Vegas has the Flames dead last in the West next season

[MoneyGuy]

Where is Lanny'sDaMan? I wonder if he'd like another wager.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Seems about right....though i am stumped as to how the Kings are a longer shot that Vancouver....and LOL at the Oilers where they are.

The Kings are a longer shot than the Canucks because more people are betting on Vancouver than Los Angeles right now. The odds are set based on betting runs more than anything, as Ricks Natural Star would tell you.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Where is Lanny'sDaMan? I wonder if he'd like another wager.

[CSharp]

No big surprise there. It'd be really disappointing if they come in 9th thru 14th place in the division or 17th through 28th place overall, unless if they've already traded their 2014 1st round draft pick away. Let the rebuild begin. I'd like to see how many fans and for how long they'd be happy with a rebuild. Let's see how long Feaster and the coaching staff will last.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Where is Lanny'sDaMan? I wonder if he'd like another wager.

Considering the wonderkids only finished 3 points ahead of a team that blew their team up heading to a rebuild. All things considering, the Oilers were equally as bad with the talent they have "amassed".

It all came together for the Oilers and they still managed the 7th overall pick and are now on their 5th coach in the last six seasons. I know it is all for fun but it is even funnier when you put it in perspective.

I guess what I am saying is if the Oilers are the bar then it isn't that high nor is it a measure of success.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CSharp

No big surprise there. It'd be really disappointing if they come in 9th thru 14th place in the division or 17th through 28th place overall, unless if they've already traded their 2014 1st round draft pick away...

With what we expect the Flames roster to look like for next season, I would think that we should actually be pretty pleased with an improved finish from a group that is rebuilding, and developing a new core of players. Would you seriously be disappointed to see what will almost certainly be one of the youngest rosters in the league finish in contention for the playoffs? Weird. Especially considering that we should expect the Flames young players to continue to improve over the next few years, and with likely a few new high impact pieces to add over that course of time including Wotherspoon, Gaudreau, Sieloff, Jankowski, Gillies, and this year's picks.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

With what we expect the Flames roster to look like for next season, I would think that we should actually be pretty pleased with an improved finish from a group that is rebuilding, and developing a new core of players. Would you seriously be disappointed to see what will almost certainly be one of the youngest rosters in the league finish in contention for the playoffs? Weird. Especially considering that we should expect the Flames young players to continue to improve over the next few years, and with likely a few new high impact pieces to add over that course of time including Wotherspoon, Gaudreau, Sieloff, Jankowski, Gillies, and this year's picks.

That is not a very impressive group of prospects compared to most teams in the league.

Better for Calgary...but a long ways from being an elite group.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

True. A center core of S.Reinhart, Monahan/Bakrov and Backlund wouldn't make it sting so badly though.

If Janko continues developing and we draft Monahan or Barkov I think we will still be in good shape down the middle in a few years with Janko, Monahan/Barkov, Backlund, Reinhart and Arnold as natural centers. Plus we could draft another good center with the 22nd pick.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by timbit

That is not a very impressive group of prospects compared to most teams in the league.

Better for Calgary...but a long ways from being an elite group.

I'm not suggesting they are anything spectacular (although I do expect that with the addition of this year's picks the Flames's group will begin to look like one of the better ones), but in the context of achievement this is actually a pretty big deal. I argued in my post that if the team is in contention for the playoffs next season, with the current group of young players, and with prospects in the pipeline, then this is actually a very impressive accomplishment that bodes very well for their future. That is all.

[djsFlames]

I wouldn't mind it if Feaster went out of his way to acquire one, legit top line player, or potential top line player. An upgrade on our vets with the situation and cap space that we have could never hurt. Vanek maybe? Someone who's got the talent and works hard. That our new batch of skilled, hopefully future top liners can learn from.

I'm just not huge on the current group from which our youngsters will be developing behind. Most of them have shown complacency when it mattered most and I'd prefer the kids to learn from someone who's shown the determination and work ethic that for example Stajan did most of last year.

If he does this and in turn offloads one of Tangs or Cammy, then I'd be fine with it.

(Kind of like what CLB did in getting Gaborik)

[3 Justin 3]

Good. Bring on dat Ekblad.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I'm not suggesting they are anything spectacular (although I do expect that with the addition of this year's picks the Flames's group will begin to look like one of the better ones), but in the context of achievement this is actually a pretty big deal. I argued in my post that if the team is in contention for the playoffs next season, with the current group of young players, and with prospects in the pipeline, then this is actually a very impressive accomplishment that bodes very well for their future. That is all.

I guess it depends on the ultimate goal.

Secondly, in contention for the playoffs next season? Not a chance.

[timbit]

How many projected top 2 line or top 2 pairing championship players do the Flames have right now? How about goaltending?

They are many seasons away from being a contender.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by timbit

I guess it depends on the ultimate goal.

Secondly, in contention for the playoffs next season? Not a chance.

I agree completely, but that was not at all the point of my post. I don't believe the Flames will be much better than bottom 3–5 in the league, but was responding that if they happened to improve on that next season, then this should be considered an accomplishment under the circumstances, and not some sort of lamentable setback.

[saskflames69]

Vegas also had the Blue Jays winning the World Series LOL.

[FAN]

Nope. This team isn't going to win the division, not with Hartley as coach (you need strong defensive system based coach like Tippett or Hitchcock).

[getbak]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Vegas also had the Blue Jays winning the World Series LOL.

They're 100/1 now, so if you think they're going to turn it around, now's the time to put some money down.

[Freeway]

The Flames were once considered flat-out incompetent throughout the league in terms of drafting and player development.
Now they're considered functional, in that they can draft bodies and turn them into pro hockey players (without causing any undo damage to them).
And they've managed to find a few gems and turn them into GOOD hockey players. They need a few more of those over a few more years to have truly turned the corner.

[cowtown75]

Did we not have the exact same odds last year ? 50-1

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Now they're considered functional, in that they can draft bodies and turn them into pro hockey players (without causing any undo damage to them).
And they've managed to find a few gems and turn them into GOOD hockey players.

Like who?