Are the Flames BETTER than they were in 2021-22?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

44 points with virtually no PP time/points tacked on is quite impressive.

Florida plays a high event game compared to Calgary scoring 46 more goals and giving up 36 more goals.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Because he isn't very good on it?

So, no particular reason then.

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[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, no particular reason then.

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Obviously because he is the absolute slowest player in the entire league according to this poster. Hahaha.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I don't think he is a very good option on the PP. There is a reason why he didn't play there in Florida.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What is that reason?

Two reasons:

1) Ekblad
2) Montour

Weegar outproduced both at even strength

[Manhattanboy]

What a crazy crazy summer. From we should probably give up our tix to wow can’t wait to go to games.

[Parallex]

I think they are better... not significantly better but slightly... which considering the start to the offseason and the fact that we're talking about the division winner is still saying something.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by McG

When I look player for player, I can see why some went with “similar”.

Different players for me though means different team. I do think that this team is built for the playoffs better, and definitely tougher to play against. Will they freeform score like last season? Not sure.

Is that better? That’s how I voted. I think that both playoff series are better for the flames now than last season.

Right. Player for player are they better? Maybe. But are they a better “team”? I’d say they have a good chance at that.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by McG

I think that both playoff series are better for the flames now than last season.

Maybe they would be in the future but I'm pretty sure Jake Oettinger playing like he did still makes it a close match and I'm pretty sure Markstrom ####ting the bed against the Oil still leaves us on the outside looking in.

[blankall]

Better. Not just because they've gotten harder to play against, with the switch of gaudreau/Tkachuk to Huberdeau/Kadri, but there is going to be some great internal growth. Hanifin, Kylington, and Anderson are still very young for top 4 dmen. They will get better. Plus Mangiapane and Dube look ready for bigger roles. Plus the Flames farm system is finally at a point where they can populate the bottom six with home grown talent, instead of journeymen. We'll likely see a couple of guys like Pelletier, Ruzicka, and Phillips in the lineup full time by the end of the season. They'll be able to produce actual offence from the bottom six. Not mind blowing numbers, but .5ppg is a huge step up from what the journeymen players have been providing over the years.

Edit: I'm not too worried about chemistry either. Huberdeau had a pretty revolving group of linemates in Florida, and he turned them all into 60+ point players, no matter how bad they were.

Kadri just produces offence no matter what role he's in. He might not repeat his 90+ point season, but he'll be solid and consistentv with his offence.

[wireframe]

I think slightly worse. Treliving did an amazing job with the hand he was dealt but it was a very bad hand. Gaudreau for Huberdeau could be equivalent. Tkachuk is an elite scoring presence in front of the net that isn't quite replaced by Kadri. Weegar is a big add but I think it doesn't quite make up the gap from losing Tkachuk.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by wireframe

I think slightly worse. Treliving did an amazing job with the hand he was dealt but it was a very bad hand. Gaudreau for Huberdeau could be equivalent. Tkachuk is an elite scoring presence in front of the net that isn't quite replaced by Kadri. Weegar is a big add but I think it doesn't quite make up the gap from losing Tkachuk.

There are reasons to pick Tkachuk over Kadri, but scoring isn't one IMO. Tkachuk's numbers last years were vastly inflated by being able to play with Gaudreau.

Meanwhile Kadri was playing with Burakovsky and Nichushkin and still managed to score at a 32 goal pace.

Whoever plays with Huberdeau and Lindholm will see a pretty dramatic increase in their goals. If Kadri can also put up 30 goals from the second line, that basically covers any loss.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by wireframe

I think slightly worse. Treliving did an amazing job with the hand he was dealt but it was a very bad hand. Gaudreau for Huberdeau could be equivalent. Tkachuk is an elite scoring presence in front of the net that isn't quite replaced by Kadri. Weegar is a big add but I think it doesn't quite make up the gap from losing Tkachuk.

Maybe in the regular season, but the post season, this team is better on paper and better strategically built;

1) They've added a legit 1st pairing dman who can play all situations and transitionally is very underrated.

2) They've replaced Gaudreau with Huberdeau, based on Gaudreau's mentality (see his thoughts on the Oilers series after game 1), they've won this already.

3) Tkachuk was a playoff zero, he continuously disappeared when it mattered most, Kadri although has had some playoff brain farts consistently has shown he loves the moment and can elevate (see last year). Kadri had as many points last year in 16 playoff games as Tkachuk has had in 27 playoff games. He also gives us a legit 2nd line centre who drops Backlund into his correct slot, that cant be over looked. The Flames went from sub average centre depth to one of the deeper teams in the league.

I've been super critical of BT the last few years but its astonishing what hes pulled off here and with IMO the absolute perfect pieces and needs of the team, from a position of weakness nonetheless. Ive said it before and I'll say it again, Gaudreau and Tkahcuk wanting out might have been the best thing for this team and also indirectly awaken BT. The previous core wasn't working and his continued effort to bring in complimentary pieces and not touch the core was clearly hurting the team from being a playoff threat.

I hope he has one more move up his sleeve to bring in another top 6 forward (without giving up any more 1sts), then I think we match up extremely well against the best team in the west (Colorado). They are the barometer.

[McG]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Maybe they would be in the future but I'm pretty sure Jake Oettinger playing like he did still makes it a close match and I'm pretty sure Markstrom ####ting the bed against the Oil still leaves us on the outside looking in.

I’m trying not to type long dissertations as they get boring to read so I’ll be brief.

Both goalies definitely affected the outcomes for sure and for my straw man I assumed that there was no change.

I think that flames are better defensively which materially impacts the opponents’ opportunities to score. For me, this means less Dallas goals against (reducing Oettinger’s impact) and a reduction in river hockey v e=ng. If flames can reduce the 5 minutes of madness in these games where the opponents’ momentum and goal scoring goes crazy, flames 5v5 play can settle things down and give a better chance of winning.

Would the outcome change? Maybe. I’m excited to find out!

[White Out 403]

The Flames off season makes me dislike Chevy even more.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The Flames off season makes me dislike Chevy even more.

Definitely would rather have a bold GM even if he makes mistakes sometimes, over one who sits on their hands.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Maybe they would be in the future but I'm pretty sure Jake Oettinger playing like he did still makes it a close match and I'm pretty sure Markstrom ####ting the bed against the Oil still leaves us on the outside looking in.

I don't think there is enough credit given to Bowness. Oettinger was unreal...but if that series is just a little bit more open, Calgary wins it handily. The turtle defense didn't allow for a lot of cross crease and homeplate chances which would have made Oettinger give up more.

[Icantwhisper]

I don't see us being as good in the regular season, a lot of guys had career bests last year, slightly unrealistic to assume some won't regress a little.
If they all have career years again great but to expect it is a big ask.
I think we were the least injured team during the regular season last year too, probably du for a few more games lost this year.
I think we'll be a 100-104 point team.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I don't think there is enough credit given to Bowness. Oettinger was unreal...but if that series is just a little bit more open, Calgary wins it handily. The turtle defense didn't allow for a lot of cross crease and homeplate chances which would have made Oettinger give up more.

It was painful to watch the late 90's throwback hockey he instilled. As a hockey fan I hated how Bowness had them playing but he deserves a lot of credit for putting a less talented team in position to win that series. Maybe Chevy thinks Bowness can get some of those forwards to buy into team defense even if the hockey is less eventful.

[Psytic]

On paper I'm super excited. Wouldn't mind adding Phil the thrill though to round it out. Feels like a balanced team in the vein of St. Louis who actually put up a good fight against the Avs. I think its going to be a very interesting year if they can gel quickly and come into camp in Sutter shape. Early chemistry and conditioning will be key.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I don't see us being as good in the regular season, a lot of guys had career bests last year, slightly unrealistic to assume some won't regress a little.
If they all have career years again great but to expect it is a big ask.
I think we were the least injured team during the regular season last year too, probably du for a few more games lost this year.
I think we'll be a 100-104 point team.

The Flames were the least "injured" team, but they were also the team that got the most F-ed over by Covid. The entire team had covid at once, and then the Flames also had to deal with the screwy Canadian schedule.

Are people forgetting about December and January? The Flames aren't going to have to struggle through something like that again. The Flames lost 8 of 10 games during that period. That skewed their record down heavily, and the team clearly wasn't at full health until the end of January.