I think its really remarkable what they are doing, but as a fan going through both sides of the spectrum, have to relate with the flames in what they are doing.

But ultimately, it wont last (if not this season but next). Like the Avs last season, when you get career years out of everyone (Dutchy, Varly, ROR, EJ, Barrie, Landy) and surprise production out of the food soldiers (Holden with 10 goals, Cliché looking like an NHL regular, Mitchell, McLeod and McGinn with a career years). Its unrealistic to believe they they are going to produce at the same level or match those totals again.

Flames have a lot of guys doing the same thing right now. Having Career years and its exciting to see. But eventually some of those guys will drop down in production or wont be able to match those totals again.

Hoepfully the Flames don't do what the Avs did...They bought in and fell in love with the 2013-14 Avs...now they are paying for it locking up guys long term. Now they have issues having to justify guys like Holden, Guenin, Cliché, McLeod stuck on the team long term. Its going to get worse before it gets better for my club
- DDM-Coga

A lot of this is very true. Some good points in here. But I think we need to look at a couple things here:

First of all, injuries. I would argue Backlund, Raymond and Colbourne are 3 of Calgary's top forwards (Backlund and Raymond definitely are). They have managed to win and have success without them. Adding these guys back is only going to help IMO.

Second, prospect depth. Although the Av's were winning with most of the key pieces in their lineup last year (correct me if i'm wrong). Calgary still has a good list of players ready to make the jump and bolster this team even more. Guy's like Bennett , Poirier, Wotherspoon, Seiloff. I could argue these guys are our best prospects, ahead of guys like Granlund, Ferland, Jooris etc. (Oh and don't forget the janitor)

Lastly, defence. Our top 4 is solid. Regardless of whether they regress, they will still be one of the best top 4 in the NHL. With these guys back there I the Flames will always have a great chance at winning every night. I feel like the Av's are relying on some green players back there, this Flames group is a lot more established.

Disagree, those loses were all 1 goal games and losing in the 3rd period or in OT. They changed their defensive system and went down from being blow out 5-0 and giving up 30-40 shots a game, now in those games they are giving up around 24 shots.

Changing their system is paying off with better defensive efforts but just too many terrible D (Guenin, Holden, and Stuart) dragging them down. A lot of those loses were bc of a PP goal usually with a penalty taken by those guys or McLeod bc they just are not NHL caliber players
- DDM-Coga

BTW I think they Av's looked decent last night. They are going to be just fine.

I think its really remarkable what they are doing, but as a fan going through both sides of the spectrum, have to relate with the flames in what they are doing.

But ultimately, it wont last (if not this season but next). Like the Avs last season, when you get career years out of everyone (Dutchy, Varly, ROR, EJ, Barrie, Landy) and surprise production out of the food soldiers (Holden with 10 goals, Cliché looking like an NHL regular, Mitchell, McLeod and McGinn with a career years). Its unrealistic to believe they they are going to produce at the same level or match those totals again.

Flames have a lot of guys doing the same thing right now. Having Career years and its exciting to see. But eventually some of those guys will drop down in production or wont be able to match those totals again.

Hoepfully the Flames don't do what the Avs did...They bought in and fell in love with the 2013-14 Avs...now they are paying for it locking up guys long term. Now they have issues having to justify guys like Holden, Guenin, Cliché, McLeod stuck on the team long term. Its going to get worse before it gets better for my club
- DDM-Coga

Flames have Gio and Brodie that are playing like they were sent down from Valhalla. Wideman and Russell are playing producing above their heads. The minute these guys fail to put up points on a regular basis we might be back to where we were last year, loosing more 1 goal games.


My rant for the day.

Flames have one of the top pairing D in the league. I am going to go out on a limb and say they also possess the top point producing 2nd line D in the league (didn't look it up, if I am wrong I am going to hell anyways) as well.

The Flames differ in the fact that they rely on our decent D to win us games, where as the Avs were relying on their forward corps and some stellar goaltending. Time will tell (Hiller stole us same games early on but has been human for the last month).

Flames have also had a lot of injuries and the result has been they are tanking on face-offs. As one of the other posters pointed out we might start seeing our advanced possession stats go up when we can start winning some face-offs.

Besides GlenX, Byron, Backs, Beartschi, and Ramo…..who else do we have to re-sign? I would say the only key out of that group is Backs and god willing Beartschi. Would also like to see Byron get a another contract, he deserves it.

But man if the Ave's ever get some D are they ever going to be a force.

A lot of this is very true. Some good points in here. But I think we need to look at a couple things here:

First of all, injuries. I would argue Backlund, Raymond and Colbourne are 3 of Calgary's top forwards (Backlund and Raymond definitely are). They have managed to win and have success without them. Adding these guys back is only going to help IMO.

Second, prospect depth. Although the Av's were winning with most of the key pieces in their lineup last year (correct me if i'm wrong). Calgary still has a good list of players ready to make the jump and bolster this team even more. Guy's like Bennett , Poirier, Wotherspoon, Seiloff. I could argue these guys are our best prospects, ahead of guys like Granlund, Ferland, Jooris etc. (Oh and don't forget the janitor)

Lastly, defence. Our top 4 is solid. Regardless of whether they regress, they will still be one of the best top 4 in the NHL. With these guys back there I the Flames will always have a great chance at winning every night. I feel like the Av's are relying on some green players back there, this Flames group is a lot more established.
- The-O-G

I guess this goes back to building from the back out - are the Flames going to be able to sustain this type of success (while being outshot) because of a strong top 4? The Avs definitely have a stronger top 6 but theres no arguing they dont have the D calgary does.

I think the flames are going to be one of the most interesting teams to follow just because they're kind of an anomaly right now.

BTW I think they Av's looked decent last night. They are going to be just fine.
- The-O-G

I think they are fine too, bad game out of the Mack Landy Iggy line, one of the worst ones they have had in a long time. Rough Game from Barrie too. Cant afford to have those guys having nights off.

They really do have some pretty terrible Puck Luck. Im not a stat guy, but there is a measurable category for that apparently, and some for the guys like Landy and ROR have really high numbers against them

Flames have Gio and Brodie that are playing like they were sent down from Valhalla. Wideman and Russell are playing producing above their heads. The minute these guys fail to put up points on a regular basis we might be back to where we were last year, loosing more 1 goal games.


My rant for the day.

Flames have one of the top pairing D in the league. I am going to go out on a limb and say they also possess the top point producing 2nd line D in the league (didn't look it up, if I am wrong I am going to hell anyways) as well.

The Flames differ in the fact that they rely on our decent D to win us games, where as the Avs were relying on their forward corps and some stellar goaltending. Time will tell (Hiller stole us same games early on but has been human for the last month).

Flames have also had a lot of injuries and the result has been they are tanking on face-offs. As one of the other posters pointed out we might start seeing our advanced possession stats go up when we can start winning some face-offs.

Besides GlenX, Byron, Backs, Beartschi, and Ramo…..who else do we have to re-sign? I would say the only key out of that group is Backs and god willing Beartschi. Would also like to see Byron get a another contract, he deserves it.

But man if the Ave's ever get some D are they ever going to be a force.
- Mr.Pink

Barrie and EJ are great Top 4 guys, and Redmond is a good underrated 3rd pairing guy. But thats 3 RHS that are decent, they have no one on on the Left Side to compliment these guys. Their prospects in Bigras and Seiemens are lefties but they are just not there. (I have big hopes for Bigras, hes having one hell of a OHL season again)

If they can get a guy like Staal this offseason to play with EJ, that would be a step in the right direction. The UFA market is pretty weak for a top flight guy. Unless they trade ROR, they will have to overspend on a guy like Staal or hope they develop a stud

BTW I think they Av's looked decent last night. They are going to be just fine.
- The-O-G

not this year, they are basically out of it

Calgary has 100 points in their last 82 games played fyi

Seriously....can someone smart please go back and find out what the Flames record is from January of last year until now? I remember they lost like 7 in a row or something and from that point on were top 5 in the conference if i'm not mistaken.
- The-O-G

Not sure if this is what you're looking for:
In the 82 games going back to Dec 7 2013 (a win against Edm) the Flames have 98 points. They had a 5 game winning streak (Jan 22-Feb 1-Ari, Nas, Chi, SJ, Min) and 4 games (Apr 3 - 9 - TB, Fla, NJ, LA)
From Dec 27 to Jan 20 they were 3-12-3. Count only the 66 games they've played since Jan 20 and their record is 40-24-2 which translates to an 82 game record of 50-30-2 for 102 points.
Based on this years games to date they're on track for 108-109 points. So the bottom line is that since the start of this season their record is slightly better than last year's finish.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/te.../year/2014/calgary-flames
Edit: Their record for the final 39 games of 2013-2014 was 23-16-0 which would equal 96 points over 82 games.


Statistics are like women; mirrors of purest virtue and truth, or like whores to use as one pleases. ~Theodor Billroth

A lot of this is very true. Some good points in here. But I think we need to look at a couple things here:

First of all, injuries. I would argue Backlund, Raymond and Colbourne are 3 of Calgary's top forwards (Backlund and Raymond definitely are). They have managed to win and have success without them. Adding these guys back is only going to help IMO.

Second, prospect depth. Although the Av's were winning with most of the key pieces in their lineup last year (correct me if i'm wrong). Calgary still has a good list of players ready to make the jump and bolster this team even more. Guy's like Bennett , Poirier, Wotherspoon, Seiloff. I could argue these guys are our best prospects, ahead of guys like Granlund, Ferland, Jooris etc. (Oh and don't forget the janitor)

Lastly, defence. Our top 4 is solid. Regardless of whether they regress, they will still be one of the best top 4 in the NHL. With these guys back there I the Flames will always have a great chance at winning every night. I feel like the Av's are relying on some green players back there, this Flames group is a lot more established.
- The-O-G

I love the constant female doging about how the flames defense is going to slow down in their production and we will not be so lucky ....and losses will follow ....maybe these guys slow down on their scoring ...but one would have to imagine stajan, backlund, Raymond, and colborne might be able to score some goals

I don't think the defence will regress much. Giordano has been doing this since he came back healthy last year. Even games where they lose he still drives offence. I haven't seen a game where he doesn't look dangerous or not have multiple quality chances. Brodie is blossoming into the perfect two-way defender, with the way that kid can skate he's always everywhere, and he can out skate anyone. When you pair that with his positional play you get the results he is having.

Russel and Wideman just have all the confidence in the world right now. They might regress, but that first pairing of Gio and Brodie really make things comfortable on their end.

This team is just so fast with their transition game. Yeah there's turnovers that happen, but when these players get the puck the priority is to get it up ice as quick as possible. You could see it last night against the Avs when there's just 2 defensemen in Calgary's end and the forwards are all waiting up at the blue line.

You want to talk about possession stats and corsi? When the other team can only afford to forecheck with one player against 2 defensemen while the rest of their team is in their own end (not even in the neutral zone) I'd say you have pretty good ice possession there.

The third period belongs to this team.

Stajan in tomorrow

Stajan in tomorrow
- Redmile247

The Messiah returns.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...y-flames-edmonton-oilers/

The Messiah returns.
- Nucker101

Getting healthy just makes it easier to roll 4 lines ...which keeps players rested for the third period comback

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jay-feaster-fun-tampa-bay-lightning-calgary-flames-edmonton-oilers/
- Drakaland

This is absolutely hilarious if he isn't working for another NHL team ....Stevie Y needs to put an end to that kinda stuff

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jay-feaster-fun-tampa-bay-lightning-calgary-flames-edmonton-oilers/
- Drakaland

YEHHHH BABY!!! You can put it in the LOSS column, #Oilers! Entire time I was in Calgary all I heard was how far ahead they were of #Flames

— Jay Feaster (@therealjfeaster) December 4, 2014

YEHHHH BABY!!! You can put it in the LOSS column, #Oilers! Entire time I was in Calgary all I heard was how far ahead they were of #Flames

— Jay Feaster (@therealjfeaster) December 4, 2014

- Colin Dambrauskas

Love it!

Love it!
- whipper334

I need you guys to start a petition to bring my old avvie back...I figure everyone of you should PM jtommyt...

I need you guys to start a petition to bring my old avvie back...I figure everyone of you should PM jtommyt...
- geta02it

Already did!

Already did!
- whipper334

Stajan in tomorrow
- Redmile247

Who draws out?

Who draws out?
- Flames in 6 04

Haven't heard yet ...I would guess a 4th liner but to be honest I thought all 3 played really good last game ...even bollig

Who the heck is the starter? Ramo or Hiller?

I need you guys to start a petition to bring my old avvie back...I figure everyone of you should PM jtommyt...
- geta02it

Whats the deal with that anyway? Why'd you have to change it?

Who the heck is the starter? Ramo or Hiller?
- twiztedmike

Ramo's won 5 straight......or is it 6? No reason to quit now.