Will we make the playoffs

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Minnesota got in with 87pts last year. 97 is not always the cutoff.

Heard a stat on the FAN this morning that the team has only had 7 practices all season. They have played the most games in the league to date. Get some practice time and have a good string of 20 games and they are in the mix

sure but wasn't every other team 96 points or more? That is clearly the usual threshold over the last many years. some years even 96 points doesn't make it (like the Kings when the Flames made it with 97 points in 2014-15).

They are nowhere near being 'in the mix' right now. Need like a 6 game winning streak to start 'mixin' with playoff clubs.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Historically bad goaltending from 3 goalies not in the NHL anymore was a huge factor in that. They are struggling but at the same time these are 3 defenders that have proven to be very solid at their position when using fancy stats in their career. I am not so quick to write them off as you are

?????


so last year the defense gets a pass because all of the sudden Hiller could not stop a beach ball after an 8 yr 400 game run with a .917 sv %

I bought into that argument.... Hiller just hit his 33 birthday and fell apart.

This year they brought in a guy who in the last 5 years had a sv % of .925 (in the top tier of the any goalie over the last 5 years) and playing behind the tire fire that is the Flames defense in the defense zone has an .887 sv %.


After seeing Elliot have the worst 9 game stretch in his last 200 games...

IMO ... with 20/20 hindsight the Flames defense owns last years debacle.

Will Elliott and/or Johnson have a NHL gig after their year with the Flames?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

?????


so last year the defense gets a pass because all of the sudden Hiller could not stop a beach ball after an 8 yr 400 game run with a .917 sv %

I bought into that argument.... Hiller just hit his 33 birthday and fell apart.

This year they brought in a guy who in the last 5 years had a sv % of .925 (in the top tier of the any goalie over the last 5 years) and playing behind the tire fire that is the Flames defense in the defense zone has an .887 sv %.


After seeing Elliot have the worst 9 game stretch in his last 200 games...

IMO ... with 20/20 hindsight the Flames defense owns last years debacle.

Will Elliott and/or Johnson have a NHL gig after their year with the Flames?

So that little blip on Hillers otherwise stellar career should result in another job no? Instead he didn't get a sniff anywhere and signed in Europe pretty much right away.

I see you truly believe that what we have watched in 14 games is all we will see this year. Might as well stop the season now I guess. Elliott moving to a new city and his wife having their first child a week before the season started wouldn't have any impact on his play.

Also while I think Elliott is a decent goalie there is a reason the Blues moved him after he made the conference finals, there is a reason they paid a huge price to get Ryan Miller 3 years ago and the fact he has never played a starters load in his career.

I am not giving the D a clear pass but what about the 2 years previous when Gio-Brodie were regarded as one of the best pairs in the league and Hamilton was top pair in Boston? These guys have to be better and I believe they can be. You only like the narratives that make the team look bad

[polak]

I'd agree with Ricardo in the case of Ramo and Ortio. I think they were fine journeymen starters (potential in Ortio's case) but the Flames defense last year ruined their career.

It would've been interesting to see how Ortio would fair behind this team.

O'well, completely happy with our current tandem.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by polak

I'd agree with Ricardo in the case of Ramo and Ortio. I think they were fine journeymen starters (potential in Ortio's case) but the Flames defense last year ruined their career.

It would've been interesting to see how Ortio would fair behind this team.

O'well, completely happy with our current tandem.

Ortio would be the same behind this defense as he was last year behind the same personal. Jokipakka/Grossman/Kulak is not a significant upgrade in personnel (Russell) from last year. Brodie/Gio/Hamilton have not figured out how to lessen quality scoring chances.

This year in the SHL with Skelleftea Ortio is a starting goalie with a 5-5 record (team has played 13 games) he is 10th in the league in Sv% .910 and 9th in GA in a 14 team league.

[heep223]

Last year I thought the team was a playoff team on the strength of a top 3 D corps in the league.

This year I thought the team was a playoff team with a significant improvement in net.

It's still very early, and I still believe, but I'm starting to feel that my pundit skills may be severely lacking.

[Otto-matic]

If the Flames don't show up prepared for the game tonight - I will have little to no faith they will improve to make the dance.

[Poe969]

I don't think they're a playoff team and even if they made it, they're not a contender IMO. I do think it's a good year for the team to learn and get some young guys to develop as there will be some bad contracts coming off the books and I think with the expansion draft, there will be a really good chance for the team to improve their roster. I honestly think they'll end up doing very poorly and get a high pick, it sucks that this year's draft doesn't look as deep but I still think they'll get a really good player.

[spuzzum]

I think we need a new arena or we won't make the playoffs until then. Or if the price of oil goes above $75 US a barrel.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

So that little blip on Hillers otherwise stellar career should result in another job no? Instead he didn't get a sniff anywhere and signed in Europe pretty much right away.

I see you truly believe that what we have watched in 14 games is all we will see this year. Might as well stop the season now I guess. Elliott moving to a new city and his wife having their first child a week before the season started wouldn't have any impact on his play.

Also while I think Elliott is a decent goalie there is a reason the Blues moved him after he made the conference finals, there is a reason they paid a huge price to get Ryan Miller 3 years ago and the fact he has never played a starters load in his career.

I am not giving the D a clear pass but what about the 2 years previous when Gio-Brodie were regarded as one of the best pairs in the league and Hamilton was top pair in Boston? These guys have to be better and I believe they can be. You only like the narratives that make the team look bad

Right now 19 year old 2015 2nd round draft pick Brandon Carlo is on the top pairing in Boston. The only thing that this proved to me is that a 39 year old Chara has the ability to cover for whoever they pair him with.

[polak]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

I think we need a new arena or we won't make the playoffs until then. Or if the price of oil goes above $75 US a barrel.

Probably never going to make the playoffs again then

[Erick Estrada]

No but that was my prediction before the season unfolded to this mess. I think this team lacks talent on the wings and while the goaltending got upgraded the defense is still well below average.

[ricardodw]

last season after 15 games the Flames were 5-9-1 37 goals and with the worst goalies in the world had let in 59 goals

this season 5-9-1 scored 38 goal and let in 55 goals.

1 extra goal scored and 4 less goals let in. progress?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by heep223

Last year I thought the team was a playoff team on the strength of a top 3 D corps in the league.

This year I thought the team was a playoff team with a significant improvement in net.

It's still very early, and I still believe, but I'm starting to feel that my pundit skills may be severely lacking.

No, it's completely fair to assume that we would see improvement this season, and not small improvement at that.

But one of those assumptions was that our special teams would at least be middle of the pack, not bottom of the league in both categories and a key reason for many of our losses.

EDIT - I saw this comment on FB that made me facepalm if true:

Your captain had to remind you that you didn't have adequate personnel on the ice for a faceoff.... after a timeout.... while still on the power play.... and your goalie was pulled....

Whatever was on Cameron's stupid play board must have been RIVETING!! Unacceptable.....

[lazypucker]

The team should just stop pretending and start tanking. This way they may have a better chance to make the playoffs next year

[polak]

Aren't we last now? We should close this thread.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by polak

Aren't we last now? We should close this thread.

No, tied for 11th in the West and 26th overall with the Canucks. They're only ahead by a point though from being last.

[Magnum PEI]

Tied for last in P% though.

[Caged Great]

The Flames need to win 7/11 remaining in this month to get to a point where they will be back in it.

Dwindling hopes with each passing loss....

[Manhattanboy]

No they will not.