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Calgary Flames Roundtable: Post trade deadline, playoff hopes

By Ramina Shlah

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) scores a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jon Gillies (32) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames on February 27, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 27: Dallas Stars center Devin Shore (17) scores a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jon Gillies (32) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames on February 27, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CALGARY, AB – MARCH 2, 2018: (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 2, 2018: (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Question 4: I know the Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes are starting to slip away from them, do you legitimately think they will make it or not?

Jonathan Boulanger

I do not. It deeply saddens me to say it because playoff time is the best time of year in Calgary for Flames fans but the team just doesn’t have the wheels and the tools to make it there. Johnny Gaudreau is getting cold, Mike Smith is injured, the bottom six is horrendous… It just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Now if you would have asked me a week or two ago, I would have said they were a lock for postseason hockey. Not anymore.

Ian Gustafson

In order for the Flames to really have a chance to make the playoffs they have to go on a streak. The western conference playoff race is super close right now so they can’t afford to lose many more games. If they can do that then they will make it. With Smith is out for much longer I’m thinking they won’t make it. I hope they surprise me.

Tom Oppolzer

At this point, I’m really not sure. They’re still close but the decisions Gulutzan and co. keep making with regards to the bottom of the lineup don’t give me a lot of hope. If Ferland, Versteeg, and Smith can come back soon and they can go on a run I think they’ll make it. If not though, finishing 9th or 10th in the conference is probably what we’ll be stuck with.

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Benjamin Prokopy

I do not. In the last roundtable, I was very optimistic about their chances. I can no longer say that.

The Flames have been plagued by consistency problems all season. And, irrespective of how well Gillies and Rittich are playing, the loss of Mike Smith has seemingly exacerbated those problems.

Every time I watch this team, I’m not sure who is going to show up. Is it the team that takes too many penalties and blows a lead, as in Colorado?  Or is going to be the group who put 51 shots on the board against the Rangers?

The return of Smith and Kris Versteeg will help, I’m sure. But, with less than 20 games to go, it may be too late.

Dan Raicevich

I’m indifferent about this. I personally think that this roster is too good to miss the playoffs, but then again their coaching staff isn’t elite enough to help lead this team through the most critical point of the season.

Ramina Shlah

I’m really not sure. And to be fair Ben, I think everyone at the last roundtable thought the Calgary Flames would be making it. But everything that could go wrong has been going wrong. The Flames play a majority of their last few weeks against Pacific Division teams so those will really be a true test for the team.

As of right now, I’m going to say no. And we can expect some big changes in the off-season.

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