QOTD: What should be the Flames #1 New Years resolution?

[indes]

I picked a win in Anaheim, however I think it should be 4 wins at the Honda Center

[flamesfever]

Don't do anything rash which might upset the chemistry, including trading Glencross. Just stay the course, and appreciate what we already have, either on the team or coming up.

[formulate]

Originally Posted by saillias

Every year a team like SJ or Anaheim SELL assets at the trade deadline and make the playoffs in a top seed. Buying at the trade deadline is for suckers.

Note: The point of this post isn't to condone buying at the trade deadline for the Flames this season, but to illustrate that buying has recent proven success to along with some high-profile flops (Iginla, Vanek, Miller coming to mind).

Kings - Gaborik (2014)
Rangers - St. Louis (2014)
Hawks - Handzus (2013)
Bruins - Jagr (2013)
Kings - Carter (2012)
Devils - Zidlicky (2012)
Bruins - Kaberle (2011)
Canucks - Higgins, Lapierre (2011)

Not all big names or even huge impacts, but all can be considered 'buying' transactions, and each of these teams went to the Stanley Cup finals in the year the trades were made. In fact, the list is exhaustive. Each of the past 8 teams to reach the finals made at least one 'buying' trade that season.

As for the Flames, they clearly aren't in the same position to contend, so trading futures for veteran help shouldn't be part of the plan yet. At the same time, trading a guy like Glencross for a mediocre return to 'maximize an asset' I think could send the wrong message to the players (assuming this team is hovering around a playoff spot). Different story if Pittsburgh or Nashville comes banging on the door with a Forberg-for-Erat level ridiculous offer and you can find a cheaper suitable replacement.

Biggest resolution for me would be their starts. No idea how this sort of thing can be collectively improved but constantly being behind and forced to make comebacks for wins doesn't seem like a recipe for long-term success. Tthis team has spend 629 minutes leading and 854 minutes trailing, despite a winning record and +11 goal differential. I'd love to spend more time with the lead!

[Eric Vail]

I'd like to see a resolution to make an arena announcement already.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I'd like to see a resolution to make an arena announcement already.

Agreed, that would be nice to hear.

I think Burke knows that we can't overlook the long term to become buyers for short term success, and I think he is an influential enough executive that the owners will listen to him. I don't think Treliving will feel any pressure from ownership to "win now".

I went with win one in Anaheim. I hate that they seem to have our number every time. I think it would be a mental weight lifted if we can win one in Anaheim.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I don't understand this forum sometimes.

Who cares if we win in Anaheim or not? Honestly, outside of a moral victory, it has very little bearing on our fortunes as a team. We play exactly 2 games there this year and played often only once there for years past. Just because it's a long streak doesn't mean it will prevent us from making the playoffs this year, which is still the goal last time I checked. Besides which, Anaheim is still one of the elites. They SHOULD be beating a team like ours on their home ice. Expecting anything else is unrealistic. It's only 4 points, 2 of which have already been decided, and it's from a team we aren't in the same class as, so winning any game against them is a bonus.

What we should be focusing on is beating the Vancouver Canucks. Currently tied with them in points but they have games in hand. We are 0-1-1 so far this year and 0-3-2 against them last year. We are directly competing with them for playoff spots, so every win we get against teams like the Canucks, Kings, Sharks, Jets, Blues, and even the Wild and Stars, are of utmost importance. That will likely determine our fate.

Our penalty kill will decide more in terms of the amount of points we can get down the stretch than any one road game in any building. Consider this: The Flames currently sit 26th in the league with a 77% kill rate. Part of that lack of success is they have fewer opportunities than most teams to kill off because they only take 8.4 PIMs per game, 5th in the league. But still, that means they have so few penalties to kill they should be fresh and effective most nights. If we were to improve our percentage to somewhere around 83% which would put us just outside of the top 10, it would save us 6 goals so far. Over the course of 40 games it could mean the difference between winning and losing 4-5 games. 8-10 points is a big deal when it comes to a league with such parity. If the Flames do nothing else they need to find a way to at least get above 80% with their PK. It might be the difference between 9th or 10th and 7th or 8th.

2 things the Flames need to do the rest of the way: Win as many games as they can against divisional opponents, and improve the PK.

[troutman]

Don't listen to message board warriors.

[Erick Estrada]

This team hasn't been a real contender since the last time they won in Anaheim. They will never be a cup contender until they start winning in that building.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by driveway

If they mortgage picks and prospects to go for it this year I will be so frigging angry.

The performance this year is an awesome bonus which bodes well for the future. We should trade exactly zero picks and not a single player younger than 27, doing so would be much, much more foolish than any of the attempts to make the playoffs with the 2009-2012 Flames.

What is wrong with trading youth for youth to improve the team? If a pick and a prospect gets us a young player that makes us better, then get it done!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

What is wrong with trading youth for youth to improve the team? If a pick and a prospect gets us a young player that makes us better, then get it done!

But why would the other team do that? How often do those years happen? Generally, if your trading picks or prospects, you're getting older

[calgarywinning]

I hope they resolve not to be that middle of the division team from the past. While their success this year has been a wonderful thing to watch and many of our prospects have outperformed expectations, do we have enough to rise the ranks to be a threat and a contender?

The sheer excitement that Bennett is going to be an elite player may tip the scale?

While there may be many ways to achieve this, it would be better to continue the rebuild through drafting. So far they have done a very good job.

The Glencross situation is interesting. He has really been playing strong the last couple of games.

Either which way it's really been an exciting couple of years to be a Flames fan; the heart of the team, hardwork and never give up attitude is exactly the DNA we want for the playoff's when we get there.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

But why would the other team do that?

Because they have different needs. In particular, the Flames have a surplus of young forwards at the moment. If they can find a team that is willing to trade a young defenceman for some of that surplus, that's a move they should be trying to make.

Not everything is about youth vs. veterans, or rebuilding teams vs. contenders. It's perfectly possible to make a trade that does not change your team's average age one way or the other.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

This team hasn't been a real contender since the last time they won in Anaheim. They will never be a cup contender until they start winning in that building.

For argument's sake... how about if they take 4 available points against the Stanley Cup Champions in the past few games?

Is it ok because the champs are more beatable than their division rival?

It can't be measured against only one team

[djsFlames]

Win in Anaheim, without a doubt.

I don't care if they throw out some cash at the deadline. They're not going to hurt our prospect pool. So long as vet pieces are going the other way.

[Mathgod]

No need to be a buyer nor a seller at the deadline. This isn't a cup contender anyway so trading some future for some present doesn't make sense. Just stay the course and continue to improve the organization's talent pool through shrewd drafting.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Because they have different needs. In particular, the Flames have a surplus of young forwards at the moment. If they can find a team that is willing to trade a young defenceman for some of that surplus, that's a move they should be trying to make.

Not everything is about youth vs. veterans, or rebuilding teams vs. contenders. It's perfectly possible to make a trade that does not change your team's average age one way or the other.

But these kinds of trades can be risky. Look for example at Burke's time in Toronto when he traded what turned out to be Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, and Jared Knight for Phil Kessel. At this point it seems pretty clear that Seguin has surpassed Kessel and is showing no signs of letting up.

Name me one defensemen in the NHL that is in his early to mid 20s that would help the Flames make/make noise in the playoffs that the other team would be willing to give up, and then show me a reasonable trade scenario that wouldn't significantly hurt the Flames' pool of quality young talent/first rounders.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Name me one defensemen in the NHL that is in his early to mid 20s that would help the Flames make/make noise in the playoffs that the other team would be willing to give up, and then show me a reasonable trade scenario that wouldn't significantly hurt the Flames' pool of quality young talent/first rounders.

Sorry, I don't do NHL15 scenarios. I can't recall ever seeing a trade suggested by a fan actually happening, and I'm not about to take that up as a hobby.

However, in a general way, I will say that the Flames' biggest need right now is for an upgrade on the third D pairing, and #5-6 defencemen don't normally cost the earth.

It isn't about helping the Flames make noise in the playoffs this season, but about balancing their roster and addressing one particular weakness. Ideally they want a relatively young player to fill that hole, because he may eventually be able to move up into the top 4.

[Mathgod]

Quality young D-men with significant upside don't grow on trees. Any trade involving one of those coming to Calgary would have to involve quite a bit of value going the other way.

[Coach]

I said #1, mostly in reference to coming from behind in general.

I would say #4, but I don't think ownership or management has that mindset. And I think the point of having Burke there is that he has the cojones to tell the owners wheere to go in regards to hockey decisions.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Quality young D-men with significant upside don't grow on trees. Any trade involving one of those coming to Calgary would have to involve quite a bit of value going the other way.

And contrariwise, any trade involving one of those coming to Calgary would be bringing quite a bit of value to the team. You have to give something to get something.