Reality Bites
Me and my big mouth. Last issue, I predicted that the then-hot
Flames (tired pun only half-heartedly intended) would hold off the
slumping Oilers for the eighth and final playoff spot.
So, of course, the Kid Flames promptly went out and dropped their
next three games...including two to the afformentioned Oilers. When
Edmonton won a highly-entertaining (that is, unless you were a
Calgary fan) OT game in San Jose, the Flames' fate was sealed. Of
course, what did the Flames do then? After averaging just one goal
per game over the previous three contests, they scored five each in
essentially meaningless wins over Vancouver and Colorado. And
finally, just to finish the season on a really frustrating note,
they drop a hard-fought game to the Oilers (again).
The gist of all this is that, once again, the Flames have missed the
playoffs. At the beginning of the season, they wouldn't have been
such a bitter pill to swallow - in fact, it was pretty much a
given. But then the kids go out and come within a few points of
making it, only to blow their chances over the final two weeks of
the season. And that sucks.
Still, there is an upside to the 1998-99 season. GM Al Coates made a
couple of smart trades that gave the Flames a couple more pretty
good young players to throw into the lineup. Coach Brian Sutter
showed that, with a modicum of talent and a good work ethic, a
small-market team can still have a pretty respectable regular
season. And as for the players...well, guys like Jarome Iginla and
Valeri Bure had breakout seasons, and, in general, the kids played
their hearts out.
With very few exceptions, I personally may have been disappointed
with the results of a Flames game, but not with the effort. Prospects
Daniel Tkaczuk and Rico Fata should make a good run at joining the
big club in training camp, '98 draftee Robyn Regehr joins what is
arguably one of the best young defensive corps in the league, and the
deep 1999 Entry Draft gives Calgary a good shot at adding still more
offense, like a Kris Beech or Jani Rita.
Yep, there are several reasons to feel good about this season. But
the Flames not making the playoffs ain't one of them. And that
sucks.
