What would need to happen for the Flames to make the Playoffs in 2024/25?

[FanIn80]

I think it would better for everyone to just accept that we're not making the playoffs this year. Just watch the young guys and hopefully enjoy some positive development in the right direction... but not get caught up in wins and losses etc.

That way, we won't be dissapointed if the season ends the way it logically should end (based on our roster)... but also allows for us to be pleasantly surprised and super pumped if we actually do make the playoffs.

Approach 1: expect "Young Guns, Part 2" to make the playoffs (in spite of the lack of a playoff-caliber roster), be mad all season long as we lose more games than we win, and even more mad when we don't qualify at the end.

Approach 2: expect nothing, but hope for progress. Be happy while watching our young players evolve and not worry about winning games. Potentially get excited if we somehow manage to actually qualify and then have an outright blast in the playoffs knowing we shouldn't have even made it there, and just enjoy the ride as we play with borrowed ice time for as far as we go.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I think it would better for everyone to just accept that we're not making the playoffs this year. Just watch the young guys and hopefully enjoy some positive development in the right direction... but not get caught up in wins and losses etc.

That way, we won't be dissapointed if the season ends the way it logically should end (based on our roster)... but also allows for us to be pleasantly surprised and super pumped if we actually do make the playoffs.

Approach 1: expect "Young Guns, Part 2" to make the playoffs (in spite of the lack of a playoff-caliber roster), be mad all season long as we lose more games than we win, and even more mad when we don't qualify at the end.

Approach 2: expect nothing, but hope for progress. Be happy while watching our young players evolve and not worry about winning games. Potentially get excited if we somehow manage to actually qualify and then have an outright blast in the playoffs knowing we shouldn't have even made it there, and just enjoy the ride as we play with borrowed ice time for as far as we go.

Of course nobody expects to make the playoffs.

As the Spartans say… “If.”

(But probably not)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Nobody here is trying to, not one person has said they are going to make the playoffs. They aren't the worst team in the league though...not even within 10 points.

Well you are saying the bolded and I don't agree at all. I get that this is the time of year for optimism but after the deadline the Flames had a.381 Win% (courtesy of Jay Random) and I don't see any meaningful offseason additions that are going to change that especially with arguably the shakiest goaltending situation in the league. I think Flames fans should really brace themselves for the worst here as it's far more likely than the playoffs and nothing makes a season harder to endure than expectations that are simply unattainable. If they exceed expectations then it's just an added bonus and the season will be much easier to take. FanIn80 has the right approach to this upcoming season.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well you are saying the bolded and I don't agree at all. I get that this is the time of year for optimism but after the deadline the Flames had a.381 Win% (courtesy of Jay Random) and I don't see any meaningful offseason additions that are going to change that especially with arguably the shakiest goaltending situation in the league. I think Flames fans should really brace themselves for the worst here as it's far more likely than the playoffs and nothing makes a season harder to endure than expectations that are simply unattainable. If they exceed expectations then it's just an added bonus and the season will be much easier to take. FanIn80 has the right approach to this upcoming season.

Their P% was .350 after the trade deadline.

San Jose’s over the season? .287

The difference in points: 10

Hardly wild optimism or not bracing themselves for the worst to suggest they could be 10 points above the worst team.

Anaheim was 12 points ahead and they drafted 3rd overall. Some of you are tilting at windmills.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

A successful year for Zary is probably 40 points playing exclusively down the middle. He’s almost certainly not ready to do the heavy lifting required of a playoff team.

If our 3C is at 40 points and playing good all-around hockey I'd be thrilled.

[Kipper_3434]

Since 3 is the magic number.
1. Mid to high end goaltending
2. Solid 2nd pairing emerges
3. Reasonably good health for key players.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well you are saying the bolded and I don't agree at all. I get that this is the time of year for optimism but after the deadline the Flames had a.381 Win% (courtesy of Jay Random) and I don't see any meaningful offseason additions that are going to change that especially with arguably the shakiest goaltending situation in the league. I think Flames fans should really brace themselves for the worst here as it's far more likely than the playoffs and nothing makes a season harder to endure than expectations that are simply unattainable. If they exceed expectations then it's just an added bonus and the season will be much easier to take. FanIn80 has the right approach to this upcoming season.

The D is far superior to the D that finished the season....381 is a low bar, I expect them to be above it. Not exactly calling a playoff spot, they won't be the worst team in the league though or even close IMO.

Like have you seen SJ's roster?

The thread is literally titled "What would need to happen for the Flames to make the Playoffs in 2024/25" some of you need to lighten up a bit

14-15 Flames were supposed to be the worst team in the league too

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well you are saying the bolded and I don't agree at all. I get that this is the time of year for optimism but after the deadline the Flames had a.381 Win% (courtesy of Jay Random) and I don't see any meaningful offseason additions that are going to change that especially with arguably the shakiest goaltending situation in the league. I think Flames fans should really brace themselves for the worst here as it's far more likely than the playoffs and nothing makes a season harder to endure than expectations that are simply unattainable. If they exceed expectations then it's just an added bonus and the season will be much easier to take. FanIn80 has the right approach to this upcoming season.

Fun stuff.

You think that was a team that was trying to win?

They were watching their dismantling in real time and knowing the org had thrown in the towel

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Like have you seen SJ's roster?

I assume Cellebrini and Smith will make the team. They already signed Toffoli.

They're still bad but certainly better than last year. I expect 60 points+ this year.

[CliffFletcher]

Markstrom was awful after the deadline, not just compared to how he played earlier in the season, but compared with how Wolf and Vladar played post-deadline. And the whole team was in disarray and demoralized from the sell-off. So I wouldn’t use the Flames’ winning percentage in those games as the baseline for the upcoming season.

If I had to lay down money, I’d have the Flames finishing 23-27th over finishing 28th-32nd.

[All In Good Time]

If 9 other western conference teams somehow get disqualified, we will make the playoffs

[Locke]

Alright. Lets talk Cloning.

Maybe a 'Prime' Sidney Crosby could swing it?

We'd have to change his name to 'Guy Incognito' though and tint his visor...

[Sylvanfan]

Going into 14-15 I seem to remember that the sentiment was the the Flames would no doubt be a bottom 5 team. That team was a statistical outlier, and something like that would have to occur again.

The points in the original post are reasonable although did Backlund and Andersson get mixed up?

This team doesn't have a Gaudreau up front to be that wildcard scorer. It likely will need to be a guy like Brzustewicz to make the team and produce points at a really high rate on the PP. Up front many of the veteran guys like Coleman, Backlund, Kadri, Kuzmenko, Sherangovich would all need to have stronger than expected seasons plus the return to 70 plus point production by Huberdeau.

Vladar and or Cooley would also have to play play really well too in the 35 or more games that they play.

They would need that unhrralded guy like a Morton to make the team and go on a Josh Jooris like heater where he gets 10 goals in 30 games and other guys who come up score above expected to help out the overall output.

Really the team would need to have a decent start and be in that position on US Thanksgiving and have the confidence carry them through the season.

It's all unlikely, but outliers happen every season.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I think it would better for everyone to just accept that we're not making the playoffs this year.

What does this even mean?

We will still watch the games.

No one really things we are going to make the playoffs, this is meant as a fun exercise during the off season.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Markstrom was awful after the deadline, not just compared to how he played earlier in the season, but compared with how Wolf and Vladar played post-deadline.

Marky was bad after the deadline, compared to Wolf. Vladar was even worse in a small sample size. He let in 13 goals in 5 periods.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Marky was bad after the deadline, compared to Wolf. Vladar was even worse in a small sample size. He let in 13 goals in 5 periods.

Vladar needed surgery...you would think he improves

If he doesn't the Flames will find a decent backup elsewhere. Flames are adding to this roster IMO.

Young waiver wire pickups, decent players with bad contracts incoming.

[transplant99]

Quite often the team with the lowest payrolls will also find themselves at or near the very bottom of the NHL standings at year end.

This team is dead last in payroll at this point.

Fans will be hoping the team exceeds expectations because that's what fans do.

In reality though, they are way more likely to be last than anywhere near a playoff spot.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Quite often the team with the lowest payrolls will also find themselves at or near the very bottom of the NHL standings at year end.

This team is dead last in payroll at this point.

Fans will be hoping the team exceeds expectations because that's what fans do.

In reality though, they are way more likely to be last than anywhere near a playoff spot.

Yup, this team has the recipe for disaster.

A mishmash of defenders who likely will have very little chemistry in the beginning due to the fact most of them have been on the Flames roster for 6 months or less.

A trio of young goaltenders who are getting their first real shot at having an NHL crease for any extended period.

An interesting group of forwards with very little center depth and no high end skill.

In the new NHL this is likely to be a team that doesn't win much, and that's OK as long as everyone show up and competes every night. I think it's likely this team really struggles until the new year, and then starts to show signs of turning it around in the second half, with hopes that they can carry that momentum into the following season.

For this team to make the playoffs this year, they'd have to have everything go right for them, including Zayne Parekh being an immediate star on the backend, and Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar stealing games for them. I just don't see it in the cards....

and yet, this team historically has a habit of being pretty good when everyone thinks they're going to be bad, and pretty bad when everyone thinks they're going to be pretty good.

I'm excited for training camp. I'm excited to see how some of these kids look and I'm excited to see if anyone surprised and takes any steps. Season's without expectations can be some of the most fun.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Vladar needed surgery...you would think he improves

If he doesn't the Flames will find a decent backup elsewhere. Flames are adding to this roster IMO.

Young waiver wire pickups, decent players with bad contracts incoming.

I agree, but I was responding to a comment that Vladar was better than Marky after the trade deadline.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by dino7c

The D is far superior to the D that finished the season…

This is where you lost me. Our blue line is a tire fire.