Will we make the playoffs

[Gaskal]

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Benched

was highly optimistic before the season....not so much anymore.

pretty sure we're not making the dance, unless we suddenly start playing much better.

That is just it. As much as they have struggled, they are sitting in a playoff spot as of right now. IMO they are a lot better then how they have been playing and they will get better. Once the top line gets their swagger back it will make the team better and people will be happy again. It is a process.

[mennoknight]

Unless Monahan gets cured of whatever's ailing him (he has to be hurt, right?) it ain't happening.

[wingmaker]

Seems that most on here have not looked at the actual standings. Other than the Oilers, only the Sharks have a winning record in the Pacific. Flames are very much in the mix and there is no reason to be overly pessimistic at the moment. If they play like they did through 40 minutes in Chicago consistently, they will make it for sure.

They will not make it if they fold like a cheap tent as they did in the final 20, however.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

You have your head in the clouds plain and simple.

How do you expect a rebuilding team with players like Chiasson and Versteeg playing legitimate top 6 roles to compete with perennial playoff juggernauts?

You can hope but it's just not realistic to expect yet

Just cause the team was poorly built, doesn't mean they're still in a rebuilding phase.

Once some of the bad contracts come off the books, we might be able to fill in the gaps but with our spending and only one major hole in our top positions, this team should be a playoff team.

[calgaryblood]

I keep hearing "once all the bad contracts come off the books" and been hearing that for 20 years.

Just because bad contracts come off the books doesn't mean bad contracts won't come back on the books by signing other players.

Good teams win despite bad contracts. The Kings still won with a few bad contracts on their roster and so do a lot of good teams.

[CSharp]

The way the defence and especially Brodie is playing, there's absolutely no way the Flames can make the playoffs.

[flamesfan1297]

We will make it

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CSharp

The way the defence and especially Brody is playing, there's absolutely no way the Flames can make the playoffs.

I guess the better question is do fans have the confidence that Brodie, Gio, Gaudreau and Monahan can play better? I think they can and will pick things up. That is why I think we will be a play off team

[Benched]

the team we're seeing so far? no chance.

a potential CGY team, where players play up to their potential? probably

Will we see the potential team? probably not

[polak]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I keep hearing "once all the bad contracts come off the books" and been hearing that for 20 years.

Just because bad contracts come off the books doesn't mean bad contracts won't come back on the books by signing other players.

Good teams win despite bad contracts. The Kings still won with a few bad contracts on their roster and so do a lot of good teams.

Agree with this.

Plus if Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie and Gio don't get out of their funk we're going to give the words "bad contracts" a whole new definition. We're all in on this core.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Expecting the playoffs this season would be simply setting yourself up for disappointment. Sure, it can happen but our team's window has not yet opened. I would start expecting the playoffs next season and beyond.

A successful year in my books would be the continued growth of the young players, combined with more consistent special teams on a game by game basis. This is something that will benefit the entire team moving into the next few crucial years.

We've been hearing this for 25 years.

[Tron_fdc]

I think we still make playoffs thanks to a garbage division, but I doubt we go that far.

Who knows though, maybe by the last half of the season this team actually puts it all together and we start playing like we should be.

[direwolf]

If they can improve their special teams, and if our top players start producing at the rate they're supposed to, then yes. I think we make it.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I keep hearing "once all the bad contracts come off the books" and been hearing that for 20 years.

I also hear a lot of "just two years/pieces away from competing, remember this is a rebuild".

14/15 was a pleasant surprise and maybe they were punching a bit above their weight. So a bit of regression last season was understandable. But two years in a row of regression is not a rebuild. It is a failure. What exactly are they rebuilding?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by polak

Just cause the team was poorly built, doesn't mean they're still in a rebuilding phase.

Once some of the bad contracts come off the books, we might be able to fill in the gaps but with our spending and only one major hole in our top positions, this team should be a playoff team.

Poorly built? The team is rebuilding. That is constantly in flux until they actually start making the playoffs. It Takes time. Fans asked for this, myself included. Now you have to show some patience and wait. The likes of Bennett and Tkachuk are getting there but the team needs them to be able to shoulder a significant load before they can take the next step.

The Flames might make the playoffs like the team did two years ago, but you shouldn't expect it until the team shows that is can do the things top teams do consistently.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

We've been hearing this for 25 years.

So the years from 2004 to 2009 don't count for anything in your books?

[polak]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Poorly built? The team is rebuilding. That is constantly in flux until they actually start making the playoffs. It Takes time. Fans asked for this, myself included. Now you have to show some patience and wait.

The Flames might make the playoffs like the team did two years ago, but you shouldn't expect it until the team shows that is can do the things top teams do consistently.

This team is not rebuilding anymore.

We're more likely to trade picks for talent than the other way around. Regression now is a failure.

[dino7c]

How many playoff teams top two offensive players are under 24? they are certainly still a building team

[bcneil]

Well the Coyotes are horrible. LA isn't looking hot without Quick. The Canucks are falling back now. So that leaves 4 teams fighting for 3 spots, with the wildcard possible.
That assumes the Oilers don't find a way to screw things up too.
So, I would say fifty fifty right now.