Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames and their window to win

How can a window be closed before it was even opened. Every team's window is not entirely open...including Toronto and Edmonton (thankfully). Once the lineup is fully set, and the games count, we will see how wide open the Flame window is. Until then, EVERY team is a contender and a Stanley Cup hopeful...even the Canucks....

Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames and their window to win
- ToddCordellCGY

Todd, Lambert used to write pieces on Flames Nation & to put it quite mildly, he is a useless piece of crap whose perception of how to build hockey teams is to lose continually & poorly until you get lucky with drafting a generational player. Needless to say he was an Oiler advocate to rebuild, felt tanking was required & when you were tanking, do not play your good players at critical times of the game because it could mess up your lottery & tanking odds. He wrote that the Flames making the playoffs in 2015 was the worst thing the franchise could have done. He is a clown & should be ignored by the hockey blog community. How could the Flames window be closing when it really hasn't opened yet? That doesn't even make sense. I know you politely refuted some of his conclusions but I have the luxury of calling him a complete dumba$$.
He makes Cloutier look intelligent.

Todd, Lambert used to write pieces on Flames Nation & to put it quite mildly, he is a useless piece of crap whose perception of how to build hockey teams is to lose continually & poorly until you get lucky with drafting a generational player. Needless to say he was an Oiler advocate to rebuild, felt tanking was required & when you were tanking, do not play your good players at critical times of the game because it could mess up your lottery & tanking odds. He wrote that the Flames making the playoffs in 2015 was the worst thing the franchise could have done. He is a clown & should be ignored by the hockey blog community. How could the Flames window be closing when it really hasn't opened yet? That doesn't even make sense. I know you politely refuted some of his conclusions but I have the luxury of calling him a complete dumba$$.
He makes Cloutier look intelligent.
- Kevin R

But what do you think of him though?

Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames and their window to win
- ToddCordellCGY

The nice thing about the Flames is they are pretty good and pretty young. They no longer go as Gio goes so if he declines is not a big deal, especially with Dougie taking a huge step and still getting better. It all hinges on goaltending, much like he t has the last few years.

All this talk about Sam's stunted development is getting crazy! That effing GG never put the kid in a position to succeed at the beginning of the year, talked about sending him to the A. Come playoffs Bennett was one of our top forwards. The guys a gamer! How long is it going to take these genuises to move him to right wing on the top line?
Don't get me wrong, Ferlands done a good job there, but Sam could truly break out playing 1st line minutes.
Sometimes it seams so simple, hard to believe Gg and company haven't tried this!

But what do you think of him though?

- hags11

He used to write once a week & the whole thread was posters spewing venom at him. I quit reading his stuff & thankfully they stopped having post the garbage as it incensed their readership. He hated the Flames but posted regularly as a Flames blogger.The only good pieces he would write were on the US College & back then we had Gaudreau, Arnold & Janko playing & he went to the games & put out some pretty decent observations.

All this talk about Sam's stunted development is getting crazy! That effing GG never put the kid in a position to succeed at the beginning of the year, talked about sending him to the A. Come playoffs Bennett was one of our top forwards. The guys a gamer! How long is it going to take these genuises to move him to right wing on the top line?
Don't get me wrong, Ferlands done a good job there, but Sam could truly break out playing 1st line minutes.
Sometimes it seams so simple, hard to believe Gg and company haven't tried this!
- K-man25

This next year will determine that. They need to put decent wingers, in particular Tkachuk & then either Versteeg or (maybe Jagr ) & lets see what Ferland does & see how Janko transitions to the NHL. The other big factor is Backlund. Can we get him resigned, if we do, then I think he should go to the wing (he would be a waste as a 3rd line C) & let Janko go on the 3rd line as a shutdown Centre. I agree with Todd. this year anything less than the playoffs would be huge fail but I wouldn't call us a Cup Contender just yet, a few pretty important answers need to happen this year.

Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames and their window to win
- ToddCordellCGY

Treliving just signed a 3 year contract. The man is a workaholic beast! He will not stop until he reaches his goals - he does not wait for things to happen, he acts - he makes things happen. I have every faith that he currently is acting on a 3 year plan that will see the Flames do damage within the 3 years. Whether that means winning a cup or going to a cup final - nobody can say, but I guarantee you that if you suggested to him that the Flames might be losing their window to win, he would not hesitate to let you know how ludicrous a suggestion that is!

(A) One of the best defenses in the league (if you count top 5 D I would say THE best D in the league)
(B) Solid group of forwards including A+ offence (Gaudreau & Monahan); A+ defense (forwards) (Backlund & Frolik); A+ youth continuing to develop (Tkachuk & Bennett) A+ prospects likely joining the lineup (Jankowski & Foo - maybe Poirer)
(C) Average to slightly above average goaltending and a goaltending pipeline that is A+(Gillies, Rittich and Parsons)

This team is trending UP, not down. Mark my words - Treliving will not allow them to trend down - at least without taking action to address any issues.

This next year will determine that. They need to put decent wingers, in particular Tkachuk & then either Versteeg or (maybe Jagr ) & lets see what Ferland does & see how Janko transitions to the NHL. The other big factor is Backlund. Can we get him resigned, if we do, then I think he should go to the wing (he would be a waste as a 3rd line C) & let Janko go on the 3rd line as a shutdown Centre. I agree with Todd. this year anything less than the playoffs would be huge fail but I wouldn't call us a Cup Contender just yet, a few pretty important answers need to happen this year.
- Kevin R

I bet a lot of people didn't think Nashville was a cup contender either. Sometimes teams just come together at the right time.

With Smith and Lack in net the Flames should win one playoff game, lets hope.

With Smith and Lack in net the Flames should win one playoff game, lets hope.
- time2produce

You're back! So exiting!

My concern with Smith is that he played for the Coyotes. We all know playing with a weak team can boost your stats, more shots = better SV%. We saw the same thing with Luongo. Guy was fantastic in Florida, went to Vancouver and his stats dropped. Other than that I like the Flames team this season.

Getting away from David Marcoux may help Lack, but he was so bad in Raleigh it's hard to have much hope

My concern with Smith is that he played for the Coyotes. We all know playing with a weak team can boost your stats, more shots = better SV%. We saw the same thing with Luongo. Guy was fantastic in Florida, went to Vancouver and his stats dropped. Other than that I like the Flames team this season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I think the D in Calgary compared to Az should help make a difference.

I knew it was going to be a negative spin when he suggests Hamilton, Monahan and Gaudreau are no longer young and now in their primes. Also, a little soon to be writing off the Flames picks in the last several years...especially Bennett. Kind of a garbage assessment IMO.

That said, yeah, goaltending is still the big question mark and they need some of the young guys to step up and make the team.

The good. Far too often people over hype the Flames defense as one of the best. If Harmonic's last season was a just a bump in the road of an otherwise solid career... Flames fans can ACTUALLY start realistically saying they have one of the best defensive groups in the league.

Calgary forwards are young and while not superstars they are deep and as a unit can get the job done.

Goaltending still an issue IMO but never as bad as Calgary fans are wont to believe.

In short, with minimal growth, the Calgary Flames should be a playoff team moving forward for some time. Years before I thought they would be. Becoming a legit cup contender is extremely difficult in todays NHL but even as unlikely as that would be for the Flames every team can put it altogether at the right time to potentially win a cup.

My concern with Smith is that he played for the Coyotes. We all know playing with a weak team can boost your stats, more shots = better SV%. We saw the same thing with Luongo. Guy was fantastic in Florida, went to Vancouver and his stats dropped. Other than that I like the Flames team this season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Lou was a star in Canuckville! Not sure what Lou you watched!

My concern with Smith is that he played for the Coyotes. We all know playing with a weak team can boost your stats, more shots = better SV%. We saw the same thing with Luongo. Guy was fantastic in Florida, went to Vancouver and his stats dropped. Other than that I like the Flames team this season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Luongo was excellent in Vancouver, though?

Luongo was excellent in Vancouver, though?
- BINGO!

no poop, went to the finals and playoffs every year he was there

I read this earlier and pointed out jankowski and foo as well as the defence playing in front of Smith. I see where he is coming from but it seems like is a little off on some of the things he mentioned

I read this earlier and pointed out jankowski and foo as well as the defence playing in front of Smith. I see where he is coming from but it seems like is a little off on some of the things he mentioned
- Flameswarrior92

A little off?!?!

Getting away from David Marcoux may help Lack, but he was so bad in Raleigh it's hard to have much hope
- BINGO!

The thing with Lack is that you guys are paying a chunk of his salary. If he sucks, 1.0 mill is easy to waive & bury in Stockton, flip side is hopefully one of Riitch or Gilles is ready for NHL starts & we bring them up. Lack will be fighting for his job at camp.

no poop, went to the finals and playoffs every year he was there
- time2produce

luongos stats dropping were do to coaching and exec head games I think.

but ya, he did well I think

luongos stats dropping were do to coaching and exec head games I think.

but ya, he did well I think
- numbear

His worst season was when he posted a .907 in 20 games... That's a pretty high rock-bottom.