Expectations for 2014-15 Season

[saintjohnflames]

I can't see calgary being bottom 5 this year. Just no chance in hell with hiller in net that we would be bottom 5! Look at are record last year, we finished fourth with AHL goaltendering! This year we will have johnny G, Bennett, An Sophomore in Monahan all leading the pack in youth. We will have added Gritt in Bollig and Engelland which will make us harder play against. As I see it now we are about two or three years off from being a solid playoff team. Teams like Philly and Chicago are over the cap and will need to start selling off players to stay under. The West dynasties will not last forever. The Flames are the Futre and we will win!

[Flamenspiel]

The other teams have improved so much that i can definetly see the Flames being last in the west and 28-30th overall, even BUffalo and Florida have really picked up some good players.

[ricardodw]

Flames 2013-14 roster that ended up finishing 26th

From Capgeek I took the players that were charged against the Flames cap for at least 1/2 of the 195 day season

Forwards
Cammalleri, Mike » couldn’t be traded at the trade deadline as he was not a good player for over the last year– played great the last 15 games Flames went 11-4 in his last 15 games and signed a HUGE contract with New Jersey
Hudler, Jiri »
Jones, David »
Stajan, Matt » missed 19 games mostly personal
Glencross, Curtis » missed 44 games to injury
Stempniak, Lee » Gone – right now a UFA no one wants
Backlund, Mikael »
Galiardi, T.J. » Gone – right now a UFA no one wants
Monahan, Sean »
McGrattan, Brian »
Colborne, Joe »
Bouma, Lance »
Byron, Paul »
Westgarth, Kevin » Gone – right now a UFA no one wants

Defense
D Wideman, Dennis » missed 36 games to injury
Giordano, Mark » missed 18 games to injury
Smid, Ladislav » only 56 games as a Flame
Brodie, T.J. »
Butler, Chris » played all 82 games right now a UFA no one wants
O'Brien, Shane » bought out
Russell, Kris »
Smith, Derek » right now a UFA no one wants
Breen, C. » up with the flames for 100 days but earned very little ice time. Signed 2-way contract with Bruins

Goalies

Ramo, Karri »
Berra, Reto » Traded to Colorado who signed to a 3 yr 1.45 M/ yr contract the only goalie he beat on save % was Dubnyk (.893 to .891)


The team that finished 26th has rid themselves of 6 players (Butler, Stempniak, Galiardi, O'Brien, Westgarth and Smith) that would have to be at best reclamation projects.... they are still unsigned 4 days after they became UFAs and will not likely be getting paid as much as they did last year.

Butler and Stempniak were among the Flames leaders in total ice time and have not caught on with anyone yet.

The guys gone that other teams want:

Cammalleri, Berra and Breen...

Out of the 9 guys gone only Cammalleri might be considered a significant loss... and only then based on his last 15 games.

The Team that finished 26th lost considerable time from what are expected to be their best players: Glencross, Wideman, Gio and Stajan.

There were very few games with both Gio and Wideman in the Lineup. Wideman's play fell off when Gio was hurt and he was playing . For the first 12 games Hartley played Wideman 28:15 min/game and the flames were 5-5-2. He got hurt in a Nov 28 game and had a pin put in his hand.... missed a couple of games and played 22 games with a broken hand.

The additions of Raymond will be an upgrade on Stempniak and Bollig an Upgrade on Galliardi. That leave Gaudreau/Baertschi/Granlund to step into Cammalleri's role. It would be hard to see Gaudreau not doing as well as Cammalleri up to the trade deadline.

On defense there is Engelland replacing O'Brien and Wideman replacing Butler. HUGE upgrades in both.

In goal having a consistent Hiller whose 7 year career .916 save % (best year .927 worst .910 2 years ago when he started 73 games.... last year .911) will really provide stability and a chance to win for this building team.

The Flames were 17-15-4 with Ramo's .911 sv %... the same team in front of the same level of goal tending makes the Flames 39-34-9... 85 pts.

The line up need to be 3-4 wins better than last years mess to make the playoffs.

The only way that the Flames finish 26th (they could have easily been 25th) is if 4 key player either stink out the joint or are injured.

That was a really bad line-up the Flames had last year.

Where will Colorado finish if they have to play Berra in goal 30 games like the Flames did last year?

[cannon7]

Don't see the Flamesimproving their record over last year. Expecting a guy like Gaudreau to replace Cammalleri out of the gate is unrealistic. Obviously we hope that Bennett has a great camp like Monahan did last year and earns a spot, but we'll have to wait and see. Even if we plug Gaudreau and Bennett into the lineup, we're still likely to see a drop in offense next season. Glencross being healthy will help, guys like Backlund and Brodie should continue to improve, but I'm not expecting much nextseason. Our D hasn't changed much, Engelland bring much the same style of game that SOB did so I don't expect any miracles. hiller is definately an improvement over Berra, but Remo/Hiller will have their work cut out for them with the paltry amount of offensethis group is likely to produce. Hope the kids surprise me this year, but I think we have a real shot at McDavid.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Our offensive production will decrease, but our defense and goaltending has improved. I think we are picking 8-12 in next years draft.

[Aarongavey]

It is hard to come up with a list of teams in the West that the Flames are definitely better than. For that reason I would say the Flames finish bottom three in the league and have a great chance at McDavid or Eichel.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

It is hard to come up with a list of teams in the West that the Flames are definitely better than. For that reason I would say the Flames finish bottom three in the league and have a great chance at McDavid or Eichel.

Canucks were 3 games better than the Flames last year.

This year they have lost Garrison #4 d-man in TOI and Kesler their #1 forward. Much better players than Cammalleri and Butler.

The Sedins and Burrows are 33 years old and the wheels have apparently come off.... all 3 are in contention for comeback player of the year and they don't really have to be that good to get there.

The players that they have filling in Bonino (break through 50 pt season on a strong Duck team at age 25) sibza, Vey, Horvat are every bit as long shot as being replacements as Gaudreau.

They were a bad team front of solid goal tending Luongo .917 save % and Lack .912

They are looking for the magic bean fix in Miller who would again be a comeback player contender if he improves on Luongo's .917.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Canucks were 3 games better than the Flames last year.

This year they have lost Garrison #4 d-man in TOI and Kesler their #1 forward. Much better players than Cammalleri and Butler.

The Sedins and Burrows are 33 years old and the wheels have apparently come off.... all 3 are in contention for comeback player of the year and they don't really have to be that good to get there.

The players that they have filling in Bonino (break through 50 pt season on a strong Duck team at age 25) sibza, Vey, Horvat are every bit as long shot as being replacements as Gaudreau.

They were a bad team front of solid goal tending Luongo .917 save % and Lack .912

They are looking for the magic bean fix in Miller who would again be a comeback player contender if he improves on Luongo's .917.

The Canucks will in all likelihood be better. Vrbata, Sbisa, Bonino and Miller is an upgrade on Kesler, Garrison and Lack. They had the wrong coach for the type of team that they have, Desjardins will be an improvement as coach as well. I find a scenario where the Canucks finish under. 500 unlikely. Not sure why Bonino, a guy who has shown in back to back seasons to be a 40-50 point type player, is expected to be a substantial downgrade from Kesler, at least offensively.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The Canucks will in all likelihood be better. Vrbata, Sbisa, Bonino and Miller is an upgrade on Kesler, Garrison and Lack. They had the wrong coach for the type of team that they have, Desjardins will be an improvement as coach as well. I find a scenario where the Canucks finish under. 500 unlikely. Not sure why Bonino, a guy who has shown in back to back seasons to be a 40-50 point type player, is expected to be a substantial downgrade from Kesler, at least offensively.

Might bebBecause Bonino is only nominal softer than Mason Raymond??

He had 28 hits last year.... Kessler 144.

Mason Raymond who was too soft for Vancouver had 38 hits last year with Toronto and 18 in 46 games his last year in Vancouver..... you remember the year that Vancouver decided that he was too soft for them. That year Raymond had 10 goals and 22 pts in 46 games... Bonino 5 goals 13 pts in 27 games.


I for one am not counting on Raymond being the best Flames Forward or even in the top 3. He is the more proven version of Bonino.

If he and Sedin are the top 2 centres in Vancouver they will have to worry who will play against Monahan who would physically dominate either one.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

If he and Sedin are the top 2 centres in Vancouver they will have to worry who will play against Monahan who would physically dominate either one.

The Sedins have been "physically dominated" their entire careers, but still put up massive amounts of points and win hockey games. Monahan also isn't exactly a powerhouse who does overpower people with physical play.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The Canucks will in all likelihood be better. Vrbata, Sbisa, Bonino and Miller is an upgrade on Kesler, Garrison and Lack.

That's nice – but Miller is not an upgrade on Luongo, who played in over half of the Canucks' games last year. After they ditched him and made Lack their starter, they were one of the worst teams in the league – much worse than the Flames over the same span of time.

Also, I find it hard to see how Sbisa is an upgrade on Garrison, or Bonino an upgrade on Kesler. That leaves Vrbata, who will at any rate be better on the wing with the Sedins than Burrows was – but that's not saying much, after Burrows' magnificent 5-goal season. All in all, I'm not seeing any improvement there, unless some rookies come through unexpectedly. The best that's likely to happen is that the Canucks will play more like the bubble team of the first half of last year, rather than the train wreck of the second half.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's nice – but Miller is not an upgrade on Luongo, who played in over half of the Canucks' games last year. After they ditched him and made Lack their starter, they were one of the worst teams in the league – much worse than the Flames over the same span of time.

Also, I find it hard to see how Sbisa is an upgrade on Garrison, or Bonino an upgrade on Kesler. That leaves Vrbata, who will at any rate be better on the wing with the Sedins than Burrows was – but that's not saying much, after Burrows' magnificent 5-goal season. All in all, I'm not seeing any improvement there, unless some rookies come through unexpectedly. The best that's likely to happen is that the Canucks will play more like the bubble team of the first half of last year, rather than the train wreck of the second half.

No Torts should also improve things as well for the nucks. Still a non-playoff team, but will be better IMHO.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

No Torts should also improve things as well for the nucks. Still a non-playoff team, but will be better IMHO.

This is true. But there are problems in that room, I suspect, that a coaching change can't fix. This is another way that today's Canucks resemble the 2010 Flames.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

This is true. But there are problems in that room, I suspect, that a coaching change can't fix. This is another way that today's Canucks resemble the 2010 Flames.

I agree with that. They are a cut above the Flames and the Oilers who will be fighting it out for last in the Pacific.

[AcGold]

I wouldn't be surprised if we finish above Vancouver next year. Tons of pressure on Vancouver with absolutely none on the Flames. The majority of our roster will be giving it 100% every game trying to earn a roster spot, and now we'll have some physical presence to push back. Vancouver is in the perfect storm and setup perfectly for a disaster season.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Flames 2013-14 roster that ended up finishing 26th

I don't mind your break down that much.
I also expect at least a little bit more out of Jones than last year, but that might not happen.

2 things,

A team is never the sum of its parts.

And if you want to sound credible get the small facts that your whole audience knows of the top of their heads right, The Flames finished 27th.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The Canucks will in all likelihood be better. Vrbata, Sbisa, Bonino and Miller is an upgrade on Kesler, Garrison and Lack. They had the wrong coach for the type of team that they have, Desjardins will be an improvement as coach as well. I find a scenario where the Canucks finish under. 500 unlikely. Not sure why Bonino, a guy who has shown in back to back seasons to be a 40-50 point type player, is expected to be a substantial downgrade from Kesler, at least offensively.

He had 13 points in 12/13 - bit of a stretch to project 27 games out to 82 and call it representative.

He had a total of 11 goals in 112 games for his career prior to last year.

Let's see him get 40 points more than once, and on a team that didn't lead the league in offense, before we christen him as Kesler's offensive replacement shall we.

He is 26 years old and has scored more than 5 goals ONCE.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The Canucks will in all likelihood be better. Vrbata, Sbisa, Bonino and Miller is an upgrade on Kesler, Garrison and Lack.

Where did Lack go??

[stemit14]

It's hard to predict with the flames being in the western conference... If they were in the easy I would say the flames have as good a chance of making the playoffs as most teams in that conference. I would say the flames are as good or better than teams like Ottawa, Toronto, Long Island, Buffalo, New Jersey, florida, Washington, and Carolina.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Mattman

Where did Lack go??

The end of the bench where he will sit -not playing- while Miller starts the majority of the games.