Will the flames make the playoffs next year?

[bubbsy]

Just replying to the posts above regarding BT and the goaltending....

Ramo/Hiller were easily one of the lesser tandems in the entire league, but to go into the season with Ortio there also, i think just disrupted & distracted these guys, making average goaltenders -> bad goaltenders in the process.

Signing of Ramo, looking back, was an ok move. He provided a lot of stability, without really wow'ing anyone last year, and once he was given a bit of a leash (and removal of the 3-headed monster) did so again this year.

The poor move in my opinion was the handling of hiller. If they believed in Ortio at all, Hiller should have been waived (don't think he was attractive on the trade market at all).

anyways, regarding this topic. Who knows what happens in the offseason, but a ew things i'm curious about:
1) There will be a different goaltending tandem, at least a different #1 if they decide to keep Ortio. That has got to help, as the goaltending couldn't really be worse than it was out the gate, which is essentially when the season was blown.

2) Secondary scoring?
I realize Bennet is just a kid so this season was a feeling out process in the big leagues, but i'm really curious as to what his potential is. For this rebuild to be on course, it is critical that he grow into a bonafide top 6 offensive player that can put up points and drive his line.

Was really hopeful that Ferland would be this diamond in the rough, a guy who is physical but has the offensive skills to also put the puck in the net. He's been ok this year, but really didn't put a stamp on this year in either of these regards. I hate to call him a disappointment, as i still think he plays a strong/smart game, but i guess i just had too high of hopes.

3) I'm not too concerned about the D. Russel is gone, we've looked better without wideman in the lineup, so can only hope he comes back either hungry and back in form, or count the days till his time as a flame is near complete.

this was more of a rambling post than anything else. we don't know how much turnover to expect on this bottom 5 roster outside of the goaltending. We will be getting a decent prospect this summer, but unless it's Mathews, i don't think they can immediately be penciled in to push this team to being a playoff team. Heck, even with Mathews, hard to determine how much of a real impact a rookie kid can make on a 82 game marathon to the playoffs.

In summary of this ramble, I voted no. I liked going into last season with no expectations and basically being on a perma-high most of the NHL season, which was a polar opposite to this season which has been frustrating, sad, and kind of annoying.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Just replying to the posts above regarding BT and the goaltending....

Ramo/Hiller were easily one of the lesser tandems in the entire league, but to go into the season with Ortio there also, i think just disrupted & distracted these guys, making average goaltenders -> bad goaltenders in the process..

I'm sorry but I disagree with this completely. There is no evidence to suggest that carrying three goalies as opposed to two will make all of the goalies worse. The obvious answer is that all three goalies are below average and when you combine that with Hartley's 'system', it can produce disastrous results.

I think last year, Hartley was better at guessing who should start, or at least recognizing who was hot. This year, he seemed to lack that Midas touch or, more likely, all three were cold to start the year so there was no right choice.

[Coach]

New goalie and I think we should be OK.

It's not/wasn't the only problem with the team, but if they get a guy they are confident in/is confident in themselves, I believe we have a better start, and thus are in competition for a playoff spot this time next season.

[Schraderbrau]

I could go into all the reason why a bottom 6 team this year won't make the playoffs next year but why bother. No the Flames will not make the playoffs next year.

[442scotty]

good goaltending = playoffs simple as that

[thefoss1957]

Unless a father time touches a few teams in the West hard...it is going to be hard to displace the teams that made the playoffs this year.

You guys certainly need more consistent results in net, worst GAA and SV% in the league is impossible to overcome, whether that was pure goaltending issues, or coverage issues. Both your special teams, sad to say, were not very special. Again, whether the worst PK% in the league was due to goaltender or coverage, it's got to be shored up. And with offensive talent like Monahan and Gaudreau, 16.5% on the PP is unacceptable. Starting too often without the puck, hurts all areas, so your Centers have to figure out a way to climb out of the bottom 4.

It seems like a lot to fix in the ultra-competitive West.

If it seems like I'm down on your team, far from it...I appreciate a hard working hockey club like the Flames...but, the West is just that unforgiving, that any one of the areas that your guys struggled in, PK, PP, GAA, FO%, just increases the chances for not making the cut.

[calgaryboy]

In my opinion this season was a mess mainly because of poor goaltending /is that Swiss clown already on Mars?/. That ´s why I think if we´ll have better goalie next season, we will be more than okay! GO FLAMES!

[Flames_F.T.W]

Above league average goaltending
+
Improved special teams
=
Playoffs

The math adds up.