Who is your biggest surprise in 2013/14?

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Should almost be what wasn't a surprise as there are honestly so many of them. All of which have been mentioned.

I'll just go with a big, all-encompassing how great the rebuild is already looking after one season as a surprise for me. I always try to keep a positive spin on things but had no idea "rock bottom" could look so good

[Dion]

Burke getting a second round pick for Berra.

[kingkahuna]

I was not expecting us to make a trade with the Oilers and end up with Smid.

[Wolfman]

Giordano...what a leader!

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by fotze

Biggest surprise this year at CP is poster West Karma being a fraudster bilking seniors out of 9 million bucks in Chiliwack.

Wait what?!?!

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Dion

Burke getting a second round pick for Berra.

Especially since Bryzgalov, who's gone 7-0-3 since the trade deadline, only went for a 4th

[irrevocable]

The emergence of Backlund as a heart and soul contributor.

[SebC]

Kevin Westgarth, 4 goals.

He quintupled his NHL goal-scoring rate when he joined the Flames.

[Calgary4LIfe]

The Giordano - Brodie pairing is the very biggest surprise for me.

That chart that was posted showing Gio-Brodie not only having the toughest quality of opposition and toughest zone-starts, but also out-performing them to me is extraordinary. To think that pairing is doing better than any other pairing in the entire NHL is beyond 'surprise'.

Hartley was the next biggest surprise. I initially didn't want him hired, but once he was hired I liked his philosophy on how he likes his teams to play - aggressive at both ends of the ice and entertaining, with some toughness. This year, however, I didn't quite expect that I would like him or the way the Flames are playing THIS much. He has been incredible with the young players and rookies. I was expecting many more 'blowout' games against the Flames - rarely happened. The Flames are one of the more 'likeable' teams in the NHL this season it seems due to their work ethic.

Colborne was the third surprise for me. I didn't want that trade to happen - felt it would just unfairly place an obstacle for a guy like Horak or Knight. Safe to say that Colborne has had a wonderful development year and looks to be like one of the more important pieces of the future.

There were other notable huge surprises - Ferland's slow start than 'explosion' showing the quality of prospect he really is. Granlund, Knight, Wotherspoon, Ortio - just leaping up and showing themselves to be quality prospects. Reinhart just being absolutely amazing in increasing his offensive stats - it becomes difficult to accurately guess this guy's ceiling.

Gaudreau's near 2PPG pace was a bit of a surprise - didn't think that would happen, though I expected an improvement over last season of course. Nice to see him take charge of games like that, and attain that kind of success even though he was 'rested' quite a lot, with less PP time than the majority of top-end NCAA players.

For a rebuilding year, this has been a very positive season in so many ways. In the end, this is an entertainment business, and even though the Flames did not have a 'successful' season measured by wins/losses, they were mostly a very entertaining bunch, and that to me was perhaps the biggest surprise of all.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by 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.

He might be our #1 right now, but this is a rebuilding team and despite the minutes, playing with top linemates, his production isn't off the charts.

We'll see how he does when the games matter again next year, but staying healthy has at least given us a proper sample size.

[Neeper]

My biggest surprise would be that this is a Jay Feaster hockey team! Players, coaches and prospects. The man may have made some mistakes but he also seemed to have gotten a lot right. I think firing him was premature.

[moon]

The team is headed for its second straight bottom 6 finish. It's great that people are excited about parts of this team but a little early to start patting Feaster on the back.

Especially when a lot of the so-called positives/contributors (Gio, Backlund, Brodie, Bouma) are Sutter guys.

[Skaloper]

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.

I don't think in any scenario that the Flames can trade Backlund unless they get offered a great deal. Butler is a solid 5/6 d man so no need to trade him. Glencross has had a hard season full of injuries so he gets a pass in my book.

[FlamesFanStrandedInEDM]

The Entire Team Effort.

I wouldnt of thought I'd be more satisfied with the play of 1/3 of an AHL team, but I feel their compete level all season was far more consistant than many of those teams of the past.

Mix the compete level with this team, and the skill level of that 2008/09 team, perhaps we could have gone a round or two in the playoffs.

[Greybeard]

Hartley is the man.... many of these guys have developed well by the whole team buying into his system, being fit through his hard practices (how many games have we came back in the third period), and Hartley having the vision to play these young guys and let them develop. He has also had the courage to do some tough love with Sven and send him back to the AHL unlike the Oil who let their players continue to never accept the system.

Bouma, Byron, Backlund, Gio, McGratten, Monahan, Russell, Ramo... etc etc. What a great first year of a rebuild.

And our prospect cupboard is as promising as it has been in over a decade. Looking forward to year two.

[endeavor]

I'm really excited about this group of players growing together. The post-Iggy/Kipper era has started off on the right foot.

[Mister Yamoto]

75 points with 3 games left. That's about 15 more points than I thought they would have.

Lots of things to feel good about with the Flames, but they are still at the bottom of the mountain.

[habernac]

I'm hoping Wideman's poor play has to do with his injuries he suffered early in the season.

[old-fart]

Biggest surprise might be that Hartley got Gillis and maybe Fonzie fired in Vancouver with the best troll ever.

Still makes me laugh thinking about it....

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by moon

The team is headed for its second straight bottom 6 finish. It's great that people are excited about parts of this team but a little early to start patting Feaster on the back.

Especially when a lot of the so-called positives/contributors (Gio, Backlund, Brodie, Bouma) are Sutter guys.

Any positives moon?