[PGT] Flames lose 3-2, playoff hopes extinguished

[NewFan]

Meanwhile:
GP W L OTL P
Calgary Wranglers 65 50 15 3 104

[TheScorpion]

I am not the guy on overtime suggesting the Flames would've made the playoffs if Lucic was captain.

[White Out 403]

Brutal take on 960 re: Lucic lol

Holy ####

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Meanwhile:
GP W L OTL P
Calgary Wranglers 65 50 15 3 104

Love is all you need.

[Freddy]

I didn’t mind trying to be an eternally optimistic fan down the stretch, but now I’m excited to put that enthusiasm towards a strong Wranglers playoff run. With the Flames cap crunch next year and expiring contracts I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in the cupboards within the organization. Wolf might be the most exciting prospect we’ve had since Johnny.

[Dajazz]

Calgary Flames.

The definition of anti-clutch. I wouldn’t go so far and call them chokers, because they haven’t even been able to put themselves in a position good enough to choke.

So long season.

[Manhattanboy]

I don't know how you do it but the team needs to move on from Kadri.

Send a message that his selfish, brutal, uninspiring play and effort is unacceptable.

I just dislike him as a Flame so much it borders on hatred.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Which is what exactly? A guy who has led a team past the first round once in his career, only to be completely shutdown by Tampa



Markstrom is will be 34 next season. The only time he gave us above average goaltending in a season, was the same season he gave us that atrocious Oilers series. No goalie over the age of 31 has spearheaded a Cup win since 2011. Kuemper and Crawford were 31 and 30. Outside of that,

Quick - 26/28
Murray - 21/22
Holtby - 28
Binnington - 26
Vasilevskiy - 25/26



To accomplish what? The Flames organization, if they even choose to give Wolf an NHL game, eill pidgeonhole him into a backup goalie role, and then create a narrative to justify crappy usage, even if that narrative is just a self-fulfilling prophecy based on arbitrary decisions.



This is the Flames. Their awful pro scouting and compulsion to find crappy vets in the offseason is a given.



Duehr looking good is about as convincing as 2015 Bouma looking good. And for Pellettier or any other legitimate prospect to get an opportunity we need a coaching change.



Is it though? The Flames don't have a #1D, and Noah Hanifin lacks the awareness and execution to be playing top pairing minutes for any team in meaningful games. Andersson's point totals are inflated by his role, but he's not even Jon Klingberg tier.

It takes real effort to be this negative on all fronts. Surely he's right and you're wrong on a couple of those.

Change is needed but it's important to also not overreact where patience could pay off later.

[jg13]

Great call Scorp

[Manhattanboy]

Scorp I liked your call but think you might be over-valuing the assets you discussed.

[TheScorpion]

It's possible, although I think you could get at least a 2nd for both Tanev and Zadorov pretty easily — and after the year Toffoli just had, hoo boy, I think you could get a haul.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

It's possible, although I think you could get at least a 2nd for both Tanev and Zadorov pretty easily — and after the year Toffoli just had, hoo boy, I think you could get a haul.

I didn’t hear the call but it sounds like you and I are on the same page.

We can’t lose any of our top UFAs next offseason for nothing. We need to address their situations this offseason and make some tough decisions cause continuing to lose guys like that for nothing will keep us spinning in the hamster wheel forever.

[Savvy27]

Good call Scorp.

I don't expect that there is much chance of the sell off you suggested. However, if Kylington comes back I do think Hanifin or Tanev would make a ton of sense to move (and the rest if it makes sense at the TDL).

Does anyone know the contract status of Mitch Love? If he is able to lead the Wranglers to a championship is there a risk that he is gone to another organization?

I'm of the opinion that Sutter's lack of faith in this talent (i.e. we don't have stars and need to roll lines and throw volume on net) became a self-fulfilling prophecy. The refusal to use Phillips or to give Pelletier and Ruzicka much opportunity down the stretch despite shakey play from the vets is just too much.

Before a teardown, I'd like to see what they can do with a different approach behind the bench. If it still doesn't work, put up a fire sale at the deadline next year.

[TheScorpion]

Thing is, I don't even think they should tear it down. With Toffoli specifically, though, he's as much of a Sutter guy as there is. What if you replace the coach, he doesn't mesh with the replacement, and now his trade value is cut in half? Sort of similar to the comparison I made of what Hudler's trade value was in the 2015 offseason vs what it ended up being.

[calgarywinning]

The story for this season falls on a version of Markstrom that wouldn't squeeze any team into the playoffs. Kadri for literally disappearing, this isn't magic, it's pro sports.

Unfortunately, the coaching style really crossed a few boundaries in such that it also didn't make room for up and coming. Coach left his veteran line out on too many matchups too long resulting in goals.

Huberdeau looked better down the stretch but awkward.

Positive was Pelletier, Walker Duehr!!!!, Stecher with a strong push.

Flames best player was Backlund without a shadow of a doubt, Toffoli with a clutch season. The Lucic playing here has been immensely fun and appreciated. While I hope it's not his last game on Wednesday, his play style and attitude was greatly needed here.

I've never been through a more up and down season. In terms of one day we're on top against the best team and the next day it's like what the heck we lost to Chicago. I've never seen a team outshoot so many teams so high and lose so many 1 goal games.

That is all until the playoffs get salty.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Good call Scorp.

I don't expect that there is much chance of the sell off you suggested. However, if Kylington comes back I do think Hanifin or Tanev would make a ton of sense to move (and the rest if it makes sense at the TDL).

Does anyone know the contract status of Mitch Love? If he is able to lead the Wranglers to a championship is there a risk that he is gone to another organization?

I'm of the opinion that Sutter's lack of faith in this talent (i.e. we don't have stars and need to roll lines and throw volume on net) became a self-fulfilling prophecy. The refusal to use Phillips or to give Pelletier and Ruzicka much opportunity down the stretch despite shakey play from the vets is just too much.

Before a teardown, I'd like to see what they can do with a different approach behind the bench. If it still doesn't work, put up a fire sale at the deadline next year.

The problem is if we are still in the mix for a playoff spot in your scenario come TDL day we don’t offload those pieces even if, like this year, we aren’t good enough.

You know as they say, what the definition of madness is?

We can’t keep doing this!

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Thing is, I don't even think they should tear it down. With Toffoli specifically, though, he's as much of a Sutter guy as there is. What if you replace the coach, he doesn't mesh with the replacement, and now his trade value is cut in half? Sort of similar to the comparison I made of what Hudler's trade value was in the 2015 offseason vs what it ended up being.

That's a good point. I made the argument earlier this season that Toffoli's exceptional season was troubling because of the comparatively poor seasons of his historically more productive teammates (in the sense that the wrong guy seemed to be thriving -- even though he was unquestionably awesome this year).

Perhaps the best course of action is to move Toffoli and Hanifin and to use the cap space and picks for a younger scorer like Konecny?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Thing is, I don't even think they should tear it down. With Toffoli specifically, though, he's as much of a Sutter guy as there is. What if you replace the coach, he doesn't mesh with the replacement, and now his trade value is cut in half? Sort of similar to the comparison I made of what Hudler's trade value was in the 2015 offseason vs what it ended up being.

Toffoli had 44 points in 52 in Montreal a couple of years ago which pro rated to 69
This year he has 73 points. Playing on the top line and PP1. Marginal difference, to be quite honest.

It’s not like he is some revelation. He is absolutely great value for 4.25, but it’s not like anything about him is a likely a surprise to competent pro scouts

Focus should be more on understanding and maximizing bounceback on Huberdeau’s 60 point drop

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Nadal Fan

I thought not using Gretzky in 98 would be the worst shootout decision in my life

Awe man, Thanks. I'd forgotten about that ....

[Jetfire]

Man, Steinberg is a legend. After 2:30 AM and he's still taking calls from anyone that wants to talk Flames, and he's got shows to do tomorrow. He keeps 960 afloat almost single-handedly at this point.