LouCifer

Didn’t see this coming. Regardless of the rumblings, never thought they’d actually do it.

Is Bowness on contract still with WPG? Whether Sutter is here or not next season, I think he’d be a good add.

The silence speaks volumes.

Thank you Brad. I appreciate all you’ve done and all you tried to do for this franchise. Unfortunately, you can’t get blood from a stone, right? I’m certain you would’ve liked to try on more than a few occasions from the relics we call ownership. You were able to attract talent to come and play in Calgary, Canada. Not an easy feat given the alternative destinations in the league. I’m grateful that you had plan A all the way through Z when it came to acquiring talent to help this team compete. I do hope to see you thrive with a franchise that lets you do what you believe can win a cup. And I do hope to see you have a cup in the future. Thank you Brad. We all know why you left. We won’t be far behind if this pattern continues.

So, run it back for 1 more year. Just get through it. Patch holes with only 1 year contracts. Hanifin - trade to the highest bidder. I don’t want his next contract. Should get a haul for him. Will we get more in the off-season or at the TDL? D prices typically get crazy at the TDL. Coleman - like the player, hate the contract. Trade him Bring back Rooney. He’s on contract for one more year anyway. Markstrom - after the season he had, his value is in the toilet. Only one way to go when you hit bottom. Let him play and attempt to raise his value next season. If Lindholm leaves, he may be open for a move too. Lindholm - let him play (with Hubie) and assess if he intends to leave. If so, trade him to the highest bidder. If he wants to stay, Backlund likely has to go Backlund - give him the choice to chase a cup, or finish his career as a flame at a discount. Stone / Stecher - 1 year contracts. Kylington - Hopefully he returns.

I chose to focus on these 2 points specifically because I would be all for having the “next core” as you or someone else put it, develop that chemistry and comradely and a winning culture in the AHL for one more season, with the intention of them replacing many of our players with expiring NHL contracts after next season. If it’s played right, we can acquire some good assets for those on expiring contracts to help with the building of the next regime. Again, I would be all for letting next year’s NHL season play out according to chance and filling holes with temporary fixes, with the intentions of a “changing of the guard” the season after.

Interesting points on all accounts. I will share that I’ve held management positions at many different businesses, organizations, and associations, and in each and every one of them I never had complete autonomy to do as I saw fit. There are always marching orders, policies, and politics that confine and restrict you to play within the parameters of ownership. So, why stop short of pointing the finger at the GM? There’s been 1 constant throughout the consistent mediocrity that is the flames. Do we honestly believe the Sutter hire was BT? Do we truly believe that BT doesn’t require a rubber stamp of approval prior to every team decision? Word is that an extension offer has been made to BT, and that he is the one considering whether or not to accept returning to the flames. Odd behavior from BT, no? I think the evidence points to multiple rifts in the organization from player-level to coaches, coaches to GM, and GM to ownership. I’d wager that 💩 rolls downhill, and that the hill goes higher than BT. edit. I should comment on the goaltending since that’s the title of the thread. We’ve all been waiting for the next kipper. The next Vernon. The next “messiah” in goal, if you will. I never expected Markstrom to reach that level, but I was happy to see the turnstile of goalies from Ramo to Hiller to Toskala to Smith stop with someone I believed had more consistency. Well, who is Markstrom after all? Is he the guy we saw last season, or the guy we saw during COVID and this season? Hard to say. But, if you look at our player contracts, we’ve got many expiring at the end of next season and I think it’s a prime opportunity to go younger. I’m of the opinion to trade Markstrom and go with Vladar and Wolf in net.

I am actually passing out here boys. Might not make it through this one. And I don’t have faith the flames will either.

They might rename this statue to “Flames fan” lol

We got possession 2 or 3 times and played soft and gave the puck back. 😬

I’m not saying we’re playing poorly, but, I’m still waiting to see when will this team will ever look like they have urgency, and that they’re emptying everything in the tank to win every battle to ultimately win the game.

Hahahaha #truth

the 27th ranked PP in the league be like the Harlem globetrotters when they play us… smh.

You called it TD. And the trend continues…

And the crazy bounces giving NSH some prime opportunities. Markstrom has been sharp early.

I hope the bunny brought you some today TD 😊👍🏻🐰

Good night gents. Happy Easter to those who celebrate it

For sure. And which flames team will show up for that game is anyone’s guess.

SJ is the last game of the season, so by definition I don’t think it can be called a trap game because there’s no game to look past it. That said, if wpg gives us a chance to get in, no doubt the flames eyes will be bigger than their heads for game 82 and how that will translate is anyone’s guess.

Yep. If they think they’re fooling anyone, they’re fooling themselves. But this stretch to make the playoffs here is actually a reversal of what us fans have gone through this season. Now we get to watch them squirm and wince to close out the season lol.

SJ could be a trap game for wpg

they grabbed a point in a game that they were losing. maybe Winnipeg takes their foot off the gas after this one.

Let’s go flames. A chance for 2 points.