What will make you consider this season a success for the Flames?

[Saqe]

Playoffs.

[locsofblu]

98 points.

[CaptainYooh]

Although I have been a very loyal and devout Flames fan for a very long time, as a reasonably pragmatic and rational person, I don't see professional sports as anything other than entertainment that I have to pay for to enjoy. I judge Flames hockey solely on the quality of the entertainment it provides in relation to my costs of enjoying it.

So, as a paying customer, I expect the team to give me full value for my dollar. I want to see them play every game like it's their last game. Wins are great and they make me feel good. Losses are bad. But some hard-fought losses make me feel really bad for the team, while others make me feel really bad for my money and time wasted watching the game (e.g. last game with Arizona).

Successful season leaves you invigorated with a feeling of "can't wait for more Flames hockey next season". Honestly, I have no idea how Oilers still have any fans left at all... The final position in a chart at the end of the season means nothing to me as long as they leave it all on the ice every game and, hopefully, make playoffs.

[Street Pharmacist]

The sheer number of Oilers fans either speaks to incredible enduring loyalty or incredible gullibility. I'm not sure which it is

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Although I have been a very loyal and devout Flames fan for a very long time, as a reasonably pragmatic and rational person, I don't see professional sports as anything other than entertainment that I have to pay for to enjoy. I judge Flames hockey solely on the quality of the entertainment it provides in relation to my costs of enjoying it.

So, as a paying customer, I expect the team to give me full value for my dollar. I want to see them play every game like it's their last game. Wins are great and they make me feel good. Losses are bad. But some hard-fought losses make me feel really bad for the team, while others make me feel really bad for my money and time wasted watching the game (e.g. last game with Arizona).

.

I think, on the whole, you should feel pretty good this year at the Dome, except for the first 1/2 dozen games.

[Enoch Root]

More than anything else, continued development of players.

Ferland breaking out would be huge.
Bennett getting on track
Continued improvement from Kyllington
Poirier getting going
Jankowski joining the team (Flames or Heat) in the playoffs

Acquire a top line RW

Make the playoffs or, if not, get a top 5 pick

[Neeper]

Playoffs hands down. Sorry, but drafting high is not a success. It means you failed.

[icecube]

Round 2 or Patrick Laine #2 overall.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Playoffs hands down. Sorry, but drafting high is not a success. It means you failed.

Yea, but another high end forward would sure help with future success, ideally something more meaningful than a first or second round exit.

Playoffs are fun, but I want to see a deep run. Not a win against a terrible Canucks team then getting crushed by a better team in round two.

[SebC]

How to rebuild:

Step 1: Draft your core.
Step 2: Supplement your core.

If you stay in Step 1 too long, you're not rebuilding - you're bottom-dwelling. For me a success is if we're doing too well to sell at the deadline and carry that into the playoffs.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

On the one side I agree with you, because I remember the Sutter years when the message was "Get into the playoffs and anything can happen". Eventually it ended with a couple of first round exits and nothing to show for it. However, this team has been steadily improving throughout this season. At the same time it still has a lot of players that have taken a step back from last season. If some of these players find their game back the Flames become a much more dangerous team. One can dream at least

I think a lot of those Sutter teams actually had a chance we just under performed. The year we traded for Olli at the deadline I think we had a strong team but we had a lot of injuries. Seemed like get in and anything can happen was more the Feaster era motto.

As for this year I'd like to see us be big sellers at the deadline and land a solid piece to continue to build around in the draft.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by SebC

How to rebuild:

Step 1: Draft your core.
Step 2: Supplement your core.

If you stay in Step 1 too long, you're not rebuilding - you're bottom-dwelling. For me a success is if we're doing too well to sell at the deadline and carry that into the playoffs.

We were in Step 1 for like a year or two. Last year we made the playoffs. I'm not overly concerned that we've been in Step 1 too long. If anything we haven't been in it long enough and because of that its gonna be difficult for us to find those remaining pieces. We probably need another top 6 forward or two if we're losing Hudler. Definitely a top goalie. Probably another dman since I don't see Wideman and Russell here long term. You can only do so much through trade and free agency. Especially now that we are getting closer to the cap. Our wiggle room isn't that great. Landing a stud forward in the draft this year would greatly improve our chances of being able to take that next step. Trade for a tender and sign a depth dman and the roster starts to round out a lot better.

[Cole436]

Success really is the development of our young players. It's Monahan breaking out on his own and dominating the #1 centre role. It's Bennett stepping into a top six role. It's Ferland becoming a second line winger.

Playoffs are the goal and they should be, but we need the internal pieces to continue to work and develop.

[Vinny01]

I hope Russell and Hudler are traded if they won't be here next season. Look what Treliving did with extra picks last summer. We won't have the cap flexibility this summer like we did last summer adding $10M in new players.

This free agent class looks great as well it sucks that Wideman, Raymond, Engellend, Smid, Bollig all have one more year on their contracts (~$16M in cap space right there). As of today the free agent class looks solid

[zukes]

I'd like playoffs while minding the future and continuing to build toward a Cup.

It always makes me laugh when people say, "make room for our prospects" If the prospect is good enough, they will make room for themselves. We currently have nothing in the AHL that would be better than anything we have, or they would be proving it.

[thymebalm]

To me, 3 things are needed for this to be a successful season.

1) Emergence or Acquisition of a True #1 Starting Goaltender
-Should Ramo carry on at the level he has since his recall for the balance of the season (~.920 SV%, ~2.28GGA), I'd consider this requisite met.

2) Stanley Cup Playoff Berth
-Regression in "season 3 of the rebuild" should be unacceptable. Learning how to win in the playoffs will take time and appearances. I'm not so concerned on whether they win a round or not, but they need to make the dance from this point on.

3) Sustainable Long-term Contracts for Gaudreau and Monahan
-Adding Gaudreau and Monahan to the long-term core group of Giordano, Brodie, Hamilton and Frolik without creating future cap problems for the Flames will be Treliving's biggest challenge in year 3 of the rebuild.

Check those three boxes and I'll call it a good season.

[Dion]

Ramo continues his great play and convinces the coaching staff and management that he is a legitimate NHL goaltender.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

1) Not lose so many games in the 2nd half of the season
2) Add a top-6 winger
3) Humiliate the Oilers in dramatic and highlight-reel fashion. I'm talking 8-0 embarrassment.

[TheOnlyBilko]

Honestly? Getting Matthews or winning the Stanley Cup are the only successes in my books. Calgary has historically always just barely made the playoffs and gotten knocked out early or just barely missed the playoffs. Both of these scenarios suck because we never end up with a high end talent from a top 3 pick. Calgary has never drafted in the top 3. I believe Sam Bennett at #4 overall has been our highest pick ever (not counting Atlanta). So ya if ur not at least making it to the Stanley Cup finals or ending up with a top tier, talented #1-3 overall pick, there usually ain't much to celebrate about. Just my opinion.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Success for me is measured by how much closer they are to Lord Stanley.

That doesn't mean playoffs for me, but it could.

I want to see some of the following:

1) Guys who have value but are not part of the future being traded for more futures or young players.

2) I want to see the existing young guys on the team take another step forward in their careers and placement on the team. I want to see Gaudreau, Bennett, Monahan, Brodie and Hamilton each take a step forward. I want to see Ferland and Colborne displace Jones. I want to see Jooris take another step forward and become a regular player. I want to see Granlund become the player we think he is - start really sniping some pucks in the net and being a solid 2-way player that Hartley throws out in any situation. I want to see these kids get the ice-time and roles out of deserving them, not just because they are young. I want to see them take this team over. I want to see some kids from Stockton push their way up here and make it impossible to return them.

That is what I call a successful season.

That, and stomp on Edmonton and Vancouver. Playoffs? I will be cheering for them like crazy, and hoping the Flames make it. Top 5 pick - well, I can't cheer for it, but if the Flames don't make the playoffs, I sure hope they get into the top 5. Either one will be the icing on the cake for me. I just want to see this team take another step towards building a true contender that will eventually win the cup. That is success for me. Not necessarily something I measure in the standings.