and unless Ramo stands on his head the Flames are probably going to be dead last in GA. Here is the problem with trying to predict hockey standings, it is a fools game. Every season there are one or two teams that look like absolute crap that shock everybody and there are one or two teams that everybody says are going to be excellent that just fail. Last year many people said the Blue Jackets would be the worst team in the NHL and the Habs would suck bad too. The Flyers were supposed to be a legit SC contender. Anything can happen, injuries, hot goalies, breakout players, slumpers...you just can't predict it. If the Flames forwards struggle to score and underplay to their abilities, the defence plays the way we think they will, and Ramo struggles in the NA game we are going to challenge for last. If players like Baertschi and Backlund take the next step, Glencross, Cammi, and Hudler play up to par, Jones returns to his 20+ goal form, Stajan has a good year, Bouma shows more of what he showed in the pre-season, the D commit to a solid defensive game, and Ramo looks like the second coming of Kipper the Flames have a shot to shock everybody and compete for a playoff spot. The probable outcome probably lies somewhere in between those two.

[LouCypher]

Last year still somehow expected playoffs, maybe to spite the pundits. This year....last place wont make me think everything is horrible but it would make for a long year. My only expectation is that the youth we have going forward gets every opportunity to learn, earn quality ice team and get better.

[Street Pharmacist]

We're not going to see the rookies I'm most excited about this year (Gaudreau, Agostino, and Gillies), so that makes the waiting longer

[ah123]

My expectations:

• Fast paced, hard hitting hockey (aka entertaining)
• Cammy, Stempniak and Stajan rack up the points and are traded for high picks/prospects at the trading deadline
• Young players grow their game
• Flames win all games against the Oilers. OK, this is more a desire than an expectation

[TheGrimm]

Zero expectations this year.

First year of what could be a 4-5 year rebuild, I am just going to settle in and watch the kids play.

I've been hoping for a rebuild for 3 years so it's time to take my medicine!

[Loyal and True]

.500 record to the olympic break. 20th spot with young players getting legit ice time and opportunities.
trades at deadline for future assets.
lots of callups in final 24 games, drop to 25th.

[kyuss275]

Expectations for standings is last in the west and 29th overall.

Expectations for on ice is having all players play a 200' game.

It will be interesting how management rates Hartely's coaching abilities this year. They certainly did not give him a team that will win many games, so wins and losses are pretty much thrown out the window.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I want to see each and every player give 100% on every shift. Flames likely won't be a good team this year, but I want to see them compete, not be lazy on their backchecks. If players start taking shifts off I want them to sit (no matter who they are, veteran or rookie), so that other players can have a chance to prove their worth.

[CaptainCrunch]

No Mr Bond, we expect you to . . . die

[TurnedTheCorner]

They're really low. I like the initial step in this rebuild process and how the offseason has gone. I feel like goaltending is a huge question mark that will have the biggest impact on the bottom line results this season - I really don't know what to expect that way. In terms of our skaters, I hope we see some consistent effort, I hope we see young players given lots of opportunities in different roles, and I hope we see some stability in the defensive end.

Results wise, I expect a bottom ten team in the standings. Probably a bottom five.