[Game Takes] Flames 3 Stars 1

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Klimchuk can barely score in the AHL as a 22 year old. Don't think he's knocking on the door at all.

Rather have Chiasson than Klimchuk on the 4th line. Klimchuk is either going to be a top 6 player or bust. He doesn't do what you'd want from your bottom lines.

Klimmer tripled his point totals year over year in 10 less games and is/has been known for his 200 foot game his whole career. Had a bit of a hard stretch there when Stockton slumped but he's been a solid contributer all year for them:

15/16 -- 55 GP / 3 G / 6 A / 9 Pts / 10 PIMS / even
16/17 -- 54 GP / 14 G / 20 A / 34 Pts / 30 PIMS / +9

He can kill penalties and has a solid defensive skill set that I think your clearly not recognizing. Unlike Shinkaruk and Poirier, Klimchuk has taken a massive step forward this year and has leap frogged many on the depth chart and is only below Jankowski and Hathaway in terms of call ups at this point.

[Bingo]

The Hudler thing ...

clearly just speculation on my part. That's how I took the video of Bennett's 4th goal, but I certainly can't claim to know what the guy was thinking. I just thought it odd to see two guys going after an ex Calgary player in a tight time space.

the media thing isn't made up though. Wills and Kerr were certainly talking about it midway through last season when the wheels were coming off for Hudler. Doesn't mean his teammates didn't like him though.

[Strange Brew]

Not living in Calgary I don't hear much of the local media talk. Which probably isn't a bad thing but Hudler always seemed to be engaging with fans. Who knows.

His Lady Byng season doesn't get the credit it deserves IMO. Top 10 in scoring. Led the NHL in even strength goals. Major award winner. Best season by a Flame skater not named Iginla in what, 25 years?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by edn88

It is funny - but I saw Bennett playing on the '4th line' as more of a shakeup and putting three vets together. Didn't see it as a demotion - especially if all four lines had more or less equal ice time.

It could just as easily be argued that it was a promotion for Chiasson and Bouma (who have played well recently) and a demotion for Versteeg and Brouwer, as opposed to a demotion for Bennett.

You would be hard pressed to find a single Flames fan that would say that Bennett has been the weak part of that line for the past 20 games. Without question, his play has improved and been solid. Hard to argue that has been 'holding back' Brouwer and Versteeg.

Though IMO, it wasn't a demotion for anyone, just the coach shaking things up a bit.

[Bingo]

I'd like to see a game or two with Versteeg and Bennett getting Lazar on a line. Not saying Lazar has been great this year or that he's the ideal replacement (his possession stats in Ottawa weren't great), but maybe it would help/add.

I think the pitchforks on Verteeg may be a little unplaced though. His wowy stats show 51.81% when he's without Brouwer, and 44% with. Brouwer is 46% without Versteeg.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'd like to see a game or two with Versteeg and Bennett getting Lazar on a line. Not saying Lazar has been great this year or that he's the ideal replacement (his possession stats in Ottawa weren't great), but maybe it would help/add.

I think the pitchforks on Verteeg may be a little unplaced though. His wowy stats show 51.81% when he's without Brouwer, and 44% with. Brouwer is 46% without Versteeg.

I don't see Versteeg as a big problem either.

As for Lazar, I totally agree. Bennett needs somebody with energy to play with, as he is an energy guy as well. Lazar and Bennett could be dynamite.

And then of course, if that were to in fact work, the secret magic ingredient would be to add Tkachuk.

[Roof-Daddy]

I never thought it possible but the longer his subpar play continues the more likely it seems that Brouwer just may get exposed to Vegas. Flames brass may see Lazar as the long term replacement for him as well.

[Machiavelli]

I patiently await the playoff version of Brouwer, because this regular season one isn't very good

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

I patiently await the playoff version of Brouwer, because this regular season one isn't very good

I hope it's the 2016 playoff Brouwer as opposed to previous versions.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I never thought it possible but the longer his subpar play continues the more likely it seems that Brouwer just may get exposed to Vegas. Flames brass may see Lazar as the long term replacement for him as well.

The second they traded for Lazar I think the writing was on the wall that they were going to expose Brouwer. A playoff performance like Brouwer had last year could still change that though.

The question for me is would Vegas even take him with the way this season has gone so far?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

The second they traded for Lazar I think the writing was on the wall that they were going to expose Brouwer. A playoff performance like Brouwer had last year could still change that though.

The question for me is would Vegas even take him with the way this season has gone so far?

I don't think that follows at all.

I think they acquired Lazar because they like him as a player. And they were able to acquire him at a good price.

Who they protect is a separate issue, and it is going to be more complex than a simple list of 7 forwards and 3 defensemen.

There are going to be all kinds of deals, I would think, as teams jockey for position and try to protect the players they want, regardless of the set lists.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

The second they traded for Lazar I think the writing was on the wall that they were going to expose Brouwer. A playoff performance like Brouwer had last year could still change that though.

The question for me is would Vegas even take him with the way this season has gone so far?

Yeah, hard to say.

They're choices at this point look like:

Stajan
Brouwer
Bouma
Chiasson (RFA)
Bartkowski

[Enoch Root]

and Wotherspoon, Shinkaruk, Kulak...

lots of choices, and it is impossible to know whether they'll want youth, experience, cap dollars, a forward, a defenseman, or who knows what other parameters, when it is time for them to make their selection from the Flames' roster.

[Bingo]

I'm not as anti-Brouwer as some, as I do see the need for intangibles. All you have to have done is played or coached hockey to know you need that certain personality in the room to get everyone on the same page.

I do think he's one of those guys.

Same reason I've defended Stajan's contract for three years. He matters to the team.

But that doesn't give him a pass, they need to do something to get him contributing, and at this point I think even if it's stable without offensive production I'd take it.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't think that follows at all.

I think they acquired Lazar because they like him as a player. And they were able to acquire him at a good price.

Who they protect is a separate issue, and it is going to be more complex than a simple list of 7 forwards and 3 defensemen.

There are going to be all kinds of deals, I would think, as teams jockey for position and try to protect the players they want, regardless of the set lists.

I don't think it's going to be any more complicated than that for most teams. The possibility of deals is out there, so the media and message boards will be awash in speculation, but at the end of the day I bet most teams will just protect 7 forwards and 3 defensemen and that's all that will happen.

[Enoch Root]

If you were the GM of a team, would you leave it at that?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm not as anti-Brouwer as some, as I do see the need for intangibles. All you have to have done is played or coached hockey to know you need that certain personality in the room to get everyone on the same page.

I do think he's one of those guys.

Same reason I've defended Stajan's contract for three years. He matters to the team.

But that doesn't give him a pass, they need to do something to get him contributing, and at this point I think even if it's stable without offensive production I'd take it.

That's a lot to pay for personality though. $8 million between those two.

[Machiavelli]

I'm also a big believer in intangibles and personality, another reason why I thought Bouwmeester ended up being terrible for the team.

I can clearly see how Stajan is loved by his team and how he fits in. Not sure about Brouwer. Any insight on that, Bingo?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Klimchuk can barely score in the AHL as a 22 year old. Don't think he's knocking on the door at all.

Rather have Chiasson than Klimchuk on the 4th line. Klimchuk is either going to be a top 6 player or bust. He doesn't do what you'd want from your bottom lines.

Klimchuk turned 22 at the start of the month, only 18 games at that age. For all your tents and porpoises this is his 21 year season.

[transplant99]

I think the most interesting comment about the expansion draft was one i heard the other day while in Vegas. GM GM was quoted as saying something along the lines of those who he does pick from other teams, wont necessarily remain with LV for very long...IE; he seemed to insinuate he has multiple scenarios where he chooses a non protected player from one club, only to flip him to someone else who wants him.

If so, this thing is a LONG way off of just submitting a list of players and sitting back and watching when it comes to being a GM for an NHL club this offseason.

Really fascinating stuff is quite possible.