What is something you REALLY want to happen next season?

[Madrox]

I don’t care about what we accomplish, but I want to feel like the team is competitive every night. Ending up missing the playoffs because the team didn’t show up in games 17 and 26 is unacceptable. I’d like to see a push into later rounds, but if the team is playing hard, holding their own, and it feels like they got unlucky, I won’t be mad at a first round exit. I think we should be better than that, but hockey is hard.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

David Jones to make his triumphant return in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

We shouldn’t have to bring out This Post Is Terrible for you at this point, you know better than this.

[keratosis]

I want to win the lottery.

[Sylvanfan]

I want them to sweep the season series with Anaheim.

[spuzzum]

I want $ dollar priced beer at the Dome. Oh yeah, and the Cup. 30....15....0 countdown

[redforever]

I want to see a team that can enter the offensive zone with speed.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I'd like to see Jankowski continue to progress and become a legitimate 2nd line 2-way center. He's got the ability, and he's become better and better every single year since he was drafted. I think he can develop his offensive production and defensive awareness a little more as he adjusts to the league. Also, he was good for spurts but lacked consistency. That's something that usually improves after a rookie season.

I will just carbon copy the above and apply it to Gillies, and maybe Hanifin as well minus the "rookie" thing.

[Moneyhands23]

How about not stumbling out of the gate! I would love to see the team come out prepared every night. Also a 7-3ish start to the season!

[GioforPM]

A breakout season for Bennett and Jankowski would be sweet. I want all the new guys to perform well. And solid goaltending all around.

[Erick Estrada]

Maybe I'm asking for a lot but to hell with just making the playoffs as a bottom seed or even winning the pacific division. I would like to see the Flames challenge for the western conference title like the Jets did last season. The roster is pretty solid from top to bottom so if this team finally (this team hasn't had top shelf coaching since Darryl Sutter) gets some high quality coaching I don't see why this shouldn't be possible.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Total and complete humiliation of the Oilers.

I think that goes almost without saying.

Yes!!! I want to see the Flames make the Oilers their bitches again!!! To me that was one of Gulutzan's biggest failings. He could not get the team motivated to beat their provincial rivals. He coached like he was scared of McDavid.

[FBI]

Agreed on coming out of the gates strong.
I also want to see a great long term deal for Hanifin.

[Itse]

At least 6 playoff wins. Bare minimum.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I want to see some dynamic offence from the team. By that I mean players like Brodie and Hanafin given the green light to get up in the attack - even lead it. I'd like to see less reliance on chipping the puck in and more true puck possession (the puck is carried into the offensive zone, players hold on to it and make plays). I don't want to see the rigid, robotic D to D and up that was seemingly mandated last season.

I'd like to see the PP move the puck quickly and across the ice and I want to see some one timers off those passes. I want to see some creativity and flair without playing too loose in the defensive zone.

I'd like for Smith to continue to cut out the high risk puck handling he did last season compared to his ARZ days but if he can fire it up to the forwards smartly (no opponents near by to steal puck for easy goals) then I'd love to see him add making the transition lightning fast.

I want to see Czarnik show the hands, stick handling and speed that allows him to carry the puck and give Bennett and Jankowski's line that zone entry force that Gaudreau is for his line.

I want to see some elite skill out of Lindholm - his scouting reports from his draft year are pretty amazing and it would be fantastic if he can unlock all that talent. I want to see this guy play to make plays and not be scared.

That's the big thing I want to see from Peters. Instill the mindset of an attacking team that isn't afraid to make mistakes and just play aggressive all over the ice all the time. Last season was a team afraid to make mistakes and it lead to static boring hockey. Cut that out.

Play with speed, play with flair and just be relentless. Regain that hard working identity but combine it with the skill and talent that is in the roster. Make the in game adjustments and just assert a greater will and belief.

Play hard and be fun to watch.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I really want to see Sam Bennett prove he is anything more than a 3rd line winger who takes multiple badly timed penalties and not get knocked off the puck so easily.

Very much agree with your sentiment. Though I seem to recall that his bad penalties seemed to drop off last year (I could be wrong). Regardless, yes, if he can become a legitimate offensive threat, which he hasn't been, and if he can show some patience in his game, that would be great for the Flames.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Very much agree with your sentiment. Though I seem to recall that his bad penalties seemed to drop off last year (I could be wrong). Regardless, yes, if he can become a legitimate offensive threat, which he hasn't been, and if he can show some patience in his game, that would be great for the Flames.

Only 18 players in the entire NHL had more minors than he did last year.

487 players averaged more TOI/GP.

He was a train wreck in this regard.

And the issue, IMO, isn't that he took these penalties...its why. His hockey IQ is looking to be way below where it needs to be and as such he put himself in position to take them because he wasn't in the right spot etc. His skating is good enough that he shouldn't constantly be using his stick illegally or having to grab on to guys.

Yet, he has been this way the last 3 seasons to varying degrees as over the course of that time he sits 29th worst among all players for minors taken. 1200 different gys have played in that time (obviously a good % of them not very many games) but even then...way way over the top and not in a good way.

[Flames67]

I really want doughty to finally drop the mitts with Tkachuk

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Only 18 players in the entire NHL had more minors than he did last year.

487 players averaged more TOI/GP.

He was a train wreck in this regard.

And the issue, IMO, isn't that he took these penalties...its why. His hockey IQ is looking to be way below where it needs to be and as such he put himself in position to take them because he wasn't in the right spot etc. His skating is good enough that he shouldn't constantly be using his stick illegally or having to grab on to guys.

Yet, he has been this way the last 3 seasons to varying degrees as over the course of that time he sits 29th worst among all players for minors taken. 1200 different gys have played in that time (obviously a good % of them not very many games) but even then...way way over the top and not in a good way.

Yeah I agree with you 100%. If I were a betting man, I'd wager he firmly stays a bottom 6 forward. Purely from watching the games, he lacks the IQ (re: my patience comment), which leads to being unable to create chances a lot of the time in situations where a guy like Gaudreau or Tkachuk would be able to. Hoping for a turnaround and 180 degree change in Bennett's play but not holding my breath.

[ignite]

Trade for Hayes at the deadline on the way to the big shiny thing.
Goalies standing on their proverbial heads.
40 goals by The Big Jankowski.

[OutOfTheCube]

Playoffs.