Do you consider 2016-17 to be a successful season for the Flames?

[direwolf]

Absolutely it's been a success. Remember back in November when we all thought the season was over and we'd finish bottom 5? Yea, that didn't happen. The team cleaned up their act, found their game, and made the playoffs with time to spare. They've made some great strides this year. If not for those 4 losses to the Oilers, they're very likely competing for the division title.

Are we a serious Cup contender like the Ducks? Not yet. But we're really close. Just need to add a couple of important pieces still, and we'll be right in the mix. We've got a solid playoff-caliber team here, and we're only gonna get better.

Looking at the first two games of this series, there really isn't much separating these teams. Both were close, tight checking, 1 goal games. Ducks only have their 2-0 lead due to the Flames shooting themselves in the foot in game 1, and a flukey bounce off Bouma's skate and a called-back goal in game 2. That's it. Flames are still very much in this, and with the home crowd behind them for the next two games, anything is possible.

[Erick Estrada]

I would say they met (not exceeded) expectations. It's still a very streaky team full of streaky players. Next season there needs to be goals set for more consistent play and much better discipline. Badly need that elusive scoring RW (preferably with a right hand shot).

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would say they met (not exceeded) expectations. It's still a very streaky team full of streaky players. Next season there needs to be goals set for more consistent play and much better discipline. Badly need that elusive scoring RW (preferably with a right hand shot).

Im not sure about that.

When a team is in the lottery ball draw one season, it is awful difficult to expect them to play in the post-season the very next year....and if they do that is a truly remarkable progression.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I'd say so. I mean, sure, it sucks losing in the first round, but - Wait. Aren't there still more games to be played?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not sure about that.

When a team is in the lottery ball draw one season, it is awful difficult to expect them to play in the post-season the very next year....and if they do that is a truly remarkable progression.

It's not like they had a 100+ point season like the Oilers. They got far superior goaltending to last season and made the playoffs with 94 points which in a lot of seasons wouldn't be good enough to make the post season. If maybe they could have won a game in the Honda center you could say they took a step forward but I think this was where management expected the team to be overall.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's not like they had a 100+ point season like the Oilers. They got far superior goaltending to last season and made the playoffs with 94 points which in a lot of seasons wouldn't be good enough to make the post season. If maybe they could have won a game in the Honda center you could say they took a step forward but I think this was where management expected the team to be overall.

Good lord...lol.

[Geeoff]

Too soon for the eulogy. Ducks still have to win 2 more.

[normtwofinger]

Dumb thread. The season isn't over.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by blender

You mean the loss in game 2?

Just curious because the series hasn't been won yet.
Right?

While I agree with you, the series is over man. We are not winning 4 of 5 against that team.

[blender]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

While I agree with you, the series is over man. We are not winning 4 of 5 against that team.

You don't agree with me, so don't say you do.

One of my biggest beefs with this forum is the need for posters (not you specifically) to be right in their prognostications which leads to all sorts of definitive statements of fact.

Stop talking in absolutes, people.

We have a whole thread of mea culpas about the early season. Do we have to relive it again in the playoffs?

2 home games are at hand. Let's just enjoy playoffs hockey and see what happens.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not sure about that.

When a team is in the lottery ball draw one season, it is awful difficult to expect them to play in the post-season the very next year....and if they do that is a truly remarkable progression.

Two years ago, the core of this team not only made the playoffs, but won a round. Last season they imploded partly because the flaws in the system inevitably showed up and their unlikely "luck" ran out, but moreso due to atrocious, near historically poor goaltending (I posted this before, but it's telling that none of the 3 goalies Calgary used as their #1 last season could land a position as even an NHL backup this season).

Given that they addressed the goaltending issue, and I expected some growth from their young players, my minimum bar for success was for the team to get back to where they were 2 seasons ago. And they've made it to that bar (though doing it as a really streaky team - they got 19 of their wins (42%) in 21 games (25% of the season).

If they can come back and beat Anaheim, I'll consider the season really successful - i.e. it exceeded my minimum expectations.

Edit: Oh, and every team that misses the playoffs, even if only by a tie-breaker, is "in the lottery ball draw", so I'm not sure how that can set expectations.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's not like they had a 100+ point season like the Oilers. They got far superior goaltending to last season and made the playoffs with 94 points which in a lot of seasons wouldn't be good enough to make the post season. If maybe they could have won a game in the Honda center you could say they took a step forward but I think this was where management expected the team to be overall.

I don't know the stats off hand but is that really true that a lot of seasons 94 points wouldn't be good enough to make the playoffs? I thought no team had ever missed with 96 points, so therefore you'd think 94 would get you in most seasons, no?

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by blender

You don't agree with me, so don't say you do.

One of my biggest beefs with this forum is the need for posters (not you specifically) to be right in their prognostications which leads to all sorts of definitive statements of fact.

Stop talking in absolutes, people.

We have a whole thread of mea culpas about the early season. Do we have to relive it again in the playoffs?

2 home games are at hand. Let's just enjoy playoffs hockey and see what happens.

I am frustrated, anything IS possible but I do not see this team as a legit threat to advance even before the series started I felt that way. These 2 games went exactly as I expected, find a way to lose. We may win our home games. However the fact remains we cannot win in Anaheim for a multitude of reasons.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

Dumb thread. The season isn't over.

That's not the point. I'm asking if the season is already a success... and if not, what needs to happen for it to be so.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

Dumb thread. The season isn't over.

Might as well be

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

what's coming up prospect wise, I'd consider it a success

I see nothing "prospect wise" that I am overly excited about personally. Gillies shows promise but Calgary never develops good goalies so I'm not holding my breath

Biggest success this year was the play of Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk will only be better next year and the years to follow. After this season is over though we are in the same boat we are always in since Kipper left, who is gonna be our goalie??

[EVERLAST]

Yes. More good then bad and we will learn from the bad in short order if this team fails to win 1 game in these playoffs.

GG is okay but the team won't buy in unless the vets buy in.

That being said Versteeg is welcome back but Brouwer Bouma Chia pet Johnson Elliott Wideman and Stajan need to go.

We need tough mobile D. We need another center. 2 Goalies we may already have in either Rittich, Gillies, Parsons .

The future is here for the most part in Bennett, Tkachuk, Hamilton, Ferlund,
Monahan ,Hathaway, F Hamilton, Lomberg, Kylington, etc

Someone has to step up from Stockton and or elsewhere within the system and make the team next year so Tree doesn't have to bring in late additions.

Stone has to be kept and signed....Really like this guy .

We have 2 game left to see what we really have in character people when the chips are down .

It's good we are going thru this because we won't know anything about this teams DNA unless we do.

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not sure about that.

When a team is in the lottery ball draw one season, it is awful difficult to expect them to play in the post-season the very next year....and if they do that is a truly remarkable progression.

Ya but let's remember we were not supposed to be a lottery team last season. The season prior to that we went to round 2 of the playoffs. Last season expectations were much, much higher then being a lottery team. I'd say overall the Flames met expectations. Most of us saw the Flames as a wildcard team this year.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Yes, the Flames are currently playing in Gravy Town.

That's not to say they can't advance.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

That's not the point. I'm asking if the season is already a success... and if not, what needs to happen for it to be so.

That is not what the thread title, or the OP asks though.

I think you take more abuse than you deserve, and I try to support you against some of it but Jesus Christ Scorp, you don't have to start a thread every time you have a thought about the team.

The season isn't over yet.

(and it's already a success).