Is this a playoff team?

[waner]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

I could see this team being really close to a playoff spot when the trade deadline approaches. If they are, does it change the strategy for the trade deadline?

Unloading a bunch of vets for picks/prospects might turn into keeping them and making a push.

It better not change anything.

At best this team would be looking at sneaking in as a Wild Card team and even that is a stretch. That means a likely match-up with an Anaheim or Chicago/St. Louis and a quick exit.

4 play-off games is not worth giving up futures, especially when it appears that play-off appearance is likely a blip, not a trend upwards.

Hopefully Bob Hartley remembers Waddell trading Coburn away for a few months of Zhitnik and a quick exit. Those 4 games did nothing to help out the Thrashers and Atlanta was out what could have been a key piece of their rebuild when they went back to the bottom the following season.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I dont see us doing anything either. Maybe moving Glencross or Bart for a RW but highly unlikely.

The one thing I can see possibly happening is moving a bit of the forward depth for an extra D. RW is not as weak as we thought, thanks to the emergence of Colborne and Jooris. D is still thin, and the team is one injury away from trouble.

That could happen in any case, and not necessarily at the deadline. But if the team looks ilke it might make the postseason, an extra body on the blue line could become a high priority.

[Mister Yamoto]

5 games above .500 and 5 points ahead of the 9th place team (Chicago). And the biggest surprise so far for me is that THIS TEAM CAN SCORE! 59 goals for, #1 spot in the conference by 5 goals. Lookin good.

This next stretch of games should be a good indicator of what we really have. Tough match ups against California teams and a huge 4 point game against the Hawks. I want to see some "Killer Instinct" shown in that game.

[Regular_John]

I don't even know anymore. I've gone from "no chance" to "highly unlikely" and I'm sitting at "well just maybe" right now.

If I were a betting man I'd say no playoffs this year... but next year I'd put it at greater than 50%. The team continues to gel as it is, young guys gain a year of experience, would could be seeing playoff hockey in 2016.

[Biyaaaah]

iggy coming back wouldn't excite me at all. Doesn't seem to be worth his cap value anymore. Looking slower out there and wasn't very effective in the east over the last few years. I don't think he could offer much to this team if he were to return. Especially because we play with so much speed now. Last thing we need to bring is a stubborn vet who isn't great in his own end. He'd look like a floater on this team.

I'd much rather see us target a solid 2nd pairing dman.

[HelloHockeyFans]

I'm a HUGE Iginla supporter but you don't bring him back right now because the Flames aren't ready yet to make serious noise in the playoffs. If they can continue their rate of progression next year as well, bring him back in the last year of his contract to give him a cup with the team he'll forever be associated with. By then, he probably slots in on the third line, but he'll bring massive big game experience to a young, up and coming team and he will without a doubt help them make a run for it with his 2004 run and multiple Olympics.

[Biyaaaah]

As far as playoffs...

Turning me into a beleiver. Going back to Olympics we have a pretty big sample size. Team has gone from loosing 1 goal games early last year to learning how to win those game and this year we've become a team that knows how to close games. 3rd periods have been impressive and that's always the mark of a good team. Depth and scoring by committee is great up front. We'll need to stay healthy on the back end. Love rooting for this team so much better than talking bout a draft 7 months away.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Biyaaaah

iggy coming back wouldn't excite me at all. Doesn't seem to be worth his cap value anymore. Looking slower out there and wasn't very effective in the east over the last few years. I don't think he could offer much to this team if he were to return. Especially because we play with so much speed now. Last thing we need to bring is a stubborn vet who isn't great in his own end. He'd look like a floater on this team.

I'd much rather see us target a solid 2nd pairing dman.

He was very effective, just least year, in the East.

[TheDebaser]

I don't want Iginla back for one reason. I don't want Giordano's leadership put into question or diluted in any way. This team isn't as good as it is because of its roster, it's not even as good as it is because players are working hard. It's as good as it is because the coaches and leadership of this team have set a mentality where every player is always trying to improve in every facet of the game.

Can you name a player that is worse than he was in the 2012-2013 season? Glencross maybe? Wideman? Literally everyone else has improved by leaps and bounds.

Hudler lead the team in points last year. Monahan is stronger and smarter. Jones is more of a factor lately. Colborne has cemented himself as an NHLer. Backlund is molding himself into a very solid two way player. Bouma has started scoring more often. Byron and Jooris have come out of nowhere to become solid NHLers. Russell has gone from a 7th dman in St. louis to a solid 3rd here. Wideman has regained a bit of his scoring touch. Brodie and Gio are moving towards (or already are) elite defensemen in this league.

When you have a culture like the one you have in Calgary it's like fertilizer. This team just needs to add some more talent while maintaining this culture and then this team could really do some damage.

[AcGold]

I think we need no new additions. Stay the course, so many prospects it's ridiculous right now.

[GioforPM]

Edmonton's culture is like one kind of fertilizer too.

[timbit]

The Flames will make the playoffs, IMO, if they can get through the next 2 weeks in the same conference position they currently hold.

Their speed, hockey IQ, the energy and surprising skillsets from their youth , and top players playing to a very high level are my substantiating reasons.

In saying that, I do not believe they are close to being a contender.

The Flames have drafted well and developed their young players equally well over the last 5 seasons, with minimal exceptions.

Probably need to draft a couple of young stud D over the next couple of years but all in all...things look good.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

I don't want Iginla back for one reason. I don't want Giordano's leadership put into question or diluted in any way. This team isn't as good as it is because of its roster, it's not even as good as it is because players are working hard. It's as good as it is because the coaches and leadership of this team have set a mentality where every player is always trying to improve in every facet of the game.

Can you name a player that is worse than he was in the 2012-2013 season? Glencross maybe? Wideman? Literally everyone else has improved by leaps and bounds.

Hudler lead the team in points last year. Monahan is stronger and smarter. Jones is more of a factor lately. Colborne has cemented himself as an NHLer. Backlund is molding himself into a very solid two way player. Bouma has started scoring more often. Byron and Jooris have come out of nowhere to become solid NHLers. Russell has gone from a 7th dman in St. louis to a solid 3rd here. Wideman has regained a bit of his scoring touch. Brodie and Gio are moving towards (or already are) elite defensemen in this league.

When you have a culture like the one you have in Calgary it's like fertilizer. This team just needs to add some more talent while maintaining this culture and then this team could really do some damage.

I agree, I don't think Iginla bought into what Hartley was selling, so why would he buy in if we brought him back? It would make a nice story if he returned when and if we became contenders but it isn't practical.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Edmonton's culture is like one kind of fertilizer too.

The Oilers' philosophy: If you keep spreading manure around, eventually something beautiful will grow.

Pity they haven't heard about water, soil, sunlight, or seeds.

[terminator]

Are there ne legs to this iggy talk!?-

[robbie111]

Loved Iggy but don't want him back now. He can come back for 1 game a few years in the future and retire with the Flames. That would be cool.

Also as it goes with Richards or Brown, I'd rather not bring in anyone who changes that dressing room dynamic right now or undermines Hartley or Giordano. Not saying they would but until it's broke no need to fix it.

[starseed]

Gio-Brodie have been amazing, and we have pretty good goaltending so far.... but only Stamkos' and Crosby's teams have scored more goals than us? I believe.

[CaptainCrunch]

The question to ask is can the Flames win the equivalent of 35.5 games in the next 63 games. Can the Flames play at a .56 pace for the rest of the season. Because if they can do that then yeah looking at the 95 point boundary.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I agree, I don't think Iginla bought into what Hartley was selling, so why would he buy in if we brought him back? It would make a nice story if he returned when and if we became contenders but it isn't practical.

I would only welcome Iggy back when he is done with that 3 year contract. If he wants to go for a run with us in 3 years, sure. But getting him right now? No.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I agree, I don't think Iginla bought into what Hartley was selling, so why would he buy in if we brought him back? It would make a nice story if he returned when and if we became contenders but it isn't practical.

I think seeing the rest of the team buy in and accomplishing something would or should be an eye opener. I personally don't think it is the right time to bring him in. If ever Iginla ever wants to comes back to Calgary it will be for a bottom 6 role and he will need to accept that. I think to many good things are happening right now with the development to start screwing around.

In regards to the Flames as a playoff team. I still want to wait till the end of the month. I do believe when all is said and done it will boil down to our series with Vancouver that will determine if this is a playoff team. I think we are directly competing with them for one of those wild card spots.