The losing streak - optimist vs. pessimist: which side are you on

[Mathgod]

Optimistically cautious.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by traptor

Could they make playoffs? Sure.
However, they could also miss it given the results lately.
That is not the bar I expected or wanted to be set though.
We just signed 3 guys to huge contracts well into their 30's.
We have a small window of around the next 3 seasons.
If we're still a wildcard team this is massively disappointing.

The fact that this is a win now cap structure 100% increases tension amongst fans.

[memphusk]

Optometrist

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by traptor

Could they make playoffs? Sure.
However, they could also miss it given the results lately.
That is not the bar I expected or wanted to be set though.
We just signed 3 guys to huge contracts well into their 30's.
We have a small window of around the next 3 seasons.
If we're still a wildcard team this is massively disappointing.

Still? And I would rather a wild card team that wins in the playoffs. Besides they are likely a divisional playoff team. Looking at the December schedule I bet they are in a decent spot January 1st.

[memphusk]

But for real, pessimistic.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The fact that this is a win now cap structure 100% increases tension amongst fans.

Definitely. The worst case scenario for me is consistently mediocre boring hockey.

Maybe scrapping in one or twice over the next 5 years and getting booted in the first round, then consistently picking 15-22.

What they have shown so far with this new core doesn't make this seem like a far fetched scenario.

Still time to turn it around though but it has to happen soon.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Still? And I would rather a wild card team that wins in the playoffs. Besides they are likely a divisional playoff team. Looking at the December schedule I bet they are in a decent spot January 1st.

I can't disagree that I would rather have a wild card team that wins in playoffs but are they that team?
Based on the sample size so far they are not. They do not have the players that can score when things get tight. They haven't had the goaltending to steal them games. I fully understand that this is a small sample size but it's what we got so far so its what I'm judging them off of.

There is still time but they have to get it together quick. It's pretty well accepted that by American thanksgiving (2 weeks) they need to be in a playoff spot or they have a big chance of being on the outside looking in at the end of the season.

[mennoknight]

I ordered a cheeseburger!

[FlamesAddiction]

I am optimistic that this team is better than the record has shown and they are underachieving right now. I am a little bit worried , because who wouldn't be after dropping 7 straight. When you look at the games, they have all been close games where the Flames led and outplayed their opponents for most of the games before choking.

This isn't a bad team, but a good team working through some issues. I think they sort it out soon.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by mennoknight

I ordered a cheeseburger!

Was it a dirty burger?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Honestly quite concerned about the amount of time that it will take for them to develop chemistry, particularly with Huberdeau out.
I think he will find his legs. Weegar has been fine. Kadri's been good.
I see the issues with Markstrom and guys who have not been good like Eat Bread, Dube, Coleman etc.

I believe in the individual players but have concerns about if the chemistry will come fast enough while the hole gets deeper.

I wonder if this will end up being a bit of a throwaway year. If so, it's not a bad year because the draft is so good (IMO).

But this team is also working on what I believe to be a 3 year contending window, 4 MAX. And this is one of those years. So having a throwaway year isn't great.

Some years nothing goes your way. This year has that stench.

[Shazam]

Life. Don't talk to me about life. I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed. Pardon me for breathing, which I never do anyway so I don't know why I bother to say it, Oh God, I'm so depressed.

[Kovaz]

Still optimistic. We've played the hardest strength of schedule in the league, and have the easiest schedule the rest of the way. And looking ahead to the rest of 2022 - November is still fairly difficult: out of 9 more games 6 are against playoff teams, and the other 3 are TBL, WSH, and PIT.


As long as they can end the losing streak and hang in there close to .500, December things should take a turn for the better: SJ x2, VAN x2, ANA, STL, CBJ. All 5 of those teams are currently below the weakest team we've played so far (Nashville), and we've also got 2 games against MTL and 1 against ARI for arguably 10 should-win games.


We don't play Chicago till January, and we don't play Ottawa or Detroit till February. Lot of Arizona and California down the stretch too.

[Toonage]

Pessimistic I guess. As a long time Flames fan I've seen this movie, or versions of it, many times.

This is a team that, if they don't turn it around like starting tomorrow, will probably finish in the mushy middle when it's all said and done.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Life. Don't talk to me about life. I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed. Pardon me for breathing, which I never do anyway so I don't know why I bother to say it, Oh God, I'm so depressed.

Take it easy there Marvin, although I think you should be doing the play by play call.

"Oh, I dont know why I bother."

[Sainters7]

My Flames fandom began just in time to watch them lose in the first round in game 7 OT three times in 5 years in the early 90s, then swept by Hawks, then missed playoffs 7 years in a row, so I'm inherently pessimistic to protect my vulnerable sports heart. That said, I expected some growing pains with this team with the new core, if anything that 6 game start was shocking. I'm fairly confident they'll find their game and make the playoffs.

I just hope Markstrom shakes off his letting in 1 stinker per game trend and Tanev's injury isn't lingering all year. If that happens, I think we're good. I knew Huberdeau would take a bit to adjust, honestly not worried about him.

[Always Earned Never Given]

The positive out of this 7 game slide is that out of the 14 points available, only 6 of them went to a Western Conference team.

The negative is that confidence must be real low with all those blown leads.

In another timeline where Vladar is in net vs the Oil, that McHobo sharp angle shot does not go in (on Marky) and Flames are probably 3-2-2 in the 7 games.

[bubbsy]

I believe that the pieces/individuals on this team are better than they have performed. I also believes there's way more to this group as a sum of the parts here.

However, at some point a bad start, can lead to a bad stretch which can lead to just being a bad year (Ie. I am not sure I believe in regression to career means within the season if confidence is broken).

We're not far enough into the season for this yet, but if the team is still struggling to find there game by game 25, and/or the injuries continue to plague the team, it could definitely feel like a write off season.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by traptor

Could they make playoffs? Sure.
However, they could also miss it given the results lately.
That is not the bar I expected or wanted to be set though.
We just signed 3 guys to huge contracts well into their 30's.
We have a small window of around the next 3 seasons.
If we're still a wildcard team this is massively disappointing.

what do you mean "still" a wildcard team?

just came off 2 division championships in 3 years

whenever times are bad people just make up a narrative that isn't true

but yes I hope it turns around and these 3 new guys can lead ghe way for at least half the length of their contracts

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

My Flames fandom began just in time to watch them lose in the first round in game 7 OT three times in 5 years in the early 90s, then swept by Hawks, then missed playoffs 7 years in a row, so I'm inherently pessimistic to protect my vulnerable sports heart.

Ah so this is your fault.