Flames rank No. 32 of 32 in ESPN's NHL Future Power Rankings

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Braden

It mentioned Conroy was only responsible for 1 of our 6 bad contracts, besides Duehr and Osterle who has he signed and which one of those is bad? Am I forgetting something obvious?

He signed Sharangovich but it's only a 2 year deal at $3.1.

[The Yen Man]

Meh, these things are about as accurate as weather experts predicting a warmer or colder winter. They're all over the place.

And honestly, I've always preferred media outlets downplaying the Flames rather than overestimating them. Makes it that much more fun when you make them eat their hat after.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

I know the Flames don't have the sexiest prospects, but I feel the success of the Wranglers these past couple of years is quite underrated by most. It hasn't been a team of AHL vets. It's been young guys. And, as I'm sure someone will point it out, yes having Wolf down there had a lot to do with it.

At any rate, I think having a few of those guys sprinkled in our line up is going to make a huge difference this year. I'm optimistic.

[Macho0978]

The Flames cap situation for the next 2-3 years is not bad at all. They could sign most of the UFA's and be under the cap next year. But it would be hard to say they are in trouble today, basically none of them have signed.

Long term Kadri is the only contract that could be a bad one and I still believe it will be ok for years.

Huberdeau and Weegar have good contracts IMO. Weegar's deal is a steal.

All 3 of these guys will bounce back and this thread will look stupid in about a month or 2.

Lindholm stays at $9 mil if you consider what he went through last year and the season he had he's worth it. Guys like Matthews are getting $13.25 and probably much more in 5 years. McDavid and Leon probably get $15+ mil.

If we start resigning everyone fine maybe the cap won't be great and we could rank near 32nd, but has it even happened yet? Did we sign someone because I see 3 guys on long term deals. 4 if you include Coleman but he will be 35 when that deal expires.

[D as in David]

ESPN is at the bottom of my NHL media power rankings so it all kind of evens out. Although, a very close battle with The Hockey Writers.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

In danger of being relegated.

Haha Stupid Flames!

The NHL should have relegation for lols but the Coyotes self-relegated themselves to a college team already.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Are Flames really in a worse position than say a team like Boston? Or Florida?

If Florida (who finished with fewer points last year than the Flames) missed he playoffs would they be 32nd? They have a worse prospect pools and even fewer upcoming draft picks?

Yes. Because Boston is Boston. They were one of the worst teams in the league after trading Joe Thornton so they just went out and signed Chara.

They get first pick for free agents.

I'd probably put Washington or a team like Pittsburgh as worst if we are talking a four year window. Penguins will be a smoking crater in 4 years. Teams like SJS and Chicago will likely also still be terrible 3 years out from now.

Detroit as 4th best is baffling. They are mostly an old team and their two young stars don't stack up to the young stars of other teams that have more youth. I see their rebuild peaking out at mediocre.

[Macho0978]

Every year I label who is the worst franchise over the next 5-7 years and San Jose has been last for a few years. No way the Flames are the worst. There are a couple teams that have no hope of winning for a few years, much older and are just stuck in their situation. But sometimes these teams are teams that have been great for a long time.

Washington:

AO is 38
Backstrom is 35
Carlsson is 33
Kuemper is 33

They have a couple decent prospects, but they are going nowhere for a long time.

Boston:

They just lost Krecji and Bergeron for nothing. They have horrible prospects and short picks. They have 3 good players long term, but none are that young either. They will draw UFA's in, but they are going nowhere for years.

St Louis:

Once again, they are a mess with the cap, old especially on d with some very long-term deals. No way the Flames are worse.

If we re-sign Backlund for 4 years and Tanev for a couple, then I would be worried but so far this hasn't happened.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Yes. Because Boston is Boston. They were one of the worst teams in the league after training Joe Thornton so they just went out and signed Chara.

They get first pick for free agents.

I'd probably put Washington or a team like Pittsburgh as worst if we are talking a four year window. Penguins will be a smoking crater in 4 years. Teams like SJS and Chicago will likely also still be terrible 3 years out from now.

Detroit as 4th best is baffling. They are mostly an old team and their two young stars don't stack up to the young stars of other teams that have more youth. I see their rebuild peaking out at mediocre.

Detroit was looking so good and I really believe they are going to come up well short and it will take a few years for them to realize it and then they will rebuild again. I see them being out of the playoffs or barely making it for years.

Washington is #1 IMO and Pittsburgh is another one but I could see Sid signing for less to win again. Unfortunately for them, in 2 years they other long term deals they have will be very old and they also have nothing coming through their system. They will not be a threat for years.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Detroit was looking so good and I really believe they are going to come up well short and it will take a few years for them to realize it and then they will rebuild again. I see them being out of the playoffs or barely making it for years.

Washington is #1 IMO and Pittsburgh is another one but I could see Sid signing for less to win again. Unfortunately for them, in 2 years they other long term deals they have will be very old and they also have nothing coming through their system. They will not be a threat for years.

Pitts might be good for the next 2-3 years but there is a train approaching and they can't get off the tracks.
Crosby is 36. Malkin 37. Letang 36. Karlsson is 33.

Guentzal, Graves and Jarry are the youngest part of the core and they are all turning 29 this year.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Pitts might be good for the next 2-3 years but there is a train approaching and they can't get off the tracks.
Crosby is 36. Malkin 37. Letang 36. Karlsson is 33.

Guentzal, Graves and Jarry are the youngest part of the core and they are all turning 29 this year.

Pittsburgh will be good but not good enough and they can't trade guys like Sid so I agree, they are stuck and likely have no chance to win for 5 to 7 years. Worse off than the Flames IMO, but 3 cups does that to a team.

[Macho0978]

How is the Wild not on the list? Kaprizov has 3 years left, Parise and Suter buyouts have $14 mil dead cap for next 2 years. $1.6 mil for 4 years after that. They are not going anywhere for a long time and likely not bad enough to get a high pick for years.

[PaperBagger'14]

Season long predictions are almost always out to lunch, let alone multiple seasons. For comparison, here's another prediction for this year. Flames finish first in the west with a 98% chance of making the playoffs.

I predict the flames will finish between 1st and 32nd this year. Book it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comm...ojections_and/

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I predict the flames will finish between 1st and 32nd this year.

So, stuck in the mushy middle again.

Fold the franchise.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

This is an outrage

Something on your mind?

[FireGilbert]

If ESPN knew anything about the Flames they would put them 16th/17th.

This is just rage bait anyways. Like they've clearly put the Jets as the highest Canadian team to piss off all the larger fan bases.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

I also don’t think the Flames will be very good this year.

But when it comes to hockey predictions, I’m also pretty much always wrong, so….. interpret that how you like.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Pittsburgh will be good but not good enough and they can't trade guys like Sid so I agree, they are stuck and likely have no chance to win for 5 to 7 years. Worse off than the Flames IMO, but 3 cups does that to a team.

Their elite players are better than the Flames elite players and they have better contracts though. Less money and shorter term. Same with Washington. Except both those teams have hall of famers and Cups. In 4 years time the Flames are probably looking like the Sharks. Trying to off load bad contracts, stuck with some they have to ride out, starting a rebuild with very few good assets to accelerate it.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Their elite players are better than the Flames elite players and they have better contracts though. Less money and shorter term. Same with Washington. Except both those teams have hall of famers and Cups. In 4 years time the Flames are probably looking like the Sharks. Trying to off load bad contracts, stuck with some they have to ride out, starting a rebuild with very few good assets to accelerate it.

You're making assumptions on things that have not happened yet. They might and maybe even it will be likley but right now the Flames have not signed Lindholm, Hanifin, Kylington, or Zadorov. Back got 2 years, 3 left.

The Flames are nowhere near as old, the Pens probably have the worst prospect pool in hockey.

The Flames aren't even close to being stuck yet as they have yet to dish out a long-term deal this summer. Until we see what those deals are, hard to say we are stuck and going to be the Sharks.