What will make you consider this season a success for the Flames?

[gvitaly]

Half way through the season, already some of the excitement from the summer faded away. Some expectations have been reduced and others expanded. The Flames' aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup constitute the ultimate success; meanwhile the show up north constitutes the ultimate failure, but where lays the line between success and failure?

On the one hand, Bob Hartley loves to point out that this is a marathon and not a sprint, but will simply crossing the finish line and making the playoffs be enough? especially once we consider the relative weakness of the Pacific division. At the same time, will the Flames need to win more than one round in order to show improvement and make this season a success?

On the other hand, this is a rebuilding team as we all love to point out. A big part of what constitutes success should be attributed to player development and the development of this team's culture. Will making the playoffs on the back of Gaudreau and Brodie be enough or do we need players like Monahan and Hamilton play like more consistent difference makers? At the same time do we see enough improvement in team attributes such as discipline, special teams, 3rd period comebacks and so on? or should we just concentrate on individual success?

Finally, it all comes down to what do you value most, and I would love to hear your opinions.

[Gaskal]

Barely making the playoffs is the best 'success' scenario
Barely missing the playoffs and getting a top 5 pick is the worst 'success' scenario

[GranteedEV]

A) Laine/Matthews/Puljujarvi/Chychrun
B) Take the Kings to 7 in 2nd Round
C) Oilers don't get Laine/Matthews/Puljujarvi/Chychrun

Any of the above. That or Bennett back at center and finishes the season putting up tons of points.

[Harry Lime]

I would want the GM to treat this as a rebuilding year, and the coach and team to treat it as a playoff year.

I want to see us as sellers during the year, and the guys like Nakladal, Shore, Grant, Wotherspoon to step in and play out of their minds to prove that they are NHL talents.

I would take entertaining hockey over a playoff spot this year (although playoffs would be nice). Next year is another story. I would have much higher expectations.

[Erick Estrada]

Getting one of those big wingers in the draft. I don't overly care about them making the playoffs in what's close to a historically bad division as IMO it's akin to putting lipstick on a pig. The team is still a ways away from being a true contender to win the division and make some serious playoff noise and that's what I care about.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Getting one of those big wingers in the draft. I don't overly care about them making the playoffs in what's close to a historically bad division as IMO it's akin to putting lipstick on a pig. The team is still a ways away from being a true contender to win the division and make some serious playoff noise and that's what I care about.

On the one side I agree with you, because I remember the Sutter years when the message was "Get into the playoffs and anything can happen". Eventually it ended with a couple of first round exits and nothing to show for it. However, this team has been steadily improving throughout this season. At the same time it still has a lot of players that have taken a step back from last season. If some of these players find their game back the Flames become a much more dangerous team. One can dream at least

[killer_carlson]

it's a good question. The team seems stuck in neutral.

For me i want to see our prospects developed and push veterans. I want to see Bennett at center at a minimum.

[Vinny01]

Making the playoffs is a success. Lucking out and winning a top 3 pick would be nice if we miss

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

it's a good question. The team seems stuck in neutral.

For me i want to see our prospects developed and push veterans. I want to see Bennett at center at a minimum.

Yeah there need to be some changes made to the team before we are a contender. So prospects developed and some veterans moved is good for me. I am hopeful by the end of the year Bennett shows he can be a top line player.

[DoubleK]

Figuring out the goaltender situation. The Flames haven't had confidence between the pipes since Kipper left.

[flamesfever]

I would consider this year to be a success if:

1. We end up with a first string goalie...possibly Ramo

2. We have a healthy cap situation at the end of the year

3. We make room for our prospects to move up

4. We add the skill sufficient to have 2 legitimate top 6 lines

5. Our defence continues to improve

[ComixZone]

One significant step forward for the organization. One of the following would be nice:

1) Win a few more games in round 2
2) Draft top 5
3) Make a substantial roster addition in the appropriate age range (18-25)

[gvitaly]

To be honest I am quite surprised at how many posters do not consider playoffs to be a requirement of success this season. Especially once we compare it to our expectations this summer(for me they were getting to the WCF and trying to win the division). The Flames currently are a 0.500 team when we compare it to previous years it results in the 22nd-25th spot in the standings. Not nearly good enough, but we are two points away from a playoff spot and are a part of a very exciting playoffs race. I guess what will really make this season a success in my eyes would be the Flames playing every game in order to earn the 2 points, and not wait for the other team to give them away.

[Flash Walken]

Successfully turning pending free agents into future draft picks or prospects.

[saillias]

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[dammage79]

I'm not cheering for losses but I'm also not carrying any expectations of playoffs this year. Or at least major ones.

A success for me this year for the Flames means shaping the roster further, addressing the core needs of the franchise. That means RW, G and cutting loose some dead weight.

[Huntingwhale]

I'd like to see Treliving deal away some of the older players for assets.
I'd like to see the coaching staff adapt mid-game when the opposition starts to take away the stretch pass option. I like Hartley as a coach, but he doesn't seem to adapt his strategy mid game.
I'd like to see Monahan get a bit of an edge to his game.
I'd like to see Ferland solidify himself as a top 9 forward
I'd like to see some of our prospects get a shot with the big team for a couple games.

Basically I'd consider the year a success if the team makes the playoffs. But more so, if the team actually takes advantage of this 3rd year of the rebuild and the players make progress. It would be a waste of a year if everyone stayed the same and no one really improved.

[calgarywinning]

Love to see the stupid Anaheim curse end as we club them thoroughly in that Honda center

[keenan87]

I just want to see the young guys continue to get experience. It would be nice to make the playoffs this year but next year is when I will have that expectation for the team. As for right now, still lots of work to do to fix the roster (we desperately need another 1-2 top 6 forwards and we need to dump some expensive contracts).

[Frank MetaMusil]

Nothing beats playoff hockey. I hope the Flames make it again, as I do every season.

A success this offseason would be not signing a "low risk, potential upside" player like Raymond/Bollig/Setoguchi. Losing character guys like Byron for nothing doesn't improve the team.