I think the organization has come along way on the player personnel front. (when we actually have a pick) the team has made some good moves at the draft and I think we have a fair number of prospects with the potential to make the show.

Tre's success is in (most) trades and the contract negotiations. Now Free Agent signings is a different story but who actually thought Neal would regress to Brower territory? I'll give him a D on the Jagr signing... still thought he should have given Iggy a shot.. couldn't have been worse could it?

To me, with this off-season is key and it'll be a make or break year for Treliving. The playoffs taught us that this team isn't quite ready for the big time and with certain contracts that need to be managed, re-tooling this team will be challenging.
- geta02it

Honestly, I too cant believe how pissy of a year Neal had as well. Fck me, when guys 29 years old appear to show their age & regress that much, something is wrong.
I think Neal needs to hit the gym & adjust his attitude & he possibly can come back with what would be his best year of the 5 we signed him for. Personally, that is when you move him. This has so many similarities to Wideman. Pissy 1st year, then he had a real good 2nd year. That was when Wideman had his peak value trade wise.

We'll see. Interesting to see that the team with the worst goaltending percentages going into the playoffs are now in the conference final. It just goes to show anything can happen & you absolutely need everything from the officials & rulings go your way like San Jose does. The NHL really has some big issues with the rules & officiating that needs to be addressed before they go big time with the gambling. I compare this to playing on-line poker on Poker Stars, I have no trust in the integrity of the system.

Honestly, I too cant believe how pissy of a year Neal had as well. Fck me, when guys 29 years old appear to show their age & regress that much, something is wrong.
I think Neal needs to hit the gym & adjust his attitude & he possibly can come back with what would be his best year of the 5 we signed him for. Personally, that is when you move him. This has so many similarities to Wideman. Pissy 1st year, then he had a real good 2nd year. That was when Wideman had his peak value trade wise.

We'll see. Interesting to see that the team with the worst goaltending percentages going into the playoffs are now in the conference final. It just goes to show anything can happen & you absolutely need everything from the officials & rulings go your way like San Jose does. The NHL really has some big issues with the rules & officiating that needs to be addressed before they go big time with the gambling. I compare this to playing on-line poker on Poker Stars, I have no trust in the integrity of the system.
- Kevin R

Agreed on Neal. But Monahan was our downfall. When he stopped being useful it put a lot more pressure on JG and teams were able to shut the first line down.

Team seemed to lack identity. Absolutely got outclassed by the Ave´s. SJ seemed to push around McKinnon and get him off his game. Cannot remember anyone on the Flames actually touching him, he had free reign in our zone.

Tre has some work to do.

Agreed on Neal. But Monahan was our downfall. When he stopped being useful it put a lot more pressure on JG and teams were able to shut the first line down.

Team seemed to lack identity. Absolutely got outclassed by the Ave´s. SJ seemed to push around McKinnon and get him off his game. Cannot remember anyone on the Flames actually touching him, he had free reign in our zone.

Tre has some work to do.
- DuranDuran

Yup - though to say Mony was the downfall is a bit much - Lindholm was ineffective, defense crumbled, they had no zone entry plan, no way to deal with the speed from the Avs forwards or the physical play from their D. They also couldn't get traffic to the net or drive high-danger chances on Grubauer. The Avs had (and for a while) a really solid box out strategy and were aggressive on the puck carrier and picking off Flames set plays. Hell, once the drop pass was busted, it took the Flames 2 games to adjust properly...

Flames also needed some size and grit - I like Hath, but he didn't perform his role either, nor did Bennett or Chucky. Johnson and Zadorov were too free to play their physical role and there was no (real) pushback as the Flames are just a generally small team.

The team as a whole, outside of Smith, had a really poopty 4 games. Those were team losses if I ever saw them

Treliving will be the best GM in the league if he can trade Monahan, Stone, Brodie, and Neal, bring in Bobrovsky and Duchene, and resign everyone else but Smith.

Treliving will be the best GM in the league if he can trade Monahan, Stone, Brodie, and Neal, bring in Bobrovsky and Duchene, and resign everyone else but Smith.
- Hunkulese

That’s just dumb. Douche is over rated.

Treliving will be the best GM in the league if he can trade Monahan, Stone, Brodie, and Neal, bring in Bobrovsky and Duchene, and resign everyone else but Smith.
- Hunkulese

Jesus, here goes Hunk off the (frank)ing deep end again.

That’s just dumb. Douche is over rated.
- TandA4Flames

And Monahan had a broken thumb. Not a great injury for a shooter. Suggesting trading him is truly idiotic.

What about the team Ron Francis built Bingo?
He would be a the top of most lists today if Dundon didn't micromanage him the FRANK out of town.
- DEDDIE

Ron Francis didn't build this team.

He's certainly laid the foundation, but I mean there are 14 guys that were on the Hurricanes last year that aren't with the team this season, not to mention the coaching staff.

Also Francis wanted autonomy and didn't want to have the "GM By Committee" structure that the Hurricanes currently have, so... there you go.

Yup - though to say Mony was the downfall is a bit much - Lindholm was ineffective, defense crumbled, they had no zone entry plan, no way to deal with the speed from the Avs forwards or the physical play from their D. They also couldn't get traffic to the net or drive high-danger chances on Grubauer. The Avs had (and for a while) a really solid box out strategy and were aggressive on the puck carrier and picking off Flames set plays. Hell, once the drop pass was busted, it took the Flames 2 games to adjust properly...

Flames also needed some size and grit - I like Hath, but he didn't perform his role either, nor did Bennett or Chucky. Johnson and Zadorov were too free to play their physical role and there was no (real) pushback as the Flames are just a generally small team.

The team as a whole, outside of Smith, had a really poopty 4 games. Those were team losses if I ever saw them
- rmull905

Lets be honest though... we far exceeded expectations with the season we had. We go from being out of the playoffs to first in the west in one season. Was I disappointed we didn't go further in the playoffs? 100% bubba but how long did it take the Caps? We have a decent foundation, some decent prospects, fairly young core that is signed to decent contracts (for the most part) and a year of playoff experience with a brand new group.

The off season will be interesting and there will be changes! I see this team being competitive for a number of years with the right changes. Meh, the window just opened...

And Monahan had a broken thumb. Not a great injury for a shooter. Suggesting trading him is truly idiotic.
- tincup

I don't agree with that. If there is a team willing to make a deal that addresses some of the gaps we have, i'd consider it if I were GM. I guess the question is, has Monahan hit his ceiling or is there more? We know there's no "toughness" and I don't mean the ability or desire to fight, he's just... passive in all areas of his game. Does he find open ice? Sure but thats not some secret sauce that no other player possess. Don't get me wrong, he's not a liability but if there is a deal to be made, I'd say Tre needs to consider it.

Jesus, here goes Hunk off the (frank)ing deep end again.
- rmull905

Go to the Hockeybuzz Hotstove blog....

I don't agree with that. If there is a team willing to make a deal that addresses some of the gaps we have, i'd consider it if I were GM. I guess the question is, has Monahan hit his ceiling or is there more? We know there's no "toughness" and I don't mean the ability or desire to fight, he's just... passive in all areas of his game. Does he find open ice? Sure but thats not some secret sauce that no other player possess. Don't get me wrong, he's not a liability but if there is a deal to be made, I'd say Tre needs to consider it.
- geta02it

I guess I should qualify that. He is tradeable depending on the return. The earlier suggestion from Hunk was to put him with Neal to get rid of Neal's salary. If they do trade Monahan, the return better be significant. He is not passive in all areas of his game. He goes to the tough areas game in and game out which is why he is the leading scorer of his draft class. He's also the leading scorer on the Flames since he got here. I think the reason the first line slumped down the stretch is because he wasn't 100%. Despite what some may think, he's not easily replaced.