Speculation: Where do you expect us to finish in our division

[BigRangy]

I expect 1st, would be satisfied with 2 or 3. Anything less is a failure.

If they finish 4th and still make it deep in the playoffs I won’t complain though, but this roster should be really, really good. It just finished 2nd in the whole league two years ago, and the only big loss has been Brodie since then. Hopefully Tanev comes as advertised and can fill that gap.

 

[Sparky93]

I said 3rd but an all Canadian division will be much tougher than last years Pacific. I don't believe that a short, compressed season plays out well with our acquisitions. With multiple back to backs and less rest time between games, it seems unlikely that Markstrom will play more than 2/3's of the season, or 35 games. If his numbers hold true, this is similar to what we got from Talbot in 2020, Smith in the 2019 playoffs and Smith in 2018. They'll be a lot of pressure on Rittch to find some consistency, as last season he was either outstanding or not very good. The rigors of this sort of schedule are also extremely hard on older players, like Gio and hard milage players, like Tanev. Having either of those guys go down will be a huge hit, with questionable defensive depth. I think we'll also see reduced ice time and a shift towards playing 4 lines, closer to evenly. We'll need big steps forward from Dube and Bennett, in order to be successful.

 

[DFF]

Better be first after spent the max.

Said flames owners

 

[DFF]

I said 3rd but an all Canadian division will be much tougher than last years Pacific. I don't believe that a short, compressed season plays out well with our acquisitions. With multiple back to backs and less rest time between games, it seems unlikely that Markstrom will play more than 2/3's of the season, or 35 games. If his numbers hold true, this is similar to what we got from Talbot in 2020, Smith in the 2019 playoffs and Smith in 2018. They'll be a lot of pressure on Rittch to find some consistency, as last season he was either outstanding or not very good. The rigors of this sort of schedule are also extremely hard on older players, like Gio and hard milage players, like Tanev. Having either of those guys go down will be a huge hit, with questionable defensive depth. I think we'll also see reduced ice time and a shift towards playing 4 lines, closer to evenly. We'll need big steps forward from Dube and Bennett, in order to be successful.

Yes Bennett needs to step up. Do or die.

Hopefully a good showcase for Johnny.

Short season should benefit Johnny and Monahan . They normally choke after about 60 games anyway.

 

[Flamesfan62]

1. Toronto
2. Vancouver
3. Edmonton
4. Calgary
5. Winnipeg
6. Montreal
7. Ottawa

You’re very high on Vancouver after they lost a lot of top tier depth.

 

[Flamesfan62]

1 - Toronto
2 - Edmonton
3 - Calgary
4 - Vancouver
5 - Montreal
6 - Winnipeg
7 - Ottawa

 

[Body Checker]

I think it really depends on Ward and how he uses the roster. The depth is there but if young guys emerge will Ward move vets down the depth chart?

I could see Gio being our 5th best defencemen by the end of the season but would Ward really play him on 3rd pairing? Also if Lucic can’t keep up with the regular season pace (it’s a different pace than the playoffs folks) will Ward put him in the press box?

 

[Deen]

Odds have us pegged at 5/6.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

That looks about right to me, but I like us better than Edmonton.

 

[Dack]

The Canucks at 5/1 is kind of lol worthy. I'm not a gambling man but if I were the Flames would look interesting to me. Even though I voted 3rd in the poll we're one season removed from placing 1st in the west.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

The Canucks at 5/1 is kind of lol worthy. I'm not a gambling man but if I were the Flames would look interesting to me. Even though I voted 3rd in the poll we're one season removed from placing 1st in the west.

Also Mont at 6:1....god if they finish ahead of us, a blowup is needed.
We better hope we can be better than Montreal & Vancouver.

 

[Sparky93]

The Canucks at 5/1 is kind of lol worthy. I'm not a gambling man but if I were the Flames would look interesting to me. Even though I voted 3rd in the poll we're one season removed from placing 1st in the west.

Two seasons removed, one season removed from being 7th, in a terrible Pacific. Valimaki will be the deciding factor, in whether or not this team actually improved during the offseason.

 

[User1996]

Two seasons removed, one season removed from being 7th, in a terrible Pacific. Valimaki will be the deciding factor, in whether or not this team actually improved during the offseason.

There’s been too much turnover to say that Valimaki is the only factor that decides if the needle has been moved. That’s so oversimplified

 

[InfinityIggy]

Anything less than JG being crushed by the cup will be unacceptable.

 

[Mobiandi]

The determining factor for me will be Markstrom. Our blueline is worse but if Markstrom can hold up for us the way he did for worse Canucks teams, I like our chances

 

[Sparky93]

There’s been too much turnover to say that Valimaki is the only factor that decides if the needle has been moved. That’s so oversimplified

Not really, Frolik, Rieder, Jankowski, Leivo, Simon and Nordstrom are all pawns. Hard to imagine any of these guys being a difference maker, or being significantly better than the next one. That leaves Markstrom, Tanev + the reintroduction of Valimaki, verse the loss of Brodie, Hamonic + Talbot. Tanev should be better than Hamonic, barring injury. Its hard to expect Markstrom to be significantly better than Talbot's .919 during the regular season or his .924 in the post season. A little more consistency would be nice but those were pretty impressive numbers. To me that leaves the rookie Valimaki, to fill Brodie's shoes. Its not impossible but its a pretty tall order.

 

[User1996]

Not really, Frolik, Rieder, Jankowski, Leivo, Simon and Nordstrom are all pawns. Hard to imagine any of these guys being a difference maker, or being significantly better than the next one. That leaves Markstrom, Tanev + the reintroduction of Valimaki, verse the loss of Brodie, Hamonic + Talbot. Tanev should be better than Hamonic, barring injury. Its hard to expect Markstrom to be significantly better than Talbot's .919 during the regular season or his .924 in the post season. A little more consistency would be nice but those were pretty impressive numbers. To me that leaves the rookie Valimaki, to fill Brodie's shoes. Its not impossible but its a pretty tall order.

Valimaki isn’t even the Brodie replacement...

That’s Andersson.

Also Markstrom is better than Talbot AINEC

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Not really, Frolik, Rieder, Jankowski, Leivo, Simon and Nordstrom are all pawns. Hard to imagine any of these guys being a difference maker, or being significantly better than the next one. That leaves Markstrom, Tanev + the reintroduction of Valimaki, verse the loss of Brodie, Hamonic + Talbot. Tanev should be better than Hamonic, barring injury. Its hard to expect Markstrom to be significantly better than Talbot's .919 during the regular season or his .924 in the post season. A little more consistency would be nice but those were pretty impressive numbers. To me that leaves the rookie Valimaki, to fill Brodie's shoes. Its not impossible but its a pretty tall order.

I'd have to askif anyone thought Donovan/Yelle/Clarke/Nilson were pawns in 2004....they all had big contributions, and in some ways just as responsible for that run than the big guys. I personally feel that Leivo & Nordstrom can provide a similar role.

 

[Sparky93]

Valimaki isn’t even the Brodie replacement...

That’s Andersson.

Also Markstrom is better than Talbot AINEC

Ras already surpassed Brodie last season. I hope you're right about Markstrom. If I'm not mistaken, he has the lowest career save percentage out of all the goalies we've acquired in the current era and is only a year younger than Elliott, at the time.

 

[User1996]

Ras already surpassed Brodie last season. I hope you're right about Markstrom. If I'm not mistaken, he has the lowest career save percentage out of all the goalies we've acquired in the current era and is only a year younger than Elliott, at the time.

I’m terms of placement anyways I guess Andersson is the Brodie replacement even though Ras saw significant time one the first pair IIRC it was still mainly Brodie. There could be an argument about whether he surpassed him performance wise too I suppose, you’re right. He’s a fantastic defenceman.

I may have too high hopes for Markstrom, but I think he’ll be playing behind a better defensive team here than he ever had in Vancouver.

 

[Sparky93]

I'd have to askif anyone thought Donovan/Yelle/Clarke/Nilson were pawns in 2004....they all had big contributions, and in some ways just as responsible for that run than the big guys. I personally feel that Leivo & Nordstrom can provide a similar role.

Donovan was 3rd on the team in scoring that year. Yelle was a great shutdown center, not really comparable to the list of current wingers and Nilson was acquired at the deadline. That leaves Clark and no, I don't think any of these guys are capable of bringing what he did.

 

[Sparky93]

I’m terms of placement anyways I guess Andersson is the Brodie replacement even though Ras saw significant time one the first pair IIRC it was still mainly Brodie. There could be an argument about whether he surpassed him performance wise too I suppose, you’re right. He’s a fantastic defenceman.

I may have too high hopes for Markstrom, but I think he’ll be playing behind a better defensive team here than he ever had in Vancouver.

I mean don't get me wrong, Markstrom wasn't what I wanted, especially at that hit, but I don't think he'll be a downgrade. I just don't expect him to be the huge difference maker, that some believe he'll be. I have high hopes for Leivo but the other guys, I'm not so sure.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

All I'm saying is you need players to play certain roles, and know their roles. A few "pawns" (I would never call them that), are always needed. I'd even go as far as to say that the more "pawns" you have that show they are committed to the team, the more likely your team is to succeed.

 

[Mazatt]

There is a significant difference between Talbot being good as a backup and Markstrom being the MVP of a playoff team. Like, absolutely massive difference, he is absolutely an upgrade.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Bennett is the key for me this upcoming season.