[azimm11]

On paper they don't seem to have much scoring/talent but they appear to make up for all of that in work ethic. So far this season they continue to win the close games that they lost last year, and even with 3/4 every day centers in the lineup - they continue to win these games.

What are your thoughts on their season thus far?

[amarius87]

i think they certainly can... start of with the examples of ottawa and the avs... rebuild years surprised everyone... but they fell the year after. but overall you look at the mentality with the way they play its beyond awesome.. everyone player other than a few (eg. hudler, glencross) are trying to play for a place on this roster into the future. there are no gurantees or walks in the park for any player. look at baertschi few years ago he was the next best thing to happen to calgary, he hasnt shown anything yet, and gets sent down. but looking alot better since his call up. Thing with other teams (oilers) then just put there players in with no leadership, the flames on the other hand have tons of it ( gio, hudler, russel(great pick up last year). players have improved as well. Another big thing is goalie stability. last year we had a carousal of goalies who couldnt stop the puck till the last quarter of the season ( ramo, mcdonald, ortio, berra), now there is a good tandem in hiller who has been excellent and ramo( ramo i belive is playing for a contract next year) and they are making the saves we wouldnt have had last year ( eg. against chicago .. no way we win that 2-1 last year and this year vs the caps when hiller made that last second step to take the game into ot). QUARTER way in and we sit 5TH in the west. the west is loaded so its gonna be tough and teams like chicago, wild, sanjose, dallas havent even picked it up yet.
the developement is great also, gaudreau and monohan have played well, and granlund and jooris and byron have been awesome also.
colborne was stepping up his game before his injury and once he returns, along with raymond and stajan we should have lots of healthy bodies. and ill just end of with GIORDANO!! and brodie.