Top 3 frustrations and top 3 positives on the season so far

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Negatives:
1. Unresolved FA statuses for core players. But that'll sort itself out in the wash. They aren't going anywhere this year unless they completely collapse.
2. Forward depth. They can do better and make some savvy moves, they're out there, those kind of moves
3. CP specific. The absolute infatuation with the Oilers around here. I get it talking about them in OOT or the dedicated thread. But a Flames GT? And then I'm.ediately whine about how the media doesn't stop talking about them incessantly. Yer just as bad as they are! I hate the Oilers, hate them so much I question some of your loyalty with how much you talk about them. /rant.

Positives:

1. Goaltending. It's thing of beauty this year. Vladar is awesome. Love the trade. Maybe trade of the year.

2. Kylington. Patiently waiting for his shot has paid off and he's having a hell of a start as a full time regular.love his skating. And how 98 percent of potential odd man rushes are negated by his hustle.

3. Best start in recent history. As a pretty gloomy fan walking into this season. I've been pleasantly surprised by how much pluck and grit they have. Even qhen they lose they're in it till the very end. You cannot say that about this core from previous years. So ppl will lose their Gourdes after every loss but they're playing good hockey and they have a chance every singe night. Thats good for watching.

Great post. Sums up most of the major takeaways so far, for better and for worse.

[PepsiFree]

Positives:
- I’m having a good time

Negatives:
- I’m surrounded by people having a bad time

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Instead of having an elite franchise number 1 C

So elite that he is 25 years old and has never played a playoff game.

we get to sign 3 left shot wingers to be our top 3 highest paid forwards.

Adding Eichel would have made signing all 3 players impossible.

Adding Eichel would have made keeping all 3 players this season impossible. Staying under the cap while adding a $10-million hit would have required shedding some huge contracts that Buffalo was not willing to take.

There would have been a run this year

A run for the draft party, as Eichel misses most of the season and the team has to get by without whatever assets they traded for him.

I'm glad they didn't.

How is it odd complaining about both?

‘Gee, we don't have enough money to pay all these bills. We need to go out and buy something more expensive than anything we currently own!’

You don't find that odd?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So elite that he is 25 years old and has never played a playoff game.






Adding Eichel would have made keeping all 3 players this season impossible. Staying under the cap while adding a $10-million hit would have required shedding some huge contracts that Buffalo was not willing to take.



A run for the draft party, as Eichel misses most of the season and the team has to get by without whatever assets they traded for him.

I'm glad they didn't.



‘Gee, we don't have enough money to pay all these bills. We need to go out and buy something more expensive than anything we currently own!’

You don't find that odd?

1. He hasn’t played a playoff game but the flames core has been straight trash in the playoffs so what is your point?

2. Flames could have put a package together around Monahan and Zadorov, multiple 1sts and prospects that would have kept all 3 wingers. No need to say one had to be gone this year

3. This team without Monahan and Zadorov or the other cap is in the same spot as they are now.

4. Getting Eichel doesn’t put this team in a spot where they now are building around 3 left wingers. They don’t keep all 3 but they have a legit 1-2 punch down the middle which is more important.

They didn’t get Eichel and are in a spot where they have no choice but to try and keep all these wingers. I think this team missed a big chance with Eichel. You have a top center, top goalie, and solid young blueline. I think the flames would have been better off.

I would have given up a ton, a top center is the missing piece this team has not had in 25 years. It didn’t happen and this team is still in good shape. That is fine but missing out on the player is a frustration for me.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

1. He hasn’t played a playoff game but the flames core has been straight trash in the playoffs so what is your point?

My point is that the Sabres couldn't build a team around him, what makes you think the Flames would do any better?

2. Flames could have put a package together around Monahan and Zadorov, multiple 1sts and prospects that would have kept all 3 wingers. No need to say one had to be gone this year

The Sabres didn't want Monahan or Zadorov. You're not getting them to take out your trash in addition to giving you Eichel.

3. This team without Monahan and Zadorov or the other cap is in the same spot as they are now.

You like Richardson as a third-line centre, do you?

They didn’t get Eichel and are in a spot where they have no choice but to try and keep all these wingers.

BS. All three are eminently tradeable.

I would have given up a ton, a top center is the missing piece this team has not had in 25 years.

Instead of which, the team would have been missing a bunch of other pieces AND wouldn't have had a top centre for most of this season.

It didn’t happen and this team is still in good shape.

Better shape than it would have been with a bunch of assets gone and Eichel on LTIR, for certain.

Let me repeat once again Billy Beane's Rule of Trading #2:

‘The day you say you have to do something, you're screwed. Because you are going to make a bad deal. You can always recover from the player you didn't sign. You may never recover from the player you signed at the wrong price.’

Eichel is severely damaged goods. He may never be worth his salary again, let alone the cost of acquisition. Some people complain that the team has no cap space for its existing players, and then want to add a $10-million ‘maybe’ to the roster. This is crazy thinking.

[Huntingwhale]

Positives:

1. Team has bought in completely to what Sutter is preaching. Was a little worried their would be some pushback. But pretty much since game 1, the team seems to all be pulling the same direction.

2. Gaudreau fits Sutter's system like a perfectly sized glove. Was a little worried he might find himself in the doghouse. Definitely not from lack of effort, but more so his size and not being much of a checker. Instead, Johnny is the best player on the ice most nights and is a big reason for the hot start. Completely redefined his defensive game.

3. Best goal differential in the league. To me that's what defines a good team. Solid defense, good offence. Good special teams. Sexy stat lines.

Frustrations:

1. Monahan not playing up to par. Still, he's never complained, made a fuss or caused a distraction. Took his 'demotion' in stride and does what is asked of him. Clearly injuries have taken a toll. Not so much frustration I guess, just more feeling bad for him since he's still young and always been a good team player.

2. Home ice record. Fancy stats show it should come around. Still, team looks much better on the road than at home. Truthfully, getting home ice advantage in the playoffs scares me...

3. So many damn goal posts!