Practice Notes - Feb 15: Andersson back on the ice - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 02-15-2023, 10:20 AM

https://twitter.com/user/status/1625907723534733312

sureLoss · 02-15-2023, 10:28 AM

Based on the pairings doesn't look like Andersson will play tomorrow

https://twitter.com/user/status/1625909844808171522

HighLifeMan · 02-15-2023, 10:54 AM

Good to see that Rasmus is back to skating - we need him back.

On the other hand that fourth line makes me want to vomit.

At this point i'd be shocked if Ruzicka wasn't moved out in a deal for a defensemen. He is being completely underutilized and deserves to play. He must be beyond frustrated with his treatment.

tvp2003 · 02-15-2023, 10:58 AM

https://twitter.com/user/status/1625912910731153409

Yeah, looks like they're taking it slow with Ras. Good to see he's skating though; still hoping there's no head injuries as I suspect he wasn't wearing a helmet and it's probably what resulted in the battery of tests in Detroit.

Burning Beard · 02-15-2023, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Good to see that Rasmus is back to skating - we need him back.

On the other hand that fourth line makes me want to vomit.

At this point i'd be shocked if Ruzicka wasn't moved out in a deal for a defensemen. He is being completely underutilized and deserves to play. He must be beyond frustrated with his treatment.

Guy can only blame himself and his lack of engagement in my opinion. His whole career he has been known to disappear at times and once again he has been doing it. If anything maybe he should be frustrated looking in the mirror.

Paulie Walnuts · 02-15-2023, 11:00 AM

His disappearing act is better than watching Lucic stand like a pylon in the defensive zone.

Strange Brew · 02-15-2023, 11:07 AM

Yep Sutter has shown total willingness to play Ruzicka and even move him up the lineup. It's on the player IMO.

The 4th line doesn't really bother me. Lewis is a solid and Ritchie bring some energy. We're not losing games based on how the 4th lines match up.

SuperMatt18 · 02-15-2023, 11:17 AM

It's tough to say. I think he needs to have higher engagement and compete level - but no doubt guys like Lucic specifically have gotten a way longer leash.

Ruzicka had 20 points in his first 25 games played and looked good in a top 9 role. We can use his time W and W/O Lewis as a proxy for top 9 vs 4th line.

Ruzicka + Lewis:
TOI: 145 Minutes
GF: 6
GA: 7
Corsi For: 54.4%
xGF: 50.9%

Ruzicka w/o Lewis:
TOI: 235 Minutes
GF: 11
GA: 8
Corsi For: 57.8%
xGF: 57.6%

From the start of the season to Christmas he only had played 25 games, but had 14 5V5 points which was third on the team behind Lindholm and Dube only, and led the team in points per 60. Then he had a couple softer games, was demoted to the 4th line and his confidence was gone.

In those 25 games before Christmas he got 204 minutes at 5v5 in the top 6, and only 52 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he had 20 points (14 at 5v5). In the 14 games he's played since Christmas he's had 6:16 in the top 6, and 117 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he has 0 points.

He's just a guy who has a skillset not really suited to playing with Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis on the 4th line and probably didn't deserve his demotion.

He actually did well in top 9 minutes but I would say that Lucic for sure, and maybe even Pelletier to this point have received a longer leash than what Ruzicka got in that role.

HighLifeMan · 02-15-2023, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Guy can only blame himself and his lack of engagement in my opinion. His whole career he has been known to disappear at times and once again he has been doing it. If anything maybe he should be frustrated looking in the mirror.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yep Sutter has shown total willingness to play Ruzicka and even move him up the lineup. It's on the player IMO.

The 4th line doesn't really bother me. Lewis is a solid and Ritchie bring some energy. We're not losing games based on how the 4th lines match up.

You don't create "energy" for your team by being thoroughly out-possessed, out-chanced, and outscored on a nightly basis. The league is far too skilled today to get by simply on what some deem to be hard work.

He's a cerebral player who relies on his smarts and positioning to impact the game, but people don't like that when you are 6'4"/225.

Where is the evidence that his style of play is in anyway detrimental to the team? Every analytical tool we have available suggests he positively impacts the game in all areas, unlike these other's guy's who are "really good pro's". Lucic has been outscored 47-66 at even strength the past two seasons while Ruzicka on the other hand has outscored the opposition 32-21 - so no, I don't agree that our 4th line as it's constructed isn't going to significantly hurt us.

To me it's an outdated approach to evaluating a players ability, and Darryl falls victim to it as well.

Bingo · 02-15-2023, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

You don't create "energy" for your team by being thoroughly out-possessed, out-chanced, and outscored on a nightly basis. The league is far too skilled today to get by simply on what some deem to be hard work.

He's a cerebral player who relies on his smarts and positioning to impact the game, but people don't like that when you are 6'4"/225.

Where is the evidence that his style of play is in anyway detrimental to the team? Every analytical tool we have available suggests he positively impacts the game in all areas, unlike these other's guy's who are "really good pro's". Lucic has been outscored 47-66 at even strength the past two seasons while Ruzicka on the other hand has outscored the opposition 32-21 - so no, I don't agree that our 4th line as it's constructed isn't going to significantly hurt us.

To me it's an outdated approach to evaluating a players ability, and Darryl falls victim to it as well.

You're not cerebral if you choose to arrive late to scrums or join them on the offensive side of the puck.

No I'm not saying he does that all the time, but there's certainly some issues with puck battles that go beyond "you're big, play big!" as a simply summary.

And with you ... I think Lucic has been rough lately (since the all star break specifically in my mind)

agulati · 02-15-2023, 12:09 PM

Happy to see Andersson is back on the ice.

TrentCrimmIndependent · 02-15-2023, 12:14 PM

Ruzicka was awful in detroit. He was full marks for the healthy scratch

Dude needs to hustle on the backcheck .. or hustle in general.

sureLoss · 02-15-2023, 12:16 PM

https://twitter.com/user/status/1625936841223573505

Toonage · 02-15-2023, 12:18 PM

lol streaky

Locke · 02-15-2023, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

lol streaky

I dont know, I think thus far Markstrom has been remarkably consistent.

Consistently awful.

Flamesfan05 · 02-15-2023, 12:29 PM

I agreed with Sutter, Markstrom had been on that same streak since the Oilers playoffs series….very streaky lol

Burning Beard · 02-15-2023, 12:31 PM

And if Sutter came right out and said Markstrom has been Grade A Trash everyone would be calling him too mean and old school and saying he lost the room because you have to baby current players.

Toonage · 02-15-2023, 12:37 PM

I doubt that, but if did say it that would be justified.

I believe this is a riff on his being flippant towards Pelletier and the outcry that followed? Its a bit different.

Infinit47 · 02-15-2023, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

lol streaky

Maybe the hot part of the streak is still on its way.

Macindoc · 02-15-2023, 12:48 PM

I’m a bit more forgiving of the Flames’ performance on the last road trip when I remember that most of the trip was played without what might currently be their best puck-moving defenceman. In fact, last month, at least one of their top 2 D was missing from almost every single game. Not that it excuses any of the laziness or questionable coaching decisions, but it sure didn’t help things.