Worst Case Scenario for the 2015-16 Season?

[Drak]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

wheres the suicide booth pic when you need it??

I'm already dead.

[Artie Fufkin]

Jerseys on the ice by Christmas

[vicarious]

Auston Matthews

[BACKCHECK!!!]

My opinion on the outcome of this season does not depend much on where they finish in the standings.

Obviously another playoff appearance means things are going well.

Otherwise, I just want to see young potential impact players develop into young impact players.

If Dougie Hamilton puts up 40 pts from the top pairing, and Sam Bennett is playing legit top-6 hockey, I'll consider this season a success no matter where it finishes in the standings.

[burn_this_city]

Worst case ontario is finishing in no mans land of 17-22.

[Day Tripper]

Originally Posted by vicarious

Auston Matthews

What? The Flames would be very lucky to get him.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by vicarious

Auston Matthews

Being awful and getting Matthews is a lot better than being awful and not getting him.

[adc]

Originally Posted by polak

Another reason why worst in the NHL is the worst:

That means Gio and Hamilton continue to play like they are. All of the sudden the Flames have 2 massive contracts that look terrible and could handcuff us for years.

I think the most likely reason for the Flames to drop to the bottom of the league is the goaltending continuing to be awful and secondary scoring providing basically nothing.

That could and would include poor years from Hamilton and Gio but I would be more concerned that Hudler goes back to being a 55 point not 75 point player, Bouma doesn't hit double digit goals, the defense don't provide the huge number of goals they did last year, Jooris isn't a double digit goal scorer and Ferland/Jones/Raymond/Frolik can't make up that difference.

I could be wrong but I thought I heard a stat on the FAN the other day that said the Flames hadn't got a point in a game where Hudler/Monahan/Gaudreau didn't get a point since Nov. 15th. I am not sure if that is inline with other teams top lines but that does seem a little concerning on how much that line is relied on.

[OzSome]

Unbelievable!! Flames only played less than 10 games and they are being written off already. Ramo who played well last season struggled early this season and pretty much everyone thinking he is done. People started trade rumours and such. Nobody makes the playoff in October so I don't understand why people are panicking already. How many games did they play so far? 6? Wow!

[saskflames69]

We finish last and the Oilers still somehow manage to win the draft lottery

[Caged Great]

There is no worst case scenario.

This team despite their success last year is still only in the 3rd year of a rebuild. Things like the start this year happens to teams in this situation. Whether this is the story for the entire season, or it's a temporary blip is yet to be determined.

One positive is that a year gets knocked off all the questionable contracts. Jones, Hiller, Ramo, Hudler, and Russell are all up at the end of the year. Raymond, Wideman, Bollig, Smid, and Engelland will only have one season left. All of the contracts that expire this year are worth 18.9 million, and next another 16 or so next and all those funds can be re-directed towards better players.

Another good pick isn't a bad thing. It'll make this team even more successful once the transition continues from overpaid under performers to players being paid appropriately. Plus the next wave of young guys will be that much closer.

[#-3]

I'm embarrassed for our fanbase. 80% of believe having one of the worst teams in the NHL is not the worst case.

When did I become an Oilers fan?

[Poe969]

Id rather be the worst and keep the pick instead of being second last with no pick

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Unbelievable!! Flames only played less than 10 games and they are being written off already. Ramo who played well last season struggled early this season and pretty much everyone thinking he is done. People started trade rumours and such. Nobody makes the playoff in October so I don't understand why people are panicking already. How many games did they play so far? 6? Wow!

It is not the teams record more than how they are playing. They completely lost their identity. The 5 losses might be the 5 worst losses since Monahan has been a Flame

[Samonadreau]

The team will get better

- I foresee Brodies return fixing the D pairings (still not crazy about Russell and Wideman though).
- Hamilton will start to fit in and look like the legit top 3 guy we thpught we had by the end of the year
- Gillies already has 2 shutouts and has some awesome numbers in Stockton (albeit early so he could be up next year. No point making a stupid trade for a Goalie.
- Well get a good look at Ortio this year.
- We will have a good idea of whether we have a top 6 winger (between Porier and Klimchuk) in the making. I would be happy if one of the two makes a HUGE step this year. For some reason I like Klimchuk more.
- Bennett's confidence will pick up with the teams and with it the points. Hes gonna be great.

Worst case we get a decent pick this year and with the new lottery sytem, anbody who misses has a chance at the 1st/2nd... overall. That being said I think we'll pick it up. If its not looking great by the deadline it gives you an excuse to trade some guys that werent going to be resigned... cough Hudler/Russell.

again this is WORSE case not best case

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by troutman

CGY could start the season 1-9 with some tough games upcoming.

To get to 95 points, the Flames would then need a record of 41-17-9. Not very likely.

Generally, I'm against trading picks for rentals.

I mis-read the question - thought it was asking what will happen, not what is worse for the franchise.

Well, they lost eight in a row last year and if you took that away they were 45-22-7 in their other games. A bad start would hurt but wouldn't necessarily be a death blow in my opinion.

As for what would be the worst thing, it would be finishing dead last then drafting 4th. No shame in barely missing the playoffs considering the team is still developing.

But I agree, with where the team is at I wouldn't trade picks for rentals no matter what. Not this season.

[JohnnyB]

None of those choices really upset me much. The only thing that would upset me terribly would be some awful injuries to young players that affect long-term performance, some big trades that don't build for the future or some terrible handling of young players that ends up diminishing their potential. Actually, I suppose one other worst case would be that the Flames go back to playing a terribly boring and uncreative style of game.

Other than those possibilities, I'm still game for whatever this season brings. The Flames aren't cup favourites and I want them to continue building the right way and developing players well.