Bet on last place for the Flames?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

worst roster in the league, debatable but entirely possible. however, those who are saying they will not finish last are still closer to the truth than those who say they will. even if Calgary is the front-runner at 30% chance of last place suckage, it's still more than twice as likely that they don't. that's why it's a good investment to bet that they finish above 30.

I agree which is why I took the field but I still do think as an individual team the Flames would be the favorites to finish 30th but as you say the other 29 teams as whole would have a better chance of doing so.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by moon

I agree which is why I took the field but I still do think as an individual team the Flames would be the favorites to finish 30th but as you say the other 29 teams as whole would have a better chance of doing so.

Agreed. I think most people in this thread have this thought. Based strictly on odds, there is a better chance the Flames finish 1-29 vs. finishing 30th, even if they are the favorites to finish 30th.

[Kickazzflames]

I want the flames to finish last. As a Flames fan, I have learned the cold hard brutal truth of flames hockey... I never get what I want. They do however, often like to tease me.

Flames will start off awful and we will all be dreaming of a top 5 pick. Then chemistry will build and players looking for things to prove will start to show.

I can guarantee flames will pick between 9th-14th just based on history and my constant disappointment.

These players will all surprise us:

Cammy- Contract year, only 31.. has something to prove. (Feaster saying no one wants him.)

Stajan - Had a solid season last year, he will build off this and continue to be reliable under coach Hartley.

Stempniak - Contract year, only 30.. He will put up the points to get his big pay day before entering his post apex phase. (Do or die time for stempniak's career)

Backlund - Still has lots to prove. Handled the puck well last season and I see him building off of that. (Barring no injuries)

Baertschi - Had a very good point streak to end the season. This year he will be given more ice time and PP time. He will be given chances to succeed.

Berra - I truly believe he will become one of our two goalies at one point in this season. Guy is extremely competitive and will earn a spot.

I think we will have lots of guys trying to do things individually to garner points and improve their stock. This will make for exciting hockey, but the losses will pile on. Unfortunately, we will not be as awful as we all hope we can be.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Agreed. I think most people in this thread have this thought. Based strictly on odds, there is a better chance the Flames finish 1-29 vs. finishing 30th, even if they are the favorites to finish 30th.

Yeah, I'd definitely take the bet. The Flames are 1 of 6 teams all likely to finish last. Realistically the Flames odds of finishing dead last are 1/6 to 1/10. Your co-worker is offering you 50/50. That's a good bet.

Plus you get the added bonus of having something to cheer for at the end of the season.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Kickazzflames

I think we will have lots of guys trying to do things individually to garner points and improve their stock. This will make for exciting hockey, but the losses will pile on. Unfortunately, we will not be as awful as we all hope we can be.

Don't lump me in there. I am hoping for the kids to surprise the fecal matter out of everyone, and make the post season. Do I expect that? Of course not. I do live in reality after all. But, as Professor Farnsworth says, "A man can dream..."

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

worst roster in the league, debatable but entirely possible. however, those who are saying they will not finish last are still closer to the truth than those who say they will. even if Calgary is the front-runner at 30% chance of last place suckage, it's still more than twice as likely that they don't. that's why it's a good investment to bet that they finish above 30.

Stempniak-Stajan-Cammalleri
Hudler-Backlund-Glencross
Baertschi-Knight-Jones
Galiardi-Monahan/Horak/Reinhart/McGrattan/Jackman

Brodie-Wideman
Giordano-SOB
Cundari-Breen/Butler/Smith/Russell

Ramo
Macdonald
Berra

vs

Versteeg-Matthias-Fleischmann
Huberdeau-Matthias-Kopecky
Howden-Barkov-Upshall
Goc-Bjugstad-Shore/Selleck etc

Campbell-Gudbranson
Jovo-Kulikov
Gilroy-Petrovic/Weaver

Markstrom
Clemmenson

I know nothing about their center arrangements so don't take those lines to be worth much. But I look at the Panthers roster and see a team that can hit its upswing earlier than Calgary will.

I get that the odds are in favor of it not happening. I'd still bet the $100, it's not going to sink you.

[Jake]

As we discovered last year, being the worse team in the league is actually pretty difficult to do, so I wouldn't take the bet. Oilers fans seem to think coming in last is easy, but the Oilers are in a league of their own when it comes to sucking. I don't think the Flames are any worse than last years team. We'll miss Bouwmeester because the D is brutal, but Iginla and Kiprusoff didn't do much of anything. I'd bet on a 3-6th last finish again.

[Fire]

It's going to be tough to be worse than Florida. I think the only way the Flames finish last is if Ramo and Berra crap the bed big time.

[calgaryred]

I predict the Flames hang around the basement until they are out of the playoffs, then go on their best winning streak of the season finishing at around 24th or 25th.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

I predict the Flames hang around the basement until they are out of the playoffs, then go on their best winning streak of the season finishing at around 24th or 25th.

If they do, it'll be because their kids found their footing as the season wore on. Which generally doesn't happen. I can see the team getting off to a better start this year, but fading once we get past the 20 game mark. They're going to make mistakes kids make.

They won't go on a run midway through the year because a bunch of vets who like being comfortable with their buddies want to hoodwink the GM into giving them another year to 'get it right'.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

Agreed. There are too many variables involved to guarantee that any one team could be worse than the others.

I took the bet.

Make sure you differentiate between finishing last and picking first

(hopefully only the latter happens)

[GirlySports]

I think these kids with a full training camp will do well.

Last year - no training camp, injuries, new coach, new system, trading people out, bandaids coming in.

And they finished 25th.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by timbit

Hornqvist and Wilson missed considerable time with injury last season.
Look at their forwards again. They added Stalberg and Nystrom as well as Filip Forsberg at the deadline. Much better than the Flames current roster of forwards. Wilson Cullen Legwand and Fisher at C.

Rinne is a world class goaltender.

If you honestly think they have a better group of forwards than us I have no idea what to say. Stalberg is not that great, Nystrom is a grinder, and Forsberg has shown nothing. We will see but I would make a substantial bet the Flames outscore Nashville this season.

[GirlySports]

Flames will outscore a lot of teams since Hartley will push offensively with young energy.
Flames also might give up the most goals this season.

[Stay Golden]

On paper the Flames are JMO a 27-30 place team. It all comes down to how much compete will be within this roster.
I just hope we see some young individuals have break through season so we can look to the future with some real potential.
Sven
Backlund
Brodie
Cundari
Reinhart
Knight
Monahan?
Hanowski ?
Wotherspoon?
Ramo or Berra show there is real potential for a bonafide #1 Starter.
That is kind of how i will take in this season. Expectations in the standings for me are low.

It is probably better for the rebuild if the Flames do finish 27-30th.

[Flashpoint]

Take the bet. Odds are we won't finish 30th.

The team will be brutal, but there are going to be a lot of guys fighting for jobs. There isn't going to be any "quit" in this team. So it's far more likely we'll be better than SOMEBODY.

Whatever his flaws, Hartley is a decent coach. He'll get more mileage out of this roster than most.

[Stay Golden]

There is too much care in this city for the Flames to finish dead last 30th.

[return to the red]

the Flames have one thing that they haven't had for many years and that's competition, No roster spot is secured.

Playoffs no, but I think this team has enough competitors to NOT finish last.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by return to the red

the Flames have one thing that they haven't had for many years and that's competition, No roster spot is secured.

True — and not many roster spots will be secure even after the season starts. Looks as if there will be a fair number of guys ineligible for waivers. That means the fear of being sent down to Abbotsford will motivate a lot of players. And the hope of being called up to the NHL will motivate the guys in Abbotsford who are on tap to replace them. I expect to see an unusual number of call-ups and demotions during the season.

That extra roster flexibility will give the coaching staff some wiggle room. In years past, if a player went cold, they had to play him anyway and hope he snapped out of it. This year, if a player goes cold, they can demote him and replace him with a hot AHLer. That alone may help them squeeze out a few extra points in the standings, which could be the difference between 30th and, say, 26th.

[JeanLucPicard]

I bet the Flames almost make the playoffs but end up at 10th