How big a deal is missing the playoffs?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I have no issue with missing the playoffs when I know the organization is in good hands and moving in the right direction. We have a wealth of young talent and a great GM. A bit of patience doesn't bother me because ultimately the only thing I really care about is a cup. Those years with Feaster where we were delaying the rebuild and the team was a mess were BY FAR the worst years as a fan for me. This is so refreshing compared to that I am perfectly fine with how things are going including this season. Making the playoffs is irrelevant to me if you don't have a legit chance to win. I think this team is on the verge of being able to actually contend. We just need to be smart, have a bit of luck, and give it a bit of time. I see us competing for a cup in the near future and that to me is the most important thing.

I agree with a lot of you post, but not sure how any fan can really say, all the matters is the cup. If you point is, you don't want the team making irresponsible or short term moves just for a greater chance at playoffs, when those moves don't help make us an actual contender, then I'm with you.

But if your point is you enjoy every season the same unless we win the cup, that seems a little crazy. Every season we've ever made the playoffs and lost first round has been much better than every season we ever missed IMO. And last year, was 1000x more fun as a fan than any season when we just made an appearance.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I agree with a lot of you post, but not sure how any fan can really say, all the matters is the cup. If you point is, you don't want the team making irresponsible or short term moves just for a greater chance at playoffs, when those moves don't help make us an actual contender, then I'm with you.

But if your point is you enjoy every season the same unless we win the cup, that seems a little crazy. Every season we've ever made the playoffs and lost first round has been much better than every season we ever missed IMO. And last year, was 1000x more fun as a fan than any season when we just made an appearance.

The Cup is the only thing that really matters to me but in saying that I appreciate the journey as well. It will be that much more satisfying if/when it happens because you got to watch it build to that point. There were a lot of positives this year that I think help us move in the right direction. That is still exciting and entertaining. So finishing 25th this year is fine with me because there was so much to be excited about. This year was a much funner year than any of the years under Feaster despite our record being better and playing in more "meaingful" games. It is fun to make the playoffs but its exponentially more fun knowing you actually have a legit shot to make noise. 2015 was cool. 2004 was amazing. I realize we were a Cinderella team that year but thats the excitement I'm truly looking for and one season of that is more meaningful to me than 5 seasons like 2015. As long as I see the organization moving in that direction that will always keep me engaged in the team.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Missing the playoffs isn't that big of a deal.

But the Flames didn't just miss the playoffs.

Calgary was within shouting distance of last place in the NHL. And that is a big deal.

The Flames needed a strong push down the stretch to make 26th place, and that is a very VERY different situation from "missing the playoffs".

[CSharp]

For a team rebuild, making the playoffs is a bonus. However, for a team that is a contender and not making the playoffs, that's a huge failure financially for the team, economically for the City, and emotionally for the fans. The Flames making it into the playoffs during a rebuild last year was a huge bonus, especially when the made it into the second round. That was an amazing and successful season IMO. However, to expect them to get in this was a stretch. I really believe that if McDavid sweepstakes wasn't in play last year, maybe the Flames might not even make the playoffs. But who cares, that's history. The Flames need to be better than just a bubble team and build on being a contender for the Cup. Just making the playoffs and exiting in the first round is just almost just as bad as sitting in 9th, 10th, and 11th place in the conference.

[Samonadreau]

Last year we overachieved. This year we underachieved. Fair to assume we are somewhere in the middle of those two and on the right track.

Improve the team by:
1. Acquire a legit starting goaltender
2. See what happens in the draft.
3. Only, and only if the right deal is to be had snag a ufa winger.
4. If Hartley has another year where he seems to be inept at adapting his system and playing the players who deserve to play he has to go.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Last year we overachieved. This year we underachieved. Fair to assume we are somewhere in the middle of those two and on the right track.

Improve the team by:
1. Acquire a legit starting goaltender
2. See what happens in the draft.
3. Only, and only if the right deal is to be had snag a ufa winger.
4. If Hartley has another year where he seems to be inept at adapting his system and playing the players who deserve to play he has to go.

I agree with the premise that we overachieved and then underachieved, but I'd say the actual team is a lot closer to the playoff team we saw year than what we saw this year.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Missing the playoffs isn't that big of a deal.

But the Flames didn't just miss the playoffs.

Calgary was within shouting distance of last place in the NHL. And that is a big deal.

The Flames needed a strong push down the stretch to make 26th place, and that is a very VERY different situation from "missing the playoffs".

5 more wins and they would be in...its a fine line

Anyone who doesn't think goal tending cost the team 5+ wins wasn't watching

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Missing the playoffs isn't that big of a deal.

But the Flames didn't just miss the playoffs.

Calgary was within shouting distance of last place in the NHL. And that is a big deal.

The Flames needed a strong push down the stretch to make 26th place, and that is a very VERY different situation from "missing the playoffs".

Last season the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers both finished 8 points out of a playoff spot. Now they're both in. This season the Calgary Flames finished 10 points out of a playoff spot. That's how I'm looking at it.

The other thing I want to point out is that this year is more parity with no team outright tanking - each two points are harder to come by for almost everybody because the tanking teams suddenly decided to not suck. Below are the bottom 10 teams' point totals last year vs this year:

Bottom Feeder	2015	2016	Points Improvement	Rank Change
Leafs		68	69	+01				-03
Oilers		62	70	+08				-01
Sabres		54	81	+27				+07
Coyotes		56	78	+22				+05
Hurricanes	71	86	+15				+08
Devils		78	84	+06				+05
Flyers		84	94	+10				+10
Sharks		89	98	+09				+12
Jackets		89	76	-13				-05
Avalanche	90	82	-08				---

I dub it the Post-McDavid effect.

[Resolute 14]

In a year where it took only 87 points to make the playoffs, missing out is a massive failure. Using parity as an excuse for it is weak.

[Vinny01]

It is a disappointment considering the Flames made the playoffs last year and added some key pieces over the summer. I am glad that they missed hard though and are poised to draft in the top 8 (would prefer top 6 but whatever).

Considering the Flames lead the league in goals by players 22 or younger, and could get a top 3 pick this summer I would say it is not a huge deal and the future is extremely bright. My hopes are next year this team expects and pushes hard to make the playoffs

[troutman]

About $1M per home game profit for the owners.

[dino7c]

love how the usual suspects who said the team was "4 or 5 years away from the playoffs" just two summers ago now think its a massive failure to miss out this season

which is it? Team still has young players in major roles...relax

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In a year where it took only 87 points to make the playoffs, missing out is a massive failure. Using parity as an excuse for it is weak.

Right, because more teams made the playoffs this year. It's not as if there were still 14 teams that didn't make it.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Right, because more teams made the playoffs this year. It's not as if there were still 14 teams that didn't make it.

But it is pretty depressing that the cutoff was so low.

[Roof-Daddy]

Meh, if this team had gotten just average goaltending this season they would have very likely made the playoffs in year #2 and year #3 of this rebuild. Sucks taking a step back this season, but it's not a big deal in the bigger picture IMO. Now hopefully they had one more key prospect to the fold and move on to year #4.

If they fail to improve next season then it will start to become a bigger deal.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

But it is pretty depressing that the cutoff was so low.

The cutoff was low because winning was harder. So it wasn't low. Just different.

I wouldn't mind if someone overlayed the bell curves of the point totals.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by dino7c

love how the usual suspects who said the team was "4 or 5 years away from the playoffs" just two summers ago now think its a massive failure to miss out this season

which is it? Team still has young players in major roles...relax

Sure, but after last year it would have been nice to at least show the growth, sure, fall back to earth in some areas, but at least be within reach

[EVERLAST]

I don't mind missing the playoffs this year. I'm glad we got a bitter taste last year and all 3 years prior to last year were rewarding for me as at least we were competitive.

No excuses this year as we just didn't compete. The whole Team had zero confidence and it was obvious.

No Brodie....oh no!! Gio isn't the same oh no! Our goalies suck....bound to happen.

Bob did his best but Ortio was not given a shot early enough. Ramo was given more than he could handle got burnt out and then hurt.

Until we get a goalie that can handle Kipper like work loads a goalie rotation does not work. BT had better fix this issue in the off season.

Let's forget this season and be excited going forward.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Right, because more teams made the playoffs this year. It's not as if there were still 14 teams that didn't make it.

And if making the playoffs was left to random chance, this would be a valid excuse.

The Flames should have been a >87 point team. They weren't, and that is entirely on that roster.

[Strange Brew]

If I had known at the start of the season that 87 points would make the playoffs I would have expected olayoffs. To be eliminated by the trade deadline is a pretty major disappointment. This is a franchise with very little winning in its history, particularly recent history, so playoffs are a big deal.