Are the Flames BETTER than they were in 2021-22?

[Vinny01]

I think it is important to remember a lot of players had career years last year outside of the Flames. It was a crazy season for scoring. Duchene was left exposed in expansion and had 40 goals. Many players with better than point per game numbers. It was a wild year overall last season.

The Flames are such a different team than last year so it is really tough to predict how well they will do but they have 3 strong 2 way centers, 3 strong defensive pairings, a top tier goalie, at least one elite winger, and a hall of fame coach. I also think they will have a chip on their shoulder with how last season ended and how this offseason started. I am really excited to see how they do but I think winning the division again is entirely possible.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by blankall

The Flames were the least "injured" team, but they were also the team that got the most F-ed over by Covid. The entire team had covid at once, and then the Flames also had to deal with the screwy Canadian schedule.

Are people forgetting about December and January? The Flames aren't going to have to struggle through something like that again. The Flames lost 8 of 10 games during that period. That skewed their record down heavily, and the team clearly wasn't at full health until the end of January.

I'd argue they were the least F'd over. They were shutdown and everyone got it. Others teams had to keep playing with players out of the line up over a couple month period. Flames got it out of the way and moved on.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by blankall

The Flames were the least "injured" team, but they were also the team that got the most F-ed over by Covid. The entire team had covid at once, and then the Flames also had to deal with the screwy Canadian schedule.

Are people forgetting about December and January? The Flames aren't going to have to struggle through something like that again. The Flames lost 8 of 10 games during that period. That skewed their record down heavily, and the team clearly wasn't at full health until the end of January.

They saved that for the playoffs

[ricardodw]

There is just so much last year involved in this discussion. the expectations that what the players delivered last year is what was expected for this coming season.

Luckily that was not the case for the 2020-21 Flames going into 2021-22

Last year was a spectacular year for the Flames that exceeded all expectations. Going into the season the biggest acquisition was Sutter as coach for the same guys that were a disaster in 2020-21

Gio and Valimaki Nesterov were out and Zaradov, Gudbrandson and Kylington were in. 3/4 of the top-4 d-mean remained

Ryan, Bennett, Leivo and Nordstom were replaced by Coleman, Lewis and Pitlick and Richardson.

Sutter moved Monahan from 1C to 3C 5 of the top 6 remained with Coleman replacing Monahan. ie very little change in core players.

Many career best season ensued.

To get a broader feel outside of the Flames bubble

The Athletic put out a top-100 players in the NHL Jan 11, 2021

Players that have Flames impact were: Tkachuk in Group 3A (26-39), Huberdeau and Giordano in 3B 40-51, and Gaudreau in 4A 52-69.

In Oct 12, 2021 they did the same thing

Huberdeau up to 3A (27-36) Tkachuk down to 3B (37-50) Weegar along with Gaudreau in 4A (51-69) and Lindholm and Gio in 4C (72-100)

If they put out a new top-100 to start the 2022-23 season pretty sure that Gaudreau Tkachuk and Lindholm would move up in the ranks and that Kadri would still not make the top-100 and Mangiapane would be a surprise pick

That leaves the Flames with Huberdeau, Lindholm and Weegar as top-100 players. The average team should have 3.12 players in the top-100

Tampa had 5 The Avs had 6.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

The Flames off season makes me dislike Chevy even more.

Oh right. Winnipeg has a hockey team.

They were so quiet, I'd forgot.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

I'd argue they were the least F'd over. They were shutdown and everyone got it. Others teams had to keep playing with players out of the line up over a couple month period. Flames got it out of the way and moved on.

Dealing with an entire team not at 100% all at once is a worst case scenario IMO. You can manage a few players not at 100%. The Flames record was clearly affected by Covid. Either that or it's just a coincidence, that a team that was otherwise a top team, lost 8/10.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

If they put out a new top-100 to start the 2022-23 season pretty sure that Gaudreau Tkachuk and Lindholm would move up in the ranks and that Kadri would still not make the top-100 and Mangiapane would be a surprise pick

That leaves the Flames with Huberdeau, Lindholm and Weegar as top-100 players. The average team should have 3.12 players in the top-100

Tampa had 5 The Avs had 6.

Kadri finished 19th in scoring among forwards, so yeah, I think he would get into the top 100.

Andersson finished tied for 19th in scoring among defensemen (Weegar was T26), so there is a pretty decent chance he gets in too.

The Flames have depth.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Kadri finished 19th in scoring among forwards, so yeah, I think he would get into the top 100.

Andersson finished tied for 19th in scoring among defensemen (Weegar was T26), so there is a pretty decent chance he gets in too.

The Flames have depth.

Any list that doesn't have Tanev doesn't recognize what a defenceman does.

EDIT: and are we not counting goalies?

[TheIronMaiden]

I think the Flames will be slightly worse due to chemistry hiccups in the top six. That said anything is possible. So who the #### knows.

[EVERLAST]

Absolutely ON Paper.

What matters is it translates into a team performing well as opposed to the individual accomplishments that some guys get caught up in and one of em is gone.

Our additions include guys that seem to be able to perform at a high level ONLY we haven't seen yet if they are better between the ears than our departures .

I truly hope Darryl gets buy in, effort, sacrifice from everybody.

I hope the lessons of past years disappointments are learned and won't be repeated again because it's time to shake that gorilla off our backs.

Tre has busted his arse IMO making monumental moves this off season and I hope guys have equally prepared for the season with their hard work.

I want like everyone else to see us get through a long season without hiccups, injuries , consistency and gel in hopes of a long successful playoffs.

I never want to see a Jay Woodcrock standing and waiting for his handshake to gloat over us ever again.

That little pipsqueaks antics after eliminating us has managed to grate on my nerves to this day as well as my memory of Rick Bowness and his nonsense last year ....the Flames running everyone out of buildings crap that NO one even said.

Gawd that was awful listening too and watching.

Unfinished business. Let's GO!!!!!!

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Absolutely ON Paper.

What matters is it translates into a team performing well as opposed to the individual accomplishments that some guys get caught up in and one of em is gone.

Our additions include guys that seem to be able to perform at a high level ONLY we haven't seen yet if they are better between the ears than our departures .

I truly hope Darryl gets buy in, effort, sacrifice from everybody.

I hope the lessons of past years disappointments are learned and won't be repeated again because it's time to shake that gorilla off our backs.

Tre has busted his arse IMO making monumental moves this off season and I hope guys have equally prepared for the season with their hard work.

I want like everyone else to see us get through a long season without hiccups, injuries , consistency and gel in hopes of a long successful playoffs.

I never want to see a Jay Woodcrock standing and waiting for his handshake to gloat over us ever again.

That little pipsqueaks antics after eliminating us has managed to grate on my nerves to this day as well as my memory of Rick Bowness and his nonsense last year ....the Flames running everyone out of buildings crap that NO one even said.

Gawd that was awful listening too and watching.

Unfinished business. Let's GO!!!!!!

I saw the Ben Stelter interview (RIP), he creeps me out so much.

And Connor looks about 38 now.

I'm still confused by these beefs with Woodcroft and Bowness though. Dont recall what you were talking about. But I didn't watch long enough to see those pukes celebrate.

I'd say the Oilers were dealt their karmic debt shortly afterward though.

[Iggy Snipe]

Huberdeau > Gaudreau
Kadri > Tkachuk

+ Weegar

- Monahan

= Better

Now obviously this is my opinion, but Tkachuk can not skate and his best season is behind him. Tkachuk was absolutely useless in the playoffs.

Kadri is a huge add, and Calgary will have him in high production for 4 years at least. Brings a similar element as Tkachuk but can play in all situations as he is an elite skater.

Huberdeau is stronger than Johnny and will bring similar results, and will be much more of a presence in big games/ playoffs.

Then dumping Monahan and adding Weegar is a slam dunk off season.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by blankall

Dealing with an entire team not at 100% all at once is a worst case scenario IMO. You can manage a few players not at 100%. The Flames record was clearly affected by Covid. Either that or it's just a coincidence, that a team that was otherwise a top team, lost 8/10.

It was the absolute best case. They had like 6 players go down on Dec.12 and then got a 2.5 week break where the Olympics were supposed to be.

It's not like they were ravaged with serious illness.

https://calgary.citynews.ca/2021/12/...w-covid-cases/

Flames head physician Dr. Ian Auld said the COVID-19 outbreak on the team that caused the postponement of six games has at least three confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, and he’s “never seen transmission on this level.”

“Overwhelmingly, our cases so far have been either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic,” said Auld.

“We do have a few people, somewhere between four and six, and a lot of cases are in evolution so it may change, that have had moderate symptoms. Chills, fevers, fatigue, but turning the corner quickly, in 36 to 48 hours."

Since players were being tested a minimum of every 72 hours, the earliest anyone could have had covid would have been Dec.9, so maybe two games at most where possibly guys weren't feeling 100%. Then a 2.5 week break for everyone to recover was huge.

Pittsburgh Penguins
DATE PLAYER
Oct. 12 at Lightning Zach Aston-Reese
Oct. 14 at Panthers Zach Aston-Reese
Oct. 23 vs. Maple Leafs Jeff Carter, Kris Letang
Oct. 26 vs. Lightning Jeff Carter, Kris Letang
Oct. 28 vs. Flames Jeff Carter, Kris Letang
Oct. 30 vs. Devils Kris Letang, Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel
Nov. 4 vs. Flyers Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin (and head coach Mike Sullivan)
Nov. 6 vs. Wild Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Sidney Crosby, Brian Dumoulin (and head coach Mike Sullivan)

Something like this would be much worse. Losing key players like Carter, Letang, and Crosby back to back to back and then those players going back into games after 5 days of quarantine potentially not at 100%.

I don't know how anyone wouldn't take the Flames scenario over constantly losing players over stretches lasting weeks.

[Oil Stain]

As for the question of the Flames being better this year, I'm pretty undecided.

Flames seemed like a slam dunk for regression based on on-ice shooting percentages of their first line. Couldn't see them going +60 on the year two seasons in a row.

Now the first line has lost some pop, but they have added depth to the second line and defence. The third line might be the biggest improvement. It bled last season, and with Backlund there, it won't happen this year.

The Flames lost two top forwards who had career seasons and gained two top forwards who had career seasons. I think Huberdeau is the most likely out of all four to come close to replicating his last season. Kadri seems most likely to have the biggest drop off.

Last year the Flames were buoyed by lack of injury, and career years all over the roster. Can the improved depth counterattack the regression?

If I had to bet, I guess I'd go with the under on the regular season. Flames will be good, but I don't think it was a +85 Goal Differential roster last season. Even with on paper improvement I could see the team losing 20 GD just due to not having the same kind of good breaks go their way.

Playoffs are always something of a crap shoot so the Flames could easily have better results in the second season.

[Goriders]

They essentially got Huberdeau, Kadri and Weegar for Gaudreau and Tkachuk.

I’d say goaltending will be the same. Defence will be better. Centers will be better. Wingers will probably be weaker so far.

So overall plusses outweigh the minuses.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Because he isn't very good on it?

Pretty circular argument.

[Vinny01]

https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status...xBRi4JpHqy9LMw

Markstrom thinks the team is better

[rotten42]

I think the key to our season will be how quickly they find chemistry among all the new players.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status...xBRi4JpHqy9LMw

Markstrom thinks the team is better

Well he ain’t gonna say we’re worse. It’s up to the boys to prove they’re better than they were last year

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Well he ain’t gonna say we’re worse. It’s up to the boys to prove they’re better than they were last year

Well, it actually turns out he wasn’t even asked if he thought the team was better than last year. I just assumed that’s what he asked him

https://twitter.com/user/status/1562468226596237314