News   Apr 03, 2020
Pastel Morning
 6.3K     1 
News   Apr 02, 2020
A Message to Our Readers
 7.9K     4 
News   Apr 02, 2020
Soon to be Gone
 4.7K     0 

Calgary Flames Official Thread

Surrealplaces said:
Yep. 16 regulation time goals in 6 games usually isn't going to do it. The way Edmonton blew past Vegas and Dallas, I was expecting more from them, but I guess Florida is a better team than I gave them credit for.
Click to expand...
Oilers also went 5-1 in OT during the playoffs. I would say if Byfield had cleared the puck in game 4 instead of trying to make a play LA wins that game, goes up 3-1 and wins the series.
 
I know he resigns but if you're 97 why not wait to at least the artificial threshold that is American Thanksgiving to sign anything let alone long term? What advantage do you have to commit for 8 more years?

They have four forwards signed past next season. That's an awful lot of hope in the GM who fumbled Chicago's dynasty away after their three cups.

1750274816912.png
 
The thing I find interesting about the Oilers is the age of some of their team including the core players, RNH, Kane and Hyman are all 33, even Draisaitl who I still think of as young will be 30 at the start of next season Nurse is also 30. Others that log a fair bit of ice time are up there, Janmark 32, Arvidsson 32, Ekholm 35, Henrique 35 and Perry 40.
They have been contenders for a while and the team was rounded out with a lot of older players to capitalize on the window, but now the team as whole is quite old. They can lose all those UFA like Perry and Skinner, etc..and bring in younger free agents, but still, a fairly old core.
 
Free agents are not young, 27 at the youngest. The Oilers do not have a next wave coming, if they can keep this going it will be through good work from their front office, which I don't expect. If 97 stays, they have a chance, he's that good but it is hard to make it this far every season.
 
I guess 27 is young when compared to the general age of the team. I figure if Perry can look good playing with McDavid, then any half decent young FA would be better. Or they could land a big fish like Sam Bennett. Of course goaltending and defense is still an issue.
 
Surrealplaces said:
I guess 27 is young when compared to the general age of the team. I figure if Perry can look good playing with McDavid, then any half decent young FA would be better. Or they could land a big fish like Sam Bennett. Of course goaltending and defense is still an issue.
Click to expand...
I'll be amazed if Florida don't keep Bennett.

I'll also be amazed if McDavid doesn't re-sign with Edmonton, Drai is there for 5 more years and they are both in their prime. McDavid's best chance at a cup is still likely Edmonton.
 
Mountain Man said:
I'll be amazed if Florida don't keep Bennett.

I'll also be amazed if McDavid doesn't re-sign with Edmonton, Drai is there for 5 more years and they are both in their prime. McDavid's best chance at a cup is still likely Edmonton.
Click to expand...
Did you see his interview today? I imagine he'll resign but shorter term. He knows after the next couple of years they may be facing a Pittsburgh level abyss.
 
Just over a month until preseason starts, getting stoked. My predictions for the season; Andersson gets traded at or before the deadline, Parekh plays the whole year and does fairly well (40-ish points), Zary and Coronato look to continue improving and both are in the 50-60 point range. Kadri will play at a high level again, probably 30+ goals again. Huberdeau continues to be the most overpaid player in the league and gets 60 points. What I'm really curious about is goaltending, Cooley did great at teh beginning of last year, but fell off a bit toward the end, I expect him to challenge for backup and probably get 10 NHL games this season. Flames will finish lower than last year, probably 85 points and still miss out on a top 10 pick.
 
After a very quiet offseason, I cannot wait. It is crazy the most significant changes are the backup goalie and fourth-line centre. Nothing else has changed from game 82. Training Camp should open on the 17th with fitness testing, the last year I think they can do fitness testing as I think it was mandated out in the new CBA... They'll likely just have a check-in with the doctor and strength coach in years ahead.

The golf tournament is on the 8th and 9th so we should get some stuff to chew on coming out of that too.

Anyways, on-ice should begin on the 18th so by then we'll start to see what lines start to look like, those are a bit up in the air as unlike a few teams a lot of the skaters can really shift up and down the lineup. Should make for a competitive camp. After that the season feels like a real mystery, if the young guys are a little better and the older guys can at least maintain their level, anything is possible. If the young guys are not as good as they're capable of and the older guys start to get over the hill of the age curve things could be quite dire. There are really few or none things on this roster. makes it exciting but also terrifying.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top