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

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

Playing Backlund up the lineup was fine by me before the acquisition of Frost, and Zary’s eventual return.

He's not "up" the lineup.

He's playing the amount of minutes needed to play the shutdown role on a team without any obvious current replacements.

If the Flames could convince opposing coaches to play the MacKinnon's of the world less we could decrease Backlund's ice time.

So far they haven't played along.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

They’re already two games into the losing streak they need to squeak into the bottom 10. Another three or four losses in quick succession and you could see them start to shut guys down for the season if they’re dealing with nagging injuries.

And this isn’t a team that can withstand injuries to anyone. Look what losing Bahl did to them. And not to say he’s not having a great year or isn’t important to the team, but if we can’t manage without Kevin Bahl for a few weeks, we have the depth of a toddler pool.

Sure if they lose 3 or 4 more in a row then you're at 6 but the team has pretty pretty resilient all season that I just don't see them putting up a 6+ game losing streak.

Would I mind if they did? Not at all because ideally they go on one streak or another here. Either win 6 straight and make the playoffs or lose 6 straight and finish bottom 10.

It just seems unlikely to me based on how they've played all season. Every time they are written off they string together a couple wins - just like they did against Washington, and then again after the Florida/Carolina losses.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Bingo

He's not "up" the lineup.

He's playing the amount of minutes needed to play the shutdown role on a team without any obvious current replacements.

If the Flames could convince opposing coaches to play the MacKinnon's of the world less we could decrease Backlund's ice time.

So far they haven't played along.

So when do you think we should try to develop a successor? Once he’s retired? I’d much rather he be on the roster giving players guidance, then scrambling once he is gone.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

Playing Backlund up the lineup was fine by me before the acquisition of Frost, and Zary’s eventual return.

This sounds great on paper. In practice we don't know what was the extant of Zary's injury and if there was a reason the coaching staff preferred to deploy him in a lesser role after it. We also don't know what is say the 3 year plan for Zary's development. Would Zary have a chance to work on his offense when he's busy trying to keep up with the likes of MacKinnon and McDavid on a nightly basis, filling in Backlund's shoes, or is he more likely to turn into a glass and out grinder?

My point is that the coaching and professional staff have a much more detailed picture and plan of action than any of us could have watching from the couch.

[Jason14h]

I fully support playing Zary against other teams too lines as I want a top 10 pick

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

So when do you think we should try to develop a successor? Once he’s retired? I’d much rather he be on the roster giving players guidance, then scrambling once he is gone.

What do you think is happening when they staple a young player on Backlund’s wing?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

So when do you think we should try to develop a successor? Once he’s retired? I’d much rather he be on the roster giving players guidance, then scrambling once he is gone.

Maybe not during a playoff race?

The Flames have played above their heads all season, and in my opinion, deserve a chance to see things out.

So no ... I wouldn't be demoting veterans that are clearly the best player on the roster at their role at this time.

All moot with Backlund hurt anyway ... Frost gets the job for now, moving Frost's role to Sharangovich/Zary.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bingo

He's not "up" the lineup.

He's playing the amount of minutes needed to play the shutdown role on a team without any obvious current replacements.

If the Flames could convince opposing coaches to play the MacKinnon's of the world less we could decrease Backlund's ice time.

So far they haven't played along.

People don’t seem to understand that your match-up centre is typically #2 when it comes to ice time.

Maybe Frost can start taking on that role next season. But throwing Zary out there against McKinnon, McDavid, and Matthews is going to hurt his development rather than help it. It’s difficult enough to learn the defensive responsibilities of an NHL centre while still generating offence, without doing it matched up against the best players in the world.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

How?
What steps do you want them to take to try and move down the standings?
Only start Vladar?

Yes.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Icon

Seems doable for team tank.

L @ Leafs
L @ Rangers
L @ Devils
W @ Isles
L vs Kraken
L vs Stars
L @ Oilers
L @ Avs
W @ Utah
W vs Ducks
L vs Knights
W @ Sharks
OTL @ Ducks
L vs Wild
W vs Sharks
L vs Knights
L @ Kings

5-11-1

Sure there's a couple "winnable" ones in there, obviously depends what version of the Flames shows up for those.

I'm guessing we see something more like 6-8-3, landing us right where nobody wants to finish.

L @ Leafs
W @ Rangers
L @ Devils
W @ Isles
W vs Kraken
L vs Stars
L @ Oilers
L @ Avs
W @ Utah
W vs Ducks
L vs Knights
W @ Sharks
W @ Ducks
L vs Wild
W vs Sharks
L vs Knights
L @ Kings

Worse case scenario (the most probable case):

8W - 9L = total 16-points for season total of 87 points. Not good enough to make the playoffs and Habs get a reasonable middle of the road first round pick.

Best case scenarios:

Win or lose 3/4 or more of the games in this final stretch. Either extremes are win-win situations.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Yes.

I just don’t see that being realistic when they are still in the race

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I just don’t see that being realistic when they are still in the race

And I think if they lose say three of the next four and have three teams and say 5 points to make up maybe they lessen Wolf's load.

Buy two points out with 2 and 3 games in hand ... not now.

[dino7c]

The Devils pick softens the blow...its really not worth the stress. Old management made that trade, new management made a good trade to get a pick back that will be in a similar range.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

What do you think is happening when they staple a young player on Backlund’s wing?

Didn’t know the successor was a winger? I do get not mixing it up during a playoff race. I’m not blind to that side of the argument. But I definitely don’t like Zary playing 4th line wing.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I think Vladar gets a start in one of these upcoming games. If we go 0-4 we probably alternate for the rest of the season.

Can't see the team that has fought all season for this to suddenly throw Vladar in for a bunch of games.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And I think if they lose say three of the next four and have three teams and say 5 points to make up maybe they lessen Wolf's load.

Buy two points out with 2 and 3 games in hand ... not now.

No, not now obviously.

But a bad road trip and they are probably cooked. All the teams around them are making up ground or streaking. Should be clear in about 10 days where they should focus.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Connor Zary has played 15 fewer games than Backlund and spent all of 6 fewer minutes on the man advantage (at least according to Evolving-hockey).

He’s not being blocked from anything.

There is one thing that is blocking Connor Zary…… and it’s Connor Zary. Need to start accepting what he is, middle six winger.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Or pull the the goalie for all 60 minutes.

It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

[MrButtons]

This is gonna be a longggggggg 17 games for CP

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by CSharp

L @ Leafs
W @ Rangers
L @ Devils
W @ Isles
W vs Kraken
L vs Stars
L @ Oilers
L @ Avs
W @ Utah
W vs Ducks
L vs Knights
W @ Sharks
W @ Ducks
L vs Wild
W vs Sharks
L vs Knights
L @ Kings

Worse case scenario (the most probable case):

8W - 9L = total 16-points for season total of 87 points. Not good enough to make the playoffs and Habs get a reasonable middle of the road first round pick.

Best case scenarios:

Win or lose 3/4 or more of the games in this final stretch. Either extremes are win-win situations.

Looking back at my "expected win" list, I could see UHC going the wrong way. It is the only game in that 3 game road trip that I think the team wins but morale could be getting low after March plays out and UHC will be chomping at the bit to get to WC2 and are 6-2-2 in their last 10.

Likely Wins... I think the Islanders game is the most likely win of the current road trip. The Wild and Kings are more "hopefully we win" than actually "likely wins". Those teams are playoff contenders that are likely losses that need to be wins for the playoffs.

The rest of the games in the list I expect the team to lose. I really hope we can knock off the Oilers and maybe the VGKs are resting players in our final game with them but I think there is a real chance that the team is looking at 5-6 wins left.

So, 5-11-1 is not an unreasonable expectation given how the schedule is.

The biggest games for defying expectations:
@ Leafs - They are on a 2 game losing skid and hopefully they stumble into another L
@ Rangers - B2B game for the Flames. Zary is back and hopefully Vladar is looking to prove something
@ Devils - Do their injuries give the Flames a chance to steal a win
@ Oilers - Always need to win these games
@ Utah - This game could have HUGE playoff implications. 4 point swing.
vs Wild - Flames are better at home, hopefully can make this a W
vs Knights - Will the VGK be resting their stars?
@ Kings - Could be a make or break game. Flames go all out while the Kings are likely resting players as they have locked their playoff spot (maybe they have locked up #2 in the Div??)