The darkest timeline...

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I hate it but I'd almost guarantee it at this rate.

If the Panthers blow this 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals there is no chance in hell they make the playoffs in a tough Atlantic division next year.

but they'd still have to finish bottom 10 for this to happen, right? Not just miss the playoffs?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

but they'd still have to finish bottom 10 for this to happen, right? Not just miss the playoffs?

I think it just says lottery protected, so Panthers just have to miss the playoffs and I think it defers to a 2026 pick.

Which then means the Flames pick is only 1st overall protected

[traptor]

So what's the condition if both the flames and Florida pick bottom 1o next year?

No protection and habs get the better pick?

Is there a universe where flames can get a lottery pick next season and lose it to the Habs?

We also have risk on our 2026 pick...

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by traptor

So what's the condition if both the flames and Florida pick bottom 1o next year?

No protection and habs get the better pick?

Is there a universe where flames can get a lottery pick next season and lose it to the Habs?

We also have risk on our 2026 pick...

The only way the 2026 pick is at risk is if the Panthers miss the playoffs (lottery pick) and the Flames draft 1st overall.

If the Panthers make the playoffs and their pick isn't a lottery pick, and the Flames pick top 10 then the Canadiens would get the Panthers pick

But if the Panthers miss the playoffs, then the Flames get the Panthers 2026 1st round pick instead, and the Flames pick would go to Montreal as long as it's not 1st overall (2-32).

So if the Panthers miss the playoffs and the Flames get 3rd overall pick (for example) then the Flames would be sending Montreal the 3rd overall pick.

So yeah... based on the last 24 months of this being the darkest timeline that's probably going to happen.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think it just says lottery protected, so Panthers just have to miss the playoffs and I think it defers to a 2026 pick.

Which then means the Flames pick is only 1st overall protected

haha well at least as bad as this is, we know it could always be worse. right haha

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I hate it but I'd almost guarantee it at this rate.

If the Panthers blow this 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals there is no chance in hell they make the playoffs in a tough Atlantic division next year.

lol, against all those tough teams they beat this year? losing game 7 of the finals means they have no chance to make the playoffs next season is certainly a take

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

lol, against all those tough teams they beat this year? losing game 7 of the finals means they have no chance to make the playoffs next season is certainly a take

Smaller chokes have completely broken teams, so nope it wouldn't surprise me at all if the team has a bit of A hangover next year if they can't pull this off in game 7.

If they lose this series and lose in the finals for a second year in a row then I'd bet Zito feels the urge to make changes which always brings risk. Montour, Reinhart, Tarasenko could all be gone as well.

Plus Last time I checked you're usually the guy saying that the Panthers aren't that good (either until they were playing the Oilers or until it somehow means something bad for the Flames). Panthers made it by 1 point last year, wouldn't be out of the question if they had like 92 points next year and missed, that's just how it works.

The last 24 months pretty much any outcome that wouldn't benefit the Flames has happened, even this year they missed on all three conditional picks hitting, so based on it being the "Darkest Timeline" it really just feels like this ####ty outcome for our pick next year is inevitable.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by dino7c

lol, against all those tough teams they beat this year? losing game 7 of the finals means they have no chance to make the playoffs next season is certainly a take

It will be psychologically crushing to choke like that. Especially for Bobrovsky, who has always run hot and cold. The Panthers have some key UFAs, and can’t afford to sign them all, so it was always likely that they’d take a step back anyway - they don’t really have anyone who can step in and replace a Reinhart or Montour. Then there’s the fatigue. Back-to-back finals almost guarantees a slow start next season.

I wouldn’t bet on them finishing bottom 10 next season. But it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they’re in tough to earn a wildcard playoff spot.

[Ped]

Everyone clamoring for a rebuild (which the Flames are clearly doing), just remember it can go badly. Never mind Buffalo, but the retirement of Cogliano reminded me of when he and Gagner were the next Oiler stars. 17 years later, the Oilers are tied 3-3 in the Finals.


Now it's hard to screw things up as badly as the Oilers did over the years, but maybe not as hard as we think it is.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

Enjoy your moment troll. Put on your best sweatpants and wife beater, we won't even mention the mustard stains or the questionable brown ones.

Good one. Put on your tin foil hat and keep creating fiction in your head.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The only way the 2026 pick is at risk is if the Panthers miss the playoffs (lottery pick) and the Flames draft 1st overall.

If the Panthers make the playoffs and their pick isn't a lottery pick, and the Flames pick top 10 then the Canadiens would get the Panthers pick

But if the Panthers miss the playoffs, then the Flames get the Panthers 2026 1st round pick instead, and the Flames pick would go to Montreal as long as it's not 1st overall (2-32).

So if the Panthers miss the playoffs and the Flames get 3rd overall pick (for example) then the Flames would be sending Montreal the 3rd overall pick.

So yeah... based on the last 24 months of this being the darkest timeline that's probably going to happen.

Just because I'm in a world burning mood. I want to see this play out, along with Leafs winning the cup next year. Just to get the final "#### you" from Treliving ruining this franchise.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Ped

Everyone clamoring for a rebuild (which the Flames are clearly doing), just remember it can go badly. Never mind Buffalo, but the retirement of Cogliano reminded me of when he and Gagner were the next Oiler stars. 17 years later, the Oilers are tied 3-3 in the Finals.


Now it's hard to screw things up as badly as the Oilers did over the years, but maybe not as hard as we think it is.

Gagner and Cogliano were drafted 6th and 25th overall. That would be like the Flames assuming their two 1sts this year will be stars to lead their team. Not likely. If the Flames were able to land a 2nd and 3rd liner from those picks that would be a win, which is what Gagner and Cogliano were.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Ped

Everyone clamoring for a rebuild (which the Flames are clearly doing), just remember it can go badly.

Yeah why risk taking that chance when you can tread water in perpetuity instead

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Yeah why risk taking that chance when you can tread water in perpetuity instead

Not saying that at all. Just remember it's not linear.

[madmike]

On the plus side Tkachuk will forever be remembered as part of the biggest playoff choke of all time. This loss would taint the whole Panthers org for a loooong time. And no I haven’t forgiven him.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think it just says lottery protected, so Panthers just have to miss the playoffs and I think it defers to a 2026 pick.

Which then means the Flames pick is only 1st overall protected

Puckpedis has it a top ten protected. So that’s what I’m telling myself and hope we don’t have to find out. I don’t the Panthers will be top ten bad.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames get #1?

That’d only be somewhat less darkest timeline

[Ashasx]

The more I think about this, the more I think the Flames should probably be helping the Panthers make the playoffs next year.

It would probably be better to trade somebody like Mangiapane to them for future considerations than somewhere else for a 2nd round pick if it helps ensure the Flames retain their own 1st.

[Johnny Rotten]

Well, at least they have New Jersey’s first pick next year. ��#♂️

[ComixZone]

Just to clarify, according to PuckPedia the Panthers pick is top-10 protected next season. In a lot of cases it seems “lottery protected” just means top-10, because that’s the last spot you can launch up to draft 1st overall.

The only way the Flame surrender a top-10 pick next season is if Florida is also drafting in the top-10, because then we don’t get their pick until 2026.

CONDITIONS
If 2024 conditional 1st Round Pick owned by Philadelphia moves to 2025, this pick moves to 2026. If this pick is top 10, Calgary receives 2026 1st Round Pick

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