I'm becoming a fair weather Flames fan. Am I alone?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

Anyone who claims the game is more boring today, please go rewatch an entire game from the 80s and one from the mid 90s. I'd bet 70% of us turn it off before the end of the first.

I grew up with it, I loved it, but it's all nostalgia. The game today is much better than ever before.

This. The 80's had a lot of goals but the effort level by some teams and players was pathetic especially in games where the score got out of hand. A lot of star players were smokers, plenty doing coke and weren't exactly in tip top shape to skate like they do today. Mid to late 90's almost killed the game as it was so boring that the league was forced to make changes to get teams out of the trap and all the methods of obstruction as a guy like Gaudreau wouldn't have been able to play in that era. I feel the best hockey was played just after the 2004 lockout where the game opened up. Unfortunately we have seen the officials over the past 5 or more years go back to letting more obstruction go so yes I don't think the game is as good as it was in say 2007 but it's still miles better than anything in the 80's and 90's for entertainment level.

I personally believe the quality of NHL officiating is horrendous and that's a big part of my current frustration with the game.

[VladtheImpaler]

More interested in the off-ice moves than the on-ice product. Maybe if they followed Treliving around with a camera, I would tune in. The games are mind-numbing to watch.

[Machiavelli]

The game is okay. Officiating could improve, and I'm not a fan of the offside challenge, or the annoying face-off issues.

The only thing I really don't like about the league is how it discourages players from having any sort of personality or flair.

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by Pointman

I tried to watch Summit Series as an adult, as I was not alive at 1972, and it was a horrible hockey to watch. I ended up watching about two periods of the whole series.

I also have watched 1989 Game 6 in full length and it was fine, although it was more of education than entertainment for me.

The hooking and holding is so frustrating to watch I can't handle it. Watched a few games in the Game Centre Vault, one play stuck out in my mind.

The puck was dumped in and the offensive player had two full strides on McTavish, so Craig reaches out with his stick, hooks him, pulls himself to catch up then reaches out with his glove, grabs his jersey, pulls the guy back behind him, and the announcer was calling it like it was a normal play. "McTavish wins the race to the puck". Ridiculous.

[gunnner]

People remembering the game as better in the past are absolutely stuck on nostalgia. What has changed is the quality and availability of alternative entertainment options, Netflix, xbox, cheaper travel (flights), pogs…and whatever else people do these days.

[bubbsy]

Love the flames, if they didn't exist (ie. moved) i'd probably not be much of a hockey fan.

My frustrations come from watching the team go through the cycle of playoff team and contender, to trash and rebuild. Now this is a team that should be back to being a playoff team, yet they just seem stuck to that mediocre group of bubble teams in the league. Seeing the team on paper indicates a solid roster made up of a great defence, lots of potential for scoring depth.

For whatever reason, it isn't translating to anything. The defense gives up a ton of chances, there are only 3 or 4 guys in that forward group who can score (gaudreau, monahan, tkachuk, backlund).

I really don't care if this team's winning 2-1 games like they were built to in the Darryl Sutter era after the lockout, or if they are winning 6-5 games, i just want to see the team win. At this stage, they just don't seem to be a winner, and the games i watch aren't exciting either. It feels like the team just can't score for large chunks of time. They've played 30 periods of hockey, and have failed to score almost half of those played (14 shutout periods). Outside of the jets/canucks game, the team only scored 1 maybe 2 goals a game. It's scary to think that this year's team would actually be worse than last years team if we didn't have Smith in net.

I found last season to be quite frustrating as a fan. This year i was really excited about the possibilities/potential for this team to rise above that bubble team era. However, 12% of the season gone, and they look no better, with no 1st/2nd round picks next year. It feels like their going to be stuck in that bubble team group of teams and an early out in the playoffs when they do make them until they hit the reset/rebuild button again in a few years. That makes me sad and leaves me wanting to interest myself in other things more, as this all seems a bit of a waste of time. Life's too short, there are other things i can put my time, hopes & aspirations that will leave me feeling disappointed

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

The hooking and holding is so frustrating to watch I can't handle it. Watched a few games in the Game Centre Vault, one play stuck out in my mind.

The puck was dumped in and the offensive player had two full strides on McTavish, so Craig reaches out with his stick, hooks him, pulls himself to catch up then reaches out with his glove, grabs his jersey, pulls the guy back behind him, and the announcer was calling it like it was a normal play. "McTavish wins the race to the puck". Ridiculous.

Fleury used to love the water ski move.

I was watching the 1986 game seven Steve Smith game and, man, were the Flames holding a lot. Bozek at one point tackled two Oilers, using a full bear hug on them at once. No call.

Funny though, at the time I didn't notice.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by gunnner

People remembering the game as better in the past are absolutely stuck on nostalgia. What has changed is the quality and availability of alternative entertainment options, Netflix, xbox, cheaper travel (flights), pogs…and whatever else people do these days.

This is very true. People remembering the game as "better" might be referring to the personality of the game itself. No doubt the players are more skilled today but that does not necessarily translate into entertainment. And having access to so many games can dull the interest a little bit too.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Fleury used to love the water ski move.

I was watching the 1986 game seven Steve Smith game and, man, were the Flames holding a lot. Bozek at one point tackled two Oilers, using a full bear hug on them at once. No call.

Funny though, at the time I didn't notice.

For both the LA Kings and the Flames, Bozek was an Oiler nemesis. At that time he was a great checking forward, and played a big part in Bob Johnson’s multi-point plan to neutralize the Oilers’ offensive stars. Crisp didn’t seem to appreciate that, and I’ve always thought his inclusion in the Hull trade was a big part of the reason the Flames lost to the Oilers in the ‘88 playoffs.

[Corral]

The game is faster and the players generally are more skilled today - but as I mentioned elsewhere - the size and speed of the players and the play seems to mean most of the game is played along the boards and it is hard to follow plays live too often. I think the problem is the players and game have outgrown the size of the NHL rink.

[Russic]

This is a bit depressing as far as threads go, but it's also fairly interesting to try and boil down what's wrong with the game. A few have touched on it, but I wonder if it's more about us than the game itself.

When I was a kid or a younger adult, I just didn't have all that much going on. Flames were life, and I'd look forward to games for days. I specifically recall not understanding how relaxed my dad was about everything. Even as a season ticket holder he just didn't seem to care if we won or lost.

Now I'm older and my responsibilities have shifted/exploded and I find myself barely aware of how well we're doing. There've been players that we've had for multiple games in the lineup that I didn't even realize we had.

It just seems odd to me that every generation curiously longs for the olden days. Maybe it's just that being a super-fan is difficult for most people as they age?

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This. The 80's had a lot of goals but the effort level by some teams and players was pathetic especially in games where the score got out of hand. A lot of star players were smokers, plenty doing coke and weren't exactly in tip top shape to skate like they do today. Mid to late 90's almost killed the game as it was so boring that the league was forced to make changes to get teams out of the trap and all the methods of obstruction as a guy like Gaudreau wouldn't have been able to play in that era. I feel the best hockey was played just after the 2004 lockout where the game opened up. Unfortunately we have seen the officials over the past 5 or more years go back to letting more obstruction go so yes I don't think the game is as good as it was in say 2007 but it's still miles better than anything in the 80's and 90's for entertainment level.

I personally believe the quality of NHL officiating is horrendous and that's a big part of my current frustration with the game.

Unfortunately I think the league's content with a slower game at this point. I think they're worried a faster game leads to bigger hits and more concussions - even if the game is more entertaining. Sadly they're probably right. A slower game is safer for the players.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Itse

CP has been crushing what's left of my interest in the team lately.

I used to absolutely love the game and post game threads, you could actually get a handle on how things went and the banter was great. Nostalgia goggles for sure because it probably wasn't as great as I remember lol.

Now it is just terrible...player can't make one mistake and the same posters go on and on and on about it. Making adjustments to who I can see has helped but like you, I read the thread and expect to see an absolute train wreck or keep an eye for these big glaring mistakes and they just aren't there. Both teams get paid ffs.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I personally believe the quality of NHL officiating is horrendous and that's a big part of my current frustration with the game.

Agree here Erick and I can be an officiating apologist...they suck and these faceoffs are an absolute disgrace.

[Erick Estrada]

Lots of good points being made. I agree that there are a lot more entertainment products now all vying for our time. I have more shows PVR'd than I have time to watch and whether it's TV, movies, video games, etc there are a lot of other things you can do with your time when your team is laying an egg on the ice. I also think with the advent of internet we get so amped up in the offseason and game day discussions that the games themselves end up as letdowns especially when you have been going through the Flames roller coaster of lack of discipline, questionable officiating, team not performing to its abilities, etc. You can argue the offseason has become more fun than the actual regular season as it's the one time you have some hope and don't have to face the stark reality that your team isn't as good as you hoped it would be.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You can argue the offseason has become more fun than the actual regular season as it's the one time you have some hope and don't have to face the stark reality that your team isn't as good as you hoped it would be.

We used to make fun of Oilers fans for that.

This place really used to be more reasonable.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Itse

We used to make fun of Oilers fans for that.

This place really used to be more reasonable.

Really though regardless of the sport or fan base it's the one time of year you have hope that things would get better the next season. Oilers regular seasons were disasters so really the offseason is the only time their fans could feel above water but they were the extreme because they were undeservedly winning draft lotteries and picking first overall in a draft is pretty exciting for a fan base. We now have 12 month coverage of all sports so for fans it's a year around thing. Most Flames fans felt pretty good about the team's offseason and I haven't seen too many fans feeling nearly as good since the season started.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Really though regardless of the sport or fan base it's the one time of year you have hope that things would get better the next season. Oilers regular seasons were disasters so really the offseason is the only time their fans could feel above water but they were the extreme because they were undeservedly winning draft lotteries. We now have 12 month coverage of all sports so for fans it's a year around thing. Most Flames fans felt pretty good about the team's offseason and I haven't seen too many fans feeling nearly as good since the season started.

What's not to feel good about? This is literally one of the better starts this team has had in years as far as results are concerned. Personally, I'm just happy this team isn't buried in a 3-6-1 hole they have to work out of after ten games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

What's not to feel good about? This is literally one of the better starts this team has had in years as far as results are concerned. Personally, I'm just happy this team isn't buried in a 3-6-1 hole they have to work out of after ten games.

I think you hit the nail on the head. They are 5-5 and our expectations are so low that's considered a good start. An expansion team can start 7-1 yet the Flames seem incapable of ever having a truly good start to a season. That's frustrating and I'm not feeling too good about the fact that they are on pace to miss the playoffs. Now it's only 1/8 of the season but what if they don't go on the long winning streaks this season to balance out their .500 play?

[Hemi-Cuda]

First 10 games of the season are done, and so far the Flames seem to be spinning their wheels. There are no bonafide superstars to get excited about on the team, the defense was again supposed to be their biggest strength this year but they're in the bottom half of the league in GA, and their system is boring as hell to watch. This is the Sutter years all over again, fighting for a lower seed playoff spot only to get bounced in the first round if they do make it. At least with Hartley we had entertaining hockey to watch

[JohnnyO]

I grew up in the hay day of the battle of Alberta.

The softness of the product has me tuning out more often. I have no idea what a penalty is anymore.

The lack of proper video replay equipment is laughable. The NFL has a pylon camera that can see how many fillings the guy has inside his mouth as he stretches out over the goal line and the NHL is using a potato to see offsides and goals.

They need to increase the size of the rink, players are way more skilled and way faster now. But it will never happen as they will lose 100's of seats in every arena.

I could do an interview and the interviewers just lob them the same questions, "yah we need to get pucks deep, have the d move the puck with a good first pass, we have to give 110% out there, cycle the puck, blah, blah, blah " Aside from the Dougie Photo bombs last year why even watch.

I think the biggest factor for me is the craptastic job Sportnet has done with hockey. Not very good HD, audio syncing issue, getting rid of Hextal and other actual knowledgeable hosts at the break. If Cassie Campbell is the Color Person I can't even watch the game. We are so lucky to have Ball and Hrudey for the majority of the games. 8PM starts are the worst. No one in the east is watching the second game. With all the channels why not cater to the local market and grow the young fans.