The Flames Window of Being Contenders

[Bounces R Way]

Cup contenders? Don't really consider the Flames there yet. Not really talking about the crap shoot that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs but to me they're not in the conversation for being a top 5 team in the league. Maybe that changes if Smith plays at an elite level and our young guys take big steps forward(looking at Bennett and Monahan specifically). Really the Flames added a goalie and a decent top 4 D, plenty of teams did that and more.

Don't get me wrong, this is probably the best roster Calgary has put out in 25 years or at least since 08. They should be contending for a division, Treliving has structured the team very well. Just won't be putting them in the elite category until I see the young forwards consistently out perform their opposition.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

For us to be true contenders for the cup (this year) we need some/many, but not all of these boxes to be ticked:

- Monahan needs a consistent standard of play throughout the season
- Same with Gaudreau, but we also need him to be the dynamic offensive catalyst we know he can be.
- Ferland needs to step up to at least a 40 point forward while playing with the top line
- Backlund can't take a step back from last year
- Tkachuk can't have a rookie slump
- Bennett needs to step up to a 40-50 point player
- Brodie needs to consistently bounce back to the player we know he can be
- need more young prospects like Kulak and Jankowski to step up and become full time/impact NHL players
- Smith needs to be at least above average, and Lack needs to bounce back to 1B status, especially in case Smith gets hurt.
- Brouwer needs to bounce back to at least 3rd liner level
- Stone needs to solidify the third pair.

Obviously if we got all of these we'd be a favorite to win the cup. But to take that next step, those are some of the things it will take.

Ongoing/longterm, we need an heir to Smith, whether it's Gilles/Parsons/Lack/Other. We need one of our D prospects to step up to replace Gio someday and/or one of Hamonic or Brodie. We need some forward prospects to fill in the spots on the roster to replace some of our non-core players once we are paying all of our stars big bucks.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

For us to be true contenders for the cup (this year) we need some/many, but not all of these boxes to be ticked:

- Monahan needs a consistent standard of play throughout the season
- Same with Gaudreau, but we also need him to be the dynamic offensive catalyst we know he can be.
- Ferland needs to step up to at least a 40 point forward while playing with the top line
- Backlund can't take a step back from last year
- Tkachuk can't have a rookie slump
- Bennett needs to step up to a 40-50 point player
- Brodie needs to consistently bounce back to the player we know he can be
- need more young prospects like Kulak and Jankowski to step up and become full time/impact NHL players
- Stone needs to solidify the third pair.

expecting all of these to happen.

- Smith needs to be at least above average, and Lack needs to bounce back to 1B status, especially in case Smith gets hurt.
- Brouwer needs to bounce back to at least 3rd liner level

Not so sure about these.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

expecting all of these to happen.



Not so sure about these.

I hope you are right.

 

[Lunatik]

FF, I think if all those happen we win the President's trophy.

Honestly, to be a legit contender IMO, only a few things need to happen

- Gaudreau bounce back
- Smith play better than Elliott
- No slow start
- 2 of Ferland/Bennett/Brouwer/Versteeg needs to be a 40 point player
- Win in Anaheim (the psychological boost will be huge)

 

[Flames Fanatic]

FF, I think if all those happen we win the President's trophy.

Honestly, to be a legit contender IMO, only a few things need to happen

- Gaudreau bounce back
- Smith play better than Elliott
- No slow start
- 2 of Ferland/Bennett/Brouwer/Versteeg needs to be a 40 point player
- Win in Anaheim (the psychological boost will be huge)

I think that makes a lock for the playoffs, I don't think it makes us a cup contender, which is what I was aiming at.

 

[Lunatik]

I think that makes a lock for the playoffs, I don't think it makes us a cup contender, which is what I was aiming at.

We made the playoffs without any of that last year, those are things that would make us better.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

We made the playoffs without any of that last year, those are things that would make us better.

Lock versus barely making a wildcard spot aren't the same thing though.

And it was some/many, not all.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

We have more good contracts then any team in the NHL. If we aren't contenders something is seriously wrong.

 

[Lunatik]

Lock versus barely making a wildcard spot aren't the same thing though.

And it was some/many, not all.

barely is a stretch since we actually had it locked up a while before.

 

[DFF]

The defense should improve from last year
Gaudreau and Bennett need to be better
Rest need to be at least as good as last year


but if the goalies bomb, the Flames will be going for the Dahlin sweepstake without a ticket