Flames eliminated from playoff contention

[Dertell]

If they win game 82, this will be the 4th most successful regular season in Calgary over the past 15 years. That's horrific and somehow not surprising at the same time.

3 seasons of 100+ points in the past three decades, not joking btw

anyway, we're prolly gonna be the 4th team with 96 points that misses the playoffs and that's ~historic~ so at least we got that going for us

 

[Fig]

Still can't process that loss vs Anaheim last week....

That point loss has killed us...

Also, how on Earth Minnesota found the way to beat Dallas, Canucks and Anaheim in OT is just mind blowing....

TBH, nitpicking stuff like that doesn't even matter when it was death by a thousand cuts and jokes from the hockey gods.

- Double parallax effect no goals in a week
- Losing our super shoot out cheat code in Kirkland
- Miss at 94 points or potential historic miss at 96 depending on last game
- Minnesota super horseshoes OT/20 seconds difference in clinch
- Blues' supersonic run of 12 wins better than our 10 wins.

Like... this has blown past expectations for this group by a margin. It was a group of guys expected to be league worst that literally ended up losing in a ridiculously close photo finish ending. Horseshoes or not, Flames/Blues and Wild were clenched the whole last stretch of the season.

I mean, the trade off of drafting top 10 and sending Panthers higher pick to Montreal vs building a culture that can be a proud legacy for the young guys to build upon... I dunno if that type of trade off for a top 10 pick is worth it seeing how certain teams languish and certain teams struggle to attract players. I'm proud of this group of guys. It's like 2015 again but with a heart break ending.

But if the f***ing hockey gods are fair, they give us a lottery win so we draft top 10 this year anyways and allow us to send Montreal the Panther pick. Best of all potential scenarios. Draft a top piece with a top 10 pick, retain strong culture (vs certain other rebuilding teams struggling with that latter part) and stick it to Montreal with our heads held high.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Bean and Pachal can just be waived. No one’s claiming them. And if someone picks them up, it’s one less thing to worry about.

Farabee can be groomed to be Coleman’s replacement.

Bean sure, but Pachal won't be waived and quite frankly we shouldn't waive him. He had a few rough games but was overall pretty consistent as a defensive 3rd pair guy. We also extended him for dirt cheap for the next 2 years.

 

[MrLunatik]

Bean sure, but Pachal won't be waived and quite frankly we shouldn't waive him. He had a few rough games but was overall pretty consistent as a defensive 3rd pair guy. We also extended him for dirt cheap for the next 2 years.

Yeah, Pachal started fantastic and then seemed to hit a wall and struggle, whether that is because he played more games than he has as a pro, or teams adjusted to him (or both). Bahl did the same thing last season with NJ. Good start and then hit a wall for whatever reason. I'm hoping next season he shows more growth

 

[Zirakzigil]

Bean sure, but Pachal won't be waived and quite frankly we shouldn't waive him. He had a few rough games but was overall pretty consistent as a defensive 3rd pair guy. We also extended him for dirt cheap for the next 2 years.

Yeah, Pachal started fantastic and then seemed to hit a wall and struggle, whether that is because he played more games than he has as a pro, or teams adjusted to him (or both). Bahl did the same thing last season with NJ. Good start and then hit a wall for whatever reason. I'm hoping next season he shows more growth

This. He just completed his first full NHL season. Shouldnt be a surprise that he hit a wall, they dont call it a grind for no reason. I am more concerned about Miro and Bean than Pachal.

 

[MrLunatik]

This. He just completed his first full NHL season. Shouldnt be a surprise that he hit a wall, they dont call it a grind for no reason. I am more concerned about Miro and Bean than Pachal.

I know Bean isn't very good, but I think how bad he is gets exaggerated to a degree. At ES he was on the ice for 29 goals against, while playing an average of 14:40 in 64 games.

I know this isn't fancy stats or anything, but when I looked at other teams and look at other defensemen around the league that played +/- ~1 minute ES per game of Bean and a minimum 35 games played (I think this gives a general sense of similar deployment)... but I was actually really shocked.... I was expecting him to be lower-middle so with 41 names... I was thinking 25th-ish in GA/MIN

the defensemen range from 13:25 per game and 15:22 (I typed in 14.4 because it wouldn't let me use a colon ).. I then calculated the GA per minute played, then extrapolated that to 15 minutes since that is roughly what these guys play...

Another surprising stats, Bean had the fewest GA/60 on the Flames defense, the best TK/60 (Solo had a higher number but just 5gp)
Not surprising, he is soft as baby shit. Fewest blocks/60 and second fewest hits/60... Ras was the lowest... he completely removed the physical element of his game this year, not that he was ever overtly physical but this was the lowest of his career

 

[Zirakzigil]

I know Bean isn't very good, but I think how bad he is gets exaggerated to a degree. At ES he was on the ice for 29 goals against, while playing an average of 14:40 in 64 games.

I know this isn't fancy stats or anything, but when I looked at other teams and look at other defensemen around the league that played +/- ~1 minute ES per game of Bean and a minimum 35 games played (I think this gives a general sense of similar deployment)... but I was actually really shocked.... I was expecting him to be lower-middle so with 41 names... I was thinking 25th-ish in GA/MIN

the defensemen range from 13:25 per game and 15:22 (I typed in 14.4 because it wouldn't let me use a colon ).. I then calculated the GA per minute played, then extrapolated that to 15 minutes since that is roughly what these guys play...

View attachment 1016285

Another surprising stats, Bean had the fewest GA/60 on the Flames defense, the best TK/60 (Solo had a higher number but just 5gp)
Not surprising, he is soft as baby shit. Fewest blocks/60 and second fewest hits/60... Ras was the lowest... he completely removed the physical element of his game this year, not that he was ever overtly physical but this was the lowest of his career

I dont think it was so much that Bean was bad, moreso that Bean and Pachal were a tire fire together. Waive/trade Miro, use Bean as a #7 and figure out how to revamp the rest. I really wonder what happens with Hanley.

 

[MrLunatik]

I dont think it was so much that Bean was bad, moreso that Bean and Pachal were a tire fire together. Waive/trade Miro, use Bean as a #7 and figure out how to revamp the rest. I really wonder what happens with Hanley.

I think Hanley is finished here, I like him but we have too many bodies on the blueline and I think we're going to try and add someone that can eat minutes.

Even if we don't sign someone and do throw Parekh into the top 4...

Bahl - Andersson
Weegar - Parekh
____X____ - Pachal
X -----> Bean Solovyov, Kuznetsov, Miromanov

As in addition to Solo, Kuz will no longer be waiver exempt either.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I think Hanley is finished here, I like him but we have too many bodies on the blueline and I think we're going to try and add someone that can eat minutes.

Even if we don't sign someone and do throw Parekh into the top 4...

Bahl - Andersson
Weegar - Parekh
____X____ - Pachal
X -----> Bean Solovyov, Kuznetsov, Miromanov

As in addition to Solo, Kuz will no longer be waiver exempt either.

Not seeing Parekh in the top 4. Im not sure I even see him on the team next season. It would be nice and Ill happily be proven wrong. But his strength and defensive game are still not there. Its really too bad the NCAA is not an option.

Dont get me wrong, the Flames are going to give him every chance to make the team, but that is a huge jump for someone whos game away from the puck is below par. Bru had a better 200ft game and struggled mightily in the AHL adjustment. It will be interesting to see how they compare tonight.

 

[MrLunatik]

Not seeing Parekh in the top 4. Im not sure I even see him on the team next season. It would be nice and Ill happily be proven wrong. But his strength and defensive game are still not there. Its really too bad the NCAA is not an option.

Dont get me wrong, the Flames are going to give him every chance to make the team, but that is a huge jump for someone whos game away from the puck is below par. Bru had a better 200ft game and struggled mightily in the AHL adjustment. It will be interesting to see how they compare tonight.

I don't think he is top-4 either, which is why I think we'll sign a minute muncher. But I think he may make the team and play sheltered 3rd pair ES minutes and then a ton of PP time.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I don't think he is top-4 either, which is why I think we'll sign a minute muncher. But I think he may make the team and play sheltered 3rd pair ES minutes and then a ton of PP time.

Dude You just lined him up beside the Flames best defenseman

Zero chance Weegs is used to babysit Parekh.

 

[MrLunatik]

Dude You just lined him up beside the Flames best defenseman

Zero chance Weegs is used to babysit Parekh.

reading is hard, I know

I think we're going to try and add someone that can eat minutes.

Even if we don't sign someone and do throw Parekh into the top 4...

 

[HighLifeMan]

I really don't think the strength issue is the major point of concern with Parekh as that's not his game. Of course more muscle and growing into his body will absolutely help in the long run, but he will have to adapt to making plays and processing reads at an NHL pace which can really only be learned while playing minutes in the NHL. There will be a steep learning curve and growing pains but all defensemen go through it. The AHL would of course help ease that transition, but it's not an option.

I just don't see how more time in the OHL will do him any favors at all as a hockey player. He has outgrown that level - so unless he looks as he did this past summer which I don't think can be the expectation.. he has to be in the NHL in some capacity.

 

[Dack]

As someone who watched the majority of Parekh's games this season.

1. I don't think strength will be a huge issue. He's very clearly beefed up and learned how to better deal with contact this season.

2. Even if he's not ready I'd almost feel better having him play 15:00 a night for half of the year and then sending him down for the WJC and the 2nd half of the OHL season than just putting him back in junior. I don't think he's going to improve playing against Jr players again.

3. He has an entire uninterrupted (unlike last year with the Memorial Cup, the draft, the WJSS, etc) offseason working with NHL coaches to better prepare himself for the NHL.

 

[lettuceAA]

I dont think it was so much that Bean was bad, moreso that Bean and Pachal were a tire fire together. Waive/trade Miro, use Bean as a #7 and figure out how to revamp the rest. I really wonder what happens with Hanley.

I don't think Bean is bad at all. He's just not as good as Hanely and the Flames should be looking for someone better to be paired with Weegar. Having Hanely, Pachel and Bean as your 6/7 Dman is fine, but Hanely isn't a top pair guy regardless how well he played this year.

 

[lettuceAA]

I really don't think the strength issue is the major point of concern with Parekh as that's not his game. Of course more muscle and growing into his body will absolutely help in the long run, but he will have to adapt to making plays and processing reads at an NHL pace which can really only be learned while playing minutes in the NHL. There will be a steep learning curve and growing pains but all defensemen go through it. The AHL would of course help ease that transition, but it's not an option.

I just don't see how more time in the OHL will do him any favors at all as a hockey player. He has outgrown that level - so unless he looks as he did this past summer which I don't think can be the expectation.. he has to be in the NHL in some capacity.

Is NCAA an option?

 

[Zirakzigil]

Is NCAA an option?

No. He signed a pro contract.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Is NCAA an option?

Unfortunately not as he's signed an NHL deal already.

 

[MrLunatik]

Is NCAA an option?

No, once you sign you are ineligible.

 

[Mobiandi]

Hanley is probably the only guy worth keeping from the mish-mash of Flames/Wrangler depth guys we have. Has playoff experience too, if we get back in the mix next year. But he’s also 34, which is an awkward age. Maybe a 2x2.5 or something

 

[Anglesmith]

It only just hit me today that the Flames were 4 points away from a 100-point season.

The Flames just had a season where they lost only 27 games in regulation and yet failed to make the playoffs.

It's hard not to feel like this team was somehow cheated out of playoffs. And the Klapka/Kadri thing we had going on at the end was tantalizing when it comes to playoff hockey.

Hopefully Kadri can maintain this level a couple of years longer. If he can, we should be in good shape.