NHL'15 season simulation - Flames have best shot at McDavid

[dissentowner]

So a crappy video game company does a sim with their unrealistic game and for some people that seals the deal? Ok then....

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Plus the isles don't want to have handed Buffalo a top 5 pick

yup, that's what I meant with "save face" the trade was brutal either way, but the pick ending up top 5 in a really stacked draft would put it in contention for the worst trade in the history of the NHL.

[hummdeedoo]

I'm sure these simulations are not that accurate and we won't really know who might end up finishing where for quite some time. I'm much more excited about what's going to happen this year than about some draft that's months and months away.

[devo22]

btw, didn't EA project us to finish dead last in 2014 as well?

[Street Pharmacist]

Imagine if St Louis for some magical reason pooped the bed and finished it off the playoffs and the Isles tank. Buffalo could have 3 top picks. Yikes

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by devo22

btw, didn't EA project us to finish dead last in 2014 as well?

and we finished 4th last...not exactly "off the mark"

[CliffFletcher]

I expect the bottom tier of the league to be Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Edmonton, and Ottawa. The order will probably come down to injuries. With J. Staal out, and E. Staal and Semin both coming off surgery, I think the Hurricanes are going to absolutely stink. If I had to put money on it, my bet is Buffalo < Carolina < Calgary < Ottawa < Edmonton.

[FlameZilla]

McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Strome; if we get a lottery pick next year we're laughing.

[Husky]

I'm going with Ottawa being top loser.

[Five-hole]

The Isles are not finishing bottom 5. They had brutal injuries last year and terrible goaltending.

[troutman]

Sportsnet Magazine predicts the Oilers will earn 13 more points than the Flames this season. Last year they were 10 points behind the Flames. Calgary's goal differential was 35 better than Edmonton.

So, in the tough Western Conference the Oilers will have a 23 point swing on the Flames? Not a chance.

[bubbsy]

what was last year's EA simulation result for the bottom 5 teams?

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Tough to see us outside of the bottom 4. My guess is Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina at the bottom.

[#-3]

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http://www.easports.com/nhl/news/2013/nhl-14-season-sim

Bottom 3 from each conference

Winnipeg Jets – 77 pts
Colorado Avalanche – 76 pts
Calgary Flames – 75 pts

Buffalo Sabres – 77 pts
Carolina Hurricanes – 74 pts
Florida Panthers – 73 pts

[FlamesAddiction]

I forgot about Nashville. I think they will reek this year.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by troutman

Sportsnet Magazine predicts the Oilers will earn 13 more points than the Flames this season. Last year they were 10 points behind the Flames. Calgary's goal differential was 35 better than Edmonton.

So, in the tough Western Conference the Oilers will have a 23 point swing on the Flames? Not a chance.

They have Nikitin now, plus Draisaitl will solidify that 2nd line. Can't see less than playoffs for this upgraded lineup

[Vinny01]

Honestly most of the team's people are listing as worse as the Flames I disagree. Nashville has a solid D corp with a very good goalie coming off injury. Adding Neal, Ribero, Roy up front will help.

Ottawa still has a better roster than calgary in my opinion. Te only teams that are likely worse are the Panthers, Oilers, and Sabres but I think those teams have more youngsters that can take a step forward.

I really think the flames have the worst forward group on paper in the league but their goaltending and D will keep them in games. If Monahan avoids the sophomore slump and Johnny wins the Calder maybe we finish 24-26th but I think we are destined for a 28-30th finish.

[Meers]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

They have Nikitin now, plus Draisaitl will solidify that 2nd line. Can't see less than playoffs for this upgraded lineup

A 24 point improvement?

Stop it! You're killing me!

Next you'll say they deserve third place in some pre-season power ranking.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

EA simulation is a joke. Maybe they fixed it for this year but when I sim be a GM in nhl14 (just the 13/14 and 14/15 seasons), Vancouver is a bottom 3 team 90% of the time, Edmonton is a top 10 team or better most of the time, sometimes tops in the league. Pittsburgh and Boston often miss the playoffs. Florida and Carolina are always contenders. One time I was trying to rebuild the flames all scorched earth like. Literally traded anyone away for picks who was 82 ovr or higher and 27 or older. That team finished with 105 points, Monahan scored 35 goals and 80 points and Ramo had like 10 shutouts and a .930 sv%. Much like the flawed gameplay itself, the sim engine is/was absolute garbage. I've seen Eberle win the Art Ross, Richard Lindsay and Hart. In the same year ffs. Not even worth discussing other than for mocking purposes.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Honestly most of the team's people are listing as worse as the Flames I disagree. Nashville has a solid D corp with a very good goalie coming off injury. Adding Neal, Ribero, Roy up front will help.

.

I think the biggest loss with Nashville will be Trotz. Roy is also no longer a very effective player. He hasn't scored 20 goals in 4 seasons and failed to even get 10 last year. I also don't think Neal is going to flourish like he did in Pittsburgh.