[News] With the 4th overall pick the Flames select C Sam Bennett

[Gaskal]

Mischevious Sam and Boring Monahan.....yin and yang.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Don't tell that to the Flames coaches and players. All I can say is, nothing is guaranteed to go down the way folks are lead to think they will. The fantasizing over McDavid or Eichel is equally as based in fantasy as hoping for the playoffs. The reason its exciting to watch the Flames is their work ethic and just because thing look bad to some on paper, does not equate to the results at the end of the season being that way.

If they do, fine. If they don't even better, because that's progression and heading in the right direction.

I just want to watch the season unfold without a preconceived notion that failure is imminent, or that success is guaranteed. I'm a middle of the road guy and I like to believe Hartley and Gio when they say they believe they'll be better than what people are penciling them in as .

My opinion is my opinion. Your entitled to yours. Last year I think a lot went right and we were still the 4th worst team in the league. Personally I see some struggles this year for various reasons and I also think the other bottom feeders improved more than us. The West is so competitive that playoffs would be a HUGE surprise. Gio and Hartley are going to say the right things. Don't think anyone would expect them not to. Actions speak louder than words. I as well plan on letting the season unfold as it will but I think were definitely bottom 5 and possibly bottom 3 and I'm completely fine with that. If they are better than that I hope it is the result of our youngsters making big contributions and I'm great with that as well.

[puds]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I am curious to see how the Flames play under Hartley's system again.

I think the on ice product will be good but the results will be bad. I think our goaltending will be solid if unspectacular, our D core is amongst the worst in the league and we don't any elite players upfront.

[t0rrent98]

nvm...

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hackey

...Last year I think a lot went right and we were still the 4th worst team in the league.

What went right for this team who lost a huge number of man/games to injury? Key players at every position spent time out of the lineup, and the Flames goalie situation never really stabilised until nearly the mid-point of the season. I have seen this refrain time and time again, but not with much in the way of a clear explanation about what all those things were that "went right."

Originally Posted by Hackey

...Personally I see some struggles this year for various reasons and I also think the other bottom feeders improved more than us.

The last part is probably true. But since Edmonton was the only team in the WC to finish behind the Flames, and since they landed a full 10 points back, even if they do show a significant improvement, there is good reason to think that it will not be enough to finish higher than Calgary.

Originally Posted by Hackey

...I as well plan on letting the season unfold as it will but I think were definitely bottom 5 and possibly bottom 3 and I'm completely fine with that. If they are better than that I hope it is the result of our youngsters making big contributions and I'm great with that as well.

I expect that the team is probably bottom five, but not likely bottom three. I won't be surprised to see them finish in the 20–25 range.

[Tinordi]

On paper, the Flames look like one of the five worst teams in the league.

Could they surprise? Yes.

Much more likely, IMO, that they finish as one of the five worst teams in the league.

Doesn't help that they play in the West either where they should get beaten up on a regular basis by the top teams in the west who mostly improved this offseason.

Teams that got better proportionately to the Flames in the West by trade and fa aquisitions:

Anaheim
Dallas
Colorado
St. Louis
Chicago
Minnesota
Vancouver

LA didn't do anything but they're the champs have to lump them in.

The key that many fans don't seem to calculate is how the Flames improved relatively to their competition. That's what matters. Evaluating the Flames roster in a vacuum compared to last year tells you basically nothing to how they'll fare against other teams this year.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What went right for this team who lost a huge number of man/games to injury? Key players at every position spent time out of the lineup, and the Flames goalie situation never really stabilised until nearly the mid-point of the season. I have seen this refrain time and time again, but not with much in the way of a clear explanation about what all those things were that "went right."

I can't speak for everyone but Gio emerging as a big time leader and having a career year would be one of them. Despite his injury. The team following his lead and buying into Hartley's system and putting forth a great effort every night would be another. The fact that they won a lot of close games and had no major losing streaks. Monahan making the team and having a strong campaign. Brodie breaking out and holding his own on the top pairing. Backlund having the best season of his career. Joe Colborne also had a pretty good season. Hudler was amazing for a good portion of the year. Those are just a few that come to mind off the top of my head.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What went right for this team who lost a huge number of man/games to injury? Key players at every position spent time out of the lineup, and the Flames goalie situation never really stabilised until nearly the mid-point of the season. I have seen this refrain time and time again, but not with much in the way of a clear explanation about what all those things were that "went right."

1.) Players fully committed to Hartley's work ethic
2.) "I hate losing" attitude clearly established
3.) Gio exceeding expectations
4.) Backlund rounded off into what we hoped
5.) Brodie emerges as top pairing D
6.) Monahan being Monahan
7.) Ramo looking legit
8.) Rookies took big steps
9.) Screwing over the Canucks


...


Still end up 4th Overall and draft Sam

[devo22]

you forgot

10) slaughtering the Oilers in their own arena, a.k.a. "the night of the flying jersey"

[DionTheDman]

Can't really name it the night of the flying jersey since it's happened so many times.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Can't really name it the night of the flying jersey since it's happened so many times.

true. "The night Eakins freaked out over a spray of water" is probably better.

[Poe969]

Bottom line is that last year the team played better than most expected and lots went right. Injuries happen on every team but last year Gio took a step forward and is now regarded as the 9th best defender in the league...we don't get jumps like that every year. As mentioned, other players had career years and some were injured but they were almost expected. We lost our best offensive player and didn't really replace him. As the Flames get better, so do most teams and the Flames didn't do much to get better than last years team let alone other teams.

My biggest worry is that Harley's coaching style starts to lose it's message with the players and they tune him out. There's no sign this will happen but there's evidence of it in the past. Players can only take so much.

[Hackey]

Exactly. Do the players buy in the way they did last year? Are games that much tougher because teams know what kind of style we play now? Do certain players regress? Does someone emerge as our true starter? The west is absolutely stacked and even the bad teams improved. I could see this team being 14th in the West. If they do play well maybe a few spots higher.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

On paper, the Flames look like one of the five worst teams in the league.

Could they surprise? Yes.

Much more likely, IMO, that they finish as one of the five worst teams in the league.

Doesn't help that they play in the West either where they should get beaten up on a regular basis by the top teams in the west who mostly improved this offseason.

Teams that got better proportionately to the Flames in the West by trade and fa aquisitions:

Anaheim
Dallas
Colorado
St. Louis
Chicago
Minnesota
Vancouver

LA didn't do anything but they're the champs have to lump them in.

The key that many fans don't seem to calculate is how the Flames improved relatively to their competition. That's what matters. Evaluating the Flames roster in a vacuum compared to last year tells you basically nothing to how they'll fare against other teams this year.

I disagree with including Vancouver in that mix.

[Hackey]

I think Canucks season will depend largely on how the team responds to the new coach and how Ryan Miller performs. To a lesser extent how Bonino and the Sedins do. Don't think they can make playoffs but they could be in that 9-12 range.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

On paper, the Flames look like one of the five worst teams in the league.

Could they surprise? Yes.

Much more likely, IMO, that they finish as one of the five worst teams in the league.

The key that many fans don't seem to calculate is how the Flames improved relatively to their competition. That's what matters. Evaluating the Flames roster in a vacuum compared to last year tells you basically nothing to how they'll fare against other teams this year.

I agree 100% about the West, I honestly think that over/under thing making the rounds (Bodog) is an exposure as a team could move up in the standings but back in points this year in the West.

My only caveat to the paper thing is that they we all apply an media fed view to rosters only to find out that some guys that aren't good on paper one year start to become good on paper when teams move up.

The Flames looked worse on paper last year, but then low and behold turned out to have a solid 2nd line center in Backlund, and one or two top pairing defensemen instead of a 4 and a 5.

That just happens as teams evolve.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Mustache

Posting more Flames related Vines. #93

https://vine.co/v/OzPBmYAd2J2

Love the overall Vine, but not fond of the Toronto Maple Kings jersey.

Kings: good
Leafs: bad

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg

Sam Bennett says he's up to 11 pull-ups if you're interested. Certainly looks like he's put on some size over the summer. #Flames

[terminator]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg

Sam Bennett says he's up to 11 pull-ups if you're interested. Certainly looks like he's put on some size over the summer. #Flames

I am interested, thanks Steignberg.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg

Sam Bennett says he's up to 11 pull-ups if you're interested. Certainly looks like he's put on some size over the summer. #Flames

All but confirms he didn't want to go to Edmonton.