Flames - Season Predictions 23/24

[conundrumed]

Blake Coleman - 30G-scoring shutdown winger. Worth more than his $4.9 this season. Young players taking positive steps forward, lots of things to be excited about in a down season. 

I'm quite happy that this has been a "take a step back" season. Overwhelming tumultuous drama, we were constantly just waiting for the next fuse of bad news to ignite.

Although it's an unfortunate season results-wise, that was always a likelihood. Nice to see Conroy sticking to his guns as much as he can and getting good results on trades. He's definitely not letting other GMs take advantage.

I think when I said NO to playoffs and had us finishing low in the division, it was more being hopeful that we would get off of the news feeds for the wrong reasons and fall into fully assessing where we're at.

So I'm pretty happy with how it's going. That, and the stupid Satoshi Nakamoto of constantly blaming Markstrom and inventing reasons of why he's ruined has gotten the teflon bullet. He's a solid NHL goalie and always has been. I'm pretty down on the fanbase for being so Satoshi Nakamototy to him and handing out free passes to skaters that are great 1 minute and total boneheads the next. The only consistency has been inconsistency. Hopefully that chapter is over. It was a very long chapter.

I've often said in the past that the Flames always seem like a low IQ team. Zary is showing the difference imho. Pelletier will too. Smart, smart, shifty players. Huberdeau is a high IQ player. Surround him with the mundane, and he's invisible.

Lots to be excited about moving forward.

 

In the meantime, cheer for the Wings this year. There's more than enough heart in that team to go around. From Larkin, who has never played a playoff game, to Veleno, Rasmussen, Walman and Raymond that bleed everything just to be NHLers, to Perron going, "how the f$%# did I become a mentor?" to Seider, likely the cleanest great Dman in the league after Makar, to, finally, Alex Lyon, career AHLer that backed the Panthers into the playoffs, then they threw him away.

They are now a ragtag team of every other team's misfits/we don't need you/you're not worth the cost/risk (Compher, Ghostisbehere, Maatta). They actually are. Who can't get behind that? All while waiting for the solid pipeline to move up.

I believe in magic. They're going to be a nuisance, I hope. Last year's Florida.

[rocketdoctor]

yeah, no  longer last!!

 

 

 

[travel_dude]

2nd place and the only thing I had right was SJS and ANA in the basement.

[medatswhoP]

 

No April fools day here, Cross still continues to lead , I was hoping to be wrong in my predictions with Calgary low and out of the playoffs but reality it is what it is. Hate to cheer for Vancouver as western conference finalist but might have to, no one else above them to hope for.  (Keynote: robrob74 the only one with a Calgary prediction being in the correct standing as fifth in the Pacific.)

 

[conundrumed]

Damn our g/a guesses took solid hip checks. I looked down at the puck for 1 second. Now I have a concussion and need shoulder surgery. Hopefully I'll be ready to go for next season. lol

[cberg]

 Xxx

[medatswhoP]

32 minutes ago, cberg said:

Ok, how about predictions for how many wins/points in the last 8 games?  I say 7 pts, 3 wins.

 

Also, where do we finish?  I’ll say #7 overall.

This is "Season Predictions"!  We can have predictions on wins/losses/per games playing or being played , start a new thread perhaps I entertain anything new,

As far as where do we finish we have them posted above in the spread sheet already with Taz89 being the only one matching you with #7 overall.  Anything is possible I think that's a very close bet at this point. 

[jjgallow]

man.

 

Congrats to....  @cross16?

 

If I read this correctly.   

 

I don't think I've ever been so destroyed in one of these before.   I really should have read how the points system worked lol.   I figured I nailed it.   nearly got the (Flames) standings right.  Correctly guessed they wouldn't make playoffs.   But no nearly dead last lol  😅.     

 

Starting to wonder if I should have read the instructions

 

[medatswhoP]

Ill do a final tally tonight or tomorrow, just follow IKEA instructions and your sure to fail.

Most of us predicted Flames being a bubble team would make the playoffs but our heart got in the way of reality I guess.  Who would have thought we would have sold half the farm though at the beginning of the season.

Lets hope for some great change by October with new Flames blood.

[medatswhoP]

Summary of season end 2024

Cross16 led the whole season and is the overall winner in points, no one could have predicted the bigger trades we had (Zadorov, Lindholm,) nor picking up some great players in exchange (Pospisil, Sharangovich).

Interesting notes:

- 4 People picked no playoffs for Calgary

- Only Jigallow predicted Vancouver to be Pacific overall leader

- Only Robrob74 predicted Calgary to finish in 5th place

- No one prediceted Coleman to be in the top 3 in goals

- No one predicted Kadri to be top in assists

The entire season is abit skewed with the exit of Lindholm but we did gain Sharangovich a great move!

Enjoy the summer peeps, playoffs is still exciting (tough to see the greasers but well see how far they go).

 

Pacific Standings

Total Goals                                                                            Total Assists

 

Well done  Cross16 (who led basically the entire year) Congrats!  Lets hope the crystal ball next season shines more on us.

[medatswhoP]

Guys wanna do this again this year?

What say you all.

[Ryan Man]

1 minute ago, medatswhoP said:

Guys wanna do this again this year?

What say you all.

Keen.

[cberg]

2 hours ago, medatswhoP said:

Guys wanna do this again this year?

What say you all.

Yes

 

[MP5029]

Mmm been thinking about the 2024/2025 roster given how well many of the young guys have played.

 

i think the smart play this year for Conroy is to have as many of these young and very talented prospects play on the Wrangles this year, maybe add 1 or two in the Flames line up this year but have the majority of them play pro in the AHL for one season, it seems they all are motivated and driven, let them gel as a group for a year and build some chemistry.  This would allow Conroy a season to figure out who in the current lineup is expendable and clear more room For these prospects.

 

TBH the writing is looking like it’s on the wall for the current vets, yes we need some moving forward but the way the prospects are developing they are way ahead of schedule and arguably as good or better than some of the vets we have now…it’s a problem but a good one to have, ultimately I think decisions will be needed at the end of this year with regards to our vets give how well the prospects are going, can’t hold the young talent down too long, maybe their year but by next year many of them will need an NHL spot.

[conundrumed]

We're in the phase of being patient with young players, collect some draft capital and prospects as the opportunity arises.

2 years in the A for new arrivals (20yos) unless they completely destroy that league.

In the meantime, sign NHLers to buy those kids time.

Brzustewicz is a good example. I've seen many around different sites with, "he should make the team".

Why? It's not a race. He still has growing to do, let him.

Throwing kids in the fire is never a good idea.

[robrob74]

2 hours ago, conundrumed said:

We're in the phase of being patient with young players, collect some draft capital and prospects as the opportunity arises.

2 years in the A for new arrivals (20yos) unless they completely destroy that league.

In the meantime, sign NHLers to buy those kids time.

Brzustewicz is a good example. I've seen many around different sites with, "he should make the team".

Why? It's not a race. He still has growing to do, let him.

Throwing kids in the fire is never a good idea.

 

 

I am with you! Continue to develop them as if we had a full roster of NHL talent. Plug a year or two in with a vet for now. If they can't beat a placeholder vet, then they're not ready. Develop a game they expect to play, and do near proficiently, not being buried. 

[cberg]

10 minutes ago, robrob74 said:

 

 

I am with you! Continue to develop them as if we had a full roster of NHL talent. Plug a year or two in with a vet for now. If they can't beat a placeholder vet, then they're not ready. Develop a game they expect to play, and do near proficiently, not being buried. 

The issue you are ignoring is that the prospect does beat out a vet, but the vet is blocking the way and the team refuses to drop the vet.

[robrob74]

17 minutes ago, cberg said:

The issue you are ignoring is that the prospect does beat out a vet, but the vet is blocking the way and the team refuses to drop the vet.

 

In the end, Coronado didn't do very well when he was up last year, then he got sent back down and improved. He did well in the Pre-Season, but when he did play at first, he wasn't very good. 

 

Pre-season is a tiny puppy compared to the the regular season when things start to get real. The coaches have to determine whether the player can play at a pace that can be maintained if they make the team. 

 

We don't know how Zary and Pospisil would have done had they started with the team last year, maybe they don't play quite as well. Zary also started off well and sort of dropped off later in the season. Posps kept up his play though. It's a fine line, some times they make it. It's why I think you gotta play them with players in where you think they should slot and see if they can stick there, I am not a fan of putting a prospect in for a 4th liner if he only gets 3-5 minutes a game. 

 

Which vets blocked in the past? I'd prefer they get a chance to play with a Kadri to help see success. 

[flames-fan-in-jets-land]

21 hours ago, medatswhoP said:

Guys wanna do this again this year?

What say you all.

Sure I'll keep the basement occupied again.

[rocketdoctor]

yeah sure

[medatswhoP]

I'll set it up early next week, i'm heading to the mountains tomorrow morning for one more camping trip.

Thanks guys, go FLAMES!

[conundrumed]

On 9/23/2024 at 10:45 PM, medatswhoP said:

Guys wanna do this again this year?

What say you all.

Can we start by giving @cross16 a -5 handicap?

[conundrumed]

10 hours ago, cberg said:

The issue you are ignoring is that the prospect does beat out a vet, but the vet is blocking the way and the team refuses to drop the vet.

It doesn't have to be ascertained in camp though. There's nothing wrong with depth and having kids in the slow cooker.

I understand your argument, and it can be frustrating (Wings fan lol). Try seeing Edvinsson be too good for the A while watching such luminaries as Petry and Chiarot make countless mistakes.🤮

You almost wanna take it upon yourself and meet the guy in the parking lot and put him on IR. lol  J/K

Equally frustrating is the young player making a few mistakes at the NHL level and having both ice time and confidence reduced.

It's a 2-headed monster.

 

On a happier note, a friend of mine (killer saxophonist) owns 2 farms large enough to be corporate. He has travelled to dirt-poor African countries to teach farming on his own dime.

Anyway, I told him I was overrun with squash, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, beans etc.

His response, "Well take them to the homeless shelter or food bank ya f#$@#$% dummy". He continued on feeding me both barrels. I was sorry for mentioning it. But glad I did.

Boy, did I feel dumb. Of course. How did it not even cross my mind? Cute kid, kinda slow...I'm going to expand the gardens for next year soon and love way too much excess.

The wife always complained it's too big (the garden, of course lol). Now, she's all for it. Our backyard is about 300 x 150'. Never understood the complaining to begin with. It's only about 60 x 25' currently. 80 x 40' still won't affect anything. Less lawn to mow.

 

[cberg]

1 hour ago, conundrumed said:

It doesn't have to be ascertained in camp though. There's nothing wrong with depth and having kids in the slow cooker.

I understand your argument, and it can be frustrating (Wings fan lol). Try seeing Edvinsson be too good for the A while watching such luminaries as Petry and Chiarot make countless mistakes.🤮

You almost wanna take it upon yourself and meet the guy in the parking lot and put him on IR. lol  J/K

Equally frustrating is the young player making a few mistakes at the NHL level and having both ice time and confidence reduced.

It's a 2-headed monster.

 

On a happier note, a friend of mine (killer saxophonist) owns 2 farms large enough to be corporate. He has travelled to dirt-poor African countries to teach farming on his own dime.

Anyway, I told him I was overrun with squash, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, beans etc.

His response, "Well take them to the homeless shelter or food bank ya f#$@#$% dummy". He continued on feeding me both barrels. I was sorry for mentioning it. But glad I did.

Boy, did I feel dumb. Of course. How did it not even cross my mind? Cute kid, kinda slow...I'm going to expand the gardens for next year soon and love way too much excess.

The wife always complained it's too big (the garden, of course lol). Now, she's all for it. Our backyard is about 300 x 150'. Never understood the complaining to begin with. It's only about 60 x 25' currently. 80 x 40' still won't affect anything. Less lawn to mow.

 

I have the same issue, apples mostly as we don’t eat enough and my wife says “that’s enough” applesauce after several dozens of pints canned.  Don’t do the food bank thing, but do give lots away.  Excess go into the compost pile so good end use there… 

 

I gave up mowing with our latest move.  It’s all wood chips now.  Saves a lot of time, and money.  Front yard between drives converted to a massive red raspberry bed, which looks a bit odd, but the neighbours walking by sure do enjoy snacking during the summer.

[conundrumed]

2 hours ago, cberg said:

I have the same issue, apples mostly as we don’t eat enough and my wife says “that’s enough” applesauce after several dozens of pints canned.  Don’t do the food bank thing, but do give lots away.  Excess go into the compost pile so good end use there… 

 

I gave up mowing with our latest move.  It’s all wood chips now.  Saves a lot of time, and money.  Front yard between drives converted to a massive red raspberry bed, which looks a bit odd, but the neighbours walking by sure do enjoy snacking during the summer.

I have completely lost the, "Let's hardscape the front yard" argument to the point I don't bother bringing it up anymore. I love the hardscape look. On the other hand, I love her and have to pick my spots.

Becoming a eunuch isn't appealing to me, for some reason. lol