Who is your biggest surprise in 2013/14?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

And what a great "problem" that is. Ramo and Ortio could both potentially be starters. So what do you do? To complicate things, we have a serviceable career b/u in MacDonald.

So what do they do next season? Run with Ramo/Ortio tandem playing equal games and get rid of MacDonald? Send down Ortio and have MacD backup Ramo? Trade Ortio?

Well MacDonald's contract runs out this year. I'd be pretty surprised to see him re-signed

Trade Ortio? Not going to happen. He may be our future #1.

Ortio can be the backup or start in the minors, both seem fine. The team will have to sign a backup or a minor league goalie or two this summer. I'm not convinced they'll bring back Roy either. Don't see any NHL future there.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Mostly in agreement with the above except for Backlund and Butler. I would be happier if both of them get traded in the off-season. Would move Russell in the "happy but not too surprised" category – plays well at the level that's expected of him. Glenncross was another disappointment this season – it's like he has an on/off switch that he chooses to engage or disengage whenever he feels like it.

Out of curiosity, why trade Backlund?
Do you think his trade value is even close to his potential right now?

[OzSome]

Biggest surprise for me is the hiring of Brian Burke. I am not surprise of the emergence of TJ Brodie and even Giordano because I've seen the potential the last few seasons. But Yes Giordano surprised me in how he handled being the team leader and how he lead by example. I think he is still improving even more.

I was not surprise of Backlund because I knew this is the year for him. The only surprising part for me was his benching early in the season but I guess it works both ways. His confidence early in the season was an all-time low and at first the benching did not help his confidence but after some guidance and some good plays, we saw a different Backlund. Hope he keeps his confidence next season and improve some more.

The Never Say Die attitude for this team was a big surprise for me. Before the beginning of the season, i thought the Flames will get blown out a lot due to the team witout a star player. I even says that even if the Flames lose lots of games, I'll be happy just to see a team trying to win every night. Guess what?? They exceeded my expectations.

Young guys playing more. Monahan, Colborne, Byron and Bouma. Hartley gave them some ice time and they took it and showed they belong.

Kris Russel I thought was one of the biggest surprise. He is a small defenseman and we practically stole the guy. I am surprise with his calmness and his playmaking ability. Of course I was surprise how well he positioned defensively. For a small defenseman, he was not afraid to throw some hit as well.

Karri Ramo. I know he is going to play a lot this season (more like 50% of the season). The surprising part was how well he adjusted this season. Early in the season, he was playing well but he gives out a lot of good rebound that costing them some goals. He made some adjustment especially after the Olympic and the guy has been lights out. He looks like a shoo-in as a starter next season. Forget the Reimer, Cam Ward media rumour because this guy is legit. Ramo and Ortio tandem will be it next season.

[puckluck2]

Giordano. After last season where he looked pretty awful I thought his best days were behind him.

[Dion]

The play of Kris Russell. I wasn't sure what we were getting but it didn't take long to see he had some offensive talent. The fact he was rewarded with a new contract speaks volumes about his contributions to the Flames.

TJ Brodie and his game seems to grow by leaps and bounds each year. Being paired with Giordano made the one of the best defensive pairings in the league.

The complete buy in from all the players into the system Harley is preaching. Gone are the days of whispers in the dressing room of divisions among players as to how the game should be played.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by strombad

Out of curiosity, why trade Backlund?
Do you think his trade value is even close to his potential right now?

I never thought Backlund would develop well in Calgary. I think he might do much better in Detroit under Babcock's system. He started playing better lately and that's good, his trade value has increased a bit; but in a long run, I see him a 3rd liner, at most.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I never thought Backlund would develop well in Calgary. I think he might do much better in Detroit under Babcock's system. He started playing better lately and that's good, his trade value has increased a bit; but in a long run, I see him a 3rd liner, at most.

Well, he's an excellent 3rd liner now. Trading him at this point would be totally stupid and short sighted.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I never thought Backlund would develop well in Calgary. I think he might do much better in Detroit under Babcock's system. He started playing better lately and that's good, his trade value has increased a bit; but in a long run, I see him a 3rd liner, at most.

At most? He's already better then the majority of third liners in the league.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Well, he's an excellent 3rd liner now. Trading him at this point would be totally stupid and short sighted.

Not if he can do better with another team and we can get someone that fits better into the big and mean team that Burke is trying to build. Then it's a win-win for both the team and the player.

[kyuss275]

Hands down Gio . Going into season I thought his hands would be full trying to be a full time 1st pairing guy. Not only did he handle it , he is one of the best dman in the league and captain to boot.

2nd place for me will be Ramo. Thought Feaster was a dud of a GM but he was right about one of the " best goalies not playing in the NhL". Not saying Ramo is a top 10 goalie but he is looking like a top half league starter.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Not if he can do better with another team and we can get someone that fits better into the big and mean team that Burke is trying to build. Then it's a win-win for both the team and the player.

Well if you put it that way I can at least understand your opinion.

Earlier you said "Mostly in agreement with the above except for Backlund and Butler. I would be happier if both of them get traded in the off-season."

[Psytic]

For me Gio and Hartley. This is a very well coached club imo. I hope he gets extended.

[ricardodw]

Lot of solidily good signs:

The ones that are not locked in:

Ramo - Turek had a longer hot streak as a Flame....

Monahan being ready so ahead of schedule.... His second year will be be challenging

Not counting on McGrattan going forward....

-----------------

Other huge surprises:

Hudler having a career season right up to the Olympic break

Not being able to trade Cammalleri at the deadline.

Being able to trade Stempniak for a 3rd and Berra for a 2nd!!!

Byron being able to break into the NHL as a 24 year old..... not even considered a prospect at the start of the season.

The 21st ranked (CP vote) prospect Bouma being a Flame for the full year.

[ForeverFlameFan]

No mentioning of Paul Byron? May be the smallest player on the team, but he plays like he is bigger than what he really is.

My favorite highlights of him was the feed to Monahan for the OT win against the Oilers after he took the puck from someone twice his size.

I also liked the breakaway goal he did where he used his 'wheels' to pass by everybody and score against the Sabres.

I thought Paul Byron was done with us, especially after Burke's "truculence" speech at the beginning of the year, but Paul always continues to prove that you don't have to be big to play in the NHL.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The 21st ranked (CP vote) prospect Bouma being a Flame for the full year.

Ortio wasn't even in the top 28..

[Flacker]

Hartley - He has gotten amazing buy-in from this team. From top to bottom they all play the system, and not a single passenger among them! Really cringed when I heard he was our choice for head coach, damn that crow is tasty!

His trolling of the Canucks/Torts just cinched it.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I never thought Backlund would develop well in Calgary. I think he might do much better in Detroit under Babcock's system. He started playing better lately and that's good, his trade value has increased a bit; but in a long run, I see him a 3rd liner, at most.

You realized team needed 3rd liner, right? I am happy with Backlund being the 3rd liner C if that how you think he will end up with. The way some teams plays these days, you hardly figure out who is the 1st, 2nd or 3rd line unless you have teams like San Jose (Thornton, Couture and someone else), Pittsburgh with Sid line as their 1st line. Just look at the Flames this season, which line really is the first line? second line or third line?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Backlund at #3? Not a chance, he plays better when he has more minutes. I see him as a solid #2.

The way I see it is when Stajan's contract is up, Monahan should be #1 and Knight/Arnold could be our 3rd/4th centers. I think Granlund would convert to the wing later, and play center when one is injured. Backlund is a 2nd center in my eyes.

[kehatch]

• How well the team has played. The effort level, the one goal games, the entertainment value, and the fact that they have been generally competitive despite the standings
• I am not surprised that Gio is a great captain. I am surprised about how effective he has been on the ice. (Third in PPG, +12, despite playing in a top pairing shut down role on THIS team. Sheesh).
• How bad Wideman has been
• How good Russell has been
• Brodie playing as a legitimate top pairing D
• Paul Byron making the team and showing he is an NHL player
• I am not surprised Backlund is playing well. I am surprised how well.
• Butler redeeming himself.
• Monahan making the team and scoring 20.
• Baertschi finishing the season in the AHL. And generally the drama around him.
• Some of the kids being so effective so soon at both the NHL and AHL level. Especially Granlund.
• Ramo with respectable NHL numbers and a winning record.
• Cammalleri not being traded

[greentree]

Biggest surprises: Giordano, McGratton, Ramo, Russell
More pleased than surprised: Bouma, Byron, Backlund, Brodie, Colborne, Stajan, Hudler, Hartley