[News Roundup] The rebuild was supposed to be more painful than this

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Our home record has been incredible since the Vancouver incident.... 10-3. It's fun to go to a game and the fans are totally behind the team. Maximum effort every night and tons of thrills.

if my count is right we are 14-9-1 since the brawl (including that game), that's almost 1/3 of a season. I am pretty happy with that in the 1st year of the rebuild.

I also agree with those saying pain will come. It's one thing to suck for a couple years, but as we hit year 3, 4 and even 5 of the rebuild the bumps in the road will seem much worse than they do currently.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

When can I expect my pizza roll?

I await your mailing details

[EYE_Overstand]

It goes to show how our depth has played such a huge role in the end of the season. Feaster and Wesbroid really did a good job with that.

Now Burke can hopefully add the superstars and defense.

[Miniac]

You could spend weeks debating which organization is the bigger gong show right now -- the Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Canucks. Fans are furious in both cities, and who can blame them?

Haha love it!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Ferraro even mentioned tonight that the Flames are the highest scoring team in the league since the trade deadline. Obviously that number is a bit skewed when you get to play the Oilers, but it's still nice to see them continue to work hard and score some goals rather than just lay down and lose every game.

[calgarywinning]

They have been bringing so much lately that you can't help but remark! This is a highly entertaining team that has really bought in win or lose.

I think what I like most is when the other team scores, I know the game is not over. That they will claw back, do whatever it takes to even it up or get close to. The old flames (last 3-4 years) would get down by a point after a lot of hard work and get dejected.

[Five-hole]

You know things are unusual when Eric Francis writes an article that positive.


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[Nehkara]

This year has been so much fun. I actually was quite excited to start the season because I was eager to watch our young talent develop... but this season has still far exceeded expectations.

I still think that it will probably be (barring a miracle) a few years until the Flames are ready to leap back into the postseason but I am very optimistic based on the results this year, that the team is headed in the right direction.

Huge props to all of the players for buying in and to Bob Hartley and his assistants for doing such a fantastic job with coaching the group. If things look good at the end of next season, I would like to see Hartley extended for an additional 3 years. He deserves to be the one to lead this team back to the playoffs, and it would be nice to have a long term coach.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

You know things are unusual when Eric Francis writes an article that positive.


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I actually read an Eric Francis article (I usually turn off the radio when he's on... change the channel... burn the newspaper).

It's nice to see him positive about the Flames but he still doesn't know anything about hockey.

The Montreal Canadiens look to be playoff bound ... but just barely.

The Canadiens are the 3rd place team in the East.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I had forgotten about the Steckel quote... with 9 goals and 25 points, he's already far exceeded Steckel's best year offensively

I think it was some kind of scare tactic to get Colburne moving his feet or something, In the end it's stupid, Colburne will be Colburne not a friken Steckel with just size and little talent.

To me Colburne is slightly different than most young NHL players, they all succeed because of three things, they love the game,the compete and of course the money.

Colburne only has two of those things.

[Gary83]

Colborne

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah, I'm just predicting regression next year and I'm thinking people might go off the deep end if we're worse next year. This won't be a linear process.

I think some players will regress, but with the influx of talent in the system I think the team will continue on a similar path. Anyone who takes a step backward will likely provide an opportunity for a Gaudreau, Arnold, Agostini, Hanowski or Poirier to step in and play. The only thing that could make it a painful year would be in we suffered a major injury to a blueliner or one had a bad year. I think we're in pretty good shape for a similar year next season. Not a great team, but not an Oiler bad team either.

[wingmaker]

It is very possible for regression.

Having said that, this is not a year where all the stars have aligned and everything has gone perfectly. The Flames have had a LOT of injuries, and to very key players, including a long one to Giordano who has been without question the best player on the team, and Ramo. They have also been in a conference that has been completely dominant for much of the year, yet they have acquitted themselves decently against the stiff competition.

Regression could be in the cards if Giordano and Brodie take steps back next year. Or Ramo looks more like he did at the start of the year than he has since Christmas. Or if Cammalleri leaves and the offence dries up. But I don't think all of those things are likely to happen. This team seems to be winning with a recipe that can be replicated and maintained. Couple that with fewer injuries and it is just as likely that this team could improve next year.

[Tinordi]

Just as player development isn't linear a rebuild most likely isn't linear. I'd give even odds to this team being better or worse than last year.

Again as Bingo's game write-ups have emphasized this year, the key importance is development not necessarily winning. You'd be hard pressed to say that this year is anything but an overwhelming success based from a development perspective. Backlund has arrived, Colborne obviously, Brodie, Wotherspoon, Granlund, Ramo/Ortio are all showing signs that they're NHL players. That's the key. We need to develop players then 3 years down the road we need to make acquisitions that gel these players into a team.

I think right now the people who are expressing caution aren't being "negative" but warning of exceeded expectations and the pressure to short-cut the treatment. Many "negative" posters just want to see the long-term success of the rebuild not be distracted by short-term satisficing.

[Resolute 14]

Your team must be doing something right when it causes George Johnson, of all people, to write a glass-half-full column for once.

[Vinny01]

It has been te best season since 08/09 to watch in my opinion. No pressure as a fan have kept the roller coaster of emotions on a steady straight line this year. Wins are great, losses improve the chances to get a high pick. With the way things have gone in Edmonton and Vancouver being a Flames fan has been that much more fun.

I am in the group that thinks it is going to get worse before it gets better but I have always believed we could be competitive for a playoff spot by the 15/16 season so hopefully next year is the last we are talking about looking at a high pick

[Flash Walken]

I'd rather watch Max Reinhart fall all over the ice for 10 minutes than 2 minutes of Roman Cervenka skate through the neutral zone or Alex Tanguay skate to the bench.

This is the perfect storm of a rebuild year 1 season: Competitive hockey. Close 1 goal games, side splitting effort and rookies coming in and grabbing the horns.

Can't say enough about Wotherspoon. Holy crap is that guy a promising prospect.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I'd rather watch Max Reinhart fall all over the ice for 10 minutes than 2 minutes of Roman Cervenka skate through the neutral zone or Alex Tanguay skate to the bench.

this.

The progress of our prospects has been great this season. Sven has faced some adversity and Ramage has had trouble with the adjustment to pro hockey, but the rest has been great. Even guys like Jooris have done well. The only pity has been Sieloff ... poor guy. Would have been great for him to get a cup of coffee too.

[Bingo]

I think managing expectations is healthy, and it keeps you sane as a hockey fan.

But the Flames haven't played in 43 one goal games and rifled off a 25 game run of playoff caliber hockey by hard work alone.

It's good to see guys like Ferraro taking notice (HNIC as well, Hughson and Friedman) that the Flames cupboard isn't as bare as many thought. I think in the media an assumption is made and then the all use it, and it takes one guy to dig deeper and build the new "image" for a team.

The media is now jumping on board with the Flames system being deeper and this rebuild being further along than most figured.

Will they step back next year? Possible ... also possible they carry this culture forward and move up another couple of steps next year .. maybe be the jets, a team that has designs on a playoff spot in early March, but have the cold reality of the last ramp up send them to the sidelines by the St. Patrick's Day.

The key is the veteran group and the salary floor. They have to be so careful in how they get to that floor without damaging the culture. That's why I love the Stajan signing a lot.

Will be interesting to see what this team looks like on August 1st

[Rick Wamsley]

Wow you guys need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

The Flames are terrible. Better than the Oilers but so what? The Flames are not going to make the playoffs until the 2020 season. How sad is that?