NHL Season 2025-26 - Page 14

logan5 · #**261** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 4:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Again, it's the way the Oilers did it year after year after year that we mocked. Like I said before, if we are still here in 5 years then no Flames fans will be happy. This is a deep draft coming up so this is the year to do it, with the goal of being competitive once we are in the new building in 2 seasons time.

The Ducks seem to have done a 7 year rebuild, where everything has gone right for them, so I would say that's the optimal scenario for a deep rebuild. There are quick rebuilds, like the Rangers did, but that means a shorter window of being a top team. The Flames only prolonged their suffering by trying to compete and finishing i the lower part of the middle, so their draft picks haven't been great. The last 4 years of missing the play-offs haven't amounted to much in the rebuild department. There's some decent players, but nothing that moves the needle enough. I think the Flames are still going to be struggling 5 years from now.

Looking at the rebuilds in the cap era, you need closer to 10 seasons to build an elite team.

Calgarian · #**262** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

The Ducks seem to have done a 7 year rebuild, where everything has gone right for them, so I would say that's the optimal scenario for a deep rebuild. There are quick rebuilds, like the Rangers did, but that means a shorter window of being a top team. The Flames only prolonged their suffering by trying to compete and finishing i the lower part of the middle, so their draft picks haven't been great. The last 4 years of missing the play-offs haven't amounted to much in the rebuild department. There's some decent players, but nothing that moves the needle enough. I think the Flames are still going to be struggling 5 years from now.

Looking at the rebuilds in the cap era, you need closer to 10 seasons to build an elite team.

So the Flames are currently in year 2 of the rebuild, last year was an anomaly in that a shitty team nearly made the playoffs. The team is pretty much the same as last year and we are playing where we should be now. We currently have 2 first round picks this year, and that should go to 3 when we trade Andersson (unless it's a pick in another years draft of course). Next year should also be a bottom year, though we currently have a single pick. There aren't many more players we can trade for high picks, ownership wants to keep Kadri (I think that's a mistake, but he's great at mentoring the young guys at least), so that leaves Coleman (probably get a prospect and a 2nd for him) and Huberdeau (don't think anyone is taking him unless we retain a lot of his salary). Weegar isn't going anywhere, he's going to be the core of our defense moving forward.

HomeInMyShoes · #**263** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So the Flames are currently in year 2 of the rebuild, last year was an anomaly in that a shitty team nearly made the playoffs. The team is pretty much the same as last year and we are playing where we should be now. We currently have 2 first round picks this year, and that should go to 3 when we trade Andersson (unless it's a pick in another years draft of course). Next year should also be a bottom year, though we currently have a single pick. There aren't many more players we can trade for high picks, ownership wants to keep Kadri (I think that's a mistake, but he's great at mentoring the young guys at least), so that leaves Coleman (probably get a prospect and a 2nd for him) and Huberdeau (don't think anyone is taking him unless we retain a lot of his salary). Weegar isn't going anywhere, he's going to be the core of our defense moving forward.

Kadri is maybe the one they can get a couple of decent draft picks out given his last run in the playoffs with Colorado. It's tough though. There's a sea of mediocrity this year throughout the NHL. Is Detroit really a top-ten team with a -4? No. Florida seems to be hitting their stride again. I'm not sold on Edmonton having figured that out yet. So Colorado, Florida, Dallas, Carolina. Any one else really have a legitimate shot and needs a bit of veteran leadership in the playoffs? If I'm Dallas I'm thinking there's only luck to get out of Colorado this year. Which isn't really worth a future limiting move.

I think it's a tough year to try to move players. Edmonton could use Weegar though. Like every year, they could use defensive help.

feepa · #**264** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 5:24 PM**

All the excuses, but none of the playoff successes like the oilers. Sorry flamers, but it wasn't 5 straight years of 1st overall draft pics.

Calgarian · #**265** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 5:24 PM**

Andersson is 8th among defensemen and 2nd on the team in scoring with 22 points in 33 games (and a +3 rating on a team with a -16 goal differential). He will net a 1st and a prospect, though we may need to throw a 3rd in or something. At $4.55M he is a perfect fit for a team looking to make a run as he won't have a huge cap hit.

Calgarian · #**266** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by feepa

All the excuses, but none of the playoff successes like the oilers. Sorry flamers, but it wasn't 5 straight years of 1st overall draft pics.

Nobody said it was.

HomeInMyShoes · #**267** Posted **Dec 17, 2025, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by feepa

All the excuses, but none of the playoff successes like the oilers. Sorry flamers, but it wasn't 5 straight years of 1st overall draft pics.

It was 4 in 6 years.

And they had that year they had three first round picks (none #1 overall though.)

BlackDog204 · #**268** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 3:08 AM**

God I miss Ehlers. Not the best Jet, but boy could he drove a play, and create scoring opportunities.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**269** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by feepa

All the excuses, but none of the playoff successes like the oilers. Sorry flamers, but it wasn't 5 straight years of 1st overall draft pics.

Well... they did win the 2004 Stanley Cup (for a moment)

The Oilers getting all those number 1 picks and Draisaitl is still hilarious.

Dissapointed we didn't get to see more of McDavid and Yakupov together.

My preference for which Canadian teams I want to see the cup in descending order:

#1 Winnipeg Jets
#2 Montreal Canadiens
#3 Edmonton Oilers
#4 Calgary Flames
#5 Ottawa Senators (but only if Winnipeg wins one first)

... hopefully I will never see the Leafs or Canucks win a cup.

Calgarian · #**270** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Well... they did win the 2004 Stanley Cup (for a moment)

The Oilers getting all those number 1 picks and Draisaitl is still hilarious.

Dissapointed we didn't get to see more of McDavid and Yakupov together.

My preference for which Canadian teams I want to see the cup in descending order:

#1 Winnipeg Jets
#2 Montreal Canadiens
#3 Edmonton Oilers
#4 Calgary Flames
#5 Ottawa Senators (but only if Winnipeg wins one first)

... hopefully I will never see the Leafs or Canucks win a cup.

My Ranking is.

#1 Flames
#2 Jets
#3 Senators
#4 Canadians
#5 Leafs
#6 Canucks
#7 Oilers.

In a deep run I could swallow my pride and cheer for anyone other than #7 lol

feepa · #**271** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Well... they did win the 2004 Stanley Cup (for a moment)

same with the oilers in 2006. and we've been back to the final twice since then.

HomeInMyShoes · #**272** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 5:14 PM**

My ranking:

Winnipeg
Ottawa
Vancouver (just to see the riots)
Calgary
tie Edmonton/Montreal
Quebec
Hamilton
Toronto

Calgarian · #**273** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 5:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

My ranking:

Vancouver (just to see the riots)

The way things are going in Vancouver, it may be a while before they can try and burn their own city down for a 3rd time

HomeInMyShoes · #**274** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 8:31 PM**

Just stopping to appreciate the season that Celebrini is having as a 19 year old.

He is on pace to have a 19 year old season that would only be eclipsed by Wayne Gretzky. Only Wayne and Sidney scored 50 points in fewer games as a teenager.

Sure, basing a season 34 games is dumb, but he's at 51 points.

Crosby notched 120 that season and Wayne 137.

Something to keep in mind is that only 6 times have teenagers ever scored 100 points in a season and Crosby was two of those.

Calgarian · #**275** Posted **Dec 18, 2025, 8:52 PM**

I'm extremely impressed with Celibrini, he very much reminds me of Crosby in how he plays. Good to see Bedard having a bounce back season as well.

HomeInMyShoes · #**276** Posted **Dec 19, 2025, 2:01 PM**

Well, Canadian teams are up a full spot in the standings overall, going a combined 13-7-2 this week.

Code:

11 Montreal  34 18-12-4 40 11   5  +4 (2-1-1)
13 Edmonton  35 17-12-6 40 12   0  +4 (3-1-0)
22 Ottawa    33 16-13-4 36 11   1  +1 (2-1-0)
23 Toronto   33 15-13-5 35 11  -3  -4 (1-2-0)
27 Winnipeg  33 15-16-2 32 13 -11  +1 (1-1-1)
29 Calgary   35 14-17-4 32 11 -14  +2 (2-1-0)
32 Vancouver 33 13-17-3 29  9 -20   0 (2-0-0)

Edmonton starting to win in regulation time a bit more. Jarry leaving after tweaking what would seem to be his groin is going to hurt a lot if it lingers. Pikard made a couple of really key stops in relief.

To put the parity of the season in some perspective, there are no teams that aren't a three game winning streak from being in the playoffs right now in the entire NHL.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**277** Posted **Dec 19, 2025, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

My ranking:

Winnipeg
Ottawa
Vancouver (just to see the riots)
Calgary
tie Edmonton/Montreal
Quebec
Hamilton
Toronto

The riots only seem to happen when Vancouver loses in the Cup finals

I’d love to see Hamilton get an NHL team. I wouldn’t even stipulate Winnipeg winning a cup first for that hypothetical team… Hamilton winning a cup before Toronto would be something else lol. I’d rank Quebec right below Montreal.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**278** Posted **Dec 19, 2025, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I'm extremely impressed with Celibrini, he very much reminds me of Crosby in how he plays. Good to see Bedard having a bounce back season as well.

Really hope they both make Team Canada.

HomeInMyShoes · #**279** Posted **Dec 19, 2025, 3:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

The riots only seem to happen when Vancouver loses in the Cup finals

I’d love to see Hamilton get an NHL team. I wouldn’t even stipulate Winnipeg winning a cup first for that hypothetical team… Hamilton winning a cup before Toronto would be something else lol. I’d rank Quebec right below Montreal.

On thinking it through, I would probably put it as Quebec as number one. They totally got shafted when Colorado went on to win the cup immediately after moving.

Calgarian · #**280** Posted **Dec 19, 2025, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Really hope they both make Team Canada.

I think they will, will be good to have some youth on the team to learn from the vets like Crosby and Marchand. I think Celibrini is a 100% lock, Bedard is probably 75% depending on what his injury is. Rumour as it he separated his shoulder, but media speculation can be way off.