How far off are the Calgary Flames from cup contending status? - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Enoch Root · 08-09-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

You need a line-up with no holes in it. The Flames still need a top line RW. Plus the coach is unknown.

There isn't a team in the league with no holes in the lineup. I don't think there has been one since the Red Wing powerhouse of the 90s. And with a salary cap, it's very likely that there won't be again for a very long time.

Textcritic · 08-09-2016, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

You need a line-up with no holes in it. The Flames still need a top line RW. Plus the coach is unknown.

There are no teams in the NHL without holes. Parity and the salary cap has ensured that virtually every team will have weaknesses, and championship teams are those who manage to best compensate for those.

MrMastodonFarm · 08-09-2016, 03:51 PM

You fill holes temporarily and add depth at the deadline. The idea of a perfect team with each player for a specific spot doesn't exist. Flames can be contenders with holes in their line up. A forward group of Bennet, Tkachuk, Monahan and Gaudreau needs compliments on their right side not bona-fide stars

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 08-09-2016, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGio

You need a line-up with no holes in it. The Flames still need a top line RW. Plus the coach is unknown.

Surely these holes can be filled with prospects on the farm if the damn coaches and management would just free up the spots for them.......................no?

CorsiHockeyLeague · 08-09-2016, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You fill holes temporarily and add depth at the deadline. The idea of a perfect team with each player for a specific spot doesn't exist. Flames can be contenders with holes in their line up. A forward group of Bennet, Tkachuk, Monahan and Gaudreau needs compliments on their right side not bona-fide stars

Nobody said they had to be bona fide stars. You need someone who can play top line RW and produce accordingly in that role. They don't have to be Pat Kane; Blake Wheeler manages just fine.

MrMastodonFarm · 08-09-2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Nobody said they had to be bona fide stars. You need someone who can play top line RW and produce accordingly in that role. They don't have to be Pat Kane; Blake Wheeler manages just fine.

Lmao yeah the guy who tied Gaudreau for 6th in points last year would be just fine CHL.

If that's your expectations...

GranteedEV · 08-09-2016, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Even if only 3 of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau are 55 to 70+ players, the Flames have three 40 to 60 point defensemen to help make up the difference as well. But I think it's not unreasonable to expect all of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau to get there soon. Not this year likely, but next year and certainly the year after that they should all be in that range

Defensemen racking up points also takes away some second assists from forwards and vice versa so you have a point there, which makes 55+ points somewhat aribtrary. Primary points would probably be more telling of forward production ability:

Spoiler!

I'll take a look at the trend between contending and forward primary points.

Weitz · 08-09-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Even if only 3 of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau are 55 to 70+ players, the Flames have three 40 to 60 point defensemen to help make up the difference as well. But I think it's not unreasonable to expect all of Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau to get there soon. Not this year likely, but next year and certainly the year after that they should all be in that range.

The pessimists will disagree, but I think playoffs this year and true contenders starting in 17/18 with a window that lasts as long as Tkachuk/Bennett/Monahan/Gaudreau/Brodie/Hamilton remain top players or are replaced by similar. Hopefully that window is at least a decade before having to return to another rebuild.

I would expect to lose some Defense production with a new coach and play style.

btimbit · 08-09-2016, 05:22 PM

There's going to be holes in the lineup, especially in the salary cap era. Having a 45-50 point guy on the top line is fine if the other two are putting up 60+. I like the Flames top 6 RWers (Frolik and Brouwer), it's the bottom 6 that needs some love. And if a guy like Poirier, Shinkaruk or Tkachuk ends up being a 50+point player that cracks the top 6 then that's a nice bonus.

Just look at the Pens. Guys like Hagelin and Hornqvist rounding out the top 6. Not stars but good, solid players. It's too bad Hudler slowed down because he was good in that role imo.

MrMastodonFarm · 08-09-2016, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weitz

I would expect to lose some Defense production with a new coach and play style.

Especially from Giordano. Brodie will level off, Hamilton still has upwards trajectory but Giordano's 56 point 21 goal season should head south, those point totals are staggering.

JohnnyTitan · 08-10-2016, 01:05 PM

Put me in the "This year Playoffs, Next year Contend" camp.

No, I don't think "Just making the playoffs" is enough to consider the Flames a cup contender, but I do believe there are 8 contenders every year. Winners and runners-up come from up-and-down the standings.

So I think after this season I expect the Flames to host a first-round playoff series. It will be our second consecutive post-season appearance and by hosting a 1st round series you've already "Proven" you're top-8 in the league during the regular season. That is enough to be a cup contender....and that is what I expect by 2017/2018.