Bet on last place for the Flames?

[Kiran403]

I know the Flames are in rebuild mode and probably won't make the playoffs let alone win the Cup. But are they really bad enough or inexperienced enough to finish 30th? The reason I ask is that a co-worker (oilers fan) is asking to bet me $100 that the Flames finish dead last in the NHL. I think that they are realistically in the 20-28 range as opposed to dead last. Would you take the bet?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. As bad as the Flames will be, there are always a couple of teams in the southeast who tank harder than we ever will. Bottom 3 finish is very likely, but I would bet against being dead last.

Edit: misread, the bet is that YOU believe the Flames will be dead last? Do not take that bet.

[Poe969]

Goaltending is the wild card. Kipper and Iggy stole a bunch of games last year and now they're gone. I'd say 28-30 is to be expected

[trackercowe]

Straight up? As in you're not giving him any odds? Then of course you take that bet. There are a group of teams that might finish dead last (the Flames being one of them). But, there are still 5-6 teams that could finish behind them; the odds on the Flames finishing last are at worst like 1/5.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

@ Poe. Neither Kipper nor Iggy stole any games last year. Not sure how we drop with likely BETTER goaltending numbers.

[nightfx]

Florida, Nashville, New Jersey, Buffalo all have a chance to be last

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by nightfx

Florida, Nashville, New Jersey, Buffalo all have a chance to be last

Jersey is my pick. They are going to fall on hard times this year.

Buffalo a close 2nd. Ruff will be missed.

[Poe969]

Maybe not stole but kept us in games. Bottom line is our team is worse this year than it was last year.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I couldn't even imagine the pain of Devils fans if they finished last. That would just be brutal.

[bluck]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Maybe not stole but kept us in games. Bottom line is our team is worse this year than it was last year.

Not if the last 10 games were any indication... I know I know small sample size and to expect them to do that for 82 is a longshot but hey... One can hope.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I don't see us being better, but we truly had terrible goaltending numbers last year. Part of that is a porous defense. We might have less skill on the back end, but it may end up being slightly better defensively. Goaltending can only improve, and there's going to be a lot of competition for playing time.

With young hungry players and a team that is coached and motivated well by Hartley (which will be easier after the purge), there's no way we won't be competitive enough to stay out of 30th. It's good and bad.

[christoph186]

Hey, speaking of the Devils.. Is it this year that they have to give up their 1st rounder for the Kovalchuk fiasco? If so, does the pick just get voided and the next team gets to pick?

[DownhillGoat]

In the NHL and not just the west? I'd take that bet for sure.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by christoph186

Hey, speaking of the Devils.. Is it this year that they have to give up their 1st rounder for the Kovalchuk fiasco? If so, does the pick just get voided and the next team gets to pick?

Correct, something along those lines at least.

[$ven27]

Take that bet and raise him 100.

[christoph186]

That's a safe bet, god knows we'll go on a random steak at some point.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

I know the Flames are in rebuild mode and probably won't make the playoffs let alone win the Cup. But are they really bad enough or inexperienced enough to finish 30th? The reason I ask is that a co-worker (oilers fan) is asking to bet me $100 that the Flames finish dead last in the NHL. I think that they are realistically in the 20-28 range as opposed to dead last. Would you take the bet?

If nothing else, take the bet so you can cheer(and be happy) for wins instead of hoping they lose. If they aren't really playing for anything down the stretch, at least you would have a reason to cheer for them, especially against the Oilers.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

I know the Flames are in rebuild mode and probably won't make the playoffs let alone win the Cup. But are they really bad enough or inexperienced enough to finish 30th? The reason I ask is that a co-worker (oilers fan) is asking to bet me $100 that the Flames finish dead last in the NHL. I think that they are realistically in the 20-28 range as opposed to dead last. Would you take the bet?

Take the bet. Both Nashville and Florida are bound to be worse.

[The Swedish Flame]

If last season taught me anything it is how hard it is to be the worst team in the league.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

@ Poe. Neither Kipper nor Iggy stole any games last year. Not sure how we drop with likely BETTER goaltending numbers.

Kipper definitely stole two games last season that I can think of.

Not likely goaltending is going to be much better this year with the guys we have going into the season and not good enough to likely change much in terms of wins and loses.

Originally Posted by bluck

Not if the last 10 games were any indication... I know I know small sample size and to expect them to do that for 82 is a longshot but hey... One can hope.

In most if not all of the wins in the last part of the season the Flames were badly outplayed or outsucked by the other team. It was pretty rare that the team played well in those games and if that is what we get this year from the team last place should be pretty much locked up.

As to the OP I think the Flames are likely the favorite to get last place but not higher than 50% and there are a group of 5-6 other teams that could suck more especially if you take into account injuries. If you get spots 1-29 and he wins if they are last take the bet the odds are likely that someone else will be 30th even if no one team has better odds of being there than the Flames.