The Annual NHL team rankings thread (The Athletic and others) - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Reggie Dunlop · 10-03-2022, 12:37 PM

Toronto is no good.

dino7c · 10-03-2022, 12:38 PM

Oiler fans will be butthurt but seriously look at their D...their best guy would be in the Flames bottom pair

Erick Estrada · 10-03-2022, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As for the forwards, here is a comparison (as it currently looks) vs the opening night roster last year:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli < Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk (I don't think the gap is that big)
Mangipane - Kadri - Dube....... > Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Rooney - Backlund - Coleman. >>> Dube - Monahan - Ritchie
Lucic - Eakin - Lewis.............. >> Lucic - Gawdin - Lewis

(they dressed 7 D with Coleman out, but I included him to make this make more sense)

A lot of people suggesting that this year's team will take a step back on offense - I disagree. This year's forward group is more talented than last year, IMO.

Problem is that Toffoli in the first line is a massive downgrade. I'm hopeful he can have a season close to his career highs but that's a bit of hope and prayer right now because he skates like he has cinder blocks tied to his skates. I think the 2nd line will produce better but I think too many people are discounting just how special the 1st line was last season. It will likely be decades until we see anything like that again in Calgary.

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Problem is that Toffoli in the first line is a massive downgrade. I'm hopeful he can have a season close to his career highs but that's a bit of hope and prayer right now because he skates like he has cinder blocks tied to his skates. I think the 2nd line will produce better but I think too many people are discounting just how special the 1st line was last season. It will likely be decades until we see anything like that again in Calgary.

But hockey isn't a one line game. Last year, when the 1st line didn't produce, they lost 2-1. This year, the 2nd and 3rd lines will both be better. Scoring will be more consistent, even if it is a little lower. And more consistent will mean more chances for Ws.

Also, the D will be more offensive, and will move the puck up ice better, throughout the 3 pairings (once Kylington is back)

Finally, I expect Toffoli will get his share of goals playing on that line. I think their offense will be every bit as good as last year, and their defense will be better.

Enoch Root · 10-03-2022, 01:00 PM

I'm not saying that they will score as many goals as last year (goals could be up or down, league-wide), but they finished 2nd in differential last year, and I bet they are top 3 again

OutOfTheCube · 10-03-2022, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Okay sure, but we've seen this act before, with Eichel and many others. They're going to have to prove it first.

Prove what? That they aren't a bottom 5 team? It's already done, they finished ahead of teams like Detroit, Ottawa, Seattle, Philly, etc. already last season, and that was with playing like seven different goalies. They're bringing back largely the same group of guys but with even more promising young players injected into the lineup, and hopefully a little more stability in net. Buffalo = bad just seems like lazy reporting this year.

NegativeSpace · 10-03-2022, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I know no one really cares about us, but the Sabres are not a bottom 5 team. I think at worst, they're swimming in with Detroit and Ottawa, and if we get some solid goaltending all season long are maybe even a bubble playoff team. A lot of young talent that has really bought in to what the coach is selling.

I would love for Buffalo to become a relevant team again. I was encouraged by some of the moves management made last year and was happy to see some positivity going for the organization after the Eichel stuff. However, the Atlantic Division is so tough. I just don't see Buffalo competing for a playoff spot. I have the same feeling about Ottawa and Detroit - who are they going to take out? Florida, Tampa, Toronto, Boston. Maybe Boston because of injuries. Florida won't be the President's Trophy team but they are still a good team. Tampa and Toronto are locks to make it.

FanIn80 · 10-03-2022, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Yeesh, I don't get the hard on for Minnesota or the love that still lingers for Boston.

Bruins get a free ride for dusting the Canucks.

OutOfTheCube · 10-03-2022, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

I would love for Buffalo to become a relevant team again. I was encouraged by some of the moves management made last year and was happy to see some positivity going for the organization after the Eichel stuff. However, the Atlantic Division is so tough. I just don't see Buffalo competing for a playoff spot. I have the same feeling about Ottawa and Detroit - who are they going to take out? Florida, Tampa, Toronto, Boston. Maybe Boston because of injuries. Florida won't be the President's Trophy team but they are still a good team. Tampa and Toronto are locks to make it.

Yeah they have a ways to go before I'd be super confident in them making the playoffs. But these things ebb and flow. Pittsburgh, Washington, and Boston are all getting older. The Leafs have great offense but I'm not sure I'd call any team relying on Matt Murray a "lock." The Atlantic got those big point totals last year beating up on Buffalo / Detroit / Ottawa / Montreal and pretty well everyone agrees that all of those teams except Montreal are going to be better. Early season optimism from me maybe, but you never know. Team has better vibes than it's had in years.

NegativeSpace · 10-03-2022, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Yeah they have a ways to go before I'd be super confident in them making the playoffs. But these things ebb and flow. Pittsburgh, Washington, and Boston are all getting older. The Leafs have great offense but I'm not sure I'd call any team relying on Matt Murray a "lock." The Atlantic got those big point totals last year beating up on Buffalo / Detroit / Ottawa / Montreal and pretty well everyone agrees that all of those teams except Montreal are going to be better. Early season optimism from me maybe, but you never know. Team has better vibes than it's had in years.

I agree. They didn't have great goaltending throughout last year either, but they are not a team that needs great goaltending to make the playoffs. If they struggle in net, then they could fall from where they were. I just don't see them falling far enough to be out of the playoffs. They have strong scoring and a decent defence. I hope Buffalo can make it interesting this year, though I have may doubts. The fun part is watching to see what happens!

Paulie Walnuts · 10-03-2022, 02:41 PM

Not sure how the Panthers are in the top 4 and Boston so high with the Blues out of the top 10.

The Flames improved the most important position contenders need which is center ice, and added a #1 defenceman.

I think our ranking in the top 5 is fair, only draw back the team has is the hole on the wing and trying to patch it up by inserting to many pluggers into the lineup.

FanIn80 · 10-03-2022, 03:11 PM

So we're looking at Calgary, Colorado, Florida and Toronto (alphabetically) in the top four?

CorsiHockeyLeague · 10-03-2022, 03:15 PM

Good news: Flames finish atop the division in another analytics-based projection.
Bad news: Jfresh done gone lost his damned mind. Islanders a 100 point team? Nah... nah.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1577009864190361600

Meanwhile Evolving Hockey also likes the Flames... but doesn't think much of the Central Division.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1576904905045946368

EDIT: Uh... nevermind, I would like to apologize to Jfresh for saying he had lost his mind. This is what losing your mind looks like.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1576967548675018754

... Yep, that's the Canucks in first in the division, and the Flames 4th. Also, in this bizarro world, the Islanders make the playoffs but the Maple Leafs miss.

Barnet Flame · 10-03-2022, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

LA ahead of Vancouver; Edmonton well back of Calgary. These fans must be losing their minds about this.

They haven’t got much to lose.

1_Flames_Fan · 10-04-2022, 08:28 AM

Wow, Flames either first or second.

Ashasx · 10-04-2022, 08:32 AM

This is bad voodoo. It feels like when people predict the Flames to do well, they always (severely) disappoint. When everyone writes them off, they make some noise.

Wastedyouth · 10-04-2022, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

This is bad voodoo. It feels like when people predict the Flames to do well, they always (severely) disappoint. When everyone writes them off, they make some noise.

It's just in your head.

Ashasx · 10-04-2022, 08:33 AM

i disagree

undercoverbrother · 10-04-2022, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

This is bad voodoo. It feels like when people predict the Flames to do well, they always (severely) disappoint. When everyone writes them off, they make some noise.

Maybe this is the year they change the narrative

Erick Estrada · 10-04-2022, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

EDIT: Uh... nevermind, I would like to apologize to Jfresh for saying he had lost his mind. This is what losing your mind looks like.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1576967548675018754

... Yep, that's the Canucks in first in the division, and the Flames 4th. Also, in this bizarro world, the Islanders make the playoffs but the Maple Leafs miss.

Seriously that looks more like division standings picked out of a hat than calculated results. I get that the Leafs may have goaltending issues but 91 points and missing the playoffs is laughable.