[GDT] Time to get Kraken. Seattle @ Calgary. 7pm MT. calgaryflames.com

[dammage79]

It's actually amazing to me that people are losing their marbles over game #3 of the preseason. We aren't even out of the rust shaking phase yet.

Lots to be pleased with IMO from an individual standpoint.

[D as in David]

In the last 30 years, tapioca pudding has only made it beyond the first round twice, therefore, it will always be bad.

[TheIronMaiden]

I would like to pairings of


Hanifin Tanev
Valimaki Andersson
Kyllington Zadorov
Mackey
(Although Gudbranson will likely be 7th before Mackey is).

[Knightslayer]

Kylington likes vanilla chocolate pudding. Gudbranson likes Tapioca pudding. I know which pudding Flames will serve us on opening night. Will taste like rusted paint.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by chedder

There's an embarrassing amount of embarrassing adults in society period. I bet half those people with Kraken jerseys also have Knights jerseys in their closets. And if the Flames make a run they'll be back to their C of Red jerseys.

Is it an absolute necessity to treat fandom like those here do?

Polyfandom and casual fandom is embarrassing just cause we don't approach the game the same way?

Isn't the end goal to have fun and be entertained at the end of the day?

I feel like these people are doing it better than us since they seem to be having more fun and arent worrying about the seriousness of allegiances and requirements for being a "real" fan.

They're just doing their thing and enjoying the game.

I don't see we can't just let them. This league is an entertainment business after all.

Now, there is an exception when it comes to arrogant oiler hardcores, they deserve the deepest judgment, but as for the rest... meh. Its too stressful to worry about who's doing fandom correctly and who isn't.

And until the Flames get their ##### together, can you blame them for taking a fresh start with an expansion team?

I wish the Flames could just start from scratch. We're a mess.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I had fun at the game last night. It was good to see some of the main roster players. Next morning, still really liked Kylington game. I think they mentioned on the radio last night that we need to see how he plays as the preseason goes on against more NHL like teams. I think the good thing playing with Tanev, is he played some heavy minutes. Also liked Gawdwin playing center with Lucic and Lewis. I know Jiri mentioned it, but man did I know nothing about Duehr, can't even spell his name right half the time. Has probably been one of the feel good stories in camp. I know he isn't NHL ready, but could be a good find and it will be interesting watching him play his first pro year.

Couldn't tell from the broadcast but was there a Gio chant after he scored the first goal?

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Couldn't tell from the broadcast but was there a Gio chant after he scored the first goal?

Yupper

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Anyway back to the game topic.

Very good sign to see Valimaki and Kylington especially have better games. Kylington had that complete brain fart in front of the net, something that he seems to work in most games sadly, but honestly I liked his game overall and I think he made an impression or he wouldn't have had that much ice time, preseason or not.

Could be a shift in the d corps construction happening.

Clearly it's the big issue this year ... the loss of Giordano, and the team's ability to move the puck up ice.

It is encouraging that Sutter appears aware of the issue and is trying different players and pairings. Paraphrasing Sutter where he said that Kylington brings mobility on the back end and identified it specifically. There have been years where the coaching staff appears oblivious to the issue with the team.

[Sandman]

I was there last night, few observations:

-Kirkland had a really strong game, he was good in the defensive and neutral zones especially. Must have earned him a chance in the shootout.
-I thought Valimaki was pretty error-prone early on, but got better as the game went on. Still comes up short in a lot of 50/50 battles, which won't exactly make him the "apple of Sutter's eye".
-Excellent game from Kylington, his shot was on display, as was his speed and stickhandling.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Is it an absolute necessity to treat fandom like those here do?

Polyfandom and casual fandom is embarrassing just cause we don't approach the game the same way?

Isn't the end goal to have fun and be entertained at the end of the day?

I feel like these people are doing it better than us since they seem to be having more fun and arent worrying about the seriousness of allegiances and requirements for being a "real" fan.

They're just doing their thing and enjoying the game.

I don't see we can't just let them. This league is an entertainment business after all.

Now, there is an exception when it comes to arrogant oiler hardcores, they deserve the deepest judgment, but as for the rest... meh. Its too stressful to worry about who's doing fandom correctly and who isn't.

And until the Flames get their ##### together, can you blame them for taking a fresh start with an expansion team?

I wish the Flames could just start from scratch. We're a mess.

I don't like casual fans because they haven't suffered as I have suffered.

[djsFlames]

Well, attachment is the root of suffering.

It's not other people's faults that we went and got attached to the Flames and now resent and critique the club heavily for not rewarding us for our years of personal investment that we never had to nor were forced to make.

Maybe these people are just showing us what a healthy fandom looks like - one that doesn't have to be deeply rooted nor built through suffering.

Given the things we say about players and to others on the forum, I'd say our level of fandom is closer to embarrassing than theirs.

Going to games with casual fans of opposing teams always puts into perspective how unhealthily invested i can be. They're just having fun and admiring good plays by both sides and not taking things personally. I always come away from that feeling lighter and easier about the team and the game. And then I remember that's the way we should be about this whole thing.

Winning is fun, but only one team of 32 actually wins each year, so might as well just enjoy the ride and accept you probably won't be that team, while leaving open the door to be pleasantly surprised.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Last season was a clear indication this fanbase is definitely on their last straw with this iteration of the team. No major changes occurred other than losing our captain in expansion, signing a middle 6 winger to top 6 money for 6 years months before he turns 30.

We are banking on bounce backs, career years, and total buy in to a system in order to be a good team.

Dom on the Athletic had his Flames preview today and described them as the most middling team in the league who should get 92pts. Things go well they are 100pt team, things go poorly they are a 80pt team

This accurately describes about 15-20 teams, all of which will nd up between 80 and 100 points.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Reallly? Which ones?

Look...if you're asking @JiriHrdina & @ WastedYouth then you're clearly not the guys. And that is ok. Sports is entertainment, and I can't tell either of you how to enjoy it.

As for fanbases that have had an effect on decisions that teams take...I think its more rare to find a fanbase that hasn't gotten a coach or manager fired or even reversed decisions from ownership.

Some of the examples are fun though:
1. The Fire Lowe sign in Edmonton https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...0071--nhl.html
2. Ottawa vs Melnyk https://theathletic.com/1862522/2020...tting-it-back/
3. Jets fans vs Adam Gase
4. Lions fans vs Matt Millen https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/12...it-lions-fans/
5. Fan protests against the European Super League - Man U fans stormed the field!
6. Even Bluejacket fans protested management in 2012! https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2012/01/30...and-president/

Overall...Calgary looks to be a pretty easy going fanbase. We show up, we don't cause a ruckus, we need a coach sacrifice every few years, and we're fearful the "team will leave". Sounds like a formula to keep on doing what we're doing.

I even look at myself, my bare minimum is don't embarrass me. So no Peters incidents lingering is my fandom line...anything like that needs to be immediately stamped out.

[topfiverecords]

Did the Oilers fire Lowe? Did they convince Melnyk to sell the team?

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Did the Oilers fire Lowe? Did they convince Melnyk to sell the team?

Nope...but a lot of the others worked. There are always a thousand reasons NOT to do something, so the "just asking questions crowd" can go forever, and I understand that its very unlikely I ever change their minds. Where this idea needs support is everyone else that is sick of being one of the least successful post season teams.

All I'm asking is this team set an internal budget $10-$15m under the salary cap, and force themselves to retain more than 7 picks in each draft, unless we're a top 5 team in GF/GA and promote from within. If we're bad because of that strategy our draft capital increases and we get better.

If we ask for that as fans...we can get it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Nope...but a lot of the others worked. There are always a thousand reasons NOT to do something, so the "just asking questions crowd" can go forever, and I understand that its very unlikely I ever change their minds. Where this idea needs support is everyone else that is sick of being one of the least successful post season teams.

All I'm asking is this team set an internal budget $10-$15m under the salary cap, and force themselves to retain more than 7 picks in each draft, unless we're a top 5 team in GF/GA and promote from within. If we're bad because of that strategy our draft capital increases and we get better.

If we ask for that as fans...we can get it.

I seriously doubt it. No fan base ever has set an internal budget and draft parameters for a professional sports team. The Calgary Flames will not be the first.

I think AT BEST the only action that could be prompted by an organized fan protest like you are suggesting is a change in management. But even if that much could be affected (which I also seriously doubt) ownership is still going to set their own criteria for replacement, and the new administration is going to implement their own strategy without fan input.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This accurately describes about 15-20 teams, all of which will nd up between 80 and 100 points.

And one of them will win the cup most likely.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Nope...but a lot of the others worked. There are always a thousand reasons NOT to do something, so the "just asking questions crowd" can go forever, and I understand that its very unlikely I ever change their minds. Where this idea needs support is everyone else that is sick of being one of the least successful post season teams.

All I'm asking is this team set an internal budget $10-$15m under the salary cap, and force themselves to retain more than 7 picks in each draft, unless we're a top 5 team in GF/GA and promote from within. If we're bad because of that strategy our draft capital increases and we get better.

If we ask for that as fans...we can get it.

How do you retain more than seven picks in the draft every year? There are only seven rounds. Only trade away your players each deadline for additional picks every year, leading to the point where your entire team is self drafted whether they turn out to be NHL caliber or not, because you’ve set a rule you can’t go below more than seven?

Is there a team in the league that hasn’t traded picks for players regularly? It’s a balance.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

How do you retain more than seven picks in the draft every year? There are only seven rounds. Only trade away your players each deadline for additional picks every year, leading to the point where your entire team is self drafted whether they turn out to be NHL caliber or not, because you’ve set a rule you can’t go below more than seven?

Is there a team in the league that hasn’t traded picks for players regularly? It’s a balance.

A few things to unpack in here.

1. How do you retain more than 7 picks - it should be a seven or more statement. So simply do not trade your picks away until you are top 5 in GF/GA. A balanced approach would be using PTOs (older players have been significantly devalued). You can also trade players not in your long term plans for more than one pick. Picks in the high mid rounds are 10-20% chance of being an NHLer that plays 100 games, but there is a chance that player you draft is much more than that. Trading picks for established players limits your downside, but vastly limits your upside.

2. Yes you are correct there are 7 rounds in the current NHL draft, so you start with 7 picks already. The do nothing case and just draft is attractive.

3. Your scenario is interesting. First my rule is a guideline, but lets pretend it is a rule that cannot be broken. If you keep all your mid round picks you should have at least 3 young players in your bottom 6 line up in the 3rd year of the strategy if you have average drafting. Get the odd year where you get two NHLers in a draft or your picks have longer than 3yr careers and you're off to the races. You've also got an asset base to trade from.

4. Lots of teams do it the balanced approach. We've been too aggressive in trading away our upside in those mid picks for higher floor/more expensive bottom of the roster talent. Arizona and Detroit are now leaning heavily into the build through the draft model, as is Ottawa. If you can't attract top end talent through FA, it is the way you have to go in my opinion under a salary cap. I am open to suggestions though.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

3. Your scenario is interesting. First my rule is a guideline, but lets pretend it is a rule that cannot be broken. If you keep all your mid round picks you should have at least 3 young players in your bottom 6 line up in the 3rd year of the strategy if you have average drafting. Get the odd year where you get two NHLers in a draft or your picks have longer than 3yr careers and you're off to the races. You've also got an asset base to trade from.

With average drafting, you’d be fortunate getting even one bottom 6 player from your mid round picks.


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