[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I am a hockey fan spending my time on a discussion board talking about the Flames. Get the hell outta here about professionalism. I'm sharing my opinions. Seeing as you're the one who said Phillips was bound to go to Europe this past summer and would never be recalled into the NHL again, I think you're actually the one who is completely divorced from reality.

I actually said when his contract was up, but okay, whatever lets you sleep at night. If he gets an NHL contract this summer I'll let you crow about how wrong I was. Until then, hang your hat on this callup over the Christmas break where he played a whopping 18:04 and played 26 shifts. But also recognize that he probably ate more hot dogs than he had shifts during his "recall." He had opportunity - more than I thought the team would give him - and he didn't perform. I'll let you beat me up when he get's that next one-way contract with an NHL team and scores that first NHL goal. I promise. I will seek you out to rub it in my face.

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The bolded is likely true, but it's also the issue with the Flames right now.

Why are we not investing development time at the NHL level with our own prospects?

It's the guy behind the bench and the style he wants the team to play. You don't play a heavy cycle rich game with a bunch of midgets. You need beef to play that game and the Flames don't have that much beef in the system.

Why was Matthew Phillips not playing for a team eliminated from playoff contention in 20-21?

Because they don't believe he's an NHL player?

Why is Jakob Pelletier, who is the leading AHL point scorer under 22 over the last two seasons one of the only first round picks from his draft year yet to play a game?

Because he's too small? They don't believe he's learned to play the game well enough to allow his game to translate to the NHL game? It's pretty obvious the guy behind the bench wants a certain makeup to his lineup card. Nothing is likely to change in that regard until he is removed from the bench or until he is limited to what players he has available to him. Unless Treliving stops giving contracts to these bottom end free agents Sutter will continue to employ them simply because they are big and can lay the body on players.

These are fair questions. The Flames are stalling their own players development, and not investing in their own prospects at the NHL level.

I don't disagree, but that is the method of the team. If you don't like it, then you have acknowledge it be vocal about it. I'm not a Treliving or Sutter fan for that very reason. I would prefer to watch some of our prospects on the bottom six, but it's not in the cards. It's probably also why interest in the team is flagging. It really is a crap product to watch.

This goes back to 19-20 now and is four seasons of the team not wanting to take a risk and actually play young players in roles lower down the lineup.

Andrew Mangiapane developed perfectly fine on our 4th line with Ryan and Hathaway...why haven't we tried to give Phillips, or Pelletier, or even Gawdin before that the same opportunity.

Ruzicka has 20 points in 26 games this season and still has to scratch and claw for any real opportunity.

This franchise is only hurting themselves with their ancient views of developing prospects.

Somehow the Avalanche were able to find icetime for a guy like Alex Newhook these last two seasons after only playing 18 AHL games (with 20 points), but Pelletier with 90 points in 92 AHL games needs more time to develop.

Don't disagree. If this is really how you feel then get on the "fire Treliving and Sutter" trains. Nothing is going to change in this regard until they are either gone, or their hands are forced, which likely means they will be gone because they will step down. You're going to have to accept the reality we face here. The small players in the system are fighting an uphill battle and will have to be supermen to get the attention of the guy behind the bench. So far he hasn't seen anything that tickles his fancy.