How Do You Think the Flames Will Do This Year?

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Comfortable playoff team with big bounceback seasons from a couple of our underperformers last year.

The catalyst? Mangiapane's new hair superpowers.

[Bandwagon Surfer]

My expectation is that they will be better this year. I think they are going to make the playoffs, but doubt past the second round. Optimistically a similar performance as Seattle last year.

This team is still in the window where our old players are still worth their salary. They look like they are actually going to bring up some youth and energy into the lineup. And best of all it looks like they are actually empowering the players, naming a captain, creating an environment where the team can mentally gel as a team.

[bdubbs]

Playoff team.

[Sec214]

/thread closed.

[rohara66]

Win the division. Cause why not. This team hasn't performed as per expectation in many years so there it is folks.

[The Yen Man]

The Jekyll and Hyde trend continues. This year, they defy expectations and win the division. Except this time, they make it to the 3rd round of the playoffs at least.

[Jiri Hrdina]

no frickin' idea. none. total wild card.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Stanley Cup, followed by the Galactic Challenge Cup.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

3. Lengthy round 1 (7) or second round (out in 5 or 6)

Reignites hope around city. Zadorov and Lindholm re-sign.

Coronato, Hunt and Duehr prove to be integral pieces.

Markstrom surpasses the elusive .900 plateau. Is decidedly "average" and it's a welcome sight.

Backlund runs with the captaincy and does great.

[Vinny01]

I think they are due for a bounce back. A lot of things in their favor like bounce back candidates, guys playing for new deals, youth being served, chip on their shoulder from last year. I can see them being a pretty strong regular season team but tough to say they will be in the final 4 so voted in but lose in the first 2 rounds.

[direwolf]

I predict they’ll squeak into the playoffs and then go on a magical Cinderella run to the finals led by beast mode Backlund.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

The benefit of playing "loose" with no expectations can't be overstated.

They have everything to prove and nothing to lose, since most pundits think they're a mediocre graveyard for vets and guys like Huberdeau are among the worst contracts now.

Lots to rally around, and be motivated by. And by the looks of it they'll have a way more technically-focused system that will be flexible and actually practice the PP and OT formats.

Everything points to a rebound. Question is if it's a slight improvement (fighting for wildcard) or a big one (divisional spot).

[Jiri Hrdina]

At +3000 I will say putting some bones down on the Flames to with the SC isn't a terrible wager.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

*sigh* Mods, couldn't you have edited that one extra o out of loose so I wouldn't have OCD for the next month? You're killing me.

[Locke]

I hate to harp on it, but it really comes down to our goaltending.

Even with our creative attacking forwards having a really down year, they could have done something if we hadnt had the absolute worst goaltending in the league.

If Markstrom picks up where he left off...its a lottery pick. If he suddenly remembers that his job is to stop the puck and he starts doing it, then who knows?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

At +3000 I will say putting some bones down on the Flames to with the SC isn't a terrible wager.

That's actually a lot higher than I would have expected. Either other people are betting a lot on them or the odds makers don't share all the same doom and gloom predictions coming from many NHL fans.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think out of every team in the NHL, the Flames have probably the most potential real estate for where they can fall. I can literally see them going anywhere from top 4 in the conference to 10th depending on how a lot of the question marks play out.

So I'll just pick a spot and say 7th in the West. They'll go on a tear for part of the year where they look like a top team, but will also go through some big slumps.

I fully expect them to be a lot more fun to watch this season though, no matter what happens.

I usually try and project a range for the Flames and it is really hard this year to keep that range to 8 points. I would say 94-101 is probably a good range but I would not be shocked if they were higher or lower,

[GioforPM]

2nd-3rd in the division, Cup win.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Wether they make the playoffs or not, I just want a more entertaining team to watch this season. And if these pre-season games are anything to go off of, it looks like they will be

[Shazam]

I'm hopeful. Team seems energized. If Markstrom can just be league average we're winning the division.