[PGT] Flames lose 3-0 to Blues. The 'they'll never score again' edition

[TheIronMaiden]

The worst part is, I don't even feel sad or angry. That was last year. I remember my old man and I going to games late last season saying this will be our last playoff push in a long time, we should try and enjoy it for what it is.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

So many people wanted a rebuild, but for some reason no one is happy in the PGTs.

This is what a rebuild looks like. You lose games with a bunch of mediocre players.

You lose with a bunch of mediocre players after you've traded all your vets for draft capital.

You don't lose after signing all your mediocre players to long term contracts.

The Flames may be as bad as a rebuilding team, but they are not rebuilding. A rebuilding team offers hope. The Flames aren't close to hitting bottom yet.

I do expect the Flames won't be near the bottom of the league, they are too good for that. Aren't they?

[D as in David]

I'm kind of just watching the games now like I watch really bad movies. There's a fascination with seeing how bad they really can be.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Why this man doesn’t at LEAST have an ‘A’ on his jersey is beyond me.

Zadorov’s outspoken manner may be more appreciated among fans than it is in the dressing room.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I'm not even sure something is broken with this group. I'm sure they will get a little better once they get use to new systems etc.., but they simply don't have the goal scoring talent on the team.

On paper when we swapped out Johnny and Matt for Kadri and Huberdeau - it looked like points in for points out. But if you look at the goals vs. points - it was removing 24 goals from the line up. That's the the problem with this team, they are lacking finish, and I actually don't think they have it on the roster.

Now this year, we've also downgraded the coach (not a shot at Huska - he's just not Daryl level yet) - so not sure why I was expecting anything different.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by D as in David

With the trade market returning pennies on the dollar this past summer (as possibly evidenced by your second post), chances are no one would have been happy with whatever Conroy would have been able to get in return selling off the UFA's. Again with your second post, it doesn't appear that you would have been happy if the Flames had gone the other way during the off season with limited returns from trades.

First of all the trade market thing is an excuse. There's no gun to Conroy's head until the trade deadline which is when the market will be the best. Second of all you are missing the point of my posts as I never brought up any trades. Conroy re-signed Backlund and is trying to re-sign Lindholm and Hanifin. He's trying to keep together the team he helped Brad build that's clearly not working. This is what happens when you don't shake up management or coaching. They promoted from within which means we are getting a lot of the same mentality running the team that has got them to where they are today.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by VilleN

This might be a dumb question - but - When Huberdeau scored 115 pts was he a superstar on the ice? What I mean by that is, did other teams fear him? Or did he collect a bunch of secondary assists, and wasn't actually as impactful as the number suggests? It sounds ridiculous even as I type it - he had to be an elite superstar, 115pts is a hell of a season... but I have literally seen no signs of a great player... barely any glimpses of elite vision, athleticism, etc. It is hard to imagine him putting up 115pts...

I didn’t watch many Panthers games when Huberdeau was on the roster. But when LeBrun posted some comments about the Tkachuk trade, a Metropolitan division coach said something re Huberdeau along the lines of “This guy doesn’t scare us. Not a difference-maker.”

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You are missing the point. Conroy re-signed Backlund and is trying to re-sign Lindholm and Hanifin. He's trying to keep together the team he helped Brad build that's clearly not working.

I'm not sure I did miss the point. How do we know that Conroy didn't at least ask other teams about their interest in any of the upcoming UFA's, including Backlund? We can never know because we're not in the room, but given Backlund's remarks at the end of last season, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that Conroy talked about any of all of the upcoming UFA's with other teams during the off-season.

But as I wasn't in the room, either, this is just a narrative that I make up, too, based on what I think to be true or possible.

[TheIronMaiden]

Greer is a beauty. I feel bad that he has to play for us.

[Bonded]

I missed that Lindholm said they deserved boos as well

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by D as in David

I'm not sure I did miss the point. How do we know that Conroy didn't at least ask other teams about their interest in any of the upcoming UFA's, including Backlund? We can never know because we're not in the room, but given Backlund's remarks at the end of last season, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that Conroy talked about any of all of the upcoming UFA's with other teams during the off-season.

But as I wasn't in the room, either, this is just a narrative that I make up, too, based on what I think to be true or possible.

I don't think it is a narrative, Management and Fans thought this was a playoff team.

[CGY12]

Nobody is missing Sutter. He lost his god damn mind last year and it wasn't going to change. Now the hire they made I question but letting go of Sutter was absolutely needed.

The real culprit of this mess is BT. He absolutely destroyed this franchise in the worst way. He lost our best player and a superstar for nothing and then handed over a blank cheque to a guy who had never played for us.

I'm not even trying to crush Huberdeau but these guys are human, despite the talent and past numbers, the difference between here and Florida in every aspect of your personal and professional life, is so astronomical that it was negligent to pay him as quickly as he did, without seeing how fit or adapted.

Just shockingly bad how BT handled his last 1/2 years as Flames GM. O and ownership was ready to extend him, unreal.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Zadorov’s outspoken manner may be more appreciated among fans than it is in the dressing room.

Good.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Tank the Teamy for Celebrini?

Drop a steamy for Celebrini

[Burning Beard]

Why aren't they trotting out the new Captain or highest paid player in franchise history to speak to the media after a showing like that? Sure would be nice to hear them speak the truth like Zadorov. Big Z for C!

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I don't think it is a narrative, Management and Fans thought this was a playoff team.

We always build narratives. We have incomplete and imperfect information about all experiences but take whatever information we do perceive about a situation and then project what we think is true based on what we've been conditioned to think is true. Basically, our thinking is a narrative.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Tank the Teamy for Celebrini?

No more in betweeni, tank for Celebrini.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Why aren't they trotting out the new Captain or highest paid player in franchise history to speak to the media after a showing like that? Sure would be nice to hear them speak the truth like Zadorov. Big Z for C!

They did trot him out after the Rangers game - there may be some strategy around rotating through the players for post-game interviews. I do find it interesting that Huberdeau hasn't done one in a while unless I've missed it.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by D as in David

We always build narratives. We have incomplete and imperfect information about all experiences but take whatever information we do perceive about a situation and then project what we think is true based on what we've been conditioned to think is true. Basically, our thinking is a narrative.

Reminds me of Thomas King: "The truth about stories is that's all we are".

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Drop a steamy for Celebrini

Isn't that what Sutter told us Huberdeau was doing last year during that game?