[Game Takes] Flames 4 Jackets 3

[FlameZilla]

I still expect the Flames to drop a lot of points this season, mostly due to leaky defence & potentially terrifyingly unreliable goaltending. I think we will definitely have a lot of fun watching the forwards' swashbuckling style, but there will be some heartbreaking leads surrendered by the back-end.

If Feaster/Burke (Burkster?) added one powerhouse, crease-clearing defenceman it might make the difference between being a bottom-10 team in the league and being a playoff team. But would that sabotage the rebuild?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I still expect the Flames to drop a lot of points this season, mostly due to leaky defence & potentially terrifyingly unreliable goaltending. I think we will definitely have a lot of fun watching the forwards' swashbuckling style, but there will be some heartbreaking leads surrendered by the back-end.

If Feaster/Burke (Burkster?) added one powerhouse, crease-clearing defenceman it might make the difference between being a bottom-10 team in the league and being a playoff team. But would that sabotage the rebuild?

You mean Sieloff?

[ricardodw]

Columbus cap available for this game: 58M Flames 45M... Columbus missing Horton and the Flames Cammalleri.

[stemit14]

I think this team will surprise a lot of people this year. There's going to be breakdowns from the defence and maybe the goaltending at times but I love that this team is finally, truly a fast paced team. Aside from cammalleri, hudler, and (maybe) baertschi, every forward on this team has a really solid two-way game. I even think baertschi's two-way game is under-rated. There's skill spread out throughout the lineup and grit to match. May not have the superstars yet (Monahan and baertschi sure look like they're on their way though) but the flames are playing a hard, fast-paced game that can give slit of teams fits. This kind of team will dismantle teams like Vancouver this year... Can't wait till Sunday!

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I still expect the Flames to drop a lot of points this season, mostly due to leaky defence & potentially terrifyingly unreliable goaltending. I think we will definitely have a lot of fun watching the forwards' swashbuckling style, but there will be some heartbreaking leads surrendered by the back-end.

If Feaster/Burke (Burkster?) added one powerhouse, crease-clearing defenceman it might make the difference between being a bottom-10 team in the league and being a playoff team. But would that sabotage the rebuild?

How good was the Chicago's goaltending going into last year. They were saving cap space with a tweener (NHL/AHL) with a .903 save %.

Crawford's save % 2011-12 .903 and Macdonald's save % 2012-13 .902


With this Flames team the goalie is not going to get run 10% as much as Kipper and MacDonald were run last year. There will be far less goals tapped in from scrambles as Bouwmeester tries to stick check the forwards standing in front getting 2-3 chances.

Even though preventing and letting in goals is credited to the goalie it is a team effort. This is an area, unlike scoring, that consists mainly of hard work and commitment.

The Flames teams of the last 5 years were much more talented but consistently got out-worked and folded when given any excuse: second game of back to back. ... blowing a 3 goal lead, top player injured.

[Henry Fool]

Preparation and nerves are a big equalizer when teams are playing their first games. You're going to catch some teams flat footed. Can't tell much about how they really match up against other teams yet.

Goalies too. Bobrovski clearly isn't in regular season form yet. Let's remember that this applies to the Flames goalies too.

[Savvy27]

Calgary has a good example to follow in Ottawa. They had a very tough season, moved out some veterans, drafted well and stuck with their own players. It's true that they have much better high end players, but even when those players went down the team found success.

If the Flames falter and finish at the bottom, hopefully they will find a superstar in Ekblad or Reinhart, but even if they are in the middle, they just have to keep developing their own guys and then they can make a trade like the Silfverberg for Ryan deal. The keys to this rebuild are going to be patience and a commitment to their draft picks.

[EYE_Overstand]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Calgary has a good example to follow in Ottawa. They had a very tough season, moved out some veterans, drafted well and stuck with their own players. It's true that they have much better high end players, but even when those players went down the team found success.

If the Flames falter and finish at the bottom, hopefully they will find a superstar in Ekblad or Reinhart, but even if they are in the middle, they just have to keep developing their own guys and then they can make a trade like the Silfverberg for Ryan deal. The keys to this rebuild are going to be patience and a commitment to their draft picks.

And good asset management. Flipping picks for ready prospects... Etc etc. Management has done everything to make this team have a high draft pick. 2nd lowest Cap... No number 1 defenseman... 2-3 goalies with zero #1 starting experience... Colbourne-monahan- Backlund as the centers (excluding the injured Stajan)....


With that said... If the team pulls out points then what can you do? It's good coaching and a team buying in.


We will probably lose to teams like Boston/LA/SJ and rightfully so

[jesters91]

My expectations heading into season were the Flames to finish in the high 60's to low 70's point mark. Taking 3 of a possible 4 points on an eastern road trip to start the season is fantastic but to expect the first year of the rebuild to result anywhere near a playoff position is unrealistic. To be talking about possibly altering the course after two games is foolish.

Carry on.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

And good asset management. Flipping picks for ready prospects... Etc etc. Management has done everything to make this team have a high draft pick. 2nd lowest Cap... No number 1 defenseman... 2-3 goalies with zero #1 starting experience... Colbourne-monahan- Backlund as the centers (excluding the injured Stajan)....


With that said... If the team pulls out points then what can you do? It's good coaching and a team buying in.


We will probably lose to teams like Boston/LA/SJ and rightfully so

Cheer?

[Enoch Root]

I agree the talk about altering the plan (or not altering the plan) is extremely pre-mature.

Love the way they are playing and it looks like the guys are buying in so we can hope/expect it to continue.

However, it is petty much standard fare every year for younger teams and teams with little pressure to get off to good starts. Once the other teams get going, and the dog days of playing an 82 game schedule start to set in, reality takes over.

Despite the great start, I would still be shocked if it can continue beyond maybe the 20 game mark. If it does - awesome! I'll be enjoying it, but I won't be looking for the organization to change course in any way.

One more point - to those 'worried' about too much success resulting in a lesser pick - winning is NEVER bad. Never. The more success they have, the more they grow as players and an organization.

The Flames and the Heat are 2-0-1 combined so far and I hope they keep the wins coming.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by jesters91

My expectations heading into season were the Flames to finish in the high 60's to low 70's point mark. Taking 3 of a possible 4 points on an eastern road trip to start the season is fantastic but to expect the first year of the rebuild to result anywhere near a playoff position is unrealistic. To be talking about possibly altering the course after two games is foolish.

Carry on.

In a salary cap system like the NHL has where the cap is lower than it has been in years, it would be foolish to surmise that any team would be out of the question for the playoffs. Talent wise, we are below average. However, work ethic and a higher than expected performance from unknown quantities (of which we have many) could lead to any number of results. If anything, it would be foolish to think playoffs are out of the question. Teams over-perform and under-perform every single year, and with a middling level of talent and a solid system, it is entirely realistic the team could make the playoffs.
Likely? No.
A realistic possibility? Of course.

Carry on.

[Itse]

Win = closer to being a respectable hockey team again
Lose = better draft pick.

This is the perfect time to just enjoy the hockey.

[vilzeh]

Even my friends said it's fun to watch Flames play, they do not like the Flames, I know it hurt a lot when they said it.