Hi all...brand new to these boards, but I'm not brand new to posting in forums.
I'm really not sure what kind of team this Flames team is anymore. What is their identity besides underachieving? Are they tough? Skilled? Puck possession? Crash and Bang? Offensive? Defensive? None of the above?
I think I might feel better about the record if I knew what to really expect out of this team. With a brand new coach and completely different philosophy, as well as several new players that are much more offensively oriented, this team that was defensively average last year with Kipper playing well is now one of the worst defensive clubs in the game. Can we score enough to make up the difference? Well Keenan tried and that didn't work out great either. Basically I'm just riding out this shortened season with a wait and see approach to the new direction this team takes. I have a feeling that Hartley's team will begin to take shape by moves from the G.M. this off-season. Until then, we're just treading water.
As for the game tonight, the Hawks should be really tired playing so much hockey to start the year and several road games recently. Still, the Flames have been so Jekyll and Hyde over the last couple years that I can't figure out how they'll play from period to period, let alone game to game, so anything is possible. I would like to believe that they learned their lesson against Colorado, but more than likely they will continue to make some of the same mistakes and give away a couple of goals to a team that already has a lot of talent. We never seem to do well against elite forwards and the Hawks have 3 of them who are all playing well...so yeah....yikes.
I like what Hartley is doing with this team, but it's taking too long to get everyone together. It will be a lost season simply because we have players that are not terribly adaptable and there was also no training camp to have time to adapt.
Butler is in...after last game? Sigh...well at least we know Bob is forgiving.
Iggy and Cammy need to start being dangerous offensively at the very least. Not too worried about points but they need to be a force for good.
Kipper has always found a way to bounce back. Let's hope father time will still let him.
Go Flames Go!