2014-15 Flames: Start of something big, or one-year fluke?

[sworkhard]

They are somewhat lucky to have so many comebacks work out for them, so in that sense it could be a fluke.

However, it is also the start of something big I think as years like this build character and perseverance in a way that very little else can. If they Flames can improve their possession game in the off season, whether by off season acquisitions or player improvement, without losing their skill on the rush, they could be a force next year.

[Jets4Life]

I am looking forward to a Jets-Flames playoff series in the near future.

[calgarybean]

No idea on which way it will go.

The homer in me says its all up from here.
The realist says it's only year 2 and go into the next season with the same attitude I did this year. Expect the rebuild worst and enjoy the surprises that happen along the way.

I should be mad this season is over but when I look back I can't help but think that was pretty $%#@ cool to watch. Hope we do it again in 2015/2016.

[edslunch]

The Flames' possession numbers will improve as the team matures and players like Bennet and Ferland settle into full time roles. (better possession because of a better team, not vice versa)

I worry that goal-tending will regress - Hiller and Ramo were a good 50/50 tandem, I don't think Ortio is ready for that load and neither Hiller nor Ramo would be as good playing more games.

[AcGold]

Bouma, Ferland, Gaudreau, Bennett, Poirier, Monahan, Russell, Brodie, Colborne, Backlund, Ortio, Gillies all pre-apex.

A 12 player core going forward; shut down dman, power forwards, playmakers, two way dman, two way forwards, 2 potential franchise centers (1 a probable 80 plus point superstar). If we can acquire a top 4 dman it will be a fluke if we miss the playoffs. The team is just too deep to regress substantially and this isn't counting the rest of the prospect pool. We could ice a potential playoff team just with what we have now for a few years, imagine if we bring in 3 or more young guys. The Flames are built to last.

[Armchair Quarterback]

According to Don Cherry, we're the Colorado of this year, so "don't forget how you got there" through hard work, etc.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

According to Don Cherry, we're the Colorado of this year, so "don't forget how you got there" through hard work, etc.

He said the Flames got a free ride this year even though coaches of dozens of teams have been saying for two seasons now how Calgary is a tough team to play.

[sadora]

No fluke at all...This is the beginning of a bright future for this team!

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

According to Don Cherry, we're the Colorado of this year, so "don't forget how you got there" through hard work, etc.

He also said Giordano won't let them forget.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Bouma, Ferland, Gaudreau, Bennett, Poirier, Monahan, Russell, Brodie, Colborne, Backlund, Ortio, Gillies all pre-apex.

A 12 player core going forward; shut down dman, power forwards, playmakers, two way dman, two way forwards, 2 potential franchise centers (1 a probable 80 plus point superstar). If we can acquire a top 4 dman it will be a fluke if we miss the playoffs. The team is just too deep to regress substantially and this isn't counting the rest of the prospect pool. We could ice a potential playoff team just with what we have now for a few years, imagine if we bring in 3 or more young guys. The Flames are built to last.

I wouldn't count Russell (28) as pre-apex but add Josh Jooris, + maybe Markus Grandlund and Drew Shore if they make the starting line up.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

According to Don Cherry, we're the Colorado of this year, so "don't forget how you got there" through hard work, etc.

The Avs got into a playoff spot last year in large part because they had unreal tending from Varlamov.
The Flames got there in spite of, below average tending.

Anyone who compares the Flames to the Avalanche or Leafs is engaging in some of the laziest analysis out there.

[OBCT]

Both.

I have a hard time believing this team can continue its incredible upward trajectory indefinitely. Young players bring with them great variability. Lots of Flames had unexpected seasons in terms of production, and some of them might come back down to earth. Who knows - the group of Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Ferland could provide even more offense next season. Even so, the West is super tough and projects to be even more competitive top-to-bottom next season, IMO. Won't be easy!

Longer term, however, I absolutely believe these past two seasons are barely the beginning of something enormous. The core pieces may largely already be in place. Now we get the chance to watch this team evolve and mature!

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Unless our winning percentage last year was less than .500, not a fluke.

But it was? 35-40-7 for 77 points...

Not saying it was a fluke, though. I would bet on regression, obviously, and would note that the way the Flames succeeded this year has been shown to be very difficult to do on a continuous basis year after year.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The Avs got into a playoff spot last year in large part because they had unreal tending from Varlamov.
The Flames got there in spite of, below average tending.

Anyone who compares the Flames to the Avalanche or Leafs is engaging in some of the laziest analysis out there.

It depends in what respect you're making the comparison.

For example, this post you just made compares the Flames to the Avalanche.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It depends in what respect you're making the comparison.

For example, this post you just made compares the Flames to the Avalanche.

Let me re-state to clarify, though I think it was somewhat obvious what I was saying, semantics aside.
Anyone who says the Flames are similar to the Avs of a season ago....

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It depends in what respect you're making the comparison.

For example, this post you just made compares the Flames to the Avalanche.

What a baiting pedantic post.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

My point was, they are similar in some respects - their 5 on 5 shooting percentage was almost identical and 2nd in the NHL. Both teams had a low CF% but a GF% well north of 50% in 5 on 5 situations. Both had a PDO over 100. Both teams were roughly league average in shooting percentage on the power play. Both teams leaned heavily on their top blue liners while giving the bottom guys limited minutes.

They are also different in many respects - as was pointed out, Calgary's ESSV% was 18th this year while Colorado's last year was 6th. Calgary shot over 17% in 4 on 4 situations this year; Colorado was at 12.68%. No one on Colorado is as good as Giordano. Etc etc.

When someone says that Calgary is "this year's version of X", it's an obvious oversimplification. But they probably don't mean to imply that they're an identical team to the Colorado or Toronto teams of yesteryear. Rather, they're suggesting that like the success of those previous teams, future success by this year's Flames squad shouldn't be expected to repeat, although possibly for different reasons from those other teams. You can still say that position is wrong, but not if you're proceeding under a misapprehension of what's being claimed.

I would note, for example, that I don't think it's unreasonable to say that the Flames probably won't shoot 17% at 4 on 4 next year. However, you might well look at their 8.8 even strength shooting percentage and think, "even if they don't do that again, it's not unreasonable to think they'll be above average and certainly better than the 7.8 they shot in 2013-2014". There are degrees of reasonable expectation.

[Vinny01]

I think Monahan and Gaudreau are very special players. I think once the big line stepped it made up for the loss of Gio. Listening to Monahan today the guy is a natural leader and wants to take another step forward.

I think Johnny will be a top 5 player in the league when he is 25 and will take another step forward next year.

Gio will not let this team slip. The young players that are learning under him are building a culture of winning by hard work and team play.

This organization has an identity and culture. There are a solid group of veteran leaders that have all bought in. There is a large crop of young players that could lead this franchise for years of contenting for and hopefully winning Cups

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

their 5 on 5 shooting percentage was almost identical and 2nd in the NHL.

Calgary's 5 on 5 shooting percentage in 2014-15: 8.88
Colorado's 5 on 5 shooting percentage in 2014-15: 8.75
Colorado's 5 on 5 shooting percentage in 2013-14: 8.80

Colorado's 5 on 5 shooting percentage this year was closer to Colorado last year than Calgary's was to Colorado last year.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yes. And? both were 2nd in the NHL. I believe I also just made the point that it's reasonable to suggest that even if Calgary does regress a bit, they could still be near the top of the league. Colorado still is (5th this season). Anaheim manges it year after year.