cross16

They had Barzal though, a player who could fill the skill gap left by Tavares and they also hired Trotz. I don’t think the bottom would fall out of the Flames lost Gaudreau, they are probably still a playoff team but I’m with Peeps that I don’t see how they get better without him. Huge talent gap that they cannot fill internally.

That's fair. He didn't exactly tear up Stockton the way you would want or expect for a prospect of his caliber. The results aren't there so far in his career and the arc isn't fantastic but the skill set is still there and with the injury history he has had you sometimes just never know. Sometimes a player just needs the right opportunity and I think it's time to give it to him and see what happens.

I don't expect the Flames to be active in UFA this year and certainly not for top end players. Wouldn't be shocked to see some trades but I think they are going to look to run it back and improve from within.

You can but in an injury situation the player has to agree to the buyout. However, based on his recovery timeline I'm pretty sure he will be recovered and "healthy" by the time the buyout window is open so I'm not sure he will qualify as an injured player. I may be wrong though.

I agree if Markstrom was average they are getting ready for game 6. If he was Vezina caliber they are probably getting ready for game 6 with a chance to win the series. For me speed wasn't a defining aspect of the series. It was in game 3 but outside of that I thought the Flames had no problem with speed. They struggled with defending off the rush but I think that is a skill thing not a speed thing. The Oilers were actually the ones who I thought slowed down this series. They put bodies in the neutral zone and waited for the Flames to make mistakes with the puck and the Flames did that just way too often in the series. Puck management was IMO the biggest problem that the Flames had in the series.

It would take some massive cap gymnastics for the Flames to get Kadri. He is about to get PAID. That's a deal I would want to stay well away from. I really like the player but that's a scary looking contract situation.

I agree. I said that before the playoffs and I think playoffs did expose that while a decent depth dman he isn't a top 4 guy. I think in the back half of the regular season and into the playoffs he struggled and I just don't personally think the hockey sense is high enough there to warrant signing him. I would for sure be looking to move him and see if you can recoup some assets or upgrade elsewhere. I'm very confident that if you put Valimaki in that role you'd be fine (probably better) because Tanev is just that good. I don't see the Flames as having a lot of options this offseason so I fully expect they run it back with as many as they can. Maybe they can get creative but it's going to be tricky but my quick thoughts: - I think the Oilers exposed the Flames d core as not been as deep and as good as it looked. I think the Flames were able to be strategic and cover up for the likes of Kylington, Gudbranson and Hanifin in the regular season but I thought all 3 got exposed in the playoffs. Now I don't suspect Hanifin is going anywhere and he has some strengths but I personally don't think he is a great defender. The Flames could really use a top end dman who can be good at both ends of the ice. VERY tough to find that though... - Flames have to upgrade at center ice and they need someone who can dish the puck. I thought the way the Oilers defended the Flames exposed the lack of skill in the Flames forward group. They've got some shooters, they got some high end guys away from the puck and they are fast enough, but what they lack is players who can get the puck into high danger areas especially through tight windows. - I'd have some interest in brining back Janrkok but not at center. I think he is a solid winger but I don't think he is good enough playing center to keep. - Need to move on from Monahan IMO and it may take a buyout - I'd actually explore the possibility of moving Toffoli as a way to upgrade. I don't want him gone necessarily but I thikn he is a piece you could maybe use to get better and i'm just not sure he is the best fit for them moving forward. Going to be real tough to upgrade though. The nice thing is I think there are 2-3 young players in the AHL/farm system who can make a difference to the team next year but it's going to take some real creativity to not just bring back this team but to get better.

I don't like the Coleman call either and don't get how you overturn it. Thought it was terrible. But I don't think officiating cost them the series nor do I think it was a major factor. I think the Flames just simply got outplayed but a faster, hungrier and smarter Oiler team, they could never settle into a game plan and then if they did Markstrom just wasn't good enough. The Flames chased a lot in this series and if you chase you are going to take more penalties. Certainly would not say it was a well officiated series, it wasn't, but for me it wasn't a storyline. The Flames could just never get comfortable in a game or their game plan in this series and I think that is due in large part to how the Oilers played. They were very prepared, executed it really well and make life hard on the Flames who could just not seem to adjust or get comfortable with how the Oilers were playing. Markstrom is a big storyline as he was no where near good enough. You just are not going to win a series when your goalie is sub 900. Sure the Flames made it harder on him with some bad turnovers and odd man rushes but in the playoffs that is going to happen and you need your goalie to be there. Not only did he let in several bad goals in this series, he wasn't making those game saving stops that you need in the playoffs. He is not the only reason they lost but he is a major one.

For a team facing elimination I thought they’d be better not a difficult dissection here. End of day Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Lindholm and Markstrom weren’t very good in this series. Flames are going home because of it.

Not surprised. Had flashes but keeps getting pushed down the depth chart so unlikely he'd get a NHL shot so KHL likely the better option.

I don't think you will hear much about Gawdin and being out of the lineup based on this

Well that was fans being overconfident IMO. While many picked the Flames to win I think it was always going to be a tight series. What did we not bank on? - Markstrom playing poorly - McDavid going to yet another level - Both of those 2 things throwing the Flames off their game - Tanev not playing People underrated the Oilers 5 on 5 game going into this series. They made some serious strides in that area since the hired Woodcroft and you've seen it in this series. They are very well prepared for what the Flames are doing and IMO have exposed the Flames weaknesses. I think that getting exposed has put them on their heels and now they are playing a different game, what we saw last night, that relies on very good to great goaltending and they did not get that last night.

It was pretty wild to learn that although he had a great season Wolf had no shutouts during the course of the season. He instead waited for round 2 and then proceeds to run back to back shutouts in Games 1 and 2 to send them up 2-0 This guys story is just incredible. Whether he makes it or not I have no idea but I'm just here for the ride. The story is just incredible.

At this point the best chance to win is whatever it takes. I think the Flames have lost the luxury of playing a certain way.

Defensively he is right. They played the boring road style you want in the playoffs. but the flip side of that is they generated very little. The Oilers actually had the better share of quality chances. The type of formula (the boring road style) works really well when you are leading but it doesn't work so well when you are trailing or tied. but I can see what he is saying. With better goaltending and less stupid penalties they win that game last night. I just would have liked to see some more urgency from them given the circumstances.

We can talk a lot about depth but in the last 3 games Gaudreau and Tkachuk have combined for 3 points and have been held scoreless for 2 games now combine that with Markstroms play and it’s not hard to see why it’s 3-1 and what’s going to need to change if they want to come back.

If you are looking for positives, this series has been relatively close and the flames have not found their game, their Vezina caliber goalie has been 80% his normal self and your rival has played 3 straight excellent games. Their is a recipe there for being able to win 3 straight if a few things go their way. with the level McDavid is playing at it’s going to be awfully tough but it’s there.

this is unfortunately the fear I had when they acquired him. He’s made more to score goals than create them and in order for him to score he needs someone to get him the puck. Who does that on this team? to be fair I think he’s actually played fairly well in these playoffs he just cannot buy one and now he’s probably clutching it too much. That shot he missed in the slot was big. That has got to go in.

I don’t understand the rationale of people telling someone else “it’s over”. cool believe what you want but if others want to believe let them and who cares. Keep that crap to yourself.

very very challenging to win that way no question. Same time though they got a gift given right back to them. I don’t really think they stopped skating. That’s the level of urgency they had most of the night save for a few moments here and there.

they limited chances and did a better job on McDavid but their puck management throughly the neutral zone was sloppy and once In the o zone I don’t think they generated much quality. Their game was really lacking pace and urgency tonight. they seemed more comfortable playing a boring road game and not just trying to get in on the oilers and win with a forecheck

Flames played about 5 mins of good hockey in a game they had to have got a bounce they needed and still couldn’t get their game going. Still look like they don’t have answers for what oilers are doing and the Oilers have been the far more determined team in this series. They deserve all the credit for being up 3-1.

Not near enough urgency in this period for the Flames and yet another dumb penalty and they dig a deeper hole. Just cannot find their game in this series.

That is one of the most unbelievable sequences I think I’ve ever seen. Unreal save and then…. We’ll j don’t know what you call that.

Would have suspect a little more urgency to start the period and now another dump penalty…. the oilers are letting them back in the flames just not taking advantage yet