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Calgary4LIfe · 10-15-2020, 01:26 PM

FWIW, I actually agree with Dissentowner. I don't think that Gaudreau necessarily wants to move out east and that he won't want to re-sign in Calgary. Is he a 10 million dollar re-sign? I doubt very much that will be his ask unless salaries escalate. What's reasonable on a re-sign? I don't know, but I am willing to let him walk for free as long as the Flames continue to have a legitimate shot at the cup. That's my feelings.

As for the whole 'the league has figured Johnny out' argument, do people REALLY believe this? Sorry, but this seems like a lazy and quite absurd argument. You are telling me that the greatest hockey minds in the hockey world took SEVEN SEASONS to figure out how to stop Gaudreau?

Maybe the more reasonable explanation is that the other lines haven't stepped up enough. Let me explain my rationalization here:

Years ago, I got first pick overall in my playoff pool. With that pick, I selected Crosby, and he was on fire for the first two rounds. Most of my picks worked out great (I had 3 Pens that year, and they won the cup). In the 3rd and 4th round, Sidney dried up. Malkin took over, and he won the Conn Smythe that year. On the fricken last game of the playoffs, my buddy passed me.

So, does Sidney suck? Did the other team 'figure him out' in the last 2 rounds? Anyone want to believe that lazy rationalization? Or was it that he got all the tough assignments and most of the attention from the other teams, and then they did a good enough job on him, but didn't have enough to focus on Malkin?

That's Calgary. They don't have a Malkin. I argue that they scored enough to win during the playoffs - they just allowed the other team to score more. Markstrom I hope solves that. However, what Calgary needs is another strong line. The other teams zero-in on the top line. Their entire gameplan is all about stopping the top line.

In small sample sizes, yes, it looks like the top line can't produce. However, most of the team took a step back last season. Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Giordano, Brodie, Hanifin, etc... All pretty much down years to differing extents. What accounts for all this downturn? Father time caught up to Gio? Brodie just forgetting how to be effective? Monahan being lazy and forgot where to go to score? Lindholm being a flash in the pan?

I think it is a systems issue. This team's best players produce better off the rush. Now, please don't give me an argument that "you can't score off the rush in the playoffs". That's lazy, and you haven't been paying attention if you believe that. Not every goal is a garbage goal after a net-front battle. There are always plenty of goals that come off the rush, from defensive breakdowns, from breakaways, from tic-tac-toe plays, etc. Not everything is generated off the cycle. Flames don't HAVE to play dump and chase all the time. Maybe some lines can dump and chase and generate off the boards, while others can try and score off the rush?

Design a system that fits the Flames. I want to see a faster transition, less dumping the puck into the corner when the top line is out there, more backchecking pressure, and more defensive zone pressure. To me, this is how this team should be playing regularly. I am hoping Ward really considers all the players' strengths and implements something that is decent defensively and provides the team with enough options to generate offence.

Small sample-sizes say that Gaudreau can't produce in the playoffs, but more than reasonable explanations as to why. That second line has to be better then. Tkachuk HAS to produce more when the top line isn't. Even still, I think the Flames produced enough offence, and with Markstrom in net, they get by Dallas.

Johnny isn't the problem. The league didn't take 7 damn years to 'figure him out'. If you can make a trade to improve the team to win now, then do it, but I am skeptical at this point. If the team wants to make a trade as a pure asset retention for Gaudreau.. well, that's fine too, but they might as well start the rebuild if they are more interested in asset accumulation than winning the cup. I am ok with that too by the way.

I guess I am just tired of constantly reading that Gaudreau is not a Claude Lemieux type (a.k.a. Sam Bennett!). You don't produce in the playoffs until you do, and for as long as Calgary is a one line wonder in the playoffs, they are going to be easier to shut down, especially when they are making it easier for the other team to do so by trying to play the top line along the boards. That's my beef. The league has figured out Johnny just as well as the league has figured out Sidney. There are many series where Crosby didn't produce even in his prime - that's what happens when you become a focal-point to the opposing team's defensive strategy. In these short sample sizes of playoff series where the Flames are one and done, it just looks worse than it really is.

10-15-2020, 01:26 PM	#3133
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	FWIW, I actually agree with Dissentowner. I don't think that Gaudreau necessarily wants to move out east and that he won't want to re-sign in Calgary. Is he a 10 million dollar re-sign? I doubt very much that will be his ask unless salaries escalate. What's reasonable on a re-sign? I don't know, but I am willing to let him walk for free as long as the Flames continue to have a legitimate shot at the cup. That's my feelings. As for the whole 'the league has figured Johnny out' argument, do people REALLY believe this? Sorry, but this seems like a lazy and quite absurd argument. You are telling me that the greatest hockey minds in the hockey world took SEVEN SEASONS to figure out how to stop Gaudreau? Maybe the more reasonable explanation is that the other lines haven't stepped up enough. Let me explain my rationalization here: Years ago, I got first pick overall in my playoff pool. With that pick, I selected Crosby, and he was on fire for the first two rounds. Most of my picks worked out great (I had 3 Pens that year, and they won the cup). In the 3rd and 4th round, Sidney dried up. Malkin took over, and he won the Conn Smythe that year. On the fricken last game of the playoffs, my buddy passed me. So, does Sidney suck? Did the other team 'figure him out' in the last 2 rounds? Anyone want to believe that lazy rationalization? Or was it that he got all the tough assignments and most of the attention from the other teams, and then they did a good enough job on him, but didn't have enough to focus on Malkin? That's Calgary. They don't have a Malkin. I argue that they scored enough to win during the playoffs - they just allowed the other team to score more. Markstrom I hope solves that. However, what Calgary needs is another strong line. The other teams zero-in on the top line. Their entire gameplan is all about stopping the top line. In small sample sizes, yes, it looks like the top line can't produce. However, most of the team took a step back last season. Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Giordano, Brodie, Hanifin, etc... All pretty much down years to differing extents. What accounts for all this downturn? Father time caught up to Gio? Brodie just forgetting how to be effective? Monahan being lazy and forgot where to go to score? Lindholm being a flash in the pan? I think it is a systems issue. This team's best players produce better off the rush. Now, please don't give me an argument that "you can't score off the rush in the playoffs". That's lazy, and you haven't been paying attention if you believe that. Not every goal is a garbage goal after a net-front battle. There are always plenty of goals that come off the rush, from defensive breakdowns, from breakaways, from tic-tac-toe plays, etc. Not everything is generated off the cycle. Flames don't HAVE to play dump and chase all the time. Maybe some lines can dump and chase and generate off the boards, while others can try and score off the rush? Design a system that fits the Flames. I want to see a faster transition, less dumping the puck into the corner when the top line is out there, more backchecking pressure, and more defensive zone pressure. To me, this is how this team should be playing regularly. I am hoping Ward really considers all the players' strengths and implements something that is decent defensively and provides the team with enough options to generate offence. Small sample-sizes say that Gaudreau can't produce in the playoffs, but more than reasonable explanations as to why. That second line has to be better then. Tkachuk HAS to produce more when the top line isn't. Even still, I think the Flames produced enough offence, and with Markstrom in net, they get by Dallas. Johnny isn't the problem. The league didn't take 7 damn years to 'figure him out'. If you can make a trade to improve the team to win now, then do it, but I am skeptical at this point. If the team wants to make a trade as a pure asset retention for Gaudreau.. well, that's fine too, but they might as well start the rebuild if they are more interested in asset accumulation than winning the cup. I am ok with that too by the way. I guess I am just tired of constantly reading that Gaudreau is not a Claude Lemieux type (a.k.a. Sam Bennett!). You don't produce in the playoffs until you do, and for as long as Calgary is a one line wonder in the playoffs, they are going to be easier to shut down, especially when they are making it easier for the other team to do so by trying to play the top line along the boards. That's my beef. The league has figured out Johnny just as well as the league has figured out Sidney. There are many series where Crosby didn't produce even in his prime - that's what happens when you become a focal-point to the opposing team's defensive strategy. In these short sample sizes of playoff series where the Flames are one and done, it just looks worse than it really is.