3 Fearless Flames Predictions
Kent Wilson
March 13 2013 09:55AM
Calgary has played 24 games and only have another 24 remaining in their 2013 season. They probably won't make the playoffs, but that's hardly a brave prophecy at this point. Here's a few other things I expect to happen before the final puck drops for Calgary as well...
1.) The Flames won't finish last in the West
Although pragmatically the best thing for Calgary would be to finish as low in the standings as possible, the truth is the Flames aren't as bad as they have seemed through the first half of the year. All of their underlying numbers are at least middle of the road and it's only league worst goaltending that has sunk them.
So unless Feaster tells the troops to lay down their arms or trades everything not nailed down, the Flames will improve as a matter of course. In the summer I suggested Kipper would regress from his outstanding numbers last season, but I seriously doubt he is suddenly a sub-replacement level puck stopper. Even if he is merely average for the remainder, Calgary's record should improve.
This prediction seems a little tone deaf considering Calgary's recent struggles, but really this should be a familiar script for Flames fans. In each of the previous two seasons the club flailed around for the first 30 or so games, only to turn things around in the second half and make a serious run at the post-season. They probably don't have enough games left to do that this time (the hole is too deep) but expect them to go on a winning streak and pull themselves out of the basement out least.
Aside - when the Flames go on their inevitable run, you'll hear stories about how they are finally embracing Hartley's system, or playing relaxed hockey because they don't feel the pressure of the playoffs anymore, or some other such psychologizing. Don't believe them.
2.) The Flames will finish above the Oilers
You know who is (still) legitimately terrible? The Edmonton Oilers.
On twitter the other day I asked my followers if they would rather be a Flames fan or Oilers fan right now. I was obviously being a bit facetious (the response was overwhelmingly "neither"), but the question actually does interest me - The Oil have an impressive collection of kids, but that's about it. They've raced through most of the youngsters ELC's, their management doesn't seem to know how to build an NHL roster (make sure to click that link) and they still sport some of the worst possession numbers in the league.
It's arguable that Edmonton is in the better position given their younger assets. Even with those guys, though, they remain below the Flames despite the fact we've arguably reached the latter's post-2004 nadir. It can certainly get worse for the Calgary organization if the next 12-24 months aren't managed with a deft hand, but Edmonton has been rebuilding in earnest for almost 5 years and are still the NHL's easy-out.
3.) Iginla will be dealt
After two or three years of writing "trade Jarome" articles, this is the season I think we finally see it happen. Iginla's contract is up in the summer, the team and player haven't talked about an extension and it should be as obvious as the nose on Tim Hunter's face at this point that Jarome is no longer an elite piece to build around.
Eric Francis' recent article on the subject portends an Iggy deal I think, not because of the subject or content, but because it strikes me as a trial balloon purposely raised by the Flames management (via the media) to test the public's willingness to embrace a post-Iginla era. A random sampling of the comments there (and here and almost any other fan gathering online) suggests this is the case.
Iginla will likely be the most sought after rental player on the market at the deadline, raising the demand and therefore asking rpice. The Flames won't realistically be in the playoff chase for the first time since they made their cup run. The franchise is in desperate need of adding to its modest stable of future assets. And Jarome is running out of time to win the cup.
It makes entirely too much sense. Unless Jarome categorically refuses to waive his NTC ala Sundin (which I don't think will happen), he will be a Bruin, Penguin, Blue or King in April.
nice leverage to have, being loaded with prospects and not many holes to fill on the parent team.
Might be something to that. A hockey guy told me he heard Morrow, Despres, Bennett and a 1st for Iggy, Sarich and Butler. Apparently Sarich is still valued for his crease clearing ability. Who knows? I would like that deal. Apparently Bylsma isn't a huge Despres supporter but I sure like him.
Kent,
Pretty fearless publishing this article on a day when the Flames are dead last in the West and trailing the Oilers.
To be fair though, there is a good chance you end up right. The Oilers' schedule to the end of the season consists of many games against some pretty good teams.
Um... Yes please! Get Shero on the phone, we accept!!
Love watching you all cry. Keep knocking the Oilers. Bye Bye .... UR FALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLING and it seems like years before you are competitive again .... enjoy the ditch we are vacating just for you cowtowners.
you meant the Brown trade? or the Eager on waivers this morning!or the Fistric trade? c'mon Kent you are better than that!!!I would trade the Oil roster in a heartbeat for Calgarys roster....plus if Tambo does not finish ahead of the flames he sure will be fire in summer time.
@#%* off Oiler hillbilly. Listen to your Uncle Jed & leave your sister alone.
if that's the deal I do that yesterday. holy cow that's a lot.
BRILLIANT OBSERVATIONS AS USUAL!!!!
I'd be all over that trade as well. Clears up a ton of cap space and a couple of D-men I'm not that sold on anyhow for a ton of potential.
Calgary is Edmonton 5 years ago (In 2007-08 the Oilers finished with a 41-35-6 record)
A team that is completely unwilling to accept the fact that they aren't good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup and not headed in the right direction to ever be.
Potlicker, nice one, are you 15 yrs. old; what a shame? I bet your uncle Jed had to say that to you more than once in your life. Way to represent Calgary fool, stop posting so you don't give the impression to all whom visit the flamesnation that Flames fans are cut from the same cloth as you goof. Want to send a message, go to oilersnation and troll there.
Grow up
Good Grief
The team is not a complete disaster, but clearly the goaltending is definitely the biggest culprit this year. 28th in save percentage at .883; if they were 15th in the league the would be at .910. With 677 shots allowed going in to the Detroit game, that's 18.3 goals fewer even if they only have league average goaltending. Sure maybe some of the 3 and 4 goal losses end up being 2 goal or 1, but there is at least 4 more points in the standings,
In contrast offensive shooting percentage and goals scored per game are 14th and 15th respectively. If the goaltending matches this is a playoff team.
Hmm, I am an Oilers fan and I thought it was pretty funny. Leave your sister alone, that's gold Jerry! Gold!
Kent,
If Jarome's reasons for wanting to stay in Calgary are family-related (reasonable assumption), and he'll be a UFA this summer, why don't we hear more about the possibility of a trade for prospects and re-sign for next season? Helps everyone.
I like that you threw Blues in there. Thinking Rattie and Baertschi together again?
thanks,
This is a good read, but I'm not sure why all the fanfare about possibly finishing ahead of us in the standings. Ultimately is it a point of pride to finish 13th instead of 14th? When you say "It can certainly get worse for the Calgary organization if the next 12-24 months aren't managed with a deft hand" I'd argue that's pretty much a sure thing; where's the evidence that Feaster and Co. are any more competent than the Tambellini Brothers travelling comedy show we call a front office staff? Being a fan of either team is very depressing but you could easily argue that at least we're not in the position of having to trade our 2 best and most marketable players to make any sort of headway, after having waited until most of their value is gone. At this point, finishing ahead of Edmonton is nothing to brag about; the rallying cry of "at least we're not quite as terrible!" is pretty empty
Flames/Oilers: who's bottoming out deeper, who's less bad, who's got a longer road to being good...
It's all pretty embarrassing. In the '80s? Yeah, that was a rivalry. Now? Meh. Why don't we just shelf the Battle of Alberta until we can say it with a straight face.