A quarter century of misery

[Johnny Makarov]

The "curse" comes from us signing Teemu Selanne to that huge contract in 1992. Nothing has ever been the same since!

[TheRealPepman]

LOL TBH I'd also add the 90-94 years to back up your clam re: our mediocrity once we won that Cup.
88-89 54-17-9 117 pts; 1st in division; STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS
89-90 42-23-15 99 pts; 1st in division; first round playoff exit
90-91 46-26-8 100 pts; 2nd in division; first round playoff exit
91-92 31-37-12 74 pts; 5th in division; missed playoffs
92-93 43-30-11 97 pts; 2nd in division; first round playoff exit

Yoo, we're as bad as Florida, Columbus, and Arizona. Is it fair to say people only have more positive views of us based on the fact that we're a Canadian-based team?

And another thing, when comparing who's doing the most (like deep playoff runs) when a Canada-based team makes the playoffs, we're like the least successful. It's like we're pretty much guaranteed to lose in the first round everytime we make the playoffs. Sad, really.

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Something need to fundamentally change in this organization to make it a winning franchise. What is it?

To finally acquire an elite centre - we're not going to be NHL powerhouse with Stiillman/Reichel/Camalleri/Comeau/Jokinen/Stajan/Tanguay/Monahan/Backlund/Conroy/Morrison etc. as #1C



Forget it

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I got thinking about how much disappointment there is with this team. But one can only truly appreciate and understand the current mistery fully in a historical context.

[Badgers Nose]

As a Tottenham fan I've had to tolerate the term, 'Spursy.' Whereby defeat is often snatched from the jaws of victory.

Like Flames, Spurs bumbled with managers until they went out and nabbed a rising star, a bonafide coach stud that achieved remarkable results with a modest Southampton team. Until Flames' Poch comes along, why not grab a Mourinho (Vigneault)?

Or will people start calling poor performances and fragile hockey teams 'Flamesy?'

[Fuzz]

Statistically we aren't due for a cup until 2020, so no need to panic yet!

[Iggy_12]

We are the Cleveland Browns. Should start wearing paper bags to games HAHA!

[CroFlames]

The first six threads on the front page are all negative threads about the Flames.



I didn't think things were that bad, 5-5-0.

[1991 Canadian]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

What's missing is commitment and willingness to rebuild properly and quit with this rebuild-on-the-fly/re-tool nonsense. The bottoming out period did not produce a winning core because it was too short, did not result in any significant picks on the level of Matthews/McDavid/Laine, and the players that were acquired (i.e. Bennett, Monahan) did not progress as much as was hoped.

Longer bottoming out periods do not guarantee success either. Edmonton, Arizona, Buffalo, NY Islanders, Florida, etc... have all had long bottoming out periods. They have all had multiple picks higher than the Flames in the last 10 years. The Flames are arguably in better shape than all of them. Which of those teams has a winning core?

I'll give you Bennett not progressing as much as we'd hope, but its hard to say Monahan has not progressed has much as we'd hope. He is a perennial 30 goal guy. He has more goals than both his draft class and the preceding draft class. Lets not let 3 garbage games overshadow what has been a productive career so far. He's punched well above his 6th overall draft spot.

I'm not saying I have a definitive answer for the proper way to rebuild into a contender, but be careful what you wish for. A "proper" rebuild doesn't necessarily lead to success, even if you end up with a McDavid or Tavares level player.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

The first six threads on the front page are all negative threads about the Flames.



I didn't think things were that bad, 5-5-0.

Same record as last year!

[Cowboy89]

We're the Cincinnati Bengals of the NHL. We do well enough in the regular season to not have Cleveland Browns-like losing notoriety, but we have a complete inability to perform consistently or when the stakes matter. We're neither lovable losers nor a good hockey team, we're in the blahs of permanent mediocrity, which has to be one of the most insidious places to be as a fan.

[Cowboy89]

The worst part about the Flames permanent mediocrity is that there's so few great moments and memories to hold on to on days like yesterday. If you flashed a highlight reel of the biggest moments in Flames hockey since the 2004 cup run it would basically be:

1) Matt Stajan's game winning goal in game 6 of the 2015 round 1 series vs. Vancouver (We won one playoff round!!)
2) A couple playoff OT winners in series that we eventually lost in (Backlund's goal vs. Anaheim in 2015, McCarty's OT winner in game 1 vs. Anaheim in 2006)
3) Corey Sarich's hit on Patrick Marleau that triggered a comeback from being down 3-0 to win a game in a first round playoff series that we eventually lost in

No wonder attendance is fading and season ticket holders are bailing. The fan value proposition is to pay ever escalating high prices to take metaphorical gut punches as a fan on a regular basis in the hopes that they can maybe go back to the playoffs someday and generate some low level memories like the ones above.

If your hockey fandom ever aspires to realistically dream of your team playing in a cup final or even being a legitimate cup contender, the Calgary Flames are not for you.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Granted, he'd be an excellent support player, but what the Flames really missed out on in their rebuild is that Mackinnon/Matthews type player that a true cup contender needs (Crosby and McDavid are special cases but also fit this category).

is anyone curious about the alternate timeline where Colorado accepts Feaster's offer of all 3 first round picks for the top spot? of course, this is assuming that the intention was to draft Nate Mac and not Drouin or Jones.

[afc wimbledon]

Seriously Calgary, count your blessings, you could have wasted 4 nos 1 picks and be watching the squandering of a generational talent's career to get to here.

[David Struch]

The Flames needed to bottom out at least once during the past few seasons... Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl etc.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by David Struch

The Flames needed to bottom out at least once during the past few seasons... Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl etc.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

is anyone curious about the alternate timeline where Colorado accepts Feaster's offer of all 3 first round picks for the top spot? of course, this is assuming that the intention was to draft Nate Mac and not Drouin or Jones.

Button has confirmed MacKinnon was our #1. He mentioned it in the article about Lindholm/Monahan from a few weeks ago.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by David Struch

The Flames needed to bottom out at least once during the past few seasons... Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl etc.

The two ends of hockey are the same, you can build a cup winning team, but there is an intangible element of luck in actually winning, a Boston, as opposed to being a perennial playoff team, a San Jose.


The same applies on the other end, you can sell off your assets but if the first couple of low picks in the early non playoff years do well you bounce out to quickly, Calgary and Vancouver are in the same boat here, Boeser and Petterson score enough to ensure the 'Nucks wont get a nos 1 anytime soon.

[jlh2640]

Boy reading this 2004 really was special

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

The first six threads on the front page are all negative threads about the Flames.



I didn't think things were that bad, 5-5-0.

Yep a lot of "sky is falling" happening here. Kind of embarrassing.