Making the playoffs or keeping our top-10 first round pick 2025?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

We are not a playoff team. And this team of course refuses to tank and get an elite player, and instead are back in the mushy middle.

Even if you do sneak in, do you really believe we are going to win a playoff round with no top line talent?

God damn winners refuse to be losers. Have the players not received the memo.

Suck Wolf
Suck Coronato
Suck Zary

It is on these guys this franchise failure.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The problem is that if they do this, there's a high likelihood of the Flames losing their 1st round pick to Montreal.

The safer, and better long term option, is to pick in the top 10, imo.
Trading away players does three things. It supplies picks and assets, allows young players to get more ice time, and improves the Flames' own 1st round pick.

Montreal could get every top 10 pick and still suck. They are proof positive about what an abject failure trying to lose is. You end up just being losers.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Montreal could get every top 10 pick and still suck. They are proof positive about what an abject failure trying to lose is. You end up just being losers.

That doesn’t mean anything

Montreal sucks at building doesn’t mean other teams can’t

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Montreal could get every top 10 pick and still suck. They are proof positive about what an abject failure trying to lose is. You end up just being losers.

Yep, every team that has ever lost a lot for a period of time and drafted high has continued to lose forever and not won multiple cups or anything.

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, every team that has ever lost a lot for a period of time and drafted high has continued to lose forever and not won multiple cups or anything.

You don't need to be this cryptic, just say it is the Oilers....

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I’d say let the players decide it. I have a feeling they are going to make it. They are in a playoff spot with a very young team. They should get better as the season progresses. They have a good group of vets. Their defensive system and goaltending keep them in every game. They have been playing playoff hockey all season. I think they could actually do some damage if they got in.

They actually aren't in a playoff position.

But I can't disagree with the balance of what you are saying.

And of course the players will decide it.

But I doubt they make it.

[traptor]

You can't tell the team to lose and it's good that it's being led by the kids.

But, if we were purely hypothetical about what's best for the future, a couple top 10 picks would be extremely helpful.

Not sure where this team is going longterm. We're 2 years out of playoffs without a top pick to show for it. Based in this year, it doesn't seem like we will bottom out over the next few years.

We dont have the elite talent in the system to be a contender. Parehk isn't having the year I hoped he would.


Destined for mediocrity is the current trajectory, unless some of these kids turn into unexpected superstars.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by traptor

You can't tell the team to lose and it's good that it's being led by the kids.

But, if we were purely hypothetical about what's best for the future, a couple top 10 picks would be extremely helpful.

Not sure where this team is going longterm. We're 2 years out of playoffs without a top pick to show for it. Based in this year, it doesn't seem like we will bottom out over the next few years.

We dont have the elite talent in the system to be a contender. Parehk isn't having the year I hoped he would.


Destined for mediocrity is the current trajectory, unless some of these kids turn into unexpected superstars.

Yep, this is classic Flames. Of course nothing is a guarantee, but getting a few top picks you are a lot more likely to get some elite players out of that than drafting 11th to 15th.

The one good thing is we seem to have a great young goalie. But we are still missing so many pieces. I really think we are destined to never compete.

[Bingo]

The Flames have been a .500 team since their 6 game unbeaten start.

The 10th place team is one game under .500.

This is nowhere near as decided as some seem to think it is.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Flames have been a .500 team since their 6 game unbeaten start.

The 10th place team is one game under .500.

This is nowhere near as decided as some seem to think it is.

I can see the 4 teams behind us catch up. It gets murky after that.

[Burning Beard]

Less than a year since the big sell-off but somehow the team is already doomed!

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Flames have been a .500 team since their 6 game unbeaten start.

The 10th place team is one game under .500.

This is nowhere near as decided as some seem to think it is.

Sure but that’s kinda cherry picking on one team. For me I see 7 teams that will stay in the bottom 10. That leaves 3 spots. IMO flames would be competing with islanders , Columbus, Philly and Seattle for those 3 spots. The closest team to Calgary is Columbus and flames have a 5 point lead.Truthfully Seattle probably makes the 8th team staying in bottom 10 but I’m a bit biased towards them. This doesn’t include other teams like the rangers , Utah , Pitt ect. I think those teams have enough talent to stay out of it.

[Flamesfan05]

Blackhawks , Sharks and Sabres are guaranteed

The others are still up for grab but time is running out fast

[howard_the_duck]

Ready for this season to be over so this god forsaken first round pick condition is behind us.

Losing this year’s pick is a huge potential setback to this rebuild. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, move on and hope you can hit on some of the pick volume you’ve accumulated after last season’s sell off.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Ready for this season to be over so this god forsaken first round pick condition is behind us.

Losing this year’s pick is a huge potential setback to this rebuild. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, move on and hope you can hit on some of the pick volume you’ve accumulated after last season’s sell off.

Yeah it’s a real gut punch. We need a first line and a #1C. We need a lot of pieces.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Also not Conroys fault the vets this go round are miles ahead of previous times. Hudler was our top getter and amen like Butler and Cundari and goalies like Backstrom.....

With so many prospects that are just right around the corner of a shot( and have earned it) recent pics excelling more than ever and a legitimate future 1 goalie emerging. This is the best spot out side the 80s that Calgary has ever been in with the most cap space avaliable in the leugue. This could be a quick 2-3 turn around vs a 10 year rebuild .

The prospect base is exciting but we are missing the elite talent. Losing our 1st because of selfish GM is a set back.

This isn’t 10 years but it’s not 2-3. Still a lot of work to be done and again we are missing the biggest piece.

Conory hopefully prioritizes a Andersson trade after the holidays and approaches Coleman and asking him if he wants to go to a contender.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Playoffs are always better.

[schteve_d]

I would love to see the Flames retain that pick, but not on purpose.

The unfortunate part of watching that is it means Wolf gets lit up for the rest of the season. And if we do get an asset for Vladar? Call up Cooley and destroy the confidence of two young goalie prospects? Maybe sign a crummy vet and let him take the fall, but then what? Wolf sits as a back up to a crummy goalie, or send him down and let him play? Neither of those scenarios sound appealing.

I think we just have to face it that this is Tre's last parting shot. Hopefully. The pick is gone, we do what's best for the development of our young guys, particularly the goalies, and we move on.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Montreal could get every top 10 pick and still suck. They are proof positive about what an abject failure trying to lose is. You end up just being losers.

There are a number of teams like that. Chasing a big fish.

Pheonix for a while
Buffalo
Oilers did it for a decade
San Jose and Anaheim recently

I agree with you that you have to be careful with losing. The culture becomes engrained quickly.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yeah it’s a real gut punch. We need a first line and a #1C. We need a lot of pieces.

Huberdeau and Kadri are starting to gel. We have two goalies. We have a lot of young D and wingers.

I think the big needs are:

- A consistent sniper. Coronato is turning into one. But one extra goal a game. Or even every other game and the Flames are a different team.
- A young top 6 center. Our centers are getting pretty long in the tooth. The organization has no depth at center.