Are the flames a true cup contender?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I thought they were the best team in the Division BEFORE they traded Tkachuk. They are now even better - at least for this season. The best team in each division is automatically a contender, in my opinion.

So, yes. Of course, everything depends on Markstrom.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

I think they’ll win the division, and like Mr League above, I think that pretty defines a contender.

[blankall]

It won't be the flames lack of a #1 RW that holds them back from being contenders. What team has 6 legitimate top 6 forwards and 4 legitimate top four defenders?

Colorado has Rodriguez and J Manson in those roles. They have Lehkonen on their top line and Georgiev and Francouz in net.

Carolina has Jarvis as their #1 RW and Kotkainiemi as a #2 C. All teams have holes.

What will cause the flames to fail is there potential inability to gel and/or work with Sutter.

[JohnnyB]

Too early to say. Being a great team requires chemistry in addition to everything else, and with the changes they had in the off-season we won't know what kind of chemistry they're capable of for a while. If the pieces all fit together to make them greater than the sum of their parts, they should end up in the conversation as a team with a decent shot.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Playoffs (especially the later rounds) are a war of attrition. The real heroes may be the team's medical and training staff.

[CaptainCrunch]

The Flames will coast their way to the top of the Pacific division, sweep whoever their first round opponent is.

Go up against Edmonton in the second round and avenge their loss last year while boot stomping Pissy and Jesus in 5 games, 4 of which are lopsided as they blaze Edmonton outscoring them 50 to 3 in 5 closely contested games. At the end of game four Conna goes for a piss and is never seen again.

In the Div finals they face the Avs, and win in quadruple overtime in game 7 as Kadri kills his former team mates.

The Flames go to the finals against a cheating Tampa Bay team who managed to sneak super man, the incredible hulk and the Flash on long term injury at the start of the year and activate them for the playoffs.

They barely manage to beat the Flames in 7 games.

So to the original question, the Flames are a contender for the cup and probably and elite team in the west. They are strong up the middle have a great deep blueline and if Markstrom can bounce back from last years disappointment elite goaltending.

[Mr.Coffee]

Markstrom makes me slightly nervous and actually more than Markstrom is Sutter's handling of veterans / goalies and not being willing to move in Vladar when it's clear he needs to because of his affinity for vets.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

I don’t think they are right now for a couple of reasons:

1. I don’t think we are going to replace the scoring we lost. Our top line was the best in the league last year and even though we brought in roughly the same amount of points, that means little when the players haven’t played with their new teammates. Same thing will happen for Gaudreau. And Tkachuk. You just don’t replace best in the league production.

2. I am worried about Markstrom. He got humiliated in the playoffs last year and tendys are a fragile breed. Hope I’m wrong here.

3. Related to #1 - like many have pointed out, we are soft on the right side. And our 4th line is bottom of the barrel. Hoping the centre depth makes up for it.

4. Career years for everyone last year likely regress to the mean. Kadri, Hubby, Lindholm. Mange, all likely regress. I think we struggle to score goals.

Still think this is a playoff team, likely wildcard, but it could take half a season for all these new key pieces to gel. I think the preseason rankings and expectations are way too optimistic. The game is played on the ice, not on paper.

Having said the foregoing, super excited about this season and the beginning of this new era.

Good post. I like how you set out your concerns.

1. Replacing lost goals. I don't think we get them all back either. Chemistry, learning curve, and what ever else. I do think we get to within 10 points of last season though. 100 points will serve.

2. Markstrom is not just breaking in to the NHL, and will be fine- at least against most teams. I do worry that Edmonton might have got in his head some. Vladar and Wolf look promising. Such a make a team, or break a team position.

3. The right side. Yup a lot of hope that Mang or Toff can step it up. I am less worried about the 4th line. The Sutter effect always seems to work wonders on these types. In either case, I don't expect Treliving to be idle.

4. Players regressing. For sure - we are almost certain to see some regression. Probably won't win so many games by blowouts - but we'll still win them. We also should see some players have better years too. Toffoli again comes to mind.

I am super excited for this year to see how all the turnover shakes out. I have high expectations though, and a mere wildcard would be pretty underwhelming. Lots of things could go wrong, but if everything goes right - and I know it never does - this season could be legendary. GFG

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Still think this is a playoff team, likely wildcard, but it could take half a season for all these new key pieces to gel.

Wildcard? I just can't find 3 teams in the Pacific Division likely as good as the Flames.

They could regress by 15 points and still easily come third.

[Bandwagon Surfer]

This team will struggle until Scorch comes to save us.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Wildcard? I just can't find 3 teams in the Pacific Division likely as good as the Flames.

They could regress by 15 points and still easily come third.

I think the Canucks are going to better than most are projecting and the Kings will be good too. The Pacific is no longer the punching bag division IMO.