Expectations for 2014-15 Season

[driveway]

I am seeing exactly what I want to see the Flames do. And I am completely happy with everything that's going on with the franchise. I think they are approaching the rebuild exactly as they should. We've had one full season of being a bottom-dweller, based on the experiences of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, which are clearly the franchises we are trying to emulate, we're looking at two to three more seasons in the basement.

From 02-03 to 08-09 Chicago had 79, 59, 65, 71, 88, then 104 points.
From 06-07 to 09-10 LA had 68, 71, 79, and then 101 points.
From 01-02 to 06-07 Pittsburgh went 69, 65, 58, 58, then 105 points.

If you pro-rate our 2012-13 42 points in 48 games, we had a 72 point season. So, 72, then 77. If we follow a similar pattern, which is I think the best-case scenario, we'll see two more lousy 70-point and lower seasons and then sudden, explosive improvement, which would be timed pretty nicely with the arrival and maturation of the young players we acquire whilst basement-dwelling.

The example I'd point to (which some posters on here seem to be indicating is either possible, or desirable) of who we don't want to emulate is the Panthers, who had seasons of 66, 60, 70, and 75 points from 00-01 to 03-04, then showed marked, but not colossal improvement from 05-06 to 08-09 with seasons of 85, 86, 85, and 93 points failing to make the playoffs in every one of those years.

Again, I love what the Flames are doing, I just think people who hope for, or expect us to, compete for a playoff spot this year are morons.

Also, the Oilers have gone 62, 62, 74, 77 (pro-rated), 67. They are behind schedule because they are no good.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

I expect a bottom 5 finish again...I see FLA and BUF improving beyond the McDavid race.

CGY, WPG, EDM, CAR are the 4 teams looking the weakest right now.

I thought NJD would be worse last year, and now maybe with Scneider as #1 and Cammi on board they're a little better???

The other teams that could be bad are PHX and NSH... I see a big divide happening in the West this season with a clear Top 8 or 9...not much of a playoff race happening.

I forgot about OTT...they will be the worst team this year.

[saintjohnflames]

I read some of the posts from June 27th and knowing what I know now I think Calgary will finish 10th maybe 9th is the west. I think we will be like the leafs last year. Have a playoff spot for a few months then sink at the end. Remeber at the begining of last year we started off strong and had a decent record. Well I think now with Hiller and Raymond we should see more of that. Hiller is sure to be a better goalie than Ramo and sure will help us secure some wins. The toughness and gritt we added with bollig and DE will make us hard to play against especially at home. The combination of young, toughness and goaltending should make us a middle of the pack dream ruining team. Also expect Johnny G, Bennett and Mono to rip it up #Bennett4Calder

[Fire]

My top 5 for best chances at finishing last:

1. Sabres
2. Oilers
3. Flames
4. Ottawa
5. Carolina

[Money Baer]

I like the additions that both Florida and Buffalo made!

Buffalo: Gionta, Georges, Moulson, Stewart, Meszaros, Neuvirth, + Rookies getting a year older/experience

Florida: Boland, Ekblad, Jokinen, Thornton, Mitchell, Luongo, Montoya, and potentially Lecavalier

I don't see them tanking as bad as last year, but still obviously bottom of the pack. I think Ottawa and Edmonton will be the bottom two, followed by a group of Buffalo, Florida and Calgary for the 3-5 positions...

So in a nutshell, I believe the Flames will finish in the 3-5 range. Probably picking 4th overall again.

1. Ottawa
2. Edmonton
3. Buffalo
4. Calgary
5. Florida

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

I forgot about OTT...they will be the worst team this year.

Not sure how the flames are any better than the Sens this year. Bobby Ryan. Also not sure how Buff and Florida are any better than the Jets, Canes,, or oilers

[theoforever]

My winners are:

1.Buffalo
2.Florida
3.Ottawa
4.Calgary
5.Edmonton

[TheDebaser]

Ottawa plays in the east though, that alone might net them some points in the standings.

[A Shot Wide]

Man it's a weird feeling but I'm kind of glad we're poised to have our worst season ever in one of the best draft classes in recent memory. I'm not one to cheer for losses, but there's a difference between hoping to tank and having realistic expectation about the roster. It looks as though we're going to get our franchise player this year, and McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin are actually within reach, it will be an interesting season to watch for that reason alone.

All I know is if we're going to be at the bottom of the league, better for it to happen at a time like this rather than 3 mediocre draft years like what happened to the Oilers.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by A Shot Wide

Man it's a weird feeling but I'm kind of glad we're poised to have our worst season ever in one of the best draft classes in recent memory. I'm not one to cheer for losses, but there's a difference between hoping to tank and having realistic expectation about the roster. It looks as though we're going to get our franchise player this year, and McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin are actually within reach, it will be an interesting season to watch for that reason alone.

All I know is if we're going to be at the bottom of the league, better for it to happen at a time like this rather than 3 mediocre draft years like what happened to the Oilers.

IMO we just drafted a franchise player in Bennett - he's gonna be a dandy. But with that said, the possibility of drafting McDavid/Eichel, who project to be generational talents, would make this a SCARY good young team. It'd have the makings of a Penguins-like young core.

To be in the conversation of drafting one of those 2 players, in addition to the past 2 drafts we just had, makes this a really interesting season coming up.

[HOWITZER]

Going into last season, I halfheartedly expected the Flames to do what seemingly every analyst predicted, in going 0-82. The first game where the Flames went up 3-0 was such a neat thing and to see the team consistently battle for the remainder of the season was especially a treat.

Moving into this year though, I just don't think we're going to see much in the line of improvement. I fear regression on the part of Monahan. Cammalleri will be big points that will be hard to make up. There is no Stempniak type player to start the year off on the right wing.

On the other hand, goaltending is arguably going to be better. I expect Giordano/Brodie/Hudler/Backlund to have similar seasons (with maybe slight regression). But my biggest fear is we lack punch. We lack game changing playmakers that can grind out goals or momentum-shifting plays.

While last season was the season of one goal games, I think this one won't be as nice. I still fully expect the team to keep pressing every game, but I don't think they'll keep it as close or as interesting as they did all through last season. The west has seemingly improved even more (I don't know how) over the start of the summer, and it will be that much more difficult to keep up.

[Hackey]

Seems like a lot of people are predicting Monohan to regress. I definitely see him improving. I don't see Gio putting up the same offensive numbers. I really hope we have at least one surprise rookie. Baertschi or Gaudreau preferably.

[TKB]

Calgary and Buffalo finish well behind the pack and its not even a debate.

[Jason14h]

Calgary and Buffalo finish well behind the pack and its not even a debate.

I think Carolina will be down there and Trade E.Staal this season.

But in the West I really don't see how we have a chance with our lineup!

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Seems like a lot of people are predicting Monohan to regress. I definitely see him improving.

I would (and do) totally expect a sophomore slump. Especially given the fact that he'll play more un-sheltered minutes this year and other teams will be keying in on him. Pretty standard stuff. He'll get better throughout his career. Not worried about that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TKB

Calgary and Buffalo finish well behind the pack and its not even a debate.

Ottawa will make it a debate.

as for your Oilers, I see an 8 or 9 point improvement

[stemit14]

I'm much more optimistic than most others about this season... Remember that the biggest struggle the flames faced was having two goalies adjusting to the NHL game for the first half of the season... Plus the loss of giordano for a month.

I really hope gaudreau and/or baertschi make the team and earn significant minutes... Not just the last 25 seconds of the powerplay.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I would (and do) totally expect a sophomore slump. Especially given the fact that he'll play more un-sheltered minutes this year and other teams will be keying in on him. Pretty standard stuff. He'll get better throughout his career. Not worried about that.

I suppose it depends on your definition of success/failure/improvement/regress but strictly from a point total perspective I expect him to improve.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TKB

Calgary and Buffalo finish well behind the pack and its not even a debate.

it "wasn't a debate" last season either

well above the bottom 3...10 points in fact

one win less than Vancouver, shall I go on?

[Mass_nerder]

I think Carolina will be the worst. I see us in the 27th to 24th area.
Even if we see some good performances by young guys, and continued good play from our more established guys, we're going to be bottom 2-3 in the west based on our roster versus the rest of the west.
I can only really see us being ahead of Edmonton and maybe Winnipeg.