Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Derek Ryan's perfectly satisfactory usage

GioforPM · 12-12-2018, 11:47 PM

If there were a bunch of players with better production and Ryan was still filling in for Backlund, and if the Flames weren't winning, the complaint would have more merit. But Backlund is out and his place is being taken by the guy with the next best production.

To complain, you are having to say "but there are players who I think have more potential". Except that Ryan has been bottom 6 all year and so have they, and Ryan has more points.

It's obvious that Peters doesn't want to split the top line and use Lindholm on the second line. So his choices are Jankowski (less points and you can make the "plays die on his stick" just as easily, Bennett (has not succeeded as a centre and has less points) or Czarnik (nope). Ryan is objectively probably the best stopgap centre.

12-12-2018, 11:47 PM	#101
GioforPM Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springbank Exp:	If there were a bunch of players with better production and Ryan was still filling in for Backlund, and if the Flames weren't winning, the complaint would have more merit. But Backlund is out and his place is being taken by the guy with the next best production. To complain, you are having to say "but there are players who I think have more potential". Except that Ryan has been bottom 6 all year and so have they, and Ryan has more points. It's obvious that Peters doesn't want to split the top line and use Lindholm on the second line. So his choices are Jankowski (less points and you can make the "plays die on his stick" just as easily, Bennett (has not succeeded as a centre and has less points) or Czarnik (nope). Ryan is objectively probably the best stopgap centre. Last edited by GioforPM; 12-12-2018 at 11:53 PM.