Practice Notes Feb 5 - First post Lindholm era practice

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

For comparison. Lines at the end of 22.

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangiapane - Backlund - Toffoli
Dube - Jarnkrok - Coleman
Lucic - Lewis - Ritchie

2 players pending a legal process is wild as well.

People will get used to it, it was strange after the Iginla years as well seeing the new names pop up, and those are the ones gone now.

[Heavy Jack]

Yea if someone said that in a year or two we’d have none of Gaudreau, Lindholm and Tkachuk someone would have bet to eat something nasty and with great confidence lol. Brutal.

Still very much looking forward to a refresh, Conroy’s approach and candidness have been particularly refreshing and have heightened my excitement levels which is awesome.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames have more talent than last week is the funny thing...in terms of scoring IMO

Kuzmenko is going to play better than Lindholm mailing it in likely

It's fair to say the team D will suffer though

I actually do think they’ll be better on the PP/generating offense overall.

Kuzmenko is a high skill player, and whatever his other warts, we don’t have a dearth of a high skill attacking forwards.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Worst of the bunch...so far. We are looking at a rebuild now. It could get a lot uglier before it gets better.

Oh man, Simpsons reference on point with this one. Still chortling!

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

My biggest concern is the PK. Backlund and Lindholm start the Pk typically against the other team PP1.

5 on 5 Lindholm was not good this year and our PP sucks so it's very likely if that 1st lines clicks, we could actually get better...until we trade Tanev and Hanifin

there really isn't anything to be concerned about...what's the worst that happens? they lose? they have already done that in more than half their games.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by blankall

I don't see Kylington's name there. My guess is that once Kylington is up to speed, he gets groomed for those minutes. Obviously a lot depends on whether Hanifin is sticking around.

I'm not sure he will. I think his strength is in transition, not necessarily as a PP QB.

[Heavy Jack]

I’m actually looking forward to seeing someone step up; the PK could be a good way to ‘test’ centers as well for wingers you’re considering moving over. Lots of times two wingers kill penalties but it usually happens after the pucks been dropped and a live line change. I see Coleman and Mangi killing penalties together all the time. I’d imagine we likely see Schwindt given a bigger role here in the short term though, likely going to see some PK time.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Nicklas Grossman. End of discussion.

Yes, but Grossman wasn't here to be a serious hockey player.

He was signed solely to max out the LTIR cushion, and it was known that he was going to be cut immediately after.

[dino7c]

Zary was supposedly not good enough to make this team two years in a row...when he did get a shot he was one of the best players.

It's not like the bar has been set high by guys mailing it in

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Yes, but Grossman wasn't here to be a serious hockey player.

He was signed solely to max out the LTIR cushion, and it was known that he was going to be cut immediately after.

Oesterle is #7 or 8 in a retool year where the Flames are selling off players

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Call me crazy but I think the worst case would be hanging on to all of the UFAs... So far they have sold off 3 of 5 with a stated intention to not let any walk.

Yeah I agree.

Looks like Conroy might finally be turning our fortunes around!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by heep223

Those have to be the worst PP units in the league, or close to.

Not like Lindholm was bringing much to PP1 before the change.

Kuzzy might be an upgrade if they can put him in a spot to use his shot

But yeah.. I fear the potential for SHG against and the disaster that the top line is certain to be against other top lines.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

For comparison. Lines at the end of 22.

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangiapane - Backlund - Toffoli
Dube - Jarnkrok - Coleman
Lucic - Lewis - Ritchie

"We're not rebuilding"

Uh, it kinda seems like you have.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

Watching 5-6 Canucks games last year, as much as Kuzmenko has a good shot his ability to tip shots is top notch.
Felt like every game I watched he was tipping one in.

I said this before but with all the flutter muffins the Flames throw towards the net (not necessarily on it) maybe Kuzmenko can turn our #### into goals.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://twitter.com/user/status/1754567290467545266

The Calgary Flames organization and coaching staff feel as though Markstrom is at his best when he is worked hard and plays against a lot of shots.

We are willing to do whatever it takes to prove this theory.

Thank you.

Probably.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

"We're not rebuilding"

Uh, it kinda seems like you have.

It doesn't really feel like a forced rebuild either, seems like Conroy understands what we need and we don't have that to compete. No sense trying to put a band aid solution like signing Lindholm to a crazy deal.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

"We're not rebuilding"

Uh, it kinda seems like you have.

Obviously there isn't any name power on that roster that jumps off the page but I think that if Sharky, Pelts, Zary, Pospisil, Coronato, and next fall Honzek continue to develop, the forward group can transition quickly from a collection of journeymen to young and skilled.

I fully expect a free agent signing to upgrade their now roster as well (since this team isn't interested in rebuilds)

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Obviously there isn't any name power on that roster that jumps off the page but I think that if Sharky, Pelts, Zary, Pospisil, Coronato, and next fall Honzek continue to develop, the forward group can transition quickly from a collection of journeymen to young and skilled.

I fully expect a free agent signing to upgrade their now roster as well (since this team isn't interested in rebuilds)

Seems like Conroy knows this. His comments pretty much say so. He knows we have good young players, but we don't have that elite talent to take us over the top yet.

We need to draft that will push those guys down the lineup, slotting is a word that is always used.

[Enoch Root]

Regarding the PP...

I think the two biggest problems with the PP were/are:
1) zone entries
2) passing around too much and not generating good shots

Replacing Lindholm with Kuzmenko will do nothing for #1 (and might make it worse), but it might help significantly with #2. The only shooter right now on the main unit is Sharangovich, they need more shooters, more threats for the D to think about. Also, as mentioned earlier, Kuzmenko is good at tipping, and the Flames can use that too.

I am not expecting miracles or anything, but there is some reason to think it will be a little different, and perhaps better (since there is little room for it to be worse).

[Locke]

Ladies and Gentlemen...the Calgary Flames present to you...

"Young Gunz v 2.0"

Brought to you by the shocking incompetence of one Bradward J. Treliving.