2013-14 Flames Expectations

[Sylvanfan]

Well in terms of talent it's a 29-30 team. But you have no control over other teams staging mutiny against the coach. Colorado, Tampa, Carolina, and Nashville should not have been worse than the Flames last year. So you never know, but it will be a team that takes it's lumps.

[FlamesAddiction]

I chose 29-30 based on the roster right now, but I think it is too early to tell. I have a feeling we'll see some more moves between now and camp.

[Izzle]

2008-2009 oilers.

God, this team will be horrible. But its for the greater good.


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[djsFlames]

Will be the Blue Jackets of this season, going on a lengthy and unexpected run early in 2014 after a lot of bumps and some bad losses early on. Monahan and Knight prove to be early contributors and Ramo takes a page from Bobrovsky.

Aka: Anything can happen.

[dammage79]

This roster is far from set I think. There's going to be some player movement before training camp. I think the foundation is there for a very competitive team but there's too much of one thing and still too little of a couple other things. We all know what they are.
Too many LW, vets and a lack of one top six RW, top six center and one top 4 D.
A couple saavy signings and a decent trade clearing out some players for a nice young piece could happen.

What we are looking at right now is a team without top line talent in the middle and still too many vets. Good thing about the vets still here though is that three of them are on their final year of their respective contracts. Teams will bite.

I guess the one thing we can hope for is that guys like Hanowski, Nemo and Monahan have very good camps and can round out the forwards.

Wotherspoon is a sleeper pick of mine to make the team full time. Really could pair well with just about anyone on the D-corps.

[Neeper]

I am an eternal optimist. I say our young guys rip it up and we make the playoffs!

[getbak]

I predict that only the California teams will make the playoffs from the new Division and one of the Central Division teams will cross over.

[bubbsy]

i believe the flames talent level at every position is about as good as a strong AHL team. They are an easy prediction for 29-30th, however, just as we see every year, a team hit by turbulence (ie. injuries, key players going flat out cold, etc) always make a surprising slide.

Regardless, flames should be a shoe-in for a lottery pick next draft.

Fans should be ok with that. It's what they've been asking for, for a few years now. Our prospect pool is easily in the top12 of the league now. After struggling thru another year, i think we should see the some of the young guys making a push, while injecting another draft lottery pick in there.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Redliner

6th in the west. Surprise the entire league and and lose the Stanley Cup Final by a score of 2-1 in Game 7.

It could happen, I see no reason why we can't surprise ppl like Ottawa did last year, or Phoenix the year before. If we can finish 11th or higher in scoring again and Ramo has a 0.915 - 0.925 save %, we can compete. There are surprises every season

[moon]

The team has the 30th overall talent in the league but I don't trust Feaster to not try and make a push so I chose 27-28th.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

It could happen, I see no reason why we can't surprise ppl like Ottawa did last year, or Phoenix the year before. If we can finish 11th or higher in scoring again and Ramo has a 0.915 - 0.925 save %, we can compete. There are surprises every season

The Flames don't have a Spezza on offense, a Karlsson on defense, or an Anderson in the nets so you can't compare the teams as they aren't remotely close in talent.

Maybe a Trotz,Tippett, Hitchcock, or even Brent Sutter type coach that can get a average/poor talent team to play a defensive team system could coax a 20th place finish out of what is the least talented roster in the league but with Bob Hartley you are going to get exactly as advertised from this roster and nothing more just like his Colorado and Atlanta teams. I'm not taking a shot at Hartley as he is what he is just as this roster is what it is. Hartley will net them likely a top 3 pick which is exactly what this organization needs and from there on it will be up to his replacement go get this young team to develope and hopefully turn the corner. The phrase "most important draft in team history" was thrown about a lot this spring just as "most important coaching hire in team history" will be thrown about likely next summer as shown with Edmonton if you don't have the right coach for a young team you will spin your wheels of the rebuild. Looks like after multiple tries the Oilers may have got that guy (if you believe the hype). Flames will need that guy as well.

[Bourque's Twin]

If Ramo / Berra play well then the Flames could surprise many people. Scoring goals will not be easy but they could be fast, physical, and all on the same page. If that happens, anything can happen.

However, I predict bottom 5 in the league. It will be too tough to score goals and the team's D isn't punishing enough.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flames don't have a Spezza on offense, a Karlsson on defense, or an Anderson in the nets so you can't compare the teams as they aren't remotely close in talent.

Maybe a Trotz,Tippett, Hitchcock, or even Brent Sutter type coach that can get a average/poor talent team to play a defensive team system could coax a 20th place finish out of what is the least talented roster in the league but with Bob Hartley you are going to get exactly as advertised from this roster and nothing more just like his Colorado and Atlanta teams. I'm not taking a shot at Hartley as he is what he is just as this roster is what it is. Hartley will net them likely a top 3 pick which is exactly what this organization needs and from there on it will be up to his replacement go get this young team to develope and hopefully turn the corner. The phrase "most important draft in team history" was thrown about a lot this spring just as "most important coaching hire in team history" will be thrown about likely next summer as shown with Edmonton if you don't have the right coach for a young team you will spin your wheels of the rebuild. Looks like after multiple tries the Oilers may have got that guy (if you believe the hype). Flames will need that guy as well.

Actually Karlson was injured all season, and Anderson was a huge shock to become elite despite good previous seasons. Not saying it's likely, but Calgary could make it if they match last years offensive output and improve goaltending. Obviously comparing any group of teams there will be huge differences in player personnel. Try comparing Phoenix with Ottawa if you don't believe me

[Kipper_3434]

^anderson was also injured long-term

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ineedanother

I went 25-26 as I see us facing a lot of backups this year, especially with the usual back-to-back games played in western Canada.

We've been facing backups for the last couple of years.

[Kipper_3434]

The only safe prediction is that CP will rant:
We make the playoffs: rabble rabble, needed 1st overall- not committed to rebuild, rabble rabble

We get top 5 pick: fire Feaster, fire Hartley, trade glencross, chase Ken King with torches, rabble rabble

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

The only safe prediction is that CP will rant:
We make the playoffs: rabble rabble, needed 1st overall- not committed to rebuild, rabble rabble

We get top 5 pick: fire Feaster, fire Hartley, trade glencross, chase Ken King with torches, rabble rabble

You let me know a fanbase that doesn't rant. Just one. CP is no different than the fanbases of the other 29 teams and probably a lot more grounded than many.

[Loyal and True]

I said 17-18 overall. Assuming that Feaster cannot/does not trade Cammy, Stempniak, Stajan and/or Gio for draft picks and prospects, which would stock the cupboards and drop us to the bottom of the league. Also assumes Ramo provides .915 save %

With "replacement level" goaltending and veteran forward group we won't tank this year.

Big question mark for SJ and Vcr... they are sliding down and still might need to dump talent/salary...

Wpg, Col, Edm,Nsh, all have weak lineups.

In the East... Buf, Fla, TB, Car, NJ, CBJ are all in tough too. Phi, Mtl and Tor will fight for 8th.
East is going to lose points with increased travel and more games vs West.

[3rd line Grinder]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You let me know a fanbase that doesn't rant. Just one. CP is no different than the fanbases of the other 29 teams and probably a lot more grounded than many.

are you telling me teams like florida and tampa have engaged fanbases?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 3rd line Grinder

are you telling me teams like florida and tampa have engaged fanbases?

Where did I mention engaged fanbases? They have small fanbases but I'm sure they rant just as we do. Its the nature of fanaticism.