Calgary Flames quietly leading the NHL in preseason standings

[Mr Positive]

Just to play along, nothing kills a team the way a distraction does. It can be a cancer. The looming exits of Hanifin, Lindholm and Zadorov were that distraction. They lost a lot of talent but might play more freely and focused.

 

[ghostingtaro]

plan the parade

 

[brentashton]

Yeah, while I don't see them making the playoffs, I can see them within striking distance. Hot goalie down the stretch, then maybe they sneak in. If the boys buy in they will be a royal pain to play against. It's an intriguing lineup. Can't wait to see how they do.

I can’t see Calgary being remotely close to a wild card this season. I don’t get the love that many are seeing. Combination of hopefuls and washed vets at this point. Out of the playoffs by November 30.

 

[DJJones]

I can’t see Calgary being remotely close to a wild card this season. I don’t get the love that many are seeing. Combination of hopefuls and washed vets at this point. Out of the playoffs by November 30.

Washed vets? Have you even looked at the roster haha.

 

[brentashton]

Washed vets? Have you even looked at the roster haha.

Yes. Washed vets and hopefuls.

Sorry, Mr Edwards if I offended you, but it is what it is.

 

[DJJones]

Yes.

And thats the conclusion you came too haha.

Plenty wrong with the roster, no true 1C, questionable second pair, untested goalie.

Washed vets ain't an issue.

 

[Grifter3511]

Wake me up once they've burned a few villages.

 

[brentashton]

And thats the conclusion you came too haha.

Plenty wrong with the roster, no true 1C, questionable second pair, untested goalie.

Washed vets ain't an issue.

Like I said, washed vets and hopefuls.

 

[T REX]

Who cares? Seriously?

 

[Three On Zero]

Jets came through and extinguished the flames with a whiteout. Preseason cup is now off.

 

[Siludin]

They're gonna be a handful this year, as the majority of the teams are for the majority of the season, but even if they improve by 10 points, they are still not a playoff team.
Likely in the 85 point range again. They need to play trap hockey all year, and for Dustin Wolf to stand on his head, to have any chance.

 

[Lunatik]

Fondly remembering when Ty Rattie led the NHL in preseason scoring

I usually bring up Chuck Kobasew doing that, but Rattie is even funnier

 

[Captain Controversy]

My prediction is Calgary is a bottom 5 team. Kadri will be traded in the next 2 years with 2-3 million retained to make his contract barely digestible. Huberdeau will be a flame for a long while unless they retain 50 percent of his contract and so I'm guessing he retires a flame or gets bought out.

 

[Rubi]

I can’t see Calgary being remotely close to a wild card this season. I don’t get the love that many are seeing. Combination of hopefuls and washed vets at this point. Out of the playoffs by November 30.

I agree with you about not being remotely close to a wild card spot. However, washed vets? That's ironic coming from a fan of a team that has 15 veteran players that are 30 years and older ... four players that are 30, three that are 31, three that are 32, one 33 year old, two more that are 34, and of course.. the piece de resistance ... one 37 year old man and one senior citizen 39 year old. Then of course, there's the embarrassing dearth of hopefuls on your team or even in the system... maybe one or two? Three if you squint?

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Completely and utterly meaningless. Calgary will not be good this year, at all.

 

[wavaxa2]

The greatest victory a team can have in preseason is to get through it without any injuries.

 

[blankall]

My prediction is Calgary is a bottom 5 team. Kadri will be traded in the next 2 years with 2-3 million retained to make his contract barely digestible. Huberdeau will be a flame for a long while unless they retain 50 percent of his contract and so I'm guessing he retires a flame or gets bought out.

Kadri is solid value at his current contract. Also a great mentor. Why would the Flames trade him for negative value?

Huberdeau...
Not so much.

I agree that Calgary likely sucks this year. Markstrom held them in a lot of games last year.

 

[Czechboy]

I don't look closely at preseason standings but it sounds like Calgary was really good.. and Edmonton was really bad. We should revisit this thread at the end of the season to see how it ends

 

[brentashton]

I agree with you about not being remotely close to a wild card spot. However, washed vets? That's ironic coming from a fan of a team that has 15 veteran players that are 30 years and older ... four players that are 30, three that are 31, three that are 32, one 33 year old, two more that are 34, and of course.. the piece de resistance ... one 37 year old man and one senior citizen 39 year old. Then of course, there's the embarrassing dearth of hopefuls on your team or even in the system... maybe one or two? Three if you squint?

It’s all about quality. Some orgs have it, some don’t.

 

[Jared Dunn]

I don't know about "worst roster". There's a good chance that Mtl finishes behind Calgary.

I doubt it honestly, Calgary has lost several big pieces since the start of last season and I think they'll have a tough year. Have not expected any major jump by Montreal but feel that they'll leapfrog Calgary and Philly and think Chicago and CBJ could leap Calgary as well

 

[Cup or Bust]

Ty Rattie. 7 goals and 11 points in 4 games baby. An all-time preseason legend.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Ditto San Jose and probably Chicago. Calgary's going to be bad, but they're not lottery winning bad.

They finished 5 points up on the Habs and from last year have swapped Zadorov, Hanifin, Tanev, Lindholm, Mangiapane and Markstrom for Bahl, Bean, Miromanov/Barrie, Kuzmenko, Mantha, Wolf. I think there's going to be a lot of pain and expect them to be firmly bottom 3 with Anaheim and SJ. Chicago I think added some good vets and will climb above them and possibly CBJ as well, I really don't expect them to be a doormat

 

[K1984]

I agree with you about not being remotely close to a wild card spot. However, washed vets? That's ironic coming from a fan of a team that has 15 veteran players that are 30 years and older ... four players that are 30, three that are 31, three that are 32, one 33 year old, two more that are 34, and of course.. the piece de resistance ... one 37 year old man and one senior citizen 39 year old. Then of course, there's the embarrassing dearth of hopefuls on your team or even in the system... maybe one or two? Three if you squint?

Did you enjoy watching all these "washed vets" piss on your team and send them into the waste bin two years ago?

 

[Figgy44]

I can’t see Calgary being remotely close to a wild card this season. I don’t get the love that many are seeing. Combination of hopefuls and washed vets at this point. Out of the playoffs by November 30.

On paper, I can see why you think that. Then look at what the Flames 2014-2015 roster looked like vs the league and see how far they got into the playoffs (don't forget the rookie factor of that roster too).

There's a reason why the Flames and Minnesota are considered the posterchild for mediocrity. Anything can happen, regardless of how good or bad that roster looks on paper. Most of us want the Flames to play hard and draft high. No mailing it in even if out classed in every game.

With a mentality like that, we don't have to worry about core rot and bad development/habits seeping in even if we draft high. However, it's also its own wildcard in that we could potentially sneak in extra points in 4-8 games. That's occasionally enough to rocket up the standings 2-5 positions.

 

[SeaChaser]

I hope i get the invite to the preseason cup party. Can't wait!

If not, I'm sure it will be on Pay-Per-View