The silver lining is that they've been massively outplayed and still were within minutes of being up 3-1. If Smith continues to Smith, they only need a handful of players to actually show up. What kind of nut pulls the goalie with three minutes to go when you're only down one?

One game at a time.
- Hunkulese

FFS Hunk, stop it!

Agree with you again!

The Flame's in last nights game, especially the 3rd period, was the definition of Playing Not to Lose instead of playing to win. It was just wave after wave of Colorado pushing to score and Calgary trying to hold a 1 goal lead instead of pushing and controlling the play.

Who thought they were a legit contender? Why were all the "experts" wanting to avoid Vegas in the first round? Why did so many not have the Flames getting out of the West? Jesus dude, either you just troll allot or are clearly f'n dumber than you appear. You obviously haven't been on this site long because the vast majority of Flames fans on this site recognize the window is JUST opening.

On paper we should have beat the Av's. I think the depth we thought we had has some holes. Well gee, lesson learned. Its not shock, its disappointment. Woulda, coulda, shoulda... Learn, adjust, move on.

Av's deserve credit and taught this team a valuable lesson. You want to be a Richard, jump on another teams bandwagon.
- geta02it

👍

Why? Because Smith is the reason the Flames are behind? I'm a Rittich fan but goaltending is not the reason this team is here.
- geta02it

Smith is hanging on for dear life. The wheels are nearly falling off each shot. Putting Rittich in is the only way to wake the flames up.

The problem with trading Sean Monahan is that you no longer have Sean Monahan.
- BINGO!

From what I've seen out of him this year, since February, that would be a good thing. Addition by subtraction. He's soft, and slow. Doesn't win battles in the corners, along the walls in the offensive or defensive zone, is too slow to carry the puck through the neutral zone and gain entries with the puck entering the zone. Useless. Plus, I'm pretty sure we could get a great prospect and a top 15 pick from an East team for him.
Call up the NYR, offer JH, Monny, Brodie, Kylington, and Neal for #2 overall, Kreider, a and Vesey. Or something of the sort. I do think Johnny could thrive with a better Center though, someone who could keep up with him and win puck battles, along with Lindholm. Lindholm was that player until he got worn out doing all the heavy lifting for that line.

Call up the NYR, offer JH, Monny, Brodie, Kylington, and Neal for #2 overall, Kreider, a and Vesey.
- quinneroma

What an absolutely awful trade for both teams.

The Flames don't need to blow everything up. They're still a great team. They need to get rid of Neal, and probably Brodie, and try a different centre on the top line.

The Flame's in last nights game, especially the 3rd period, was the definition of Playing Not to Lose instead of playing to win. It was just wave after wave of Colorado pushing to score and Calgary trying to hold a 1 goal lead instead of pushing and controlling the play.
- buddy_doug

Is it the player's mentality or the coach's orders?


Flames were relentless in 3rd periods all season and now suddenly they just sit back on a 1 goal lead.

The problem with trading Sean Monahan is that you no longer have Sean Monahan.
- BINGO!

You seem to like Monahan. Hurricanes have the cap room. What would you think a fair offer would be for the Canes to take Monahan and Neal? A second-round pick too much?

These games are just torture to watch. I mentioned on here a few times that I was worried about how the Flames fell apart last year. A deficit in character, perhaps even a millennial meltdown. Some folks told me to step back from ledge - which is funny - but god damn if it doesn't feel the same again. The difference this is year is that we played well enough early to make playoffs, and the meltdown is a few weeks later. Boo.

You seem to like Monahan. Hurricanes have the cap room. What would you think a fair offer would be for the Canes to take Monahan and Neal? A second-round pick too much?
- Hunkulese

We have a seemingly infinite amount of cap space, and an owner who has shown a willingness to bury money in the minors if need be.

I'd take it.

You seem to like Monahan. Hurricanes have the cap room. What would you think a fair offer would be for the Canes to take Monahan and Neal? A second-round pick too much?
- Hunkulese

If Treliving makes that deal, he's done in Calgary.

Mony is not a perfect #1 centre, fully agree, and for a guy I thought might emulate Toews, I haven't seen captain material out of him in his tenure here.

Frankly, as much as I've been slagging on the team over the last couple of days, I'm amazed that we are talking about tearing down a young core (Monahan and Lindholm in this thread so far). This is a team in need of tweaking, not a hand grenade to the face.

Jesus, we (maybe) lose one round and people lose their damn minds!

Send Neal packing, eat some cap if you have to, but under no circumstance do you package a 24 year old 1st line centre and create a massive black hole in your lineup. Even if Duchene is available, you're probably spending $2M more for a flawed #1 (really, he's a #2) centre and you're competing against Columbus who has nothing but cap space to keep him around anyways.

If you trade Mony and whatever flaws he has, you need a guy immediately capable of taking that #1 slot and running with it. We fought like hell for years to get a really good #1 centre and now we're willing to toss that aside? Hard nope.

We have a seemingly infinite amount of cap space, and an owner who has shown a willingness to bury money in the minors if need be.

I'd take it.
- BINGO!

So basically it’s like paying Monahan 12M per year

Not too bad I guess since CAR probably can’t sign an elite UFA anyway but damn

So basically it’s like paying Monahan 12M per year

Not too bad I guess since CAR probably can’t sign an elite UFA anyway but damn
- Nucker101

lol yeah but then it's Aho - Monahan - J.Staal - Necas down the middle

If Treliving makes that deal, he's done in Calgary.

Mony is not a perfect #1 centre, fully agree, and for a guy I thought might emulate Toews, I haven't seen captain material out of him in his tenure here.

Frankly, as much as I've been slagging on the team over the last couple of days, I'm amazed that we are talking about tearing down a young core (Monahan and Lindholm in this thread so far). This is a team in need of tweaking, not a hand grenade to the face.

Jesus, we (maybe) lose one round and people lose their damn minds!

Send Neal packing, eat some cap if you have to, but under no circumstance do you package a 24 year old 1st line centre and create a massive black hole in your lineup. Even if Duchene is available, you're probably spending $2M more for a flawed #1 (really, he's a #2) centre and you're competing against Columbus who has nothing but cap space to keep him around anyways.

If you trade Mony and whatever flaws he has, you need a guy immediately capable of taking that #1 slot and running with it. We fought like hell for years to get a really good #1 centre and now we're willing to toss that aside? Hard nope.
- rmull905

I'd say there's like an 80% chance that either Lindholm or Bennett could be as effective as Monahan is as the number one centre if you put those three together. They'd also have 12 million to spend. 12 million is enough to fill any hole you have as long as you're not giving half of it to Neal. Even if it takes something absurd like 10 million to get Duchene, they're still ahead of where they are now.

Without a move like that, they're not really going to make any meaningful changes.

I'd say there's like an 80% chance that either Lindholm or Bennett could be as effective as Monahan is as the number one centre if you put those three together. They'd also have 12 million to spend. 12 million is enough to fill any hole you have as long as you're not giving half of it to Neal. Even if it takes something absurd like 10 million to get Duchene, they're still ahead of where they are now.

Without a move like that, they're not really going to make any meaningful changes.
- Hunkulese

Just looked it up... you guys are gonna have almost no cap space once chucky signs, huh?

Just looked it up... you guys are gonna have almost no cap space once chucky signs, huh?
- BINGO!

They won't even have room for him if they can't unload a Neal, Brodie, or Frolik.

I'd say there's like an 80% chance that either Lindholm or Bennett could be as effective as Monahan is as the number one centre if you put those three together. They'd also have 12 million to spend. 12 million is enough to fill any hole you have as long as you're not giving half of it to Neal. Even if it takes something absurd like 10 million to get Duchene, they're still ahead of where they are now.

Without a move like that, they're not really going to make any meaningful changes.
- Hunkulese

What in Bennett's tenure in the NHL remotely suggests that he would at all effective in a #1C role? And Duchene carries his own flaws, and he's really more of a 2C guy anyways, I'm not paying that dude $10M ever

What in Bennett's tenure in the NHL remotely suggests that he would at all effective in a #1C role? And Duchene carries his own flaws, and he's really more of a 2C guy anyways, I'm not paying that dude $10M ever
- rmull905

Every time they get to the playoffs, Bennett has been their best player. Are you happy with regular season success or would you like a Stanley Cup? He has all the skill and grit to be a success, he just hasn't put it together.

And Duchene isn't worth 10 million, but it's a better option than Monahan and Neal for 12.

Interesting to note. The Flames one of the top teams at drawing penalties during the regular season, you know, because penalties are a thing. Now that the refs have changed the rules and virtually no penalties are being called, it’s a different game.

Time for Flames players to realize this and start taking liberties with the Avs. It’s dirty hockey or nothing now. Figure it out.
- Flamin_Irishmin

FIgure it out is right! Gaudreau And monahan just can’t be out when the McKinnon line is on they just aren’t in the same league as them! All he does is fly by’s and button hooks and then does a blind pass and give the puck up. I guess if this was house hockey with no body checking,he would be a supper star!!! Monahan gaudreau down to the 3rd line. Lindholm stays he at least hits and blocks shots! Lazy ass no back Cheq Neil can watch from the box! Czarnik,dube, lazar anybody is better then him..... if Neil skated back with a little more effort maybe just maybe the avs might not have scored there.
Tri to do list this off season: buy out Niel trade Brody and trade gaudreau

FIgure it out is right! Gaudreau And monahan just can’t be out when the McKinnon line is on they just aren’t in the same league as them! All he does is fly by’s and button hooks and then does a blind pass and give the puck up. I guess if this was house hockey with no body checking,he would be a supper star!!! Monahan gaudreau down to the 3rd line. Lindholm stays he at least hits and blocks shots! Lazy ass no back Cheq Neil can watch from the box! Czarnik,dube, lazar anybody is better then him..... if Neil skated back with a little more effort maybe just maybe the avs might not have scored there.
Tri to do list this off season: buy out Niel trade Brody and trade gaudreau
- pzoxic

Yeah, it would be nice if Neal back checked a little harder. Not just him though, the entire team. Especially the top line. Johnny barely enters his own end...he's just hanging around our blueline waiting for the puck. 50 shots against two games in a row says it all.

Yeah, it would be nice if Neal back checked a little harder. Not just him though, the entire team. Especially the top line. Johnny barely enters his own end...he's just hanging around our blueline waiting for the puck. 50 shots against two games in a row says it all.
- tincup

This isn’t as bad as the lightning. But never the less fuking a joke! I guess it shows once again the needs of the team...... and it’s kinda what has been in the back of everyone’s mind grit ,guts and sacrifice. Not the whole team but we’ll we all now they are!!!!

Every time they get to the playoffs, Bennett has been their best player. Are you happy with regular season success or would you like a Stanley Cup? He has all the skill and grit to be a success, he just hasn't put it together.

And Duchene isn't worth 10 million, but it's a better option than Monahan and Neal for 12.
- Hunkulese

No, Bennett has been their most physical player. He should be playing up the lineup, but he’s been by no means their best player. If he’s your 1C, they don’t make the playoffs.

I would vomit if they dealt Monahan and signed Duchene in his place. Mony is not a chip to get rid of Neal, period.

No, Bennett has been their most physical player. He should be playing up the lineup, but he’s been by no means their best player. If he’s your 1C, they don’t make the playoffs.

I would vomit if they dealt Monahan and signed Duchene in his place. Mony is not a chip to get rid of Neal, period.
- rmull905

I agree, it was a long time between legit no. 1 centres on this team. Love bennett but he's a third liner IMO. Give Neal next season to try to turn it around, then buy him out if he doesn't find his way back.

Christ sakes here we go again. You're a (frank)ing lunatic if you think it's a good idea to blow up this young core. Stop overreacting every time this team goes through some trouble.

Whatever happens next we had a great season we can build off of (and the season isn't over yet). Overreacting and blowing up our core isn't going to make this team better. There are certainly players we can and should move out, but those players aren't Monahan or Lindholm. Winning it all takes time and this season is a huge sign that we're heading in the right direction.

It took years of Washington losing in the playoffs before they broke through and won a Cup, and their core stayed intact. They got eliminated year after year after year and then finally it all came together and they did it.

These things rarely happen overnight. Sometimes you have to be put through the ringer and lose to learn what it really takes to win.

I'm as disappointed as anybody about the way this series has gone so far. But the series isn't over yet and even if it does end tomorrow, I'm optimistic about the future of this team. I said when the regular season ended that whatever happens in the playoffs I'm counting it as a success and I stand by that. Making headway in the standings is no small feat and there is a lot to look forward to in the future.

All that said, the series isn't over yet and with a couple more bounces going the Flames' way as opposed to the Avs this series is 3-1 Calgary instead. Coming back is hard but not impossible. I've seen it before and I'll see it again, in this series or otherwise. No one has won 4 games yet. It isn't over until someone has.

It took years of Washington losing in the playoffs before they broke through and won a Cup, and their core stayed intact. They got eliminated year after year after year and then finally it all came together and they did it.

- Helios

Washington isn't a good comparable. Their core was never the problem. Ovechkin has always stepped it up in the playoffs. They just always ran into a better Pittsburgh team. The core in Calgary is the problem. Their core has been invisible and a detriment to the team in three of the four playoff series they've been in.

Have you seen anything to suggest that their core has taken a step forward or is even moving in the right direction? They're not rookies anymore. They're in their prime. It's one thing if they were out there giving it their all and were just getting beat by a better team, but they're not even showing up, and they're against a team that shouldn't have the pieces to be able to shut them down completely.