What do you want out of this season? Pick or Playoffs? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

HOWITZER · 10-10-2013, 07:23 AM

If the team is going to push for the playoffs, then in my opinion they need to do so without trading away picks/prospects. This "rebuild" will do no good if all they do is go back to the old ways.

Also, again picking in that "bubble" of being 9th/10th place team is not good, because then we don't have playoffs and we don't have a high pick.

I want to see the flames pick a great player high in the draft that can add to what we already have, but if they can make the playoffs, that would not hurt the team going forward. But I think just missing the playoffs is worst case scenario.

Someone made mention that making the playoffs would make the team more attractive to free agents. That's great, but free agency doesn't win you the cup (Minnesota, Philadelphia). FA is for teams that need that one extra piece. We're years from needing that one extra piece.

kehatch · 10-10-2013, 07:24 AM

Playoffs. Not for any short term enjoyment. But because it would validate how good the prospects are and show we were that much closer to turning the corner.

That said, I still think a pick is more likely. Nobody wants to talk about it. But the Flames aren't going to have a half of a dozen PPG players at the end of the season. At some point the puck will (probably) stop going in of us. But the chances are a lack of D, goal tending, and experienced forwards means we are still going to have trouble keeping it out of our own net.

bubbsy · 10-10-2013, 07:27 AM

the goal should always be to win games, the only difference is at what cost you are willing to pay to invest more in winning now.

so keep winning, it's great, but let's not be throwing assets to go all-in just yet.

Poe969 · 10-10-2013, 08:33 AM

Personally I'd say picks just because I don't have enough faith in this team. There are a few reasons why I say that; first off, I think Ekblad is going to be a franchise player, second I don't want to see this team shoot for 8th again because that's what they've been doing year after year and it's only gotten worse. And for all the people who say that "once you make it in, it's a new season" No, it's not. The hawks dominated during the regular season last year and they didn't take a month off or make changes because the playofss are a "new season" they dominated there too. If you limp into the playoffs, you're going to limp out faster then you got there.

That being said, I would LOVE for the current team to keep it up and dominate the west and be a stanly cup favourite, I just don't see it. I would rather them build for the future, trade away vets for picks instead of the opposite and develop tallent. I want the Flames to win the cup more than I want a good pick, I just don't see it happening this year.

So to answer the question.....it depends.

Table 5 · 10-10-2013, 08:38 AM

I want us to build for the Stanley Cup, not just the playoffs. "Anything can happen" almost never does.

Whatever happens, I hope it's with the long term in mind and with the growth of the young kids. The last thing I want to happen is for this team to get close to making the playoffs, and management trading away picks for short term help thinking we are close.

Resolute 14 · 10-10-2013, 08:41 AM

Anyone who says "pick" quite simply has effed up priorities.

Vinny01 · 10-10-2013, 08:42 AM

Too many things need to go right to make playoffs. I just can't see it happening unless we get Vezina goaltending and maybe Monahan hits 70+ pts and Sven gets 30 goals. We are catching teams by surprise that won't last much longer

Regorium · 10-10-2013, 08:46 AM

Playoffs for sure.

However, if we're in 12th place and mathematically eliminated, you bet your ass I'm going to be cheering for losses.

memphusk · 10-10-2013, 08:50 AM

Playoffs. Every year, forever.

moon · 10-10-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Anyone who says "pick" quite simply has effed up priorities.

Of course anyone that doesn't agree with you can only do so because they have "effed up priorities."

I want the team to win the Stanley Cup and I think a fluke run to the 8th spot in the conference hurts the teams chances going forward of winning the Cup.

I will gladly take the short term "pain" of missing the play-offs and building the team properly if it means better chances of winning the Cup in the future over an "exciting" run at the play-offs that has our moronic management team thinking the team is further along than they are and once again has us add mediocre talent to the rather than the elite level talent this team needs.

Street Pharmacist · 10-10-2013, 09:00 AM

Playoffs

Bourque's Twin · 10-10-2013, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

As of right now I would say pick.

Sure it has been fun watching the team in the first 4 games but to me they have played alright and not really shown that they have "turned it around" or that they are close to being a contender so if they do somehow squeak into the play-offs I think it is likely more of a fluke rather than an actual solid progression leading towards becoming a contender.

Now it is early so if they do show a lot more improvement as the season goes on and for some reason there is evidence that they are close to contender status maybe I change my mind but based on the first 4 games it looks like squeaking into the play-offs would likely result in a big step back the following year and with Feaster as the GM I could see some really dumb moves based on misjudging the talent that would put the rebuild back a few years.

I would still rather see them squeak in to the playoffs because it will show the team that their teamwork and hard work showed results.

Table 5 · 10-10-2013, 09:01 AM

Playoffs this year would be a bonus. But there is no way in hell it should get in the way of the long-term rebuild.

Shooting only for the playoffs is what gets you two decades of mediocrity. Thinking that all you need to do is make it in, and then hope for magical unicorns to do their thing, is what's really "effed up".

nfotiu · 10-10-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

Of course anyone that doesn't agree with you can only do so because they have "effed up priorities."

I want the team to win the Stanley Cup and I think a fluke run to the 8th spot in the conference hurts the teams chances going forward of winning the Cup.

I will gladly take the short term "pain" of missing the play-offs and building the team properly if it means better chances of winning the Cup in the future over an "exciting" run at the play-offs that has our moronic management team thinking the team is further along than they are and once again has us add mediocre talent to the rather than the elite level talent this team needs.

I don't think you fluke into an 8th spot over an 82 game season. If we finished 8th this year, then we are in a decent spot. With the prospects on the horizon and the youth already in the line up we are on a pretty good path to improve for each of the next 3 or 4 years. Finishing last this year may or may not get us that elite talent, but it definitely puts us a couple years behind finishing 8th.

moon · 10-10-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfotiu

I don't think you fluke into an 8th spot over an 82 game season. If we finished 8th this year, then we are in a decent spot. With the prospects on the horizon and the youth already in the line up we are on a pretty good path to improve for each of the next 3 or 4 years. Finishing last this year may or may not get us that elite talent, but it definitely puts us a couple years behind finishing 8th.

Over an 82 game schedule I think you are probably right and I can't imagine this team making the play-offs but if they do make it playing the same way/level they are now and not improving then I think it would be more of a mirage/luck than an actual quality play-off team.

I was thinking of a team like Columbus that almost made it last year on the back of a few games going their way and hot goaltending that made them look like a better team than they actually are. I just don't want to see the Flames management see some hard work and lucky results and think this team is closer to competing for a Cup than they are. Hopefully they look at what is actually going on on the ice and the play rather than solely the results.

IamNotKenKing · 10-10-2013, 09:11 AM

Same as every year - Lord Stanley.

JiriHrdina · 10-10-2013, 09:12 AM

In an 82 game season I don't know that you can "fluke" your way into the playoffs. If you get in - you deserve to be there.

kyuss275 · 10-10-2013, 09:14 AM

As long as they are not trading 1st's, Sven, Monahan, good prospects , then playoffs for me. If they did trade away a 1st or good prospect to try and get the wild card spot i would be pretty pissed.

Ideal world, trade 2 of Cammi, Stempnaik, Stajan, or Hudler at deadline and still make the playoffs.

Mightyfire89 · 10-10-2013, 09:18 AM

The important thing is to continue the rebuild the right way. If they make the playoffs while doing that, obviously I'm all for it.

Table 5 · 10-10-2013, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

In an 82 game season I don't know that you can "fluke" your way into the playoffs. If you get in - you deserve to be there.

No, but you can trade your future away to make it in...kind of like how the Flames were doing for years. I think the HOW is what it comes down to for me....if it's because the young players are pushing and developing enough to make it in, then awesome. If it's because of the vets, or newly acquired vets traded for the future, who are taking time away from the young kids...then I'm a lot less enthusiastic.

Again, the goal should be to win a cup, not to make the playoffs. Getting in is no longer enough. Cinderella teams just don't win cups (and before anyone says anything, no, the Kings were not a Cinderella team).