What can go right next year?

[GioforPM]

Looking for some positives that are (a) evident this year and (b) have a good chance of continuing next year:

1. Gaudreau had a career year - he's now an elite player IMO.
2. Monahan had a career year despite injuries. His progression is just fine.
3. Hamilton is an elite offensive defenceman. You can't teach that, nor size. you can teach defence.
4. Ferland solidified his game for much of the season. I think he can take even another step, and if not, he's going to be really useful.
5. Backlund had a good year defensively, and is signed, so no distractions off season.
6. Lazar got better and better as the year went on.
7. Kulak broke through as an everyday defenceman and IMO showed a pretty good upside.
8. Hamonic is good defensively, maybe as good as the Flames have, including Gio.
9. Speaking of Gio, no sign of slowing down.
10. I like what Shore showed in limited time.
11. Same for Rasmus.
12. Jankowski showed me he's got a good toolbox. I think he's goty a good upside too.
13. Dube had an impressive camp and there are spots he could take.
14. Rittich and Gillies got some good experience and either one could play a backup role IMO. If they'd been here from the start maybe Smith isn't overworked.
15. Despite the injury and some weaker play afterwards, Smith is the best goalie the Flames have had for a long time. I can think of maybe one loss that was on him, which is a lot better than the previous two seasons.

[TheScorpion]

You forgot about arguably the Flames' biggest positive going forward, and he wears number 19.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

You forgot about arguably the Flames' biggest positive going forward, and he wears number 19.

Ack. No duh!!!

[The Boy Wonder]

I agree with almost all of this. Except to add that on smith and ferland If those two can play the full season next year at even 80% of how they played the first half of the year that would be a massive step forward.

[White Out 403]

If the Flames get a new coach that would stop stiffing their talented players there's no reason they cant get a wild card at least. This is one of the easiest off season fixes in the NHL, hard to imagine Tre wont make that call.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

You forgot about arguably the Flames' biggest positive going forward, and he wears number 19.

Steve Yzerman?

[H2SO4(aq)]

Beat the ducks at the Honda centre. Bennett beat up Manson. Two good moments. Oh and mcdip cried a bunch. Basically what I took away from this season.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

If the Flames get a new coach that would stop stiffing their talented players there's no reason they cant get a wild card at least. This is one of the easiest off season fixes in the NHL, hard to imagine Tre wont make that call.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Looking for some positives that are (a) evident this year and (b) have a good chance of continuing next year:

1. Gaudreau had a career year - he's now an elite player IMO.
2. Monahan had a career year despite injuries. His progression is just fine.
2(a) Tkachuk had a career year despite missing the last dozen games
3. Hamilton is an elite offensive defenceman (Career year in Goals scored). You can't teach that, nor size. you can teach defence.
4. Ferland solidified his game for much of the season. I think he can take even another step, and if not, he's going to be really useful.
5. Backlund had a good year defensively, and is signed, so no distractions off season.
6. Lazar got better and better as the year went on.
7. Kulak broke through as an everyday defenceman and IMO showed a pretty good upside.
8. Hamonic is good defensively, maybe as good as the Flames have, including Gio.
9. Speaking of Gio, no sign of slowing down.
10. I like what Shore showed in limited time.
11. Same for Rasmus.
12. Jankowski showed me he's got a good toolbox. I think he's goty a good upside too.
13. Dube had an impressive camp and there are spots he could take.
14. Rittich and Gillies got some good experience and either one could play a backup role IMO. If they'd been here from the start maybe Smith isn't overworked.
15. Despite the injury and some weaker play afterwards, Smith is the best goalie the Flames have had for a long time. I can think of maybe one loss that was on him, which is a lot better than the previous two seasons.

I don't know. Seems like GG got a lot out of the top talent. What the Flames need is a coach who can get the most out of the less talented players instead of the least out of them.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Beat the ducks at the Honda centre. Bennett beat up Manson. Two good moments. Oh and mcdip cried a bunch. Basically what I took away from this season.

We also broke the Oilers curse and finished the season with 2 straight victories over those losers. This despite the Flames playing some pretty awful hockey down the stretch. They finally figured out that if you constantly annoy McDavid and hit him every chance you get, he disappears and starts whining to the refs for the entire game. Pretty sure we all want to see more of that next season.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Whenever I start to feel pessimistic about the Flames I remember we have Matthew Tkachuk and I instantly feel better.

[djsFlames]

Tkachuk is going to be scary good soon. Look at what he did with his linemates running a ~5% shooting percentage and playing like arse most of the season. Get chucky some scoring help this off-season and look out.

Our second pairing is really bad at defence and shouldn't remain intact going into next year. Trade one for sure. Honestly they looked tighter back there when both guys were out with injury. The kids look just as if not more responsible.

[dissentowner]

The biggest thing that can go right imo that has not yet is that Sam Bennett breaks out big time. What a huge boost that would be.

[GranteedEV]

Honestly, just two things need to go right:

- Sam Bennett breaks out and plays like he did in December, except all year long.

- TJ Brodie has a consistent season channelling 2014-16 / second-half 2017 / playoff Brodie.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Looking for some positives that are (a) evident this year and (b) have a good chance of continuing next year:

1. Gaudreau had a career year - he's now an elite player IMO.
2. Monahan had a career year despite injuries. His progression is just fine.
3. Hamilton is an elite offensive defenceman. You can't teach that, nor size. you can teach defence.
4. Ferland solidified his game for much of the season. I think he can take even another step, and if not, he's going to be really useful.
5. Backlund had a good year defensively, and is signed, so no distractions off season.
6. Lazar got better and better as the year went on.
7. Kulak broke through as an everyday defenceman and IMO showed a pretty good upside.
8. Hamonic is good defensively, maybe as good as the Flames have, including Gio.
9. Speaking of Gio, no sign of slowing down.
10. I like what Shore showed in limited time.
11. Same for Rasmus.
12. Jankowski showed me he's got a good toolbox. I think he's goty a good upside too.
13. Dube had an impressive camp and there are spots he could take.
14. Rittich and Gillies got some good experience and either one could play a backup role IMO. If they'd been here from the start maybe Smith isn't overworked.
15. Despite the injury and some weaker play afterwards, Smith is the best goalie the Flames have had for a long time. I can think of maybe one loss that was on him, which is a lot better than the previous two seasons.

To varying degrees i agree with what you have said, but the bolded?

Not so much.

I dont think he was very good for most of the season and particularly when his 19 YO winger wasnt around. That cannot be a good thing.

Defensively especially..he was god awful at times. That is not what the narrative around him has been for a couple years now, and he simply isnt good enough offensively to compensate for dropping off in the 200' game.

Maybe with the contract in his pocket now, he settles in and gets back to what he is paid to do, but otherwise he is an overpriced 3rd line C and nothing more. It's why I and many others did not like the deal when it was announced.

Again though, maybe he has a renaissance season...it would sure go a long way to helping the team.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Honestly, just two things need to go right:

- Sam Bennett breaks out and plays like he did in December, except all year long.

- TJ Brodie has a consistent season channelling 2014-16 / second-half 2017 / playoff Brodie.

Add an even mediocre powerplay and you have a dangerous team.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Whenever I start to feel pessimistic about the Flames I remember we have Matthew Tkachuk and I instantly feel better.

Nobody can ever say the Flames never get the breaks. He should never have been available at pick #6.

[GoJetsGo]

I still think the most positive thing is that almost the entire core is young and still improving. Hopefully with a new coach and system and a few tweaks a lot will change in a year.

We have seen the last five years teams go from zero to hero and vice versa within a season or two.

[Mass_nerder]

The power play has lots of room to, and should, improve.
Team shooting percentage reverts to league average.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Whenever I start to feel pessimistic about the Flames I remember we have Matthew Tkachuk and I instantly feel better.

I really get the impression he's capable of developing into a Corey Perry in his prime type of player.

[Calgary4LIfe]

This is a good team. This isn't a bottom-feeding, scum-sucking franchise like the Oilers. I expect for a lot more stuff to go right next season.