[Game Takes] Flames 3 Wings 2

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2013/04/flames-3-wings-2-2/

[Karl]

Backlund did not assist on the 2nd Begin goal, that was Horak. Stajan was not invisible. He actually played well overall first game back and was quite good in the 1st period.

[Fire]

Looks like Hanowski will be starting in the AHL next year.

[Tacoman]

Originally Posted by Fire

Looks like Hanowski will be starting in the AHL next year.

I'm not sure he skates well enough to even do that. Not sure what our scouts saw in this guy. With the league the way it is today, you have to be a very good skater. He simply is not that. I'm sure he brings a lot of other things to the table but in my books, skating has to be there.

[nik-]

He probably looks a lot faster with his hair blowing in the wind. It's gone now

[Kaine]

It's true, Hankowski will need to spend some considerable time in the weight room working on his legs to hope that it translates to some increase in speed because he is noticeably a few steps behind every play. I like the kid but I honestly doubt his capability at even the AHL level with his current skating ability.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

I'm not sure he skates well enough to even do that. Not sure what our scouts saw in this guy. With the league the way it is today, you have to be a very good skater. He simply is not that. I'm sure he brings a lot of other things to the table but in my books, skating has to be there.

He has very limited competition for a position on the Flames NHL roster:

Big Power forwards are down to Glencross, Jackman, Bouma, Alui, Jones, Reinhart and Niemecz.

Even Detroit at their most talented 2007-2008 had Holstrom, Cleary, Franzen, Maltby, Drake as big hard to play agianst players with significant ice time as well Draper who played big.

Jones is gone so long as the coaches stay. Alui has not taken advantage of his opportunity and like Reinhart was a journeyman AHLer and has to show that he can play bigger than his size for more than 10 games.

Bouma missed a year to injury and was just about to prove himself as an established NHLer.... He is not a guarantee.

So I think that depending on the UFAs signed and trades for veteran players Hankowski is pencilled in on the NHL roster and will be given every opportunity to make the team.

Baertschi and Backlund will play better and reach their potential with bigger line mates rather than Hudler and Cammalleri and Tanguay.

The main difference with the Flames post Iginla/Bouwmeester era is they are playing so much tougher as a team.


Did you see Wideman cross-check Brunner in the slot???? That might have been the first of the year for Wideman and maybe all the Flames D-men.

Brunner had 7 shots on goal for the Wings at that point...... After that I don't think he touched the puck.