Flames goaltending is killing our chances at McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin: Discuss

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

We have different notions of core. I've always understood core to mean the 5 or 6 players who get the most ice time. The difference makers. I see the following future core players in place:

Monahan
Bennett
Brodie

Maybe one of Gaudreau or Baertschi.

Of course, players can surprise and become core players, the way Brodie has. On the other hand, players can disappoint. Just look at Oilers fans counting their chickens before they've hatched. And I'm sure Jets fans figure they have it made in the shade with Kane, Scheifele, Trouba, and Ehlers. Maybe they do. I wouldn't be so sure.

I still think the Flames are 1-2 blue-chip prospects away from having an elite prospect base.

I agree with you other than Baertschi. I think if we can find another gem in this years draft. And it sounds like that's a pretty good possibility. We should eb looking not too bad.

[Enoch Root]

Buffalo posted 10 shots tonight. Ten! Against Phaneuf and the Leafs.

Meanwhile, the Flames looked like solid playoff contenders against the east-leading Habs.

And yet some people on here think the Sabres are doing it right and the Flames are screwing it up.

#mindbottling

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Buffalo posted 10 shots tonight. Ten! Against Phaneuf and the Leafs.

Meanwhile, the Flames looked like solid playoff contenders against the east-leading Habs.

And yet some people on here think the Sabres are doing it right and the Flames are screwing it up.

#mindbottling

Maybe we should make a bet on which team makes the conference finals first?

[Stanathan]

I hope Buffalo loses the draft lottery.

They are an embarrassment to hockey. I hope karma taints the owner all the way down to the backup goalie.

[djsFlames]

If Buffalo thinks the acquisition of one player is going to turn their entire ship around, then they've got another thing coming.

Like Treliving said, once you tell the players to turn off (or say it's okay to), you can't simply ask them to turn it back on again. It's not going to work that way. There are some serious problems being ingrained in that team as we speak and if the idiots running it think they can flip a switch next season after they've tanked their way to some "saviour" kid, they're gonna see exactly why the Flames are doing it right, while they're going about their rebuild completely wrong. Winning takes commitment each and every night, commitment to getting better, and learning. And never bowing out, even if you're getting blown out. Buffalo will need to have the rest of its roster recycled until that dressing room can learn those things, if they keep up what they're doing.

You play to win, morons.

[Caged Great]

This up coming draft is so good that even if we are picking in the 8-10 range, we will be getting a guy comparable to Bennett/Dal Colle/Ehlers. It really is that good of a draft. I would much rather not be a total complete embarrassment that Carolina, Edmonton, Florida and Buffalo are and get a player that is also very good to add to our roster.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

#mindbottling

[waner]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If Buffalo thinks the acquisition of one player is going to turn their entire ship around, then they've got another thing coming.

Like Treliving said, once you tell the players to turn off (or say it's okay to), you can't simply ask them to turn it back on again. It's not going to work that way. There are some serious problems being ingrained in that team as we speak and if the idiots running it think they can flip a switch next season after they've tanked their way to some "saviour" kid, they're gonna see exactly why the Flames are doing it right, while they're going about their rebuild completely wrong. Winning takes commitment each and every night, commitment to getting better, and learning. And never bowing out, even if you're getting blown out. Buffalo will need to have the rest of its roster recycled until that dressing room can learn those things, if they keep up what they're doing.

You play to win, morons.

Buffalo isn't turning anything off or on they are just a bad roster. The players aren't tanking, the management group just didn't go out and make an effort to add quality vets to the roster to make the team a more competitive team.

Looking at the Sabres roster and Flames the two biggest differences are they signed a below average goalie (Neuwirth) while the Flames got Hiller and they didn't have a stud defenseman in their prime (Gio) like we do. If you took Gio out making our defense Brodie-Russell, Smid-Wideman, Engelland-Diaz and put Neuwirth in for Hiller the Flames would very likely be in Sabres/Canes territory this year.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Maybe we should make a bet on which team makes the conference finals first?

Sabres are a magic jelly bean factory.

Outside of Girgensons and Ristolainen all of their prospects look like big question marks. Zadorov is already talking about wanting to go play in Russia this year.

They'll have McDavid or Eichel which obviously puts them ahead of the game but I don't think they are on a better path than Calgary right now.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Sabres are a magic jelly bean factory.

Outside of Girgensons and Ristolainen all of their prospects look like big question marks. Zadorov is already talking about wanting to go play in Russia this year.

They'll have McDavid or Eichel which obviously puts them ahead of the game but I don't think they are on a better path than Calgary right now.

Reinhart isn't a question mark, he just needs a bit more time. Agree with the rest though

[Vinny01]

Gotta wonder when Hillernis going to get to run with it for a little while. Ramo has been good but Hillernhas been stellar his last 4 games and probably deserves a couple starts in a row

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Like Treliving said, once you tell the players to turn off (or say it's okay to), you can't simply ask them to turn it back on again. It's not going to work that way. There are some serious problems being ingrained in that team as we speak and if the idiots running it think they can flip a switch next season after they've tanked their way to some "saviour" kid, they're gonna see exactly why the Flames are doing it right, while they're going about their rebuild completely wrong. Winning takes commitment each and every night, commitment to getting better, and learning. And never bowing out, even if you're getting blown out. Buffalo will need to have the rest of its roster recycled until that dressing room can learn those things, if they keep up what they're doing.

You play to win, morons.

Why do you think the players are 'turning it off'? They have a lousy roster. This is the NHL. Talent wins games. The coach and players are doing the best with what they have. And what they have isn't nearly as good as the rest of the league. No conspiracy. No failure of culture. Just a weak, weak roster.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Why do you think the players are 'turning it off'? They have a lousy roster. This is the NHL. Talent wins games. The coach and players are doing the best with what they have. And what they have isn't nearly as good as the rest of the league. No conspiracy. No failure of culture. Just a weak, weak roster.

Sure, the players aren't "turning themselves off," but the GM trading away almost every good player on the team and throwing in crappy ones sure shows something.

[darksilver]

I'd rather they didn't tank every season for a good draft pick. This team already has great potential with the rookies it has. We don't need to turn this franchise into the Oilers working in what, the 7th year of their 5 year rebuild?

[Hackey]

He traded UFAs that wernt goin to sign there. Gionta, Gorges, Meszarjos and resigning Moulson were decent moves as well. You can't turn things around over night. I don't think their purposely trying to lose as much as some of you would like to believe. Someone will always be in 30th.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Hackey

He traded UFAs that wernt goin to sign there. Gionta, Gorges, Meszarjos and resigning Moulson were decent moves as well. You can't turn things around over night. I don't think their purposely trying to lose as much as some of you would like to believe. Someone will always be in 30th.

I read that the Bufflao was pushing to have McDavid's junior team play a game in Buffalo this season.

It's been pretty clear what the idea has been since 2012/2013. They pulled the chute hard.

[GioforPM]

Chute.

[FlameZilla]

Tanking is for mullet-heads.

I'd rather the team keep its focus on establishing & developing a world class scouting network. A team which unearths elite talent, regardless of where it finishes in the standings, is the ideal franchise. Properly developing that talent is just as important, as we've seen ourselves let down in the past by top prospects who never lived up to the hype.

Landing a McDavid would be nice, but it's not essential to the winning formula.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by waner

Buffalo isn't turning anything off or on they are just a bad roster. The players aren't tanking, the management group just didn't go out and make an effort to add quality vets to the roster to make the team a more competitive team.

Looking at the Sabres roster and Flames the two biggest differences are they signed a below average goalie (Neuwirth) while the Flames got Hiller and they didn't have a stud defenseman in their prime (Gio) like we do. If you took Gio out making our defense Brodie-Russell, Smid-Wideman, Engelland-Diaz and put Neuwirth in for Hiller the Flames would very likely be in Sabres/Canes territory this year.

No offense, but this is a dumb argument. If we didn't have our best players, we'd be worse? No kidding.

[Erick Estrada]

I do think it's easier to pull off a rebuild in the eastern conference due to the loose style of hockey and lack of elite teams. The entire conference is mostly filled with middling teams which makes for a easier turnaround. The Flames aren't going to be able to sniff the playoffs until they are a very good team in the western conference while the Sabres could be just mediocre in two years and be in the playoffs in the east.