Post Preseason Expectations

[Bingo]

Here's the results of our poll in the summer for bottom five

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...highlight=poll

1. Buffalo 48% - McDavid
2. Calgary 32% - Echiel
3. Edmonton (Run Off) - Hanifin
4. Ottawa 32% - Kylington
5. Carolina

[MyFlamesFirst]

I think we will start the season with a decent record but fade off towards the end of the season. Our high tempo camp allows us to be in better shape and perhaps more prepared then some other more skilled teams. However I think we begin to struggle when every team finds there mid-season form. I do think Monahan takes another big step forward. He was the most impressive forward for me this preseason. He just looked stronger and more confident then last season. Ultimately, I think we finish bottom 5 but have young rookies develop into better players.

[dissentowner]

I can see Buffalo, Carolina, and Ottawa all being worse than the Flames for sure this year. Not sure after those 3 though.

[Tokama]

Bottom 3. This team will struggle with scoring goals all year. Have not replaced Cammaleri's offense, Backlund at al. will not be able to pick up slack. Defense is suspect, but goaltending looked better (at least in preseason - for what that is worth). I just don't see how this team is any better than last years 27th place team - and likely much worse.

[4oh3]

I actually though Buffallo improved quite about.

[troutman]

Will have more points than the Oilers.

[robaur]

[t0rrent98]

I think we will finish slightly better and won't be in the running for a top 5 pick with the goaltending the Flames have. If both Hiller and Ramo plays lights out the team can go far, the only thing that may stop them is their ability to score.

[Erick Estrada]

I hope fans have the stomach to handle what I feel may come this season.

[edslunch]

On paper they have improved in some areas but still the overall talent level is poor. I think this may be the year they underwhelm even our limited expectations.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

I actually though Buffallo improved quite about.

Sure. But they were far and away the worst team in the league last year. They finished an astonishing 14 points behind the 2nd worst team. So even a dramatic improvement could still them solidly bottom two or perhaps even last again. And they've lost Miller who kept them in some games.

I agree they improved but I'm not sure it'll be enough.

[agulati]

I don't see where we get the scoring from. We will be better than a few teams but still finish in the bottom 5.

We need record years from almost every player to even get close to competing for a playoff spot. I still expect it to be a fun season, with tonnes of 1 goal games, but us being on the losing side more than the winning side.

Next year onwards we will see the improvements with our young guys maturing and taking the next step and further injection of youth

[Stormchaser]

I think this season will replicate last season's efforts of hard work and glimpses of great things to come. Still think we end up drafting 2nd or third. Our defense is suspect and we won't be out scoring most teams which leaves us to out work the other team to win. However, this season will be a success for me if the Flames take the next step. Half way through next season is when I can see the Flames really turning the corner and leaving the no good oilers to wallow in their mediocrity.

[Grimbl420]

I don't really have any "expectations" from this team. They definitely didn't improve enough to make a big difference in goal scoring. The defence is not better than it was last year, and I'm not sure Giordano can continue his play from last year. But the biggest question mark for me is in goal, who knows what this tandem is capable of.

[Neeper]

I picked "hasn't changed them at all, Flames set to improve."

After last season, watching how the team played in all those one goal games and lost, just one more save or one goal could have made the difference between winning and losing (and even maybe a playoff birth). With the addition of Hiller, who is definitely an upgrade over Macdonald and Berra, could be the one that makes that extra game winning save.

Ramo played really well at the end of the season and I think that will continue. I don't see regression. I see improvement if anything. He came back from the KHL and needed time to adjust. I really think our goaltending is under-rated. To me, this is enough to think that we should be a bit better than last year.

Then you have Gaudreau. We now have a real offensive threat that could really make a difference in a 1 goal game. A possible consistent game changer.

A healthy Gio and Glencross would also bode very well to us improving this year. We will win more with them in the lineup than without.

I also really like the addition of Raymond.

Another year of progress for Backlund, Colbourne, Monahan and Brodie. Does anybody see any of these 4 regressing?

Barring any major injuries or regressions of important players, I don't see us being a bottom 3 team. We have a good coaching staff, an identity of hard work, a captain who is on the up, young kids who will improve, a game changer prospect, upgraded goaltending and close knit team. We may not be a playoff team, but we should be competitive.

[ricardodw]

The Flames have the lowest payroll in the league.

Which players will outplay their cap hits:

1) Monahan
2) Gaudreau
3) Backlund
4) Glencross

That is the whole list of players that I expect to be better than their cap hit.

how much higher than 30th will that carry the Flames?

Buffalo is 9M better on paper than the Flames. Basically taking the Flames team and adding Moulson and Gionta.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Buffalo is 9M better on paper than the Flames. Basically taking the Flames team and adding Moulson and Gionta.

What?? That logic is a little flawed don't ya think?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames have the lowest payroll in the league.

Which players will outplay their cap hits:

1) Monahan
2) Gaudreau
3) Backlund
4) Glencross

That is the whole list of players that I expect to be better than their cap hit.

how much higher than 30th will that carry the Flames?

Buffalo is 9M better on paper than the Flames. Basically taking the Flames team and adding Moulson and Gionta.

lol

So if we had signed Gionta at $10m, we'd have a payroll of $64m and we would be a middle of the pack team?

No one's logic can be that bad, so I can only assume that you are a genius-troll

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames have the lowest payroll in the league.

Which players will outplay their cap hits:

1) Monahan
2) Gaudreau
3) Backlund
4) Glencross

That is the whole list of players that I expect to be better than their cap hit.

how much higher than 30th will that carry the Flames?

Buffalo is 9M better on paper than the Flames. Basically taking the Flames team and adding Moulson and Gionta.

I would also say Giordano, Brodie, Russell, Ramo and Hudler outplayed their contracts.

You use numbers to come up with the dumbest conclusions. I can't even understand how you come up with some of this stuff.

[442scotty]

Unfortunately I think we improve and end up picking 6-8. If we bring in more kids we might go down a bit more