Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames: The Road To The Playoffs Just Got A Little Harder

We aren't a playoff team this year. We will be better but not quite ready. So once we accept and embrace that fact we can move on and prepare for 2017-2018 when we are!

We aren't a playoff team this year. We will be better but not quite ready. So once we accept and embrace that fact we can move on and prepare for 2017-2018 when we are!
- geta02it

The Flames may not make it but I definitely think they can. There is just a lot of competition. Should be a real fun season (and much better than last year's).

We aren't a playoff team this year. We will be better but not quite ready. So once we accept and embrace that fact we can move on and prepare for 2017-2018 when we are!
- geta02it

you don't think the goal tending upgrade from worst in the era to probably pretty decent will net the team 5 wins?

Flames can certainly make the playoffs this season

The Flames may not make it but I definitely think they can. There is just a lot of competition. Should be a real fun season (and much better than last year's).
- ToddCordellCGY

Totally agree. We'll be better (I think close to 20 points better) but I don't think that cuts it in the West...

you don't think the goal tending upgrade from worst in the era to probably pretty decent will net the team 5 wins?

Flames can certainly make the playoffs this season
- flashfire

see above...

Totally agree. We'll be better (I think close to 20 points better) but I don't think that cuts it in the West...
- geta02it

Who in the West got worse?

Vancouver?

Who else?

I'll give it a wait and see approach. Who knows who the Avs get as a coach this late in the summer. They seem like a bit of a dysfunctional family in Colorado.

As for your locks in the West, I'm not so high on the Ducks this year. The Carlyle hiring, IMO, was a mistake and I can see them falling flat on their collective faces. I don't think he was a particularly loved coach when he got fired, I don't see much changing with Perry and Getz still the leaders there.

Who in the West got worse?

Vancouver?

Who else?
- Iggysbff

No one thats my point... everyone got better...

Who in the West got worse?

Vancouver?

Who else?
- Iggysbff

I thought you got the quasi-permaban?!

No one thats my point... everyone got better...
- geta02it

I guess I didn't make my point clear...sorry

I was agreeing with you. Everyone thinks their team got better. Won't be easy to jump up in the standings.

I thought you got the quasi-permaban?!
- geta02it

?

Not me. Jero did. I'm a saint and the best poster on HB.

I guess I didn't make my point clear...sorry

I was agreeing with you. Everyone thinks their team got better. Won't be easy to jump up in the standings.
- Iggysbff

We do rarely see eye to eye so its logical...

?

Not me. Jero did. I'm a saint and the best poster on HB.
- Iggysbff

one of the diks on Hendo's page made a comment about you (and Jero)...

I don't know that there are teams that necessarily got worse, but there are teams that may regress:

Dallas - 109 points last year, but may regress slightly if their defensive game does not improve to some degree. Highest octane offence in the West, but also gave up the most goals as a playoff team in the West as well.

St. Louis - now has Jake Allen as their starter full time - potential for some regression, again, from 107 points, probably not falling out of any playoff standing unless Allen is AWFUL.

Chicago - like Detroit, many are awaiting the cliff, but they just keep trucking on. I don't see any danger here...

Anaheim - Similar to St. Louis, is now handing the full time reins over to Gibson - that is a bit of an unknown in terms of handling full time duties, but he is a quality goaltender.

San Jose - no major losses, likely finishing in or around the same place they did last year

Minnesota - might be the one team that falls out of things. Staal is the major addition, and he wasn't much of anything last year. I think other teams did more to improve than Minny, who stayed relatively stagnant

Colorado - Hard to say for sure that any improvement will come with a coaching change

Arizona - Goligoski is the big addition? Think they take a step back myself...

Winnipeg - Laine alone makes that team better, but still big Q's in net...

Calgary - Not sure I see huge strides from the forward group this year, but goaltending should be much improved. 15-20 points better? Not sure

Vancouver - Bottom of the West this year

Edmonton - may be a playoff team as well with Lucic and a better defensive corps. If Talbot's game also steps up, they could make it...

Goaltending could be the storyline in the West in terms of playoff teams this year, with losses in STL and ANA, a poor situation in Dallas, Arizona & Winnepeg, improvements (on paper) in Calgary... Could be the make or break for several teams (though you can say that any year for any team I suppose, this is not hard hitting analysis)

Nobody said it was gonna be easy...to write it off at this point would be stupid though

sure everyone thinks their team got better but there are still only 82 games and only so many points to go around. If bottom teams got better the point totals to qualify will actually be lower not higher

you don't think the goal tending upgrade from worst in the era to probably pretty decent will net the team 5 wins?

Flames can certainly make the playoffs this season
- flashfire

100%

Vancouver sucks, Edmonton is well Edmonton and Anaheim will be taking a big step back this year IMO (Crappy coach, aging stars that already showing signs of slowing down ie Getz and Perry's awful start last year)

I wouldn't be surprised if the Flames are a top 10 team this year, especially if we hit with one of the depth players (Vey, Chiasson, Shinkaruk) and we are only going to get better with the future additions of Tkachuk and Jankowski.

Who in the West got worse?

Vancouver?

Who else?
- Iggysbff

Dallas, St. Louis, Anaheim ? Who knows for sure but I'd say 2 of these teams will regress.

Hey Todd,

There is a reason why you have to play 82 games, Calgary could've been close last year to a playoff spot if they had above average goaltending.

Nobody said it was gonna be easy...to write it off at this point would be stupid though

sure everyone thinks their team got better but there are still only 82 games and only so many points to go around. If bottom teams got better the point totals to qualify will actually be lower not higher
- flashfire

You callin me stupid?

I thought this was a Flames thread? My bad...

If you are relying on Vey, Chaisson, and Shinkaurak - you guys are toast. So funny Flames and Leafs fans are calling the Canucks a crap team, but are totally relying on former Canucks players that can't even make the Canucks roster.

If you are relying on Vey, Chaisson, and Shinkaurak - you guys are toast. So funny Flames and Leafs fans are calling the Canucks a crap team, but are totally relying on former Canucks players that can't even make the Canucks roster.
- Rocket_Launcher

Yeah the Flames season hinges on those three guys who may or may not make the team out of camp. Meanwhile Sven is a top talent in Van City

You callin me stupid?



- geta02it

only if you are writing off playoffs in August

I would bet 90% of prognosticators had SJ out of the playoffs in last summers rankings

Suck it whippper