Teams who were expected to do miserably but ended up doing well?

[Cambardi]

So I've read many articles regarding the Flames and their expected placing. I don't wear "rose colored" glasses and like most proclaim; I expect them to finish quite low in the standings. This said, can people think of times and provide examples of teams who were projected to do horribly and completely surprised analysts? Where players caught "lightning in a bottle" and played well above their potential? Where so these players that had inflated their trade value in a year could be traded to other organizations for more youth or prospects. I'll admit at least that I love cheering for an underdog, and that's exactly what the Flames are going to be this year.

Anyways, can people think of any time in the NHL's history where this type of scenario took place. I'd love to hear them.

Regards,

Cambardi

[Winsor_Pilates]

Montreal did this last year, but I don't see it happening often and don't see it happening for us.

[MisterJoji]

Florida the year before last. 2003/04 Flames.

[AC]

Colorado in 2009-2010.

[Cambardi]

Do you think a result of the Finishing higher than projected would be a detriment to "the rebuild" or the opposite.

[#-3]

I had Columbus dead last in the past season. They finished ninth and in a full season may have made the playoffs. I also think Ottawa the year before was a surprise. And Phoenix on there three year playoff run.

[stemit14]

There are lots of examples... Even recent ones. Look at Columbus last year. They were easily picked to finish dead last in the NHL. Look at what happened to Montreal last year or Ottawa the year before that. These things can turn around faster than people think if goaltending is sorted out.

[Iniggywetrust]

I think one of the most common denominators with surprising teams is a young defenseman becoming a superstar. It happen in Ottawa with Karlsson, it happened in Montreal with Subban. Phoenix has a stable of young defensemen.

The other major factor is a strong system with a stellar goaltender.

I think the chances of this happening for the Flames is slim. Only if Bodies takes a huge jump, and Ramo is the second coming on Kipper.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by Cambardi

Do you think a result of the Finishing higher than projected would be a detriment to "the rebuild" or the opposite.

It depends, did we do super well because our players are improving way faster than we expected them (Montreal) to or did they just get lucky (Kind of like washington maybe?)

[You Need a Thneed]

There's a team in the NHL that has done it nearly every season.

[Super-Rye]

Ottawa had a quick turn around a couple years back.

[Cambardi]

I have to agree with all these posts. All this said though, sometimes the mood of CP seems to root the other way. In this I mean that while being realistic about next years outcome I wish I would see more of the thought that they could surprise us all. Don't get me wrong i see it hear and there and by no means am I suggesting that we should plan a parade. It's just nice to remember and see those scenarios that allow us all to...Dream??? ��

[OutOfTheCube]

I remember in 05-06, Buffalo AND Carolina were teams full of rookies and unproven players expected to finish at the bottom of their respective divisions. They ended up having fantastic seasons and playing each other in the conference finals with Carolina going on to be champions.

One can never entirely predict how a team will do in any given season. It's why we all start each year with a little bit of hope, no matter how bad our team is 'projected' to be.

Take Calgary for example. What if Baertschi rapidly progresses to an 80 point player, Brodie is a top two D-man, And Ramo ends up being damn good? Suddenly the team isn't so bad, and stranger things have happened... This is the franchise that saw a second round pick traded for another teams third string goalie that turned the team around from a decade of futility overnight.

[Hockey]

I think it all depends on how the starting goalie for the team does.

Bobrovsky for Columbus, Anderson for Ottawa and Colorado.

[Caged Great]

The surprising teams usually have something exceptional about them. Either they have a great goalie dragging them to heights they shouldn't be at (see bobrovski, Anderson, price) a great coach (see tippett) or players breaking out. Florida is the exception because that division is terrible.

The flames have no legit starter with a track record of good performances in the nhl, so it is doubtful that Ramo will turn into 04 kipper overnight. Our coach tends to be offensively oriented. Usually the coach makes an impact if they play team defense like lemaire or tippett. So, that leaves breakouts that are unexpected. Baertschi would have to be close to a ppg player and one or two others would have to be top line quality as well. Anything can happen, but pinning your hopes on everything being just right will lead to nothing but frustration

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The flames have no legit starter with a track record of good performances in the nhl, so it is doubtful that Ramo will turn into 04 kipper overnight. Our coach tends to be offensively oriented.

To be fair, it was always doubtful that Kipper would turn into '04 Kipper overnight.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Vancouver in 08-09, most expected they would miss the playoffs but they managed to win their division even despite a terrible first half.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Good goalie performances are more often than not a function of team defense plus the extra bit of goalie contribution. Kipper being above average skill wise found good synergy with a developing Flames D under Sutter. Part of the complete organizational philosophical realignment.

Bobrovsky came from flashes of brilliance in an inconsistent PHI team to a consistent defensive structure in CBJ with sporadic offense. Smith in PHX under Tippett improved vs Dallas and Tampa (what a mess!)

So let's not think goaltending makes or breaks the Flames. Despite the fact that Kipper kicked ass.

Vancouver was predicted to be out of the playoffs the year the Sedins emerged. Typical analyst dependence on previous years' results. As much as they are unlikeable.

Florida was a hodgepodge of players cobbled together and the much maligned Brian Campbell contributed (contrasted to Bouw here, coach's philosophy vs playters' aptitudes notwithstanding)

Calgary does not look great on paper, but Brodie acquitted himself well, most of the pieces subtracted were agreed by CP to have issues, and there are a lot of arguably respectable pieces (Cammalleri who had success in Mtl, Glencross, Stajan who was good under Hartley, and Hudler, who has shown flashes). People say Iggy was offensive but did not commit to the 2 way game, Sarich was tough but a step behind, varying thought on Bouw's toughness and clutch play, and the Cervenka experiment showed he had skill in opportunistic situations but did not adapt to the North American game).

So people should look at the organization swinging for the fences the past couple of years, look at the problems deleted as compared to the diminishing of skills, and judge whether Hartley can leverage the remaining team, modest additions, developing prospects, and system issues, to ice a competitive team.

Unfortunately, you can't predict an offensive juggernaut, but if the country club atmosphere was holding back the team, and the coach can find something that works for everyone, perhaps there is hope.

They have not had a checking C the past few years, maybe Knight surprises. I didn't like Bouw's play, maybe their top minute guy isn't top 3 league wide in GA.

It all depends on addition by subtraction and what type of success they find as a group.

I don't think they will be last. And appreciate the intent overall of management, individual transactions aside.

Look forward to puck drop.

[FAN]

I think the common denominator is a new head coach. Montreal last year, Ottawa and St. Louis the previous year. Columbus had a new head coach as well.

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I remember in 05-06, Buffalo AND Carolina were teams full of rookies and unproven players expected to finish at the bottom of their respective divisions.

I think that has more to do with Buffalo and Carolina having players that were better suited to the new NHL.

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Vancouver in 08-09, most expected they would miss the playoffs but they managed to win their division even despite a terrible first half.

They didn't have a new coach but they installed a completely different system.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

One can never entirely predict how a team will do in any given season.

Except Edmonton. You can predict they'll be terrible every year and never be wrong.