How are you feeling about the flames so far?

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Their play at 5 on 5 has been great. But in the last week they have shown they are likely the same fragile team as always. I am very skeptical now, bubble team at best

What part shows that they are fragile? Honest question. I haven't seen them wilting at all really. Last year's team looks way different than this one.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Their play at 5 on 5 has been great. But in the last week they have shown they are likely the same fragile team as always. I am very skeptical now, bubble team at best

I also see them more as a bubble team now, but that is actually more optimistic for me as I thought they would be a bottom 10 team this year.

The last few games have really exposed that there is lack of an elite game breaking player that can change momentum.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I also see them more as a bubble team now, but that is actually more optimistic for me as I thought they would be a bottom 10 team this year.



The last few games have really exposed that there is lack of an elite game breaking player that can change momentum.

Those Iggy highlights showed us exactly what the team is missing. Many fans thought Tkachuk was going to be that player but he just hasn't shown it. Don't get me wrong. He's a very good player. Wouldn't call him elite and he can't seem to elevate his play when the team really needs it. Though that could be said for the entire roster.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Their play at 5 on 5 has been great. But in the last week they have shown they are likely the same fragile team as always. I am very skeptical now, bubble team at best

Bubble team at best? IMO, they are a bubble team at worst. I think they will be in a playoff spot all year, and cruise in.

[dammage79]

I'm fine with the Flames still. Despite the losses the team is still competitive in every single game. It's surprising to me still but there's always peaks and valleys in a season. The trick is not to jump off a cliff every time a negative lemming jumps.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Reading comprehension is a bitch. I clearly said the Flames are better than "expectations." They are way better than anyone expected. This is a team that the experts looked at and determined they were headed for the bottom of the standings. They are exceeding expectations. That is a huge positive. They were not expected to be where they are in the standings. Accept the surprise, and hope it continues.

Get out of your own head...106 point pace is better but nobody had them at the bottom of the standings except Flames "fans" on CP

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm fine with the Flames still. Despite the losses the team is still competitive in every single game. It's surprising to me still but there's always peaks and valleys in a season. The trick is not to jump off a cliff every time a negative lemming jumps.

Yep, their worst game they were within a goal in the third...WORST

Really they should have more points IMO they have been unlucky. Also, factor in the schedule which has been one of the hardest in the league.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Defensively sound, hard working, with good pace. Like a lot of people anticipated they are going to have a hard time scoring a lot of goals, especially on nights when their top guys aren’t scoring. I would love to see this team pick up another goal scorer, who that is I don’t know.

Kylington has been a great development. His skating adds a great element from the backend it would otherwise sorely miss.

I’ll be honest I was hoping for a bit more offense from Coleman but there is still time in the season.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Yep, their worst game they were within a goal in the third...WORST

Really they should have more points IMO they have been unlucky. Also, factor in the schedule which has been one of the hardest in the league.

Take out empty net goals and they have lost by 2 goals once?

Every team has bad stretches or bad nights. If anyone thinks this is just a Flames thing they clearly don’t watch anyone else play more than when they play the Flames.

I’m more optimistic about this team because I feel they played well so far but who is leading them is more important. Gaudreau is a ufa and he’s been great so that still is my biggest question about this team but I don’t feel Tkachuk is irreplaceable at this point. What this team has added from last season is mangiapane stepping up to a new level and kylington going from a waiver player to a top pairing dman? That kind of growth or luck rarely happens. These 2 alone have change the future of this team. Stockton is also tearing it up. Guys like lucic and monahan are coming off the books soon. Next summer will be tight but if you move out some salary the following summer could be a big one. Our prospects seem to be playing well so next year we could see guys like backlund or monahan dumped and replaced by zary or Pelletier. Dube was ok at center and Coleman can play center too. Hopefully Valimaki can get back in there but this team has got some boosts in value from some young players

[Badgers Nose]

They are a fun team to watch and Sutter part deux is much better than I expected.

Seems like they could keep pace with EDM all year and that would make for an epic meeting in the playoffs if the hockey gods allow it.

[PuckSlap]

Great start.

Where are we heading now?

Still think changes of the core should have been made in the off season. Other than Gio.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

What part shows that they are fragile? Honest question. I haven't seen them wilting at all really. Last year's team looks way different than this one.

The San Jose. Montreal. Anaheim. Dallas. And Toronto games all showed me they are the same team that give up leads late or lose all together late. Same script. Just waiting for it to happen.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Bubble team at best? IMO, they are a bubble team at worst. I think they will be in a playoff spot all year, and cruise in.

Hope you’re right. Their 5 on 5 play supports it for sure.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Bubble team at best? IMO, they are a bubble team at worst. I think they will be in a playoff spot all year, and cruise in.

They are a bubble team right now after their magical October road trip.

In the west there are 9 bubble teams 18-20 pts. Edmonton and Minnesota leading their divisions are a 2-3 game losing streak from chasing a wild card

9 teams with 18-20 pts. Anaheim and LA with 6-7 game winning streaks.

Passing through Vegas I puts some money down the Flames coming out of the West. Basically a bet on Sutter.

[Winsor_Pilates]

It's incredible how tight the West is.
Notably the California teams doing much better than I expected and now Colorado & Vegas seem to be waking.

Very positive start for the Flames but there's no room to take your foot off the gas.
I'm feeling good about the structure & work ethic, but concerned on the pure skill level.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Bubble team at best? IMO, they are a bubble team at worst. I think they will be in a playoff spot all year, and cruise in.

I don’t know about cruising in...I mean, I like how the team is picking up loser points right now which in an 82 game season, is imperative as Montreal showed last season.

But the west looks really good this season. We all thought the California teams would struggle once again, but they’ve all got winning records right now and the Knights will somehow get in like they always do, so we should all just accept that especially with their new shiny toy in Jack Eichel who will play this season.

The Flames can’t take anything for granted, if everyone else in the Pacific was sucking, I’d probably be more optimistic. But this team has to find the right chemistry between all their lines sooner rather than later and they need to start taking care of business as of today, against the lowly Sens who the Flames cannot take lightly again. This team in a lot of ways cost the Flames a playoff position last season, so go out there and kick their mother f*****g asses. No excuses, they just played 24 hours ago.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

They are a bubble team right now after their magical October road trip.

In the west there are 9 bubble teams 18-20 pts. Edmonton and Minnesota leading their divisions are a 2-3 game losing streak from chasing a wild card

9 teams with 18-20 pts. Anaheim and LA with 6-7 game winning streaks.

Passing through Vegas I puts some money down the Flames coming out of the West. Basically a bet on Sutter.

That's not what bubble means

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I don’t know about cruising in...I mean, I like how the team is picking up loser points right now which in an 82 game season, is imperative as Montreal showed last season.

But the west looks really good this season. We all thought the California teams would struggle once again, but they’ve all got winning records right now and the Knights will somehow get in like they always do, so we should all just accept that especially with their new shiny toy in Jack Eichel who will play this season.

The Flames can’t take anything for granted, if everyone else in the Pacific was sucking, I’d probably be more optimistic. But this team has to find the right chemistry between all their lines sooner rather than later and they need to start taking care of business as of today, against the lowly Sens who the Flames cannot take lightly again. This team in a lot of ways cost the Flames a playoff position last season, so go out there and kick their mother f*****g asses. No excuses, they just played 24 hours ago.

Very unlikely that Anaheim and LA maintain these paces.

[GreenLantern2814]

The only player who can threaten the defense on his own is Gaudreau.

And maybe Kylington.

They’re playing well most nights, and the Darryl factor is real.

Whatever is wrong with Lindholm needs to get resolved fast.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Very unlikely that Anaheim and LA maintain these paces.

Anaheim is a talented young team with an elite goalie. Their success might be unsustainable but we're a couple weeks away from American Thanksgiving and it's rare that teams who are in a spot at that point don't manage to stumble in.

LA is winning games the exact same way Calgary is winning games. They have a shutdown centre (Danault/Backlund) taking on tough matchups, a shutdown centre (Kopitar/Lindholm) in an offensive role, and then some young players sprinked throughout taking advantage of offensive zone opportunities and puck possession. They don't even have Quentin Byfield back yet, which will really round out their forward group. If you expect LA to fall off, then you probably expect Calgary to fall off too.