[GDT] Calgary Flames at Tampa Bay Lightning 5:00pm TV: Sportsnet One/Scripps - RADIO SN960

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Inferno

There's 58 games left. This is hardly "must lose" for Team Tank.

Every game, except against Edmonton or Adam Fox, is must lose

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Every game, except against Edmonton or Adam Fox, is must lose

I would say the must lose games for the tank crowd should be the games against other bottom feeders because they're 4 pointers.

It's doubtful they win less than San Jose last year so they have atleast 12 more wins in them but they're probably going to end up closer to 30 wins.

[NewFan]

Win today, we are out of top 3 draft. Anyway it will be difficult lose more than Nashville.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Win today, we are out of top 3 draft. Anyway it will be difficult lose more than Nashville.

Keep in mind that they've played more games than the other teams too. Nashville has two games in hand and St. Louis and Vancouver have one.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;

#4 right now based on xgoals for %

They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.

PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, Cooley solid as well, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.

I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.

Go Flames Go!

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;

#4 right now based on xgoals for %

They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.

PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.

I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.

Go Flames Go!

Yep, which is why I said must lose game. You don't want them to get too much momentum and go on a big win streak and get out of the bottom 5.

Already if we win tonight, we could be 4th last instead of 2nd. That would suck.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;

#4 right now based on xgoals for %

They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.

PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, Cooley solid as well, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.

I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.

Go Flames Go!

When you look at their lineup on paper it is kinda incredible that this is true. Some folks have to the frustrated that Bahl looks like a solid defensive dman at the age of 25 in the mode of an Esa Lindell, Kuznetsov looks capable of playing too 4 minutes at the age of 23. Coronato looks like a legit top 6 winger at the age of 23. The Flames are definitely getting all the juice possible out of this lineup with those underlying numbers.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

I'd be pretty pumped about a top 3 pick, but I just can't cheer for losses. That's on me I guess.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

When you look at their lineup on paper it is kinda incredible that this is true. Some folks have to the frustrated that Bahl looks like a solid defensive dman at the age of 25 in the mode of an Esa Lindell, Kuznetsov looks capable of playing too 4 minutes at the age of 23. Coronato looks like a legit top 6 winger at the age of 23. The Flames are definitely getting all the juice possible out of this lineup with those underlying numbers.

Also why I don't get the hate for Huska. Apparent his systems are working. PP being the glaring exception. If that ever starts to click, and everything else stays the same, they could creep into the good quartile of that graph. Which, again, likely won't be enough this year.

[hwy19man]

Additional pregame links
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgar...ghtning-nov-26
https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-...a-5pm-mt-sn360

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;

#4 right now based on xgoals for %

They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.

PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, Cooley solid as well, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.

I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.

Go Flames Go!

Agreed ... playing a very repeatedly good defensive system. Have to give a nod to Huska clearly.

But the hole is pretty deep.

The Flames need to play at a 100 point pace the rest of the way to not pick in the top ten (which I don't consider the mushy middle).

The fact that they can't score and the likelihood of an Andersson trade should be enough to force them into a decent lottery position ... if I was to predict I'd say 7th best odds.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Agreed ... playing a very repeatedly good defensive system. Have to give a nod to Huska clearly.

But the hole is pretty deep.

The Flames need to play at a 100 point pace the rest of the way to not pick in the top ten (which I don't consider the mushy middle).

The fact that they can't score and the likelihood of an Andersson trade should be enough to force them into a decent lottery position ... if I was to predict I'd say 7th best odds.

i think the value of a 9th or 10th overall pick is still significantly less than the value of a 1st or even 4th overall pick.

[SemicolonD]

While watching the game I'm not going to groan and cry if the Flames are scoring and winning, but I absolutely would rather they lose. Let's be so bad now that we're cemented 32nd by a large margin come March/April. Then we can legitimately cheer the team on end of the year with whoever's called up for a few wins that keep us 32nd by a smaller margin lol.

I'd rather not pick up wins now then be on the edge of my seat when March/April comes and we're in legit must-lose territory and pick up wins left and right.

But that's probably the Flames way.

Arguing over semantics as if we can time when we lose, but just saying what I'd rather see happen. Less painful scenario than having to actually cheer against the team end of the year.

[dino7c]

When the Flames were deep in last place it took everyone being bad...Coronato, Wolf, Zary, plus all the trade bait guys. Continuing like that would have guranteed a top 3 pick but it would also mean everyone else sucks. Its a fine line.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

When the Flames were deep in last place it took everyone being bad...Coronato, Wolf, Zary, plus all the trade bait guys. Continuing like that would have guranteed a top 3 pick but it would also mean everyone else sucks. Its a fine line.

I hate it but you're right. This likely isn't a last place team.

Although..... if you trade Kadri you never know!

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by dino7c

When the Flames were deep in last place it took everyone being bad...Coronato, Wolf, Zary, plus all the trade bait guys. Continuing like that would have guranteed a top 3 pick but it would also mean everyone else sucks. Its a fine line.

It's honestly a pretty good outcome.

We wanted our tradeable guys to turn it around and stabilize their value. Check for Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman.

We want our younger guys to have a bit of adversity, and come out the other side with a return to form. Check mark there.

It's very early in the season for big trades by contenders. That tends to be a post Christmas extravaganza.

Now the key for Conroy will be to pull the trigger on the right trades with enough time for the impact of the roster holes to resonate through to our draft position, while still keeping the young guys on the right developmental trajectory. Quite the balancing act.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

i think the value of a 9th or 10th overall pick is still significantly less than the value of a 1st or even 4th overall pick.

Well clearly.

Just saying I don't think the mushy middle is possible.

[dino7c]

Maybe they can pull an Islanders...people forget they won 35 games

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

They'll win 30 games according to crystal ball, so just enjoy it! Yeesh.

Wooo, mediocre picks.

[SuperMatt18]

If they play .500 or so until Jan 1 that's probably okay.

Then hopefully they trade Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman before the Olympic break and that means they would crater a bit to end the year.

They need to get a top 5 (ideally top 3) pick this year, picking 10th OV doesn't help them get a franchise player.