[PGT] Season in the ICU. Flames lost 3-1 to Utah

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames have played well enough to make the playoffs down the stretch...when is the last time a 10th place team just wins 10 in a row at the end? Honestly you just have to laugh

Imagine they were battling normal teams like in the east

If I’m coaching a seeded team, I sure as hell want to avoid the Blues. Not saying it will happen but, this has echoes of when the Kings made a run to the playoffs to go on and get their first cup.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Still using 2004 camera technology. You can't make this #### up.

Originally Posted by rohara66

At least this one was reviewed.

PTSD

Originally Posted by Rejean31

It's a ####ing absolute joke that the NHL can,t come up with better cameras, camera angles than this garbage. It is 2025 FFS!!! The technology is out there. The Flames have been screwed this way by the NHL way more than any other team. Fix it Bettman you ####ing clown!!!

Don't forget about the Ducks-Flames playoff goal that didn't count either.

All 3 of these no goals, were in!

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

Coleman hasn’t scored as much this year, but he’s still a really useful, solid hockey player. I agree with most of what you are saying. Need a couple more top end guys.

Two top end forwards would change the team entirely. Bump Sharangovich and Backlund out of the lineup. Biggest problem I saw was never being able to score that one extra goal that would bury the other team

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Flames have picked up a number of good young players

Frost
Bahl
Pachal
Farabee

And a number of their draft picks took big steps in the last year or so

Coronato
Zary
Wolf
Pospisil

Their top paid players showed up

Huberdeau
Kadri
Weegar

But a few players really regressed

Coleman
Backlund
Sharangovich

A few unsung heroes

Hanley
Vladar

I don’t know. I don’t think they are as bad as a lot of people on here think. They are fairly young. Have a ton of cap space and draft picks and are competitive on most nights with the top teams.

Just need some of their draft picks to hit and at some point they are going to have to use their cap space to find some offence.

I’m betting there are a number of other teams that would prefer to be in the Flames position .

The biggest issue with this team is their best players are older players. Players like Huberdeau, Weegar, Kadri and Anderson aren't getting any better, and are likely not particularly good by the time Calgary manages to become a very good team.

Adding a Makar and a McKinnon to the team tomorrow would certainly improve the teams fortunes, for that there can be no debate. While there may be a makar in the system, the odds aren't great that he'll be an elite player quickly, and there is no McKinnon to be had.

Calgary is likely to get worse before they get better.

What could change that?

Wolf taking his game to an even higher level and Parekh quickly becoming elite. That's the hope. But I doubt even that makes Calgary am immediate contender.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Flames have picked up a number of good young players

Frost
Bahl
Pachal
Farabee

And a number of their draft picks took big steps in the last year or so

Coronato
Zary
Wolf
Pospisil

Their top paid players showed up

Huberdeau
Kadri
Weegar

But a few players really regressed

Coleman
Backlund
Sharangovich

A few unsung heroes

Hanley
Vladar

I don’t know. I don’t think they are as bad as a lot of people on here think. They are fairly young. Have a ton of cap space and draft picks and are competitive on most nights with the top teams.

Just need some of their draft picks to hit and at some point they are going to have to use their cap space to find some offence.

I’m betting there are a number of other teams that would prefer to be in the Flames position .

Going to heavily disagree. This is a terrible offensive team. They are the third worst team in the entire league at scoring goals and knocking on first place. I don't know what more objective data can you get.

The Flames center depth is... worst in the league? Kadri is going to be 35 going into next year and he's the 1C when on a good team he was a 2C three years ago. Father time will catch up with him any time now. Who's the 2C? Frost? He has 8 points in 24 games. And he's 26 in a month, he isn't young anymore. Statistically this is what he is.

At wing, who are actually top six wingers on this team? Huberdeau has had a resurrection so no qualms there. Coronato certainly is trending that way but it's not like he's a lock. Zary took a step back this year and now has two major injuries on the same knee. Neither of these guys look like top line material and if you look at good teams, these guys wouldn't necessarily even be in the top six.

Again, third worst offensive team in the league and in the race for first place. Maybe the worst center depth in the league and one of the worst winger depth. This team is multiple pieces away from being good.

[Erick Estrada]

Now 3 straight non-playoff seasons (4 out of the last 5). I think Flames fans and hopefully the Flames can honestly assess where this team is. This team overachieved this season and still missed the playoffs. This whole idea of retool on the fly just isn't going to work. The lowest scoring team in the league has no blue chip forward prospects ready to make a difference in the next few seasons and the reality is that the team will probably be worse next season with key players getting another year deeper into their 30's. It was nice seeing this team play important games into April again but the only real progress made this season was the arrival of Wolf as a legitimate NHL goaltender and that's a positive to take to next season as the team gets deeper into rebuild territory. Hopefully in the offseason the team has a productive draft, stays out of free agency, and remains on the current path.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No we don't. The system is fine. Ask anyone on here.

Yeah, if we had good coaching we'd no doubt be near the top of the standings, scoring goals at will with our high powered offense. Other teams must be so jealous of our embarrassment of riches - I mean you've got Kadri - bet the Avs are kicking themselves for wasting their cap space on Mackinnon. Then there is Huberdeau, Florida sure tanked once they lost this bonafide play driving superstar - you want him back Florida? It'll cost Tkachuk and Barkov. Huska is absolutely stifling this teams all-world talent with his structured defensive system. I wish other people could see it.

[aiy_yah]

Originally Posted by TenaciousC

#1 priority in the off season needs to be some forwards with some offensive creativity.

Almost threw my remote thru the TV watching Backlund dump the puck on the goalie on a clear cut 2-on-1

I saw this as him trying to get a rebound off the goalie's pad to a streaking Coleman.

[Stangboy50]

We are stuck in the middle like usual. Stuck in 16th place like usual. This franchise is addicted to mediocrcy. And this time we get to give our middling pick up Montreal. Next year we probably finish 16th again! But at least we will be playing meaningful games in April again! Yay!

[Pipty]

At this rate we will be lapped by Anaheim and San Jose with their rebuilds and get whooped by them for another decade

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Also which better coaches could they attract?
Particularly if they build a relationship for firing coaches every 2 years. Which they already do. Not really an attractive destination

This is a load of crap. The Blues fired Bannister 22 games into a two year contract and Montgomery had no issue going there for a 5 year contract.

If the Flames aren't getting interest from good coaches it's because they aren't willing to pay up.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Disappointed but this is what happens when you have no margin for error.

Now we seem guaranteed for peak pain finishing just outside the playoffs without our own lottery pick.

They’ve been an entertaining team this year with many great moments. Hopefully the culture that is being built will pay off in a season or two.

I see peak pain of 11th overall with no lottery win.

I can get my head around 16-17 with a huge year of young player and prospect development, and the finding of a star goaltender.

[Ashes]

You guys really need to stop ragging on Backlund and Coleman... you're gonna make Steinberg upset.

Jokes aside, yes they have their moments when they are a great shutdown line but Father time has caught up. I would be shocked but not disappointed if Conroy started searching out trade destinations for these guys.

On a stacked roster they'll help push it over the top, but for us they are being asked to do too much IMO. Matching up against top lines, taking every defensive zone start, being force-fed quality minutes when we need a goal.

I'd love to see the competition between guys like Honzek/Stromgren/Kerins/Gridin/Suniev for a spot or two at next year's camp.

I'd also be happy to sign Bennett this off-season if he's available, I'd take this sort of Center depth next season until we hopefully find that franchise #1, and I have a hard time believing it wouldn't give us more goals:

Kadri
Bennett
Frost
Kirkland

Worst case scenario we probably score more and allow more, ending up in more exciting games with more losses and get a higher pick in the Mckenna draft? I'll take it, personally.

Best case scenario following this plan, we draft that elusive center in 2026 who's possibly even able to make the jump the following season.

[Bingo]

Backlund and Coleman remain 1/2 in xGF%.

They look nasty offensively because they have no finish, but the average fan sees only that and ignores the fact that they keep the puck up the ice, and bad things happen at a less frequent rate.

They are still doing what they are supposed to be doing.

This team lacks the transition (offensive and skating defensemen) and finishers to outscore any mistakes or a slip in their A game.

Back to backs with an emotional comeback the night before was too much for them.

[Ped]

Relying on 36-year old Backlund and 33-year-old Blake Coleman who had an outlier year last year to provide your offense and then being disappointed that they are not ,is an issue with the roster, not with 2 players who shouldn't have been expected to produce enough to make a difference.

[8sPOT]

Same issue going into the season, a real glaring lack of skill on this squad.

Lots of hard working, play-the-right-way type of payers. But no high end skill when compared to other teams in the league. Our leading scorers both have 58 points, in other words, our best players are not even close to top tier in the league.

Anyways, 2025 draft is another chance to keep adding skill and build for the future. Lots to like with this group.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Going to heavily disagree. This is a terrible offensive team. They are the third worst team in the entire league at scoring goals and knocking on first place. I don't know what more objective data can you get.

The Flames center depth is... worst in the league? Kadri is going to be 35 going into next year and he's the 1C when on a good team he was a 2C three years ago. Father time will catch up with him any time now. Who's the 2C? Frost? He has 8 points in 24 games. And he's 26 in a month, he isn't young anymore. Statistically this is what he is.

At wing, who are actually top six wingers on this team? Huberdeau has had a resurrection so no qualms there. Coronato certainly is trending that way but it's not like he's a lock. Zary took a step back this year and now has two major injuries on the same knee. Neither of these guys look like top line material and if you look at good teams, these guys wouldn't necessarily even be in the top six.

Again, third worst offensive team in the league and in the race for first place. Maybe the worst center depth in the league and one of the worst winger depth. This team is multiple pieces away from being good.

I only mentioned 13 players being bright spots. That leaves 10 other spots that probably need upgrading.

I’ve noticed they can’t score goals.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It’s neat how not one but two post game threads are being ruined! It’s bogo night!

It's not very shocking when the common factor in basically all thread derailments over the last 10 years is a single poster. Who he fights with rotates. I was one. But there's always one party in common on all these events.

[Monahammer]

This type of finish to the season was absolutely evident before christmas. No one should be surprised.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

This is a load of crap. The Blues fired Bannister 22 games into a two year contract and Montgomery had no issue going there for a 5 year contract.

If the Flames aren't getting interest from good coaches it's because they aren't willing to pay up.

Because you say so? Your takes on Wolf were already hilariously off base, so tell us what you know about coaching.

I mean Jim Montgomery has taken good teams to the second round. That makes him an all star in your opinion?