[News] The 2018/19 All-Inclusive Media Flames Predictions Thread

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by jayswin

It's not really a fools game overall. There will always be outliers, and Vegas was even more than a typical outlier as they had loosened expansion rules.

I disagree. Besides Vegas you had the Jets way overachieve what anyone predicted. Everyone was picking Dallas to win their division and they missed the playoffs. Nobody saw the collapse of the Rangers coming. Despite what is obvious to us on here most experts had the Oilers winning the Pacific. The teams are so close now that really anything can happen.

[Enoch Root]

Regarding 'coaching for stats', I don't think any coach - at least any coach that achieves the NHL level - is ever going to overtly do that.

However, what I think can happen, is a team gets too focused on some things and as a result, other parts of their game lapse or fall into a rut. Because the Flames were focused on playing the way Gulutzan wanted, and because their possession stats looked okay, the coaching staff assumed things were on track and they were just experiencing bad luck. And that was a failure on their part. No one in the organization recognized the lack of Royal Road activity and thus no adjustments were made, and thus the frustration simply mounted.

As for missing the net, I think that is a confidence thing. When it's going well, you just let it happen, and it keeps going well. When it isn't going well, you tend to shoot for the corners more - you tend to aim - and things just go downhill. The harder you try, the worse it gets. But every season is a new season.

It will be interesting to see if the same problems and frustrations continue, or if they get off to a good start offensively.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Regarding 'coaching for stats', I don't think any coach - at least any coach that achieves the NHL level - is ever going to overtly do that.

However, what I think can happen, is a team gets too focused on some things and as a result, other parts of their game lapse or fall into a rut. Because the Flames were focused on playing the way Gulutzan wanted, and because their possession stats looked okay, the coaching staff assumed things were on track and they were just experiencing bad luck. And that was a failure on their part. No one in the organization recognized the lack of Royal Road activity and thus no adjustments were made, and thus the frustration simply mounted.

As for missing the net, I think that is a confidence thing. When it's going well, you just let it happen, and it keeps going well. When it isn't going well, you tend to shoot for the corners more - you tend to aim - and things just go downhill. The harder you try, the worse it gets. But every season is a new season.

It will be interesting to see if the same problems and frustrations continue, or if they get off to a good start offensively.

I think that's pretty much it.

He had a 50/50 game view, where if you're not losing then you'll eventually win. Don't get outplayed and good things will happen.

Thing is ... he's probably right more often than not. But the team through bad luck or lack of confidence ended up having a season for the ages when it comes to missing the net and that largely undid him.

However given the changes I think the cross seam stuff must have been just as much personnel as coaching.

The good news is they changed both, so we may never no the answer, but at least it's being attacked on two fronts.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I think the Hamilton trade will turn out to be a bigger win than most think.

I think Brodie at his best is better than Hamilton at his best. If Brodano can reunite, the Flames already win. I also think if Hamonic and Hanifin can pair well, then the Flames not only add the good Brodie, but they also get the Hamonic they traded for PLUS a 21 year old stud, who’s an incredible skater and is only getting better at all facets of the game. He seems like a way smarter player than Hamilton. That’s an amazing top 4.

Not only that, the Flames get a consistent, highly skilled forward in Lindholm. I’m a big Ferland fan, but his upside and consistency are much lower than Lindholm’s.

Subtract the dead weight of Stajan, Versteeg, and Jagr. Make Lazar, Brouwer and Hathaway fight for spots. Add great depth forwards like Ryan and Czarnik.

Give Bennett a new coach to work with, another year for Jankowski under his belt, and the best of all, a true 20-30 goal sniper to play alongside Gaudreau and Monahan to create a top line comprised only of legitimate top line players.

I may be overly optimistic, but I think this Flames team looks a lot better.

A couple of Leafs fans in Toronto I work with - yes the team that just signed Tavares - were RAVING to me about the offseason the Flames have had. Said they felt that it's a Stanley Cup forward group now to go along with a top 10 blueline, and because of that better than the Leafs. Only question for them was goaltending and did I think that would hold up.

When Peters was first brought in his emphasis was avoiding the slow start, that the team needed to come out of the gates strong. If they can do that, hopefully that lightens the load somewhat on Smith and can keep him in the 55-60 games range so he's fresh down the stretch.

IMO a healthy Smith and no question our goaltending is good enough. The question is can the team (and backup) play good enough to give the coach the confidence of rotating Gillies/Rittich in more frequently to get Smith the rest he'll need.

[drewtastic]

<Bump.>

Photo taken from NHL Instagram. Flames make playoffs according to NHL.com off-season analysis and predictions too!

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

<Bump.>

Photo taken from NHL Instagram. Flames make playoffs according to NHL.com off-season analysis and predictions too!

That's the power rankings...

[SeanCharles]

This can't be right as there are 9 western teams on the list

[djsFlames]

How are there power rankings in the off-season? Surprised the oilers arent top 5 for Connor's hole in one.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

That's the power rankings...

My bad.

Still-top 16, no oilers in sight. I’m calling it a win!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Updated the thread title to allow other predictions from other outlets.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

That's the power rankings...

Yea that exact same record and 84 points didn't get us in last year, lol

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanTrev

Yea that exact same record and 84 points didn't get us in last year, lol

Because those are last year’s records, not the coming year’s predictions.

[Huntingwhale]

[ricardodw]

I find it interesting that there is no concern about the Flames missing their future Norris Trophy winner and league leading scoring d-man - Hamilton.

A lot of analysis of the 2017-18 Flames team underperforming was based on the "fact" that Hamilton was a top-10 in the league D-man and Hamilton-Gio was a top pairing defense in the league. With this assumption and a good/ near great #1 line and Smith playing like a top 10 goalie the Flames should have won a lot more games.

Yet after moving Hamilton it appears that there is universal consensus that the roster has significantly improved.

If Hamilton was a top 10 d-man and a likely Norris candidate then the roster would actually be down graded. Take Pronger out of Edmonton, Doughty out of LA, Hedman out of Tampa, Burns out of SJ, Keith out of the Hawks, Suter out of Min and they would extremely hard pressed not to be considered down graded.

I guess that a bulk of posters agree that Hamilton was not as important as he was said to be when he was a Flame.

This team's biggest risks are:

1) goalie what is Smith's norm and are Rittich/Gillies able to win 17 games in 30 starts.
2) Backlund/Frolik over 30 , was last season "unlucky" or was it a sign of decline
3) Does Gio ever slow down?
4) Hamilton actually was their best d-man

[TheScorpion]

If Dougie Hamilton ever wins the Norris trophy, I'm buying a Ruslan Zainullin jersey.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

If Dougie Hamilton ever wins the Norris trophy, I'm buying a Ruslan Zainullin jersey.

If Hamilton ever wins a Norris, it would be a record breaking season for injuries to star defencemen.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I find it interesting that there is no concern about the Flames missing their future Norris Trophy winner and league leading scoring d-man - Hamilton.

A lot of analysis of the 2017-18 Flames team underperforming was based on the "fact" that Hamilton was a top-10 in the league D-man and Hamilton-Gio was a top pairing defense in the league. With this assumption and a good/ near great #1 line and Smith playing like a top 10 goalie the Flames should have won a lot more games.

Yet after moving Hamilton it appears that there is universal consensus that the roster has significantly improved.

If Hamilton was a top 10 d-man and a likely Norris candidate then the roster would actually be down graded. Take Pronger out of Edmonton, Doughty out of LA, Hedman out of Tampa, Burns out of SJ, Keith out of the Hawks, Suter out of Min and they would extremely hard pressed not to be considered down graded.

I guess that a bulk of posters agree that Hamilton was not as important as he was said to be when he was a Flame.

This team's biggest risks are:

1) goalie what is Smith's norm and are Rittich/Gillies able to win 17 games in 30 starts.
2) Backlund/Frolik over 30 , was last season "unlucky" or was it a sign of decline
3) Does Gio ever slow down?
4) Hamilton actually was their best d-man

Nice try. First of all, Pronger, Doughty and Burns are the best players on their teams and Hedman isn't far off. Hamilton may well be a future star, but he wasn't even Calgary's best defenceman when he was traded.

Second, tell me, after taking out Pronger, Doughty, Hedman, Burns, Keith or Suter, did any of those teams have a top four like Gio, Hamonic, Hanifin and Brody left? On LA you have Muzzin - he's a top end defenceman but then nothing comparable. Tampa you have Sergachev left - a second year player. SJ you get Vlasic and Braun and that's it. I bet that, without looking, you couldn't even name an Edmonton defenceman left after Pronger went south. Keith (and his 32 points) goes and you get the overrated Seabrook.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I find it interesting that there is no concern about the Flames missing their future Norris Trophy winner and league leading scoring d-man - Hamilton.

A lot of analysis of the 2017-18 Flames team underperforming was based on the "fact" that Hamilton was a top-10 in the league D-man and Hamilton-Gio was a top pairing defense in the league. With this assumption and a good/ near great #1 line and Smith playing like a top 10 goalie the Flames should have won a lot more games.

Yet after moving Hamilton it appears that there is universal consensus that the roster has significantly improved.

If Hamilton was a top 10 d-man and a likely Norris candidate then the roster would actually be down graded. Take Pronger out of Edmonton, Doughty out of LA, Hedman out of Tampa, Burns out of SJ, Keith out of the Hawks, Suter out of Min and they would extremely hard pressed not to be considered down graded.

I guess that a bulk of posters agree that Hamilton was not as important as he was said to be when he was a Flame.

This team's biggest risks are:

1) goalie what is Smith's norm and are Rittich/Gillies able to win 17 games in 30 starts.
2) Backlund/Frolik over 30 , was last season "unlucky" or was it a sign of decline
3) Does Gio ever slow down?
4) Hamilton actually was their best d-man

The Canes better hurry up and sign Freddie Hamilton if they expect Dougie to play at a level much higher than he ever has.
The guy just isn't Norris calibre, at least until he drastically improves defensively.

The fact you can even imply he may be better than Gio just proves your lack of knowledge. Gio carried that pairing, which is clear to anyone without a twisted agenda.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

The Canes better hurry up and sign Freddie Hamilton if they expect Dougie to play at a level much higher than he ever has.
The guy just isn't Norris calibre, at least until he drastically improves defensively.

The fact you can even imply he may be better than Gio just proves your lack of knowledge. Gio carried that pairing, which is clear to anyone without a twisted agenda.

Well, this is definitely not what ricardodw is implying. His post is another typical, passive aggressive swipe at the Flames and their fan base which is intended to do the following two things:

1) promote his well worn and tiresome obsession with Dougie Hamilton, and to back-handedly congratulate himself for "being right" all along to assert that Hamilton is a terrible NHL defenseman.

2) disparage CP for a presumed collective bias in evaluating the Hamilton trade.

This is pretty standard fare fo him, and it is often best to ignore these types of obviously veiled assaults.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Well, this is definitely not what ricardodw is implying. His post is another typical, passive aggressive swipe at the Flames and their fan based which is intended to do the following two things:

1) promote his well worn and tiresome obsession with Dougie Hamilton, and to back-handedly congratulate himself for "being right" all along to assert that Hamilton is a terrible NHL defenseman.

2) disparage CP for a presumed collective bias in evaluating the Hamilton trade.

This is pretty standard fare fo him, and it is often best to ignore these types of obviously veiled assaults.

On point 2) CP pretty much approved of the Hamilton trade. There was a vocal minority that thought Hamilton was too great to be traded.


Do you personally have higher or lower exceptions for this Hamilton-less edition of the Flames?