QOTD: Granlund's 2nd Trip up

[flamesfever]

We have a great fast skating team, with a super work ethic, and the talent to take many shots on goal. However, we need more players with finishing ability. I'm guessing Granlund may help us in this regard, and earn a permanent place on the team.

[Fire]

Assuming Granlund plays well and forces the Flames to keep him up, the Flames would have to remove two players from the roster if everyone becomes healthy. Setoguchi would be the obvious first choice. Barring a trade of someone, Jooris might be the other guy to be demoted.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Fire

Assuming Granlund plays well and forces the Flames to keep him up, the Flames would have to remove two players from the roster if everyone becomes healthy. Setoguchi would be the obvious first choice. Barring a trade of someone, Jooris might be the other guy to be demoted.

Again, there is almost no chance of this happening.

Granlund is definitely ready to earn a permanent spot. That doesn't mean that he will, or that he failed if he is sent back down.

His defensive game is good enough. All he needs to do is show off the one skill that will make him an NHLer (his shot) - he needs to score. If he scores early and he keeps scoring, he will stick.

If not, then next time.

[HelloHockeyFans]

There's too many bodies to keep him up for good. Colborne will be back earlier and they'll probably move him to center given they've already tried him there earlier this season and that's when they'll send him back down. At that point, it would be Monahan, Colborne, Bouma, Byron.

I guess they could keep Colborne on the wing and ship Setoguchi down, but I don't think that will happen by the time Colborne returns.

[Calgary4LIfe]

It was a small sample size (7 games) but FWIW, Granlund was 51.8% on faceoffs while up with the Flames last year. I remember Hartley raving about his defensive acumen, and if memory serves, he was often sent out for key faceoffs in both the offensive and defensive zones.

I do think he is here to stay this year, somehow. Injuries are unfortunately going to be an ongoing thing, and I can also see him just making it tough to send him down anyways. Flames will either have ongoing injury issues, or they will just have to make room for Granlund somehow. He may have the best wrister on the team right now - deadly fast off his stick, hard and very accurate.

[dying4acup]

I think he's here to stay (if he remains healthy). It's a big IF, though.

As a side note, the Flames, and myself, are in love with the idea of a 6'5" centre with hands that can make a good pass and play on lines 1-4. With all the criticism of Joe Junior as a centre, his production speaks for itself.