The losing streak - optimist vs. pessimist: which side are you on

[VilleN]

Optimistic. Sutter’s LA championship teams did not have great regular seasons. However, Huberdeau needs to be the superstar that can be. He has the ability to elevate players around him and we need him to be our best player (and Markstrom). Stone, Kylington, and especially Tanev need to get healthy as well… our D depth is non existent right now; with those guys healthy we have one of the deepest blue lines in the league.

[gvitaly]

I tried being pessimistic during and after the 20/21 season, it didn't take. Losing sucks, but this team has too many good players to not figure it out. We all expected less points, but a better more seasoned playoff team.

It's not like we can change the make up of this team this year or the next anyways, so I don't see a point in pessimistic. We went all in and got a bad flop, lets see what the turn and river bring before drawing conclusions.

[BoLevi]

The FBIs witness protection program could learn a thing or two from Kylington and the flames.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

None of those examples are comparable. Name another team missing its top forward and three of its top 7 defensemen?

Well giving you an exact comparison is obviously pretty silly.

But here are some teams that are missing some key guys:

Boston was missing Marchand and McAvoy until recently
Avs missing landeskog, byram and girard
Philly is missing couts, ellis, jvr and more

Detroit, Kraken, blue jackets, canes, coyotes, devils, leafs and capitals are all missing multiple key players.

Flames need to find ways to win. Injuries happen to all teams. Yeah they've caught the injury bug and have had a tough sched but they need still need to win games.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by traptor

Well giving you an exact comparison is obviously pretty silly.

But here are some teams that are missing some key guys:

Boston was missing Marchand and McAvoy until recently
Avs missing landeskog, byram and girard
Philly is missing couts, ellis, jvr and more

Detroit, Kraken, blue jackets, canes, coyotes, devils, leafs and capitals are all missing multiple key players.

Flames need to find ways to win. Injuries happen to all teams. Yeah they've caught the injury bug and have had a tough sched but they need still need to win games.

I wasn't asking for exact equivocation. I was asking for an example that measures up to something close to what the Flames are dealing with.

The Avs example I'll give you as they're also missing Nichushkin. But the other ones don't measure up. Huberdeau was a 115 point player last year and Tanev is the heart & soul of our entire D corps. This team can ill afford to be without them for much longer.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

if huberdeau starts to be a PPG player and markstrom can be a 2.20/.917 ballpark goalie then the wins will come frequently . both have shown they can be those things

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Who needs a division title...you could get Seattle in the 2/3 spot

Winning the Pacific could very likely get you a harder first round opponent like last season

I think this gets under estimated often when evaluating injuries. Stone and Kylington aren’t stars but when you have 3 dmen out at once it’s hard to recover from that. Tanev is your best too. Then you add Huberdeau and your praying for your goalies to steal you games. Isn’t happening right now

[N-E-B]

Depends for me. I’m pessimistic they can win their division, but still optimistic they can finish top-3. Maybe even 2nd.

I know it’s not an excuse but the team is missing Huberdeau, Tanev, Kylington, and Stone. They have their #8 and #9 defenseman in the lineup. That shouldn’t be overlooked. I also think they’ve played well enough to win in most of the games they’ve lost.

Maybe the team was overrated to start the year, I don’t know, but I don’t think they’re bad enough to be concerned about quite yet.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by traptor

Well giving you an exact comparison is obviously pretty silly.

But here are some teams that are missing some key guys:

Boston was missing Marchand and McAvoy until recently
Avs missing landeskog, byram and girard
Philly is missing couts, ellis, jvr and more

Detroit, Kraken, blue jackets, canes, coyotes, devils, leafs and capitals are all missing multiple key players.

Flames need to find ways to win. Injuries happen to all teams. Yeah they've caught the injury bug and have had a tough sched but they need still need to win games.

But is anyone suggesting that injuries are the only reason the team has struggled? Most seem to be saying injuries plus chemistry issues.

Some teams have done well with injuries but only Boston has been without stars and still playing above where expected.

I like Bryam but he’s a kid still not producing as one of their best and the Avs won the cup without Girard. Imo landeskog is the only real key injury they have

Flames aren’t 2 and 7 either. They have done pretty well it’s just more of late they haven’t

[dino7c]

If your top players are missing your team isn't as good...its not an excuse its reality

the point is if those guys were to come back at some point it's reasonable to believe the team will do better.

Same thing with the schedule...it's unbalanced this far into the season. Some teams have played a lot of bad teams and some teams have played a lot of good teams. Again not an excuse but a reason that results might be different in the future.

I get that you have to beat good teams to win however even the best teams are less likely to win against a top team than a bottom feeder. Duh


Flames are one game under .500 against teams that are 30 games over 500 or whatever vs. the rest of the league...its reasonable to assume their record will improve in December when they are playing against teams with worse records.

Are these things guranteed? hell no but there is a reason MoneyPuck has the Flames playoff odds still at nearly 80% despite their poor record. Its in the data....reasons, not excuses.

[DeluxeMoustache]

You keep complaining about the schedule

Problem is they lost to Nashville, Seattle and Buffalo and gave up a stinker to the Devils

Losing to Boston isn’t a problem. Losing games you should have won is

[Locke]

I do find it funny that people think its all fine because the prize is Bedard.

Come on...the Flames will never, ever, ever draft that high, and if we did Bedard would be a Daigle.

The 'Silver Lining' of this cloud is actual silver that will line our lungs and kill us quickly.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Locke

I do find it funny that people think its all fine because the prize is Bedard.

Come on...the Flames will never, ever, ever draft that high, and if we did Bedard would be a Daigle.

The 'Silver Lining' of this cloud is actual silver that will line our lungs and kill us quickly.

It's a deep draft. That's a good year to draft middling 1st round

We all know the loser mindset that the Flames never get 1st OAs or if they did they get Daigle. We all live with it.

So what? It will still be a better off-season for a lot of fans than the last off-season where the wheels fell off but then somehow the GM pulled a miracle.

Is it their fault the fans ran into the season on a sugar high only to have a diabetic crash at the 1st sign of adversity?

Look at this place, we haven't even gotten to American thanks giving and the red buttons being pushed.

There's so much runway left for the Flames to take off.

But if they don't, we'll its a good year to be a lottery pick. Not just a lottery winner.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dammage79

It's a deep draft. That's a good year to draft middling 1st round

We all know the loser mindset that the Flames never get 1st OAs or if they did they get Daigle. We all live with it.

So what? It will still be a better off-season for a lot of fans than the last off-season where the wheels fell off but then somehow the GM pulled a miracle.

Is it their fault the fans ran into the season on a sugar high only to have a diabetic crash at the 1st sign of adversity?

Look at this place, we haven't even gotten to American thanks giving and the red buttons being pushed.

There's so much runway left for the Flames to take off.

But if they don't, we'll its a good year to be a lottery pick. Not just a lottery winner.

I think pessimism is absolutely warranted.

You're not wrong, at all, there is a lot of runway left.

But the way the NHL operates these days, you cant go on a skid like this and expect to make the playoffs without anticipating a winning streak equal to or greater than your losing streak.

And I dont think any rational person looking at this team and the way they're playing is seeing that as anything other than a really tall ask.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think pessimism is absolutely warranted.

You're not wrong, at all, there is a lot of runway left.

But the way the NHL operates these days, you cant go on a skid like this and expect to make the playoffs without anticipating a winning streak equal to or greater than your losing streak.

And I dont think any rational person looking at this team and the way they're playing is seeing that as anything other than a really tall ask.

or you just focus on wining 2 of 3 and you don't even have to quite hit that either

point percentage required after this losing streak is .616

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think pessimism is absolutely warranted.

You're not wrong, at all, there is a lot of runway left.

But the way the NHL operates these days, you cant go on a skid like this and expect to make the playoffs without anticipating a winning streak equal to or greater than your losing streak.

And I dont think any rational person looking at this team and the way they're playing is seeing that as anything other than a really tall ask.

Again, we aren't even at American Thanksgiving. The bellwether date majority of the NHL and it's fanbase say is when you know what you have.

It's amazing how fast the pendulum swings. Flames win a home opening for the first time since what? The Iggy Era? Tear through all the pre season favorites and then they just lost it.

Pessimism is fine with context. But there's a lot of context being omitted right now. Flames haven't even iced their complete roster once this year. Sutters still tinkering with the fuel mixture on this tractor, and yeah, there's not a lot going on with the biggest Shiney new toy and our #1 C.

I feel this alarmism is just far too early. Trust me . I'll be swinging to the dark side when it's time to if it comes. But it's not now.

I just believe whole heartedly Lindholm is too good to keep his play down like this, Hubey is far too good to not get rolling either. And man when Kadris cup hangover kicks in its gonna get real dicey in here. It's coming. I just hope when it does the other top players have gotten rolling.

[Goriders]

I’m optimistic because I thought they actually played well on the road trip.

Pessimistic about the main goal scoring problem getting fixed.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by BoLevi

The FBIs witness protection program could learn a thing or two from Kylington and the flames.

Apparently it's none of our business

[Strange Brew]

You need to be able to win without Tanev in your lineup. Up until joining the Flames he has missed big chunks of time.

He is a nice player but not irreplaceable.

[8sPOT]

Leaning towards pessimist side. This team was heralded for its depth, but a few key injuries and the team has completely lost its identity at times.

Each game they've had their moments, but the other teams stars have vastly outplayed ours.

Worst, worst case, these injuries continue to pile up and the Flames miss the playoffs. But in a deep 2023 draft that may not be so bad. Creep up into a top 5 pick and we could be adding a legit game breaker. I want a game breaker.