Calgary Flames finish the season tied for 14th overall with 96 points and fail to make the playoffs

[Jihadi Flames Fan]

Feel like they'd be out very quickly against any of the western teams this year. They lack high end skill

I had the opposite feeling. I feel like they could've sent Winnipeg/Vegas packing. I guess we'll never know.

 

[MrLunatik]

The playoffs rules are pretty set. Finish in the top 8 in your conference make the playoffs, the Flame-outs didn't do that so they don't deserve to make the playoffs. Also they went 5-9 against Eastern playoffs teams so let's not use the whole "West is tougher" bullshit.

this isn't true. I mean it is usually what happens. But in theory 3rd place in one division could have fewer points than 6th in the other division in the conference.

 

[coolboarder]

I think that we need to go back to ties even if it's anti-climax of a hockey game without determining who won the game. Just no OT for regular season, Win-2 points, loss, 0 point, tie,- 1 point. It's simple as that to see who is a better 5 on 5 team, not 3 on 3 which favors superstars. Also you are adding up OT minutes over a long season adding up to fatigue and risking injuries to our star players.

 

[ref19]

I had the opposite feeling. I feel like they could've sent Winnipeg/Vegas packing. I guess we'll never know.

Fair enough. You watch them way more than I do.

 

[madmike77]

I had the opposite feeling. I feel like they could've sent Winnipeg/Vegas packing. I guess we'll never know.

I don’t know. Scoring was still a big issue for them. If Zary had been able to come back maybe. Wolf was certainly capable of stealing some games for them.

I still think they’re a few years away from being a contender but they’ve got some solid young players already in the lineup and a deep prospect pool. As usual they’re just lacking the very high-end talent because they’re never a bottom-5 team.

 

[voyageur]

Digging through their schedule it’s easy to see what happened. They might not have had a 12-game win streak to squeak in but they were still 11-2-3 to close the season. (or 15-6-5 if you want to go back further).

They lost three games (two in OT) to better opponents, but two losses stick out:

A 1-3 loss in SLC on April Fools Day. Utah should have been beatable at home (16-14-7 at the time). But especially not being able to close the deal against the Ducks in Anaheim having a 3-1 lead in tbe 3rd. Honda Center used to be a thorn in the Flames franchise for years and I bet Flames fans still have nightmares about that arena.



Interesting. I just think Cowboys would have fit Calgary perfectly. But yeah, thinking about it a bit, it’s weird. Battle of Alberta “Cowboys vs Oilers” sounds very strange.

Yeah that loss to Anaheim was the killer for the Flames. To get in on a 6 game win streak would have been 1997 Senators-esque.

Wolf should get some serious Calder consideration because he's the main reason they had a chance.

They did screw Montreal out of a better pick for taking Monahan.

Looks like Habs could get two straight picks, followed by Flames (for Markstrom). If you had told me Calgary would be a better team than New Jersey at the start of the year wouldn't have believed it.

 

[JP Mick]

Calgary's 27 regulation losses were also tied for the 7th fewest overall. Not bad for a team in Year 1 of a "rebuild."

This team absolutely deserved to make the playoffs.

Congratulations?

 

[Son of Nogatco]

I don't know? That's a question for Flames fans.

My point was how badly Huberdeau let this franchise down. Okay he had a decent season, but he hasn't even outscored his 17-18 Panther self yet. That's why we're talking about these things like most shots or most points by a non-playoff team.

blame the thirsty GM who signed him to a long term contract before he’d played a game in Calgary

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

I don’t know. Scoring was still a big issue for them. If Zary had been able to come back maybe. Wolf was certainly capable of stealing some games for them.

I still think they’re a few years away from being a contender but they’ve got some solid young players already in the lineup and a deep prospect pool. As usual they’re just lacking the very high-end talent because they’re never a bottom-5 team.

The wheels will have to fall off a bit more eventually. Kadri and Huby will get older and Andersson is probably on his way out. I wouldn't mind a top 5 next year, which could happen.

 

[Peiskos]

Not a Flames fan but I'll acknowledge that they certainly look like a playoff team on paper, in many other years you'd think a 41-27-14, 96 point team would be in the playoffs. I guess it came down to the OT points, 14 is quite a high number, turn a few more of those into wins getting the additional point and they'd have made it.

 

[madmike77]

The wheels will have to fall off a bit more eventually. Kadri and Huby will get older and Andersson is probably on his way out. I wouldn't mind a top 5 next year, which could happen.

I don’t really see the wheels coming off. Wolf is the real deal and they’ve got good, young players coming up. Kadri and Huberdeau may decline given their age, but I doubt they’ll drop off a cliff. And Andersson frankly wasn’t great last season. They’re worse without him, but likely not significantly worse.

They’ll likely be on the playoff bubble again. The only way I can see them drafting top-5 is if they get a ton of injuries.

 

[614 CBJ]

I would support having a short best-of-3 play-ins between the WC teams and the next 2, to avoid such oddities. Basically, this year :

St. Louis vs Calgary
Minnesota vs Vancouver
Ottawa (but it should be NJ actually) vs Detroit
Montreal vs Columbus

This would be wrapped in 5 days while the other teams rest.

I'm a Columbus fan and I say no way

Season is too long, need to find a way to finish 2 weeks earlier, not a week later

 

[yurnxt]

I would support having a short best-of-3 play-ins between the WC teams and the next 2, to avoid such oddities. Basically, this year :

St. Louis vs Calgary
Minnesota vs Vancouver
Ottawa (but it should be NJ actually) vs Detroit
Montreal vs Columbus

This would be wrapped in 5 days while the other teams rest.

No. Regular season determines the who makes the playoffs perfectly fine as it is so there is no need for what you are suggesting.

 

[Iggys Dome]

I think play ins are dumb not gonna lie. NHL doesn’t need to copy every thing the NBA does.

The regular season points race is exciting as is. Play ins dilute that.

 

[nofehr]

The current system is ridiculous. It's insane that #5 Dallas has to play #7 Colorado but #10 (!!!) Carolina gets #16 New Jersey.

Get rid of the stupid divisions -trying to manufacture these rivalries isn't working. Go 1 v 16, 2 v 15 in the playoffs. I want the best 2 teams in the league to be in the finals. Balance the schedule if you have to - home and home against the other 31 teams = 62 games. Fill in the rest of the season with another 4-nations type of tournament, or division tournaments to keep the rivalries, or play ins (which I would hate), or just end the season earlier.

Also, let the top seeds choose their opponent. Maybe they prefer to play a slightly tougher opponent vs having to fly cross-country to face their natural opponent.

At the very least, if we have to keep the current stupid system, then have a potential conference cross-over in the semis. This gives the possibility of an Edm / Cal, Mon / Bos, finals.

/rant

tldr: the current system sucks

 

[Fatass]

The current system is ridiculous. It's insane that #5 Dallas has to play #7 Colorado but #10 (!!!) Carolina gets #16 New Jersey.

Get rid of the stupid divisions -trying to manufacture these rivalries isn't working. Go 1 v 16, 2 v 15 in the playoffs. I want the best 2 teams in the league to be in the finals. Balance the schedule if you have to - home and home against the other 31 teams = 62 games. Fill in the rest of the season with another 4-nations type of tournament, or division tournaments to keep the rivalries, or play ins (which I would hate), or just end the season earlier.

Also, let the top seeds choose their opponent. Maybe they prefer to play a slightly tougher opponent vs having to fly cross-country to face their natural opponent.

At the very least, if we have to keep the current stupid system, then have a potential conference cross-over in the semis. This gives the possibility of an Edm / Cal, Mon / Bos, finals.

/rant

tldr: the current system sucks

Used to, years ago, have 1 v 16 and so on. Round one was usually terrible. The current system, although not entirely fair, creates rivalries which make for better round one matchups. Yes, the Cans seem to have drawn an easier opponent in the Devils, but they still might lose. Dallas and Colorado are both better clubs sure, but seeing the rivalry matchup (especially with the added bonus of Rantanen on the Stars, makes for a fantastic round one.

 

[Miller Time]

Meh... West was weak this year, a lot of bottom feeders.

Flames likely miss the playoffs by more playing in the east.

 

[ole ole]

Aww that sucks. The Flames would have been 6th in the East.

It might please Flames fans to know most Oilers fans are side-eyeing Dustin Wolf hoping he doesn’t become their next Kiprusoff. Man I hated that guy. Always played like such a dink against Edm lol.

Interesting. Wonder what is the Fames record against East teams?

 

[NyQuil]

The current system is ridiculous. It's insane that #5 Dallas has to play #7 Colorado but #10 (!!!) Carolina gets #16 New Jersey.

Get rid of the stupid divisions -trying to manufacture these rivalries isn't working. Go 1 v 16, 2 v 15 in the playoffs. I want the best 2 teams in the league to be in the finals. Balance the schedule if you have to - home and home against the other 31 teams = 62 games. Fill in the rest of the season with another 4-nations type of tournament, or division tournaments to keep the rivalries, or play ins (which I would hate), or just end the season earlier.

Also, let the top seeds choose their opponent. Maybe they prefer to play a slightly tougher opponent vs having to fly cross-country to face their natural opponent.

At the very least, if we have to keep the current stupid system, then have a potential conference cross-over in the semis. This gives the possibility of an Edm / Cal, Mon / Bos, finals.

/rant

tldr: the current system sucks

Divisions work because most people watch hockey on television and most teams in a division are in the same time zone.

 

[nerevarine]

Count me in for hating divisional playoffs. Four straight years vs la hasnt made for a rivalry just boring redundancy. 1-16 was perfect.

 

[ole ole]

Count me in for hating divisional playoffs. Four straight years vs la hasnt made for a rivalry just boring redundancy. 1-16 was perfect.

1 to 16 makes anything possible. Flying is faster and much more efficient today.Not a good reason anymore. Bring back 1 to 16.

 

[Evil__Homer]

They didn't make the playoffs but hey... I'd say they have better goaltending than the Oilers.
Just sayin.

Their rebuild going good though. They'll be in next season.

 

[JadedRandom]

They didn't make the playoffs but hey... I'd say they have better goaltending than the Oilers.
Just sayin.

Their rebuild going good though. They'll be in next season.

Calgary should be "in the mix" next season if they build from how they've played this year and add some key pieces.

But competition will be fierce in both conferences, teams will have cap room again for the first time in a while, and I don't think we could say for sure that the Flames will definitely make it next year.

Which is exactly the same situation for teams like Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, and others.

Playoffs are tough to make year-in, year-out, and there's lots of competition.

One team can slip-up one year, and make it the next. This is the essence of parity in this league.

 

[Matty Sundin]

Flames seem to have a history of always finishing 9th and not making playoffs even if they over achieving doing it

 

[Kimota]

How can they are in a rebuild with such an aging core.

And if they are in a rebuild, I'm not sure trying to make it the playoff is the best idea. Give yourself 3-4 years of finishing low and racking the high picks. By finishing this high this year, you basically lost your first pick to Montreal.