Assessment of Flames

[bettman]

Seems to be a decent analysis.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/c...ing-right-way/

[TurnedTheCorner]

Yeah, no way I'm giving a Sportsnet article a page view.

[Street Pharmacist]

It's pretty good

[Yrebmi]

Very positive Flames writeup.
Not so subtle jabs at the oilers. Nice

[Flames Draft Watcher]

And from an Edmonton scribe no less

[saillias]

It's been odd to talk to Oil fans lately - they're so spiteful towards their own organization that they forgot to hate us. Haven't seen as much good will from Mulletville since the 04 run.

[ah123]

Feaster's comment about the goal being making the playoffs even during the rebuild makes sense now. It gives the players a collective goal to reach, rather than focussing on padding their stats.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Really good article encapsulating what most people have been saying in the PGTs this season.

Though the Flames are losing, it is hard not to like them.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by ah123

Feaster's comment about the goal being making the playoffs even during the rebuild makes sense now. It gives the players a collective goal to reach, rather than focussing on padding their stats.

I don't think that was ever a 'goal' really. The real goal was to go out there working hard every night and compete, not roll over and die. I think management had seen enough of the team post-lockout that would come out and give half-efforts and not go anywhere. I think part of the rebuild was not just the talent, but the culture on the team, and it is going back to the early 2000's team of hard-work.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Hoping they can pick things up a bit, honestly. Still fun to watch, and the work ethic and never say die attitude is fantastic.

But after starting 4-2-2, last 10 are 2-7-1. I don't think either record is an accurate representation of this team. The results for this team should be better than the last 10.

[The Yen Man]

Not a bad article, but I'm biased because it speaks well of the Flames. In another light, this article is as much a frustration rant from an Oiler faithful as it is an article praising the Flames. The guy trashes the Oilers every chance he gets.

[ricardodw]

This is a great re-build. The team is more supportable/cheer-able than the teams of the last 4 years.... well since Bouwmeester became a Flame and Phanuef was traded away.

After almost a quarter of the season gone they haven't stunk out the joint or just mailed in no effort after falling down by 2 goals.

There are virtually no players playing below expectations..... Maybe Glencross but even he was playing somewhat in the range that he has established.

Brodie is doing great in his first real year as a top-4 d-man. Wideman and Hudler are playing great after being very disappointing UFA signings last year.

Cammalleri is putting up goal totals that will bring back a mid-round 1st round pick at the trade deadline. Not much of a reach that he will have 30 goals at the trade deadline.

The new guys: Jones, Galliardi, Bouma, Monahan, Russell, Colbourne have critical mass and have changed the way the Flames play hockey.

SOB is the only addition that hasn't stepped up and he just got moved back in the line-up by Smid, who will be a Flame the next time they make the playoffs.


If they can keep playing hard and end up with a lottery draft pick that would be the best possible hope for this season.

[djsFlames]

All I know is I want to see more games like those in Colorado and Chicago, and less games like last night. This team is better than the stinkfest they came out with against the Sharks, point or not.

[Vinny01]

The rebuild has to be going as planned right now. In fact I have regained much of my lost faith in Feaster with the way he has handled things. On top of that Ken King stepping aside from the hockey side to let Burke take over was a brilliant move.

Feaster has built a roster that has very little talent when compared to most other teams. They look like a 30th place team on paper. They have all bought into the hard working team game that has allowed them to be competitive night in and night out. I think their early record was primarily due to the opponents under estimating the Flames but the rest of the league now knows that you will have to show up and play hard when facing off against the Flames.

The flames have ample cap space, some solid trade chips, tons of cap space, and a culture of hard work. They are doing a great job of not making the same mistakes that were made up north

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I don't think that was ever a 'goal' really. The real goal was to go out there working hard every night and compete, not roll over and die. I think management had seen enough of the team post-lockout that would come out and give half-efforts and not go anywhere. I think part of the rebuild was not just the talent, but the culture on the team, and it is going back to the early 2000's team of hard-work.

I think you've hit the nail exactly on the head!

...And yet, what's a little bit frustrating at this point is that the Flames could easily have 3-4 more wins, if not for a poor powerplay or non-clutch goaltending...

But, as part of the rebuild, you take these things in stride (for now) and hope that team management addresses those needs going forward. (I would argue that Joey Mac being sent down was an example of this.)

[Itse]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

There are virtually no players playing below expectations.....

I would say that Jones has been a slight disappointment. He's just not very good. Not bad either, and but I'd love to see him get pushed down the depth chart.

I'm also disappointed in Backlund still not taking a step forward, as I basicly said in the thread.

I'm slightly disappointed in MacDonald.

That would make it:
Jones, Backlund, Jones, Glencross, MacDonald, SOB. Heck, I'll put Galiardi there too. Kind of meh.

But yeah, that's still a pretty short list And really none of them are huge disappointments. More like a list of guys that didn't grab a chance

[spennywalks]

expected more out of Backlund, but not really sure if he has been put in the best situation to succeed. i would like to see him playing with more skilled players and playing on the power play.

[Badgers Nose]

+1 happy fan here.

Even when they play a couple of crap periods like last night, they are finding a way to get points. They really don't quit. I like!

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by bettman

Seems to be a decent analysis.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/c...ing-right-way/

The Calgary Flames are Canada’s most loveable hockey team, the new Pesky Sens. They work their tails off every single night.

When you are in Year 1 of The Great Rebuild, this is a place to start. Or perhaps, as Flames fans look up the highway—and down in the standings—at all those sweethearts in Edmonton, it is THE place to start. “

[flames_fan_down_under]

Really like the quote by Hartley:

“It’s a way of life we’re trying to instill,” Hartley declared after practice the day before. “The Monahans, the Brodies, the Backlunds, the Baertschis, the Colbornes. My job is to make sure they grow straight in this organization. I don’t want to create monsters. Guys who feel because they score 10 goals, there’s an entitlement. Whether you’re the most talented guy on the team, or the least talented guy, hard work is not an option.”

A culture change is extremely important and Hartley has taken a good approach to this IMO.