Will we make the playoffs

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flamesforcup

Honestly our rebuild shouldve been over. Our offense is looking ok but what was once our strenght on defense is looking bad. We need to rebuild our defense core.

I don't agree that it should be over as the team really only started the rebuild 3 years ago and it's not often teams can go from scorched earth rebuild to contender in less than five years. That said I would expect signs of progress and since they made the playoffs two years ago it's been successive seasons of regression which is concerning. Forward depth is pretty poor but given the amount of money the blue line is making they should be able to carry the team but that's not the case. Can't blame goaltending this season as after the first weekend it's been pretty good for the most part.

[stone hands]

Yes

[EldrickOnIce]

Who is we?

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't agree that it should be over as the team really only started the rebuild 3 years ago and it's not often teams can go from scorched earth rebuild to contender in less than five years. That said I would expect signs of progress and since they made the playoffs two years ago it's been successive seasons of regression which is concerning. Forward depth is pretty poor but given the amount of money the blue line is making they should be able to carry the team but that's not the case. Can't blame goaltending this season as after the first weekend it's been pretty good for the most part.

Guess it depends how that D corps is going to carry the team. Past few years they have put up a lot of pts. Joining the rush often, firing stretch passes etc. But defensively they were weak. The story was that it was the super weak goaltending that was the problem though and not their play. Now with a more conservative approach it appears that the goaltending was only part of the problem. I'm not sure this group can play responsible defense even if they sacrifice their offensive games to try and do so.

Only way I see them carrying the team is a greatly improved performance on special teams.

[Mr.Coffee]

I've been a Flames fan for a long time. Like all of you. Shouldn't we have learned by now?

The answer to the thread's question is of course, no. What will happen here is they will continue to struggle until about end / middle of December. Then they will turn it around and be amazing. Buying into the system, looking great. They'll make about 9-10th place and we will have a close but unsuccessful playoff charge. Ending without a good draft pick and without playoffs.

But wait, we will feel great about this because they'll have shown exiting the season that they're worth hanging around for next year! Treliving will make a clever deal or two, or a signing or two and we will be so excited for next year.

But it'll never matter. They'll just barely never get there. This is what being a Flames fan is all about.

[bcneil]

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

It's too early in the season to put too much value in these odds. I love checking the odds here.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I've been a Flames fan for a long time. Like all of you. Shouldn't we have learned by now?

The answer to the thread's question is of course, no. What will happen here is they will continue to struggle until about end / middle of December. Then they will turn it around and be amazing. Buying into the system, looking great. They'll make about 9-10th place and we will have a close but unsuccessful playoff charge. Ending without a good draft pick and without playoffs.

But wait, we will feel great about this because they'll have shown exiting the season that they're worth hanging around for next year! Treliving will make a clever deal or two, or a signing or two and we will be so excited for next year.

But it'll never matter. They'll just barely never get there. This is what being a Flames fan is all about.

This was probably written for a laugh but when I read it I just felt depressed!

[calgarywinning]

Mr. Coffee's post should be answered in the comments of the Cubs coach (?), who before game 7, said there is no such thing as superstition, bad luck, curses or a predicted outcome. That you only have the moment, the situation and your ability; more or less to seize the moment and that he believed they would win.

I'm paraphrasing as I couldn't look up the exact quote, but it was brilliant.

According to Mr. Coffee the season is over right now. The game is over. Whether we succeed or not, as a fan I will never buy into that. It's an extremely competitive league. So many teams have so many great things going on. It's statistically very difficult to punch a playoff spot and so much more so unpredictable to win your way through to the next round. Just look at the Caps from last year and their early playoff exit.

We are looking pretty good right now, with only 14% of games played to date. The slow start will be balanced by a good winning streak. Plus our schedule is intense right now.

I believe that this team and club want to win.

[Robbob]

Using the 7 game segments (target is 8 points). We got 5 points in the first segment and currently sitting at 6 points with 2 games left in the second segment.

You hear the players saying that they are starting to buy in and believing in the system. I am sure the transition took the coaching staff longer then what they wanted but I think they are trending in the right direction all without the first line clicking.

I think they are a bit fortunate that a good chunk of the western conference also are stumbling from the start. They have battled back and despite all of October are in the mix right now. Who cares about the past right now, hit the reset and start from now.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Using the 7 game segments (target is 8 points). We got 5 points in the first segment and currently sitting at 6 points with 2 games left in the second segment.

You hear the players saying that they are starting to buy in and believing in the system. I am sure the transition took the coaching staff longer then what they wanted but I think they are trending in the right direction all without the first line clicking.

That's a huge concern and one that can't be fixed by anyone but the players themselves. I think the season is riding pretty much all on the backs of Gaudreau and Monahan.

[Bunk]

Luckily most of the Western Conference has had middling starts, like us. So standings wise we are still right in the mix. We just can't fall behind - hopefully find our stride (PP working, Top line clicking) and stay in the mix all year.

[rumy]

Yes

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by polak

This team is not rebuilding anymore.

Two of the Flames projected core players are 18 and 19. This team is still rebuilding.

Originally Posted by polak

5 years of "rebuilding" is starting to get into "extended rebuild" range and if they regress this year then it's not going to look great.

Anyone paying attention knew that by the time Sutter was let go the Flames were so lacking in young talent that it would be a scorched-earth rebuild. The team had zero for blue-chip prospects or impact players under the age of 28. I expected it to be 6-8 years until the Flames iced a legitimate playoff team.

We got very lucky that Brodie turned out as well as he did, and that a 4th round pick turned into elite forward. But the rest is a slow process - drafting a blue-chip prospect high in the draft every year for several years and then waiting for them to develop. That only began with Monahan less than four years ago.

The pieces are more or less in place. But it will take time for the core to mature. The Flames have the talent to be in the playoff mix, but it's not an organisational crisis if they don't make it at this point.

[dino7c]

If the Flames survive November the schedule is much easier moving forward for the most part IMO. Doesn't guarantee a damn thing but I certainly thing they should be in the mix. Teams are fairly even this year out west...should mean lower totals to get in

[Corral]

for those who thought we are still 'in it' because the Western conference teams are generally off to mixed starts ... this evenings treat at the Honda Centre should show you we are miles behind teams like Anaheim even though they are only a point or two ahead of us right now.

[Otto-matic]

After the weekends effort, I'm going to give this team a 10% chance of making the playoffs. They are on life support right now, The coaching staff has their hands on the plug.

[I_H8_Crawford]

For the first time in a LONG, LONG time, the Flames will be out of the playoff picture before the Oilers.

This team SUCKS.

[SkunkyJosh]

No we won't.

This organization is terrible, especially the coaching staff.

[getoverit]

The better question is will we be a top 3 team to pick at the draft

[Caged Great]

If they do not pick it up by the end of the month are are a few games under .500, then we can start looking towards which of the four RW in the top 10 of this draft will be lacing them up for the Flames in the future.

That said, there is still plenty of time for them to snap out of it. Another 3 game winning streak puts them back at .500. They still have 12 games to play this month. Lots of time. Gaudreau and Monahan looked better today. If they can get going, maybe they can help generate some offense and the W's can follow.