[News] Things may not be as bleak as they would seem.

[blender]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think a trade could work. Not a huge shake up, but one that could help us on the forward side of things. Last year we traded for Stone, and we went on that huge winning streak. Perhaps a trade triggers this team to play well once again.

I agree, and I believe this is what we will see, if we see anything at all. I think that management is thinking big picture and believes in the team they have assembled. Given an opportunity to improve I'm sure they would take it, but there is no appetite for a massive shakeup in my opinion.

I think that the loss of Versteeg has been tough on the PP (noted by others here), and Treliving will be looking to fill that hole in the lineup, preferably with an upgrade.

[Enoch Root]

All you have to do to evaluate counting stats is look at that first chart. Yes, Arizona is in the 'bad' quadrant, and Tampa Bay is in the 'good' quadrant. But beyond that, there is little to no correlation between what that chart is showing, and winning. Sure, you'll see what you want to see: you can spot good teams on the good side of the ledger, and bad teams on the bad side of the ledger, but a rational assessment of that distribution speaks volumes: very little correlation with success.

Certainly not enough to suggest it is vital information that needs to be heeded if one wants to be enlightened.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

All you have to do to evaluate counting stats is look at that first chart. Yes, Arizona is in the 'bad' quadrant, and Tampa Bay is in the 'good' quadrant. But beyond that, there is little to no correlation between what that chart is showing, and winning. Sure, you'll see what you want to see: you can spot good teams on the good side of the ledger, and bad teams on the bad side of the ledger, but a rational assessment of that distribution speaks volumes: very little correlation with success.

Certainly not enough to suggest it is vital information that needs to be heeded if one wants to be enlightened.

I noticed that Vegas, Columbus, Winnipeg, Nashville and St Louis are all tightly grouped together.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by Kybb79

Why you so angry? My comment had nothing to with you. Maybe you should start your own thread that are only for GG supporters? From the GG poll there is not many of you around CP.

Genius! The only possible alternative to hating something with such a blind passion that it must be invoked at every waking moment until it covers the earth in rivers of intellectual vomit, is to cherish that thing with a joy unrivaled by love of god himself! Nuance and measure do not exist -- only the need to fling diametrically opposing brain droppings at one another! HIIIIITMAKER.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Genius! The only possible alternative to hating something with such a blind passion that it must be invoked at every waking moment until it covers the earth in rivers of intellectual vomit, is to cherish that thing with a joy unrivaled by love of god himself! Nuance and measure do not exist -- only the need to fling diametrically opposing brain droppings at one another! HIIIIITMAKER.

lol GG sucks bro. Ramble on.

[getoverit]

All we need to do is stop shooting in the chest of the opposing goalie and stop making other teams back up goalies look like all stars.

[jlh2640]

If we could ever be more consistent then maybe I would start to believe these type of articles lately

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Genius! The only possible alternative to hating something with such a blind passion that it must be invoked at every waking moment until it covers the earth in rivers of intellectual vomit, is to cherish that thing with a joy unrivaled by love of god himself! Nuance and measure do not exist -- only the need to fling diametrically opposing brain droppings at one another! HIIIIITMAKER.

its basically the hockey equivalent of the famous cato quote he put at the end of every speech, regardless if it was relevant to the topic or not

furthermore, glen gulutzan must be destroyed

i think some posters might as well just make that their signature and they could avoid so much typing when making posts, though it would have the side affect of reducing the number of posts on this board by alot

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

lol GG sucks bro. Ramble on.

Have you ever had the unshakable feeling you *just* missed something, but can't put your finger on what?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Have you ever had the unshakable feeling you *just* missed something, but can't put your finger on what?

Do you ever comment on hockey or do you just come on to try to belittle other posters? I have never seen you comment on hockey, one can only assume that you have nothing to say about the sport. Yet you continue to return to a hockey forum to not comment on hockey. Insightful.

[Aarongavey]

This is definitely a "the glass is 1/5 full" point of view. It is definitely likely that if the team improves its shooting percentage it will score more goals. If the team showed up ready to play in the 1st period they would likely end the 1st period with the lead more often than not as well.
I am not sure if the Flames have a low shooting percentage problem or a low quality of shot problem.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

This is definitely a "the glass is 1/5 full" point of view. It is definitely likely that if the team improves its shooting percentage it will score more goals. If the team showed up ready to play in the 1st period they would likely end the 1st period with the lead more often than not as well.
I am not sure if the Flames have a low shooting percentage problem or a low quality of shot problem.

I'm not sure what glass 1/5 full means, but I think that the not ready to play and the lack of finish are two different issues. The high danger chances being debated are true high danger. We've all seen them miss them in bunches.
They have more than one problem currently.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Do you ever comment on hockey or do you just come on to try to belittle other posters? I have never seen you comment on hockey, one can only assume that you have nothing to say about the sport. Yet you continue to return to a hockey forum to not comment on hockey. Insightful.

You're deeply confused young man. So deeply confused.

See I come to the forum to **read** about hockey. And when the people who come to write about hockey write *badly* -- it makes it *so* much harder for those trying to find anything resembling sensible... In short, you and everyone who wants to repeat the same arrogant talking points ad nauseum, are _polluting the air_. Just stop.

Why don't I write? Because my opinions are mostly poorly conceived and highly superfluous, and really have no bearing on what the team does anyway; if only similarly vapid posters would follow suit. Please allow me go back to reading.

[Itse]

Wasn't it about a month ago that we last had this thread? "Flames are about to break out" or something like that.

Yet we're 4-6 in the last ten, and 5-9 in December. But I'm sure once the Flames have an almost inevitable "hot streak" (pure randomness says they'll likely have one if they keep winning at the current pace), well get a whole bunch of "see I told you"s.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sempuki

You're deeply confused young man. So deeply confused.

See I come to the forum to **read** about hockey. And when the people who come to write about hockey write *badly* -- it makes it *so* much harder for those trying to find anything resembling sensible... In short, you and everyone who wants to repeat the same arrogant talking points ad nauseum, are _polluting the air_. Just stop.

Why don't I write? Because my opinions are mostly poorly conceived and highly superfluous, and really have no bearing on what the team does anyway; if only similarly vapid posters would follow suit. Please allow me go back to reading.

Do not sell yourself short, your opinions are mostly poorly conceived and highly superfluous on any subject, not just hockey. In short, if you could stop repeating the same arrogant talking points as they are vapid and have no bearing on either the hockey team or on what people post.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by sempuki

This is a totally new and insightful opinion. I think we can all agree that we're thankful you shared this important and unique view point. Our day is more complete for having brought this to everyone's attention. Thank you.

Some people don't read CalgaryPuck everyday. My day however isn't more complete from reading this sh**** condescending post.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I would say things are pretty bleak. If the Flames have been so damn dominant in their play, generating all these great fancy stats, and it has lead to being only ahead of Arizona, Vancouver, and Edmonton, that is a pretty disappointing outcome. The fancy stats pretty much say we can’t play much better, but the results say it isn’t good enough. If they can’t play much better, where do you find improvement in either play or results? In that context the outlook is pretty damn bleak.

Fortunately the fancy stats are a big steam pile of crap. The Flames generate a lot of low quality shots. Sure, they generate a lot of them, but quality always outdoes quantity. The Flames are a team that pass up too many shots from high quality scoring areas to move the puck to low percentage shooting areas. The fancy stats show a shot was generated, but the eyeball test shows an opportunity lost. The fancy stats are garbage. Always have been, always will be. Way too many articles are driven by this drivel when the most important stats are being ignored.

Until the goal differential reaches positive numbers, and the real wins become positive numbers, the outlook remains bleak. Until the PP gets untracked and climbs to the top half of teams in efficacy, the outlook remains bleak. Until the team starts winning on home ice, the outlook looks bleak. The fancy stats don’t mean a hill of beans if these numbers are all not in the top third of the league. The great fancy stats have lead to this team having too many teams to have to climb over to get back into the race. We’re behind Colorado for crying out loud! Things look pretty damn bleak, regardless of what the fancy stats have to say.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Itse

Wasn't it about a month ago that we last had this thread? "Flames are about to break out" or something like that.

Yet we're 4-6 in the last ten, and 5-9 in December. But I'm sure once the Flames have an almost inevitable "hot streak" (pure randomness says they'll likely have one if they keep winning at the current pace), well get a whole bunch of "see I told you"s.

A big part of the struggles is the first line production fell off a cliff. Combined Monahan and Gaudreau had 13 points prior to the NYE break out game. Bennett had 11 points by himself. The duo in November combined for 37 or 39 points.

I don't think any team can be successful with that sort of decline from their primary source of production. It isn't like they didn't have chances, they just couldn't finish (Monahan uncharacteristicly missing open nets and Gaudreau going 0 for tons on breakaways). Since the Versteeg injury the Flames PP dropped almost 10% to 13% with the team throwing multitude of different combinations with nothing really working until this last little stretch after Christmas.

I think at the time when most were saying they will breakout it was because the team was starting to get decent secondary (even tertiary) scoring along with the first line being productive.

[Erick Estrada]

It's rare that teams over an 80 game season have all three of offense, defense, and goaltending all playing at their peaks for prolonged periods. There's simply too many fluid variables to be able to predict future success based on past play. Chances are if the 1st line catches fire again that the defense or goaltending may drop off and cancel out any offensive gains. Really it's all about how efficient a coaching staff is at running effective practices, player management, on ice effort level night to night, and scratching and clawing your way to wins on nights when maybe your guys aren't at their best. This team hasn't done that which is why after a month of people speculating advanced stats point to good things coming nothing has come. Advanced stats are a nice way for fans to buy hope but the reality is that they aren't a magic crystal ball of predicting the future or success for that matter when you consider the current back to back Stanley Cup champions have totally gone against the grain of advanced stats.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Do not sell yourself short, your opinions are mostly poorly conceived and highly superfluous on any subject, not just hockey. In short, if you could stop repeating the same arrogant talking points as they are vapid and have no bearing on either the hockey team or on what people post.

In order to be insulting it has to be built on at least a grain of truth. Might as well mock me for being an oilers fan. As it stands the only thing you've insulted is your inability to form a vocabulary of your own.