What do you want out of this season? Pick or Playoffs?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

CP undervalues its player in trade proposals. Now I've heard everything.

I would think that there is plenty of both over-valuing and under-valuing.

Anyone attempting to suggest only one or the other is simply being biased.

[Vinny01]

I do hope the Flames still stick with the plan of trading off vets at the deadline even if they are in it unless their plan is to re-sign those vets. I think Stempniak, Cammy, Stajan, Jackman, Butler, MacDonald should be moved and if they are keeping Russel and Galliardi then you don't move them. I am really looking forward to seeing Granlund, Reinhart, Horak, Ferland, Wortherspoon, Sieloff, Berra in the NHL. Even if the Flames are on the cusp of a playoff spot see what we have in the kids and keep adding assets. Trading vets does not have to mean the Flames are giving up on the season.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

CP undervalues its player in trade proposals. Now I've heard everything.

Of course you have.

[Anduril]

Lots of picks and playoffs.


If Stempniak keeps up his play for most of the year, he would definitely be the one to resign. Stajan is a tough one because there is a need for a dependable veteran centre to help close down games as is so apparently an issue with this team right now. Even if he is traded, I still can't help but to feel like will be a need for one even with Backlund, Monahan, Colbourne and Knight.

[GGG]

For this question answers itself. The more difficult question is what spot do you have to be in at the trade deadline to not sell off Veterans that you don't plan on resigning.

For me you need to be 3rd in the division. If you are in 4th or lower I think you still trade UFA's that aren't in the plans for next year. The risk in doing that is you don't reward a team that put in effort for the first time in 5 years.

But for sure if you are in 5th in the division you have to sell UFAs who aren't in the plans. For me next years top two centers are Backlund and Monahan and the 3rd line center is one of the young guys Colburn, Knight etc. We need room for Gaudreau and one other rookie as well in the top 9.

So in that sense I see trading Stajan and Cammy at the deadline and Jackman if you can really at anypoint this season. Keep Stempniak if he continues to perfrom well with the kids even if that means over paying him a bit over the next 3 years.

But the key is if you aren't almost guerenteed a playoff spot at the trade deadline sell, sell, sell.

[moon]

Originally Posted by GGG

For this question answers itself. The more difficult question is what spot do you have to be in at the trade deadline to not sell off Veterans that you don't plan on resigning.

I would say at least top 3 in the conference and even then I would say if you get a good offer or just a decent offer then ship them out.

[foshizzle11]

I really don't mind finishing the season losing in the first round of the playoffs, not preferable but at least we know the team was better thank 50% of the league.

If we have no chance at the playoffs, then picking in the top 6 again would be nice.

No 9th or 10th place please.

I believe that having a competitive team is more important than tanking. If players see things are being done right around here, we should be able to lure some top UFA,s while still drafting strong and developing within.

[TheDebaser]

Ok, so what does Calgary need to do to make the playoff.

First of all, there are really only five different spots for the flames. They have to be top 3 in their division or they have to be one of the two best teams not to finish top 3 in their division.

As it stands, our division looks like this

1)Sharks
2)Ducks
3)Flames
4)Canucks
5)Coyotes
6)Kings
7)Oilers

I think the ducks and the sharks are too good to fall out of the playoff picture, leaving Calgary to scrap with Vancouver, Phoenix and the Kings for that playoff spot.

In the central division, I'd be surprised if Colorado, Chicago and St. Louis didn't make it, leaving Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas in the hunt for a Wild Card birth.

So the flames need to either beat Vancouver, Phoenix and Los Angeles, or they need to beat out all but one of Winnipeg, Minnesota, Dallas, and the other two teams from the western conference that don't make it.

Falsely assuming that all teams are equal and each game is essentially a coin flip
Probability of making the playoffs =
(1/2^3)+(1/2^5)+(5!/1(4!))(1/2^5)=1/8+1/32+5/32=31%

Of course playoffs are decided by hockey not coinflips. Can we do it?

[Rerun]

No. The division is just too tough. Sharks, Ducks, Canucks, and Kings will all finish higher than the Flames.

[stampsx2]

Playoffs 100%. Winning is an attitude. As others have said, why build a culture of losing. Why would anybody ever say picks? Let's lose for three years, lose revenue for the team, maybe get a first overall pick that may be good, then maybe make the playoffs.

Too many teams like Edmonton have shown what a rebuild is, an excuse to coast and keep management clear of fan scrutiny because we're rebuilding.

Do it like Detroit, smart management smart draft picks, winning attitude.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Playoffs definitely. Especially with the way the team is playing

[Laner99]

Top 5 pick. If we aren't in that position then playoffs.

[killer_carlson]

I want to stay around the 500 mark all year and be up and down for the last playoff spot until mid March. Then i want us to play spoiler and finish 20th overall. MAYBE 21st.

[4oh3]

The point of a high pick is to get in the playoffs so if you can get in the playoffs now then why not

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I want to stay around the 500 mark all year and be up and down for the last playoff spot until mid March. Then i want us to play spoiler and finish 20th overall. MAYBE 21st.

I like your plan!! Why hasn't someone thought of this before?

[Shin Pad]

The team should just try and play their best and win as many games as possible. They shouldn't worry about making the playoffs or not. I think that the young guys need to be in a culture that is always looking for ways to win and doing whatever it takes to win. It will pay off in spades once they become established NHLers. If they end up with a top 5 pick, great. I just don't think they should purposely lose to get that pick.

[Jer Bu]

Playoffs and and 2 first rounders.

[Street Pharmacist]

Playoffs.

Edit: though I have no doubt we finish bottom 10

Expectations: Bottom 10
Hope: playoffs

[burn_baby_burn]

Finishing ahead of Edmonton. Everything after that is gravy.

Seriously, I know Oilers fans who wanted to deflect the worst team in the league title onto the Flames in the worst way over the off season. Like they just assumed that since the Flames had kinda admitted to rebuilding that they would automatically drop to the bottom of the standings like the mighty Oil did. If the Flames do make the playoffs and the Oilers continue to stink it up. It would make my decade.

Long live Kevin Lowe!

[Poe969]

I want to finish ahead of edmonton AND get a higher draft pick because of the lottery!