Would the Flames make the Playoffs in the east?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by strombad

If Calgary was part of the Eastern conference, they would be travelling across the continent for all 41 of their away games, which would make them the only team to do that in the entire NHL.

Oh yes, I see what you're saying. I thought it was a general statement on the Eastern Conference.

[Hockey_Ninja]

We'd be in the bubble but no we wouldn't make it.

[djsFlames]

They would play an easier schedule against mainly more "finesse" teams that wouldn't make them look challenged because of their size (except Boston), which would allow for them to thrive more often than not with the current style of play. And arguably, after the same amount of games, would have a better record than they have now and be right in the playoff bubble. Playing Florida, Carolina, Devils, lowly Philly, Caps (who they've played well against), Islanders all the time? Oh yeah, you'd bet they'd be in contention.

Problem for the Flames is that the league has fallen into a strange situation where all the power lies in the West right now. The scale is very unbalanced for elite level teams vs middle of the road teams, where the East has clearly two upper echelon teams and the West has 7, arguably even 8, which then occupy all the western playoff berths to begin with. It puts the Flames at a severe disadvantage.

The power in the league is just very lopsided, and it hasn't been this way in many years. The east right now is dominated by very average teams that the Flames could compete with most nights, some without even putting in a full 60 minutes of hard work, which is the way they must play most nights against these western teams to find any success, which can be very tiring for a team lacking in top end talent.

So definitely, they'd be in the 6-10 range in the east, easily. I don't see how anyone could argue that. Their record vs the east says enough.

[You Need a Thneed]

The eastern conference is so bad, even the Buffalo Sabres could make the playoffs if they were in the East.

[wretched34]

I don't know if the Flames would be any better off in the East. If you look at Detroit, who has been a dominant force in the West for so long, they are on pace for their worst season in nearly 25 years. Has the age of the team finally caught up to them, or is the very different style of play just to much to get over so quickly?
When you build a western team, you build for size, strength and grit, the east, is much the opposite, they are built for speed and finesse. So yes, the Eastern conference teams struggle on western road swings, because they aren't used to being punished physically night in and night out, but can a physical team succeed consistently against the smaller, faster teams. Eventually speed and finesse will find holes in a physical game.
I think very few teams could transition well between conferences. Boston and Chicago being the 2 I think would succeed no matter where they play. They are built for an all around game, not a certain style.

[djsFlames]

I don't think we're currently built like a western team.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by wretched34

I don't know if the Flames would be any better off in the East. If you look at Detroit, who has been a dominant force in the West for so long, they are on pace for their worst season in nearly 25 years. Has the age of the team finally caught up to them, or is the very different style of play just to much to get over so quickly?
When you build a western team, you build for size, strength and grit, the east, is much the opposite, they are built for speed and finesse. So yes, the Eastern conference teams struggle on western road swings, because they aren't used to being punished physically night in and night out, but can a physical team succeed consistently against the smaller, faster teams. Eventually speed and finesse will find holes in a physical game.
I think very few teams could transition well between conferences. Boston and Chicago being the 2 I think would succeed no matter where they play. They are built for an all around game, not a certain style.

the wings barley made the playoffs in the west last season...they are getting older and lost the greatest d-man of all time. Come on man the west is like .700 Vs. the East. Not saying the Flames would make it but it is easier in the east. Look at the wildcard teams in the west

[Steve Bozek]

If they were in the east they would probably finish with more points, but miss the playoffs in a worse draft position. I prefer the way it looks like the season will end - a hardworking team losing honourably but consistently against very strong teams, and ending up with a lottery pick.

[macrov]

Originally Posted by wretched34

I don't know if the Flames would be any better off in the East. If you look at Detroit, who has been a dominant force in the West for so long, they are on pace for their worst season in nearly 25 years. Has the age of the team finally caught up to them, or is the very different style of play just to much to get over so quickly?
When you build a western team, you build for size, strength and grit, the east, is much the opposite, they are built for speed and finesse. So yes, the Eastern conference teams struggle on western road swings, because they aren't used to being punished physically night in and night out, but can a physical team succeed consistently against the smaller, faster teams. Eventually speed and finesse will find holes in a physical game.
I think very few teams could transition well between conferences. Boston and Chicago being the 2 I think would succeed no matter where they play. They are built for an all around game, not a certain style.

This is actually a very interesting view point I think. He's suggesting that grit and physicality are more likely to win a single game, but in a series speed and finesse teams can adjust and would then have an advantage.

So the West might be better year after year in the regular season, but when teams meet in the playoffs, the scf outcome would be a lot more even...

So...who wants to crack the numbers over the past 10 years..what's the regular season record east vs west? And what's the scf finals record east vs west?

[McG]

yes.

more games against eastern teams means more points, especially against fellow bubble teams.

and with less travel...

[Poe969]

And we would end up playing the B's or pens and those 4 games wouldn't help much with anything. I would us rather be a bottom 3 team in the league right now

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dino7c

the wings barley made the playoffs in the west last season...they are getting older and lost the greatest d-man of all time. Come on man the west is like .700 Vs. the East. Not saying the Flames would make it but it is easier in the east. Look at the wildcard teams in the west

I don't think the Red Wings would make the playoffs in the West, and would likely be out of it by more than just a handful of points.