Flames steamroll then steamrolled review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON OUTLOOK They have this habit of a good year followed by a not so good one so coming off missing the playoffs and making a big shake things up trade the hope was they would be a playoff contender.

 

FINAL RECORD 50-25-7 107 POINTS best record in the West, 2nd best record in all of hockey. Lost in first round to the Avalanche.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR They began the season winning a few and losing a few, six weeks in they were 10-8-1 and then on November 17th they started a three month tear in which they steamrolled everything in their path, Rittich took claim to the net, the offense exploded and they went 31-8-6 from then through the end of February. They seemed destined for a deep run.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR From then on they were a .500 team for two months going 9-9 down the stretch losing the magic and momentum. Everyone picked them to defeat the upstart Avalanche and after a game one 4-0 victory it seemed they were on their way. Instead they fell apart losing four straight to the 'Lanche two in overtime and twice blown out. It was a crushing end to a season in which so much went right.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT almost everything. Bill Peters got a lot out of these guys, Gaudreau had 99 points to lead the team and was a beast, Monahan is probably the best center that people never talk about, Lindholm came with Peters from Carolina and finally delivered the season long hoped for. Giordano long one of the games best defenseman amped up his game even higher and will likely win the Norris. Tkachuk delivered 77 points and looks to be one of the games best young power forwards. They had 13 players who were double digit plus/minus players. Hanifin had a great year, nobody wants to tangle with Bennett, Ryan and Frolik were stellar in secondary roles. Health was key as no regular missed much time.David Rittich went 27-9-5 in net and was fantastic most of the year.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG James Neal was a bad signing and looked old and slow and was a cap hit IR player for much of the year. Mike Smith for much of the year looked old and was a weak link. As much as I detest Smith and consider him among the games most overrated players I simply cannot understand them handing the net to him and sticking with him in the gong show series against the Avalanche over Rittich who outplayed him by a ton al season long. Michael Stone whose game I have always loved missed much of the year and looks to have lost his career to inuries. Realy that is about it, they had a season for the ages.

 

FREE AGENTS  Mike Smith is a free agent and it is 50/50 he will be back. Tkachuk, Rittich and Bennett are all arbitration eligible so they will look to get paid. The core of the team is all locked up long term, look for them to do the same soon with the three kids. 

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS Who are they, the team that started slow and ended badly or the team that for three months destroyed everything in their path? What do you do about Neal? Can you find a way of finding someone to take him? Do you resign Smith or bring in someone younger like Lehner to share the net with Rittich, or simply hand the net to Rittich and sign a cheap veteran backup? 

 

  Very few trouble spots moving forward, they were probably the leagues healthiest team this season which was a huge factor, if that continues next season there is no reason to think that they will not continue as they did this past season as a top team in the West.