Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
I find it interesting that people here think that Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland is set as the top line. They are basing this on the last 30 games where the Flames played very well... Gaudreau and Monahan woke up. Gio - Hamilton were a very good pairing. The first time that playing with Hamilton did not make his partners play drop off significantly. Brodie was back to top form playing with Stone and Engelland.
Over the last 30 games (after the All Star game)
Elliott 17-6-1 .920 sv% 2.24 GA
Talbot 16-9-1 .917 sv% 2.40 GA
Elliott gets run out of town for a bad playoff against the Ducks after he provided as good a goal tending over a significant period since Kipper left town. He gets replaced at 50% larger cap hit for a journeyman who has not put together a stretch like that since he got his 6x5.666 deal.
Why should Ferland get a pass on his role on the top line play in the playoffs when Elliott (who played well in game #1: 2 PPG against and a 3 on 0 break away goal where he makes the first save, 38 saves in all with 3-4 highlights) gets run out of town.
It seems that an upgrade on #1RW was/is a relatively easy proposition and the upgrade on goalie turned out to be very challenging and suspect.
Oh by the By Engelland was a better defenseman last year than his replacement Hamonic. Hamonic being a -21 on a team where Siedenberg was +25, De Haan +15 and Boychuck +11.. Hamonic has a much better history but the Flames in the case of Elliott it seem to come down to what have you done for us in our last 3 games.
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You hit that straw man right out of the park!