How disappointing is it if this team doesn't make the playoffs?

[Barnet Flame]

Proud and initially heartbtoken. But I'd recover and look back at this season for what it was.

This team have been wonderful to watch.

[Enoch Root]

The bottom line for me is that, if you had said at the beginning of the year that the Flames would not only be incredibly entertaining, would have a bunch of young players develop to levels we couldn't have even hoped for, and that the last two games against LA and Wpg would determine whether or not they MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, I believe that pretty much every single poster here would agree that that would be much more than they could have hoped for, even in their most optimistic of moods.

Whether or not they actually make it will not change how I feel about this season.

But if they do, it will be more whipped cream spread all over this big delicious slice of pie that we've already enjoyed.

[Hackey]

The part that will bug me the most is that dreaded 9th place finish where you get the worst of both worlds. No playoffs and bad draft position. I'd also feel a bit bad for the team who have worked so hard this year. Me personally playoffs aren't that big of a deal. At this point I'd want them to make it more so as a reward to the team for playing so well.

[Tacopuck]

I'd be disappointed at first (only because we are so close) but I would instantly remind myself we officially have a ticket into the McDavid Lottery (no matter how small the % chance is)

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

How many years have the Flames actually exceed expectations in a year?
I think this would be about the fifth.

1981, 1986, 1989 and 2004 are the only years that I can think of they did better than expected. This year definitely counts as one, so disappointing is a bad word that shouldn't even be uttered in regards to this year. I think I'll just be mad at someone if they don't make it (Refs, Kings, Jets, my ex wife?)

Agree with your point about exceeding expectations, but can't say that '89 was unexpected...for the organization's goals at the time, it was overdue...

Strengthening your argument is consideration of the number of years the Flames underachieved, like the early 90s and then pretty much every playoff team after 2004...if anything, we've experienced more frustration than unexpected excitement, as fans...so definitely, this year has been the furthest thing from disappointing, as you say.

Still---save room for me on your "mad at" bus, just in case...

[-TC-]

This team has been nothing if not a huge over payment on what I expected...playoffs would be a nice bonus, but if they miss I'm not gutted. Sad, but not gutted.

Next year though....

[Poe969]

I would prefer for the Flames to make the playoffs but I honestly don't think I'll be disappointed if they don't. This team is awesome and has already turned heads more than a lot of other teams in the west. I'm happy that this season (and even last season for that matter) have been some of the best hockey games we've seen the Flames play in years.

[Huntingwhale]

I'd be disappointed because we are so close I can taste it. 5 year drought and so close....you better believe I'll be disappointed if we miss out by 1 freakin' point or LA's loser points outdo us. I won't be mad at the team though. They've overachieved greatly. But I know how bad management and the players want this. As bad as the fans want it they want it 10x more. Then we'll have to hear all summer about how the advanced stats posse was right all along and how Calgary is the same ol' team who is stuck in mediocrity with yet another 9th place finish.

The Flames making the playoffs is the biggest F-U to the ENTIRE hockey world (CP included) who doubted them at the start of the season and had them pencilled if for the McEichel sweepstakes. If the Flames do in fact not make the dance, you'd better believe the hockey gods will reward us with McDavid. That would be the sweetest consolation prize.

[SixtySix]

Pointless thread as Gaudreau has already 100% guaranteed playoffs.

[CGY12]

I will be bitterly disappointed, not because I expected them to be there at the start of the season, but I think they really deserve it given how resilient and well they've played this year, the never die attitude has been something we haven't seen in years and makes me want them to make it that much more. Plus it would be awesome to shut all the naysayers up.

[Galakanokis]

My head is totally ok with the Flames not making the playoffs and feel they have accomplished more than enough this season.

On the other hand my heart and gut want so much for the Flames to make it to the dance that I may cry like a 3 year old that just dropped their ice cream in the dirt if they don't make it.

[calf]

Disappointed but not too upset. Happy that they gave it their all. This season, playoffs or not, is better for our long-term success and development than tanking would have accomplished.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

There will be no shutting the naysayers up, regardless. Even if we make it, they will just tout Toronto / Colorado around unless we make it next year.

And that will be the tough part, so hard not to want this given they are so close. And I fully believe this team will improve next year, but if this makes any sense, improvement isn't necessarily going to mean playoffs next year either, regardless of this year. I think we get better as a team, but I don't expect the Flames to graduate out of the group of teams they are surprisingly competing with this year. And it's a big group IMO, ranging all the way from the Avs to the Nucks IMO, fighting for those bottom spots. Lots of factors go into making it for teams, some will get better, worse luck next year etc... and even though I'm 100% happy with the rebuild pace, I could very easily see this team taking a step forward and still missing next year because it's so tight.

So hard not to want something that is so close right now, given IMO it's going to be so hard to grab for the next few seasons, even with a consistently improving young team.

[dammage79]

The team will be greatly disappointed for sure. As a fan I will not be. They've learned what it takes to get into the conversation about playoffs with their regular season play.

They're not out yet anyways so there's still that. But they need to learn to keep the energy going for a full 82 games. Maybe that comes next season. And the season after that is when there should be disappointment if they miss the playoffs. Even then, only a moderate amount.

If/When they do make the playoffs. they should really just enjoy it at this point. get battle tested and take what they learned forward.

[bdubbs]

Both, but also because we'll miss out on the pube bet that Moneyhands23 made.

[CedarMeter]

I won't be disappointed at all. It's been a fantastic year. Future looks bright.

[PeteMoss]

I'll be disappointed but I also think in reality all of the team's the Flames are battling with are more talented... so it wouldn't be a major heartbreak or anything. I think most of us have kind of been waiting for the bottom to fall out all year long and enjoying the ride while it doesn't.

[CSharp]

It will be disappointing on several levels:

1) they are again just on the outside looking in and can't even tank to position themselves for the draft

2) a good rebuild also depends on them drafting as high as they did in the past couple of years and this over-achieving year is not really a good year to play well enough to be a bubble team.

3) I think a lot of us are going to be even more disappointed next season if the Flames are doing what the Avs did this season when the expectations are higher. Like what the "experts" are saying about the Flames the whole season, they can't maintain the over-achievements for this long. Next season will be the real tell-tale sign of what the Flames are going to be like when every team will be positioning for the playoffs rather than for the upcoming draft when there is no generational player to choose from and the lottery system is tightened up a bit more.

Yeah, the excitement of the Flames pushing for a playoff spot is nice, but the long term effects of not properly developing this club to it's maximum potential has been seen for so many years.

[AcGold]

Deep down I hope they miss.


The reason is that this group is just starting to gel. We have a core that could last a decade. As it is if they do make it they'll be exhausted, Wideman can barely skate right now. Then going against Nashville or Anaheim there's a chance some careers get shortened overextending themselves.

We've seen the potential, I hope they save it for next year when we add a whole bunch more to help the team. Without Gio we are screwed in the playoffs. Plus we have the 2% chance at Mcdavid. Would love to see them get to rest and come back stronger next year, let Gio, Russell, Boomer and Wideman heal up. Obviously if they make it that will be great but still I kind of hope they don't. I doubt a 4-5 round game series will be more entertaining than this season already has been.

Sure anything can happen but they look absolutely drained out there and I'm in this for the long haul. A core of Gaudreau, Moneyhands and Bennett could win several championships.

[Poe969]

100% agree. At the beginning of the season, I thought they would be in the running for McDavid and they're instead in the running for a playoff spot. I'm so proud of this team, the only real thing that would make me any more proud is winning the cup and sweeping every series. This team has rejuvenated my excitement in the Flames.