FlamesNation · Aug 26, 2016
A Look at the 2016-17 Western Conference
The Flames are entering 2016-17 with different coaching, maturing youngsters and much better goaltending. It's not unrealistic to expect the team to take a very real step forward.
But Calgary improving over last year's roster isn't enough. They also have to improve relative to the rest of the Western Conference in order to have a real shot at the playoffs. Last season, the Flames finished with 77 points, good for 12th in the West and 10 points back of the final Wild Card spot (Minnesota). That means they will probably have to leapfrog at least four teams and improve by 10 points to have a real shot.
With that in mind, here's how things are shaping up in the West heading into the new season.