What will make you consider this season a success for the Flames?

[Coach]

Playoffs. Anything less is 'Meh' or worse.

[Samonadreau]

1. Legit playoff run (not a façade)
2. If no playoffs a top 10 pick.
3. Ramo continues to play good - sign for a couple years, we pick up a good young backup with high potential in the summer.

Next year is when this has to start coming together, must be a playoff team next year and moving on. Take advantage this year and figure out who is part of the recipe moving forward.

[JohnnyB]

Either a) playoffs or b) a season of fun and exciting hockey that ends with some moves having been made or players having developed in positions such that there is a real feeling of confidence in the roster going forward as a contender.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by zukes

I'd like playoffs while minding the future and continuing to build toward a Cup.

It always makes me laugh when people say, "make room for our prospects" If the prospect is good enough, they will make room for themselves. We currently have nothing in the AHL that would be better than anything we have, or they would be proving it.

Grant - 15G in 22GP, also led the Flames in FO% while he was up for a short stint earlier this year. He has probably made a case for himself.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by zukes

I'd like playoffs while minding the future and continuing to build toward a Cup.

It always makes me laugh when people say, "make room for our prospects" If the prospect is good enough, they will make room for themselves. We currently have nothing in the AHL that would be better than anything we have, or they would be proving it.

Also Jakub Nakladal, over .5pt/gm while staying extremely responsible defensively. 6'2" 215lbs shoots R (Heavy Shot). Probably made a case for himself.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Playoffs. Anything less is 'Meh' or worse.

Anything less than the following sequence is failure in my books:

1) The flames trade for iggy
2) The flames go on a magical run, with comparisons of Iggy to Lanny.
3) The flames win the stanely cup

[driveway]

Have a winning record against the Oilers and Canucks. We're 3-2-0 combined against them so far.

Anything else is sprinkles on top.

[StrykerSteve]

Playoffs or bust.

[Vinny01]

In terms of Treliving he has a few things to do heading into the summer to have a successful season.

Top of the list is signing Gaudreau and Monahan to 8 year contracts or 2-3 year bridge deals. I think the Dougie contract set the bar so I expect 6-8 year deal rather than a bridge.

Secondly how he handles the UFA's will be worth watching. Last year he was fantastic getting great value for Glencross and a solid waiver pickup in Schlemko. This year he has some higher profile free agents in Hudler and Russell. There is also Jones, Hiller and Ramo. I get the feeling the Flames want to keep Russell but if they can't work out a reasonable contract by the deadline they should move on. Hudler I think is as good as gone and I hope Jones is moved as well. I think they keep Ramo and no one looks at Hiller.

Another thing I feel he needs to do is try and free up some cap space before July 1. As of today the free agent class this summer looks better than it has for years. The Flames have roughly $16M in bad money that has another year. Wideman, Smid, Engellend, Raymond, Bollig. In addition I feel one of Backlund or Stajan should be moved as they are trending towards the 3-4C spot both making north of $3M. With the team lacking top 6 forwards too much bad money is on the team.

[N-E-B]

Not making the playoffs would be a colossal failure and disappointment after last season and the moves they made in the summer. They're playing better of late and still think they will make it, but that start was so disappointing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheOnlyBilko

Honestly? Getting Matthews or winning the Stanley Cup are the only successes in my books. Calgary has historically always just barely made the playoffs and gotten knocked out early or just barely missed the playoffs. Both of these scenarios suck because we never end up with a high end talent from a top 3 pick. Calgary has never drafted in the top 3. I believe Sam Bennett at #4 overall has been our highest pick ever (not counting Atlanta). So ya if ur not at least making it to the Stanley Cup finals or ending up with a top tier, talented #1-3 overall pick, there usually ain't much to celebrate about. Just my opinion.

So there 'ain't much to celebrate' in 42 of the Flames 45 seasons so far?

And the likelihood of SCF or a top 3 pick, at the start of any season, is about 17%. So you expect to have not much to celebrate in 83% of all seasons? (and I would argue a lottery pick is not much to celebrate).

Good times.

But hey! -if you were an Oiler fan, the last 5 years would have been a bonanza!

[bubbsy]

Coming into the season, easy answer was playoffs.

However, after a franchise worst start, and general suckage within the division, my view has changed.

It's "cute" that they are within reach of a playoff spot, but I think they are not closer to being a team that can compete with the strong teams in a best of 7.

The fact that they haven't been able to get their foot in to one of the 2 pacific div playoff spots after LA, after a few opportunities is telling.

So success for me is as any combination of the follows:
1) land a playoff spot
2) use deadline to figure out goaltending for next year
3) use deadline to move out obvious Ufa and/or vets for whatever (Jones , Hudler, Russel, etc) to bring in at least another 1st and 2nd rounder, or developing rw prospects that may be close to pushing for an nhl spot next year
4) if playoffs aren't in the cards a top 5 pick would be sweet, and looking at the standings, not out of question

[EVERLAST]

Keeping this team together wasnt possible and losing Byron and Brodie to start the year and having Gio struggle and our goaltending just be soft soft soft until recently makes me wonder.

What player needs to be added or subtracted to make us finish in a playoff position ?
or
What players need to play above their heads again like last year to make this team competitive?

I think just seeing them get back to last years NEVER GIVE UP MANTRA....its really all I expect still at this point as anything else just isnt reality yet.

these guys havent won anything yet together enough to know what the recipe for success is.

Just want it more guys and well be fine.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Keeping this team together wasnt possible and losing Byron and Brodie to start the year and having Gio struggle and our goaltending just be soft soft soft until recently makes me wonder.

What player needs to be added or subtracted to make us finish in a playoff position ?

Not sure about "playoff position" because I think this current roster "could" do that. But to be a legit contender:

Needs to be Subtracted:
1) Kris Russell as a top 4 Dman. The play goes against him too consistently for him to play the kind of minutes he does. As a #5 he's fine though.
2) Any larger contracts or expendable lower-end roster players (Raymond, Bollig, Smid, Engelland, Colborne, Jones)

Needs to be Added:
1) A #1 Center who can carry the puck and make split-second decisions with it with speed and precise passing.
2) A Right-handed shot forward who can be set up for one-timers in the left circle
3) A #4 Dman who can defend and move the puck and hold it ahead
4) A big-bodied top 6 winger who can play a strong-forechecking / cycle game down low with Bennett or Monahan.

Who can fill those roles but isn't right now?

1) Sam Bennett. Need to get him back to his position. Auston Matthews would go a long way.

2) Dennis Wideman is the closest thing we have to that, need to move him back to that general area and away from the point. Laine would be a Godsend, and Puljujarvi also has a nice quick one-timer.

3) I'd like to think we have a guy like that in one of Brandon Hickey, Brett Kulak, Ryan Culkin, Adam Ollas-Mattsson, Patrick Sieloff, Tyler Wotherspoon. But realistically it doesn't look like they want to give any of these guys a shot. Chychrun, with his pedigree, could probably shoot ahead of all these guys though.

4) We've got a lot of hope in Micheal Ferland. Probably a bit too much..

Who can fill these roles in free agency?

1) Nobody
2/4) Kyle Okposo
3) Keith Yandle
3) Braydon Coburn
3) Brian Campbell
3) Willie Mitchell
3) Dan Hamhuis
3/4) Dustin Byfuglien

Bolded are guys who we might be able to sign cheaply for shorter term. Maybe. But ultimately I'd say a top 4 pick in the draft is the best way for this roster to take the next step.

[Strange Brew]

^ I think there is one big thing missing on your list. This team needs a #1 goalie to be a legit contender.

[Mister Yamoto]

Hockey in May. Round 2 or better.

A lottery pick would be nice but the season should still be considered a fail.

[Caged Great]

Whatever is necessary to take steps towards becoming a contender.

I personally don't care if the Flames finish in the bottom 5 or make it to the playoffs. One would be vastly more exciting than the other as a fan, but each has it's positives. Just have to wait and see.

[1qqaaz]

I would really like to see the Flames improve their player/prospect development this season. IMO it's been a problem for quite a while now.

I'm tired of seeing so many prospects regressing after looking so promising in the years prior.

But yes, the Flames need to make the playoffs.

[Alberta_Beef]

A successful season IMO is not taking a major step back from last year, finishing within 5 points one way or the other (92-102 points) would be a solid follow up season. We're on pace for just 82 points, but since Nov. 1st we've been playing at a pace that would see the Flames finish around 92 points despite the slow start.

[Flames_F.T.W]

My dream for the season is selling off UFAs for picks and prospects before the deadline ... and still making the playoffs.
A bonus for me would be making a package trade for a core piece going forward (Drouin, etc.)