TSN says Flames 14th

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Its not like it was new information, but seeing our Centre's displayed on the line up screen on the TSN show made me throw up a little. Frick we are so, so brutal at centre this year, which is too bad because I actually really like our collection of wingers.

But far too important of a position to be non NHL caliber at. I think TSN was a little harsh on us, but we are going no where unless two of Cervenka, Backlund and Stajan actually play like good #2 line centres in this league.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If he's not locked up by the trade deadline, they absolutely should.

We need to get something, whether it's keeping him for beyond this year, or prospects/picks. We cannot lose him for nothing in UFA. That would be a huge setback, and would probably cause us to go through an additional 5 year bottom feeder cycle like the Oilers have gone through recently.

I agree that they need to sign him by the deadline or trade him.

But do you seriously believe that the return, or lack thereof, equates to 5 years of bottom feeding?

The return is probably one or two good pieces.

Failing to get that return would likely mean a deeper dip into the draft, which would likely generate as much incremental return in one or two years.

I think that the people who talk about years of doom and gloom if we don't trade him are MASSIVELY over-stating the issue. The draft corrects mistakes. The key is to draft and develop well.

[indes]

Wideman was 10th in dman points last year...I fail to see how that doesn't instantly make us a better team when one of our big weaknesses was no points from the point last year. In my opinion center is the only hole we have to fill, not saying we couldn't do better in the other areas I just don't see our wings, defense, scoring or goaltending as an issue. Could be the kool aid but I just really see a better team out there.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by indes

Wideman was 10th in dman points last year...I fail to see how that doesn't instantly make us a better team when one of our big weaknesses was no points from the point last year. In my opinion center is the only hole we have to fill, not saying we couldn't do better in the other areas I just don't see our wings, defense, scoring or goaltending as an issue. Could be the kool aid but I just really see a better team out there.

Yah, but it's a monster hole and outside of goaltender might be the most important position on the ice.

[sun]

Man, you know when you're planning on playing Tanguay at center, you are a godawful team down the middle. If Backlund and Cervenka both play like #2 centers (forcing Tanguay back to the wing), I think we will make the playoffs. Pretty big if.

If the Cervenka experiment doesn't work out, Iggy gets injured, Kipper regresses, Sven doesn't meet expectations, if Hudler's last season was a fluke, if Wideman is a bum defensively, etc, etc.... Well, at least the season is only 48 games.

I still think we look alright on paper and everything will click beautifully and we'll make the playoffs. If not, I don't think we're landing a top five pick either.

[EddyBeers]

Geez I thought I was pessimistic with my13th prediction

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by pylon

We would never be lucky enough to finish 14th. We will track all year, looking like we will, then go on some miracle run, to get us back into that 9-11 spot like we do every. single. year.

This is so true. Far worse Flames teams of the late 90's still weren't bad enough to pick top 5. I just don't see this being the group that gets the Flames a top 5 pick unless they are severely injury plagued. There are too many veteran players with too much pride to let their games slip to the point below every other team in the conference save the Jackets. I think a lot of this is simply wishful thinking by the media. They all hate what the Flames are trying to do and want confirmation of their doubts.

[badger89]

Just what you want heading into a shortened season... new coach, new system, all new lines, depend on unproven players (Cervenka and Backlund) to perform, acquire important pieces and need them to acclimate quickly (Hudler and Wideman), and add that all to a team notorious for slow starts.

It doesn't sound promising, but I'm eternally hopeful that most of that will work out quickly and we'll make it to the playoffs. But honestly, a lot has to go right for us to make it. On the bright side, we still have Kipper and Iggy's in a contract year, so who knows!

[Street Pharmacist]

I sound like a broken record, but my bet is we don't see Cervenka until late Feb. That leaves the centre hole even bigger. If Backlund can be a number 1/2 center and Tanguay works out ok, we can fight for 8th until Cervenka starts. But then how long until he's ready as he won't have played for 3 months?

That center position is a big hole. If we can unload Iggy/Kipper for a young center, we may be in a better position in a couple years.

Alas, I am off topic

[daveinspruce]

I've been saying it for THREE years now....start the rebuild.
We are going to over pay for a player who is in a decline, when three years ago we could of gotten a couple of high picks and a highly touted prospect. Yet we are going to sign him so he can be here his whole career....who cares,I care about winning.
And yes we have one of the best Goalies in the league,but we could of gotten a ton of picks and or talent back for him 2-3 years ago.
But yet here we go again down the road of finishing 10-13th and boy after this season are the next 5-7 years or longer going to be hard on this team.
Like I always say I'm a fan of the Crest on the front of the jersey not the one on the back!

[daveinspruce]

Sportsnet also picked us 14th...

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

Sportsnet also picked us 14th...

Then I guess we're finally going to pick in the top 5, just like you want.

We'll have the best dang draft day party...

[sa226]

If the training camp thread means anything its that business wise at least, they would be smart NOT to do any sort of rebuild.

There is legitimate excitement about young players making an impact. Sven is a blue chip, Backlund looks like if he stays healthy he could be on the right track. Brodie could be ready, Hudler brings something different, and even Cervenka is worth a conversation.

Away from the big club, Gaudreau is turning heads, Jankowski is getting his feet wet, Grandlund looks intriguing and some foot soldiers in the AHL are learning the hard way.

If they blow it up, I'm not sure if the casual fan will be as loyal as the rest of us. I think a number of seats are sold to people that still want to see Iginla and Kipper, and wouldn't sit through a youth movement.

Unlike the bozos up north, our youth isn't all we have to talk about. We can still debate whether Iginla still has some magic left, we have one of the best if not the best goalie on the planet, we can look forward to some big goals from Cammalleri, and some impossible passes from Tanguay.

I don't care if the talking heads think we are terrible, for me this is the first time in awhile that I am excited about our future while being optimistic about the present.

I like where the team is at, given what the past few years have been like.

[Back2Back]

I think the flames will finish around 10th place, just my opinion.


Everybody on the panel (McKenzie,Duthie, Aaron Ward, and Mr. intelligent himself Ferraro, had the Oilers making the playoffs.


I'm not sure if this's the year for the Oilers to explode, but I hope we make the playoffs and go deep.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Back2Back

I think the flames will finish around 10th place, just my opinion.


Everybody on the panel (McKenzie,Duthie, Aaron Ward, and Mr. intelligent himself Ferraro, had the Oilers making the playoffs.


I'm not sure if this's the year for the Oilers to explode, but I hope we make the playoffs and go deep.

Back2back2back2back first overall picks is my prediction for the Oilers, just my opinion.

[Back2Back]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Back2back2back2back first overall picks is my prediction for the Oilers, just my opinion.

Too much skill on the Oilers to finish last, J.Schultz,Yakupov,Hemsky,Dubnyk,Gagner,Hall,Eberle ,RNH,Whitney and Petry, WAY TOO MUCH SKILL, but hey you can finish 14th overall and still pick 1st overall.

[dammage79]

I don't really care what TSN or Sportsnet says. I love when Ray Ferraro has to swallow his own vomit on T.V when the Flames don't lose on the TSN games. And I will keep loving it. Same as in WJC this year, guy couldn't keep the vitriol out of his voice whenever he had to mention a player was a Flames prospect.

Bring on the hate. Bring on the disdain and pile it on.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Back2Back

Too much skill on the Oilers to finish last, J.Schultz,Yakupov,Hemsky,Dubnyk,Gagner,Hall,Eberle ,RNH,Whitney and Petry, WAY TOO MUCH SKILL, but hey you can finish 14th overall and still pick 1st overall.

So essentially the same team as last year that finsihed 29th with the addition of two rookies? Gotcha. Yup, they will be unstoppable

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

I've been saying it for THREE years now....start the rebuild.
We are going to over pay for a player who is in a decline, when three years ago we could of gotten a couple of high picks and a highly touted prospect. Yet we are going to sign him so he can be here his whole career....who cares,I care about winning.

I think that the Flames have started a rebuild, only it is not the same "scorched-earth" approach that the Oilers have made popular. Rather, pretty dramatic changes have been taking place in terms of team personnel and drafting and development. These sorts of changes are not attention-grabbing like what the Oilers have done, but strong arguments can be made that they will be at least as effective.
As for Iginla, I'm not sure what you want or what you expect at this point. Granted, the Flames could have probably received a pretty high return of players and picks a few years back, but there were no guarantees of this even at the time when Iginla's stock was at its peak. Now? I think that the question of Iginla's trade value is a matter that needs to be addressed, and carefully weighed, but I expect that many fans will be extremely disappointed by what he would command in a trade over the course of this season. The truth of the matter is that the Flames might actually be better off keeping Iginla through the rebuild at this point in his career.

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

And yes we have one of the best Goalies in the league,but we could of gotten a ton of picks and or talent back for him 2-3 years ago.

Again, I think that this is highly debatable. It really doesn't do much good at this point to whine about what you think could have been.

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

But yet here we go again down the road of finishing 10-13th and boy after this season are the next 5-7 years or longer going to be hard on this team.
Like I always say I'm a fan of the Crest on the front of the jersey not the one on the back!

I'm often fairly astonished at how accurately some fans seem to think they can predict what will transpire over the course of a half-decade. Honestly, this is nonsense. In truth, there is really no way to be very sure at all about how the future will play out for the Flames, because there are far too many variables in play. Quite to he contrary, I do not see the future so dimly. I am actually encouraged by an improving prospect base, and while the Flames have a ways to go towards ensuring a solid, high-quality, full and balanced collection of young talent, they are starting to make some very positive moves in that direction.

It is probably much more accurate to predict that there could be a year or two or maybe three of painful, on-ice futility while the Flames move through this part of the inevitable cycle, but I hardly think that things are anywhere near as dire as your tone suggests.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Back2Back

...

"Back2Back" what?