[News] "Core Values" Calgary Flames preseason take from CBS Sports

[iamca]

Chris Peters take on the Flames: http:// http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/24690549/core-values-mark-giordano-among-few-highlights-in-flames-lineup

[prizefighterinferno]

One of the most astute assessments I've seen so far.

[Bezer]

Seems to be a fair assessment

[kehatch]

Good write up. I don't agree with the identified core, but with Calgary's roster that is splitting hairs.

It's great to see Backlund and Brodie getting some well deserved acknowledgement.

[Matty81]

Ya that is a good writeup... unusual to see a national media writeup with that kind of understanding of the flames, wonder if he is a fan.

[Finger Cookin]

How many goals over 50 did CBS put Gaudreau down for?

But seriously, the only thing that seemed a little off was the comment about flexibility to move Wideman's contract. We have tons of cap space and, should management chose to, could eat a lot of his salary to sweeten him for other teams.

[StrykerSteve]

That was... Pretty much spot-on.

[Vulcan]

Good article. My dark horse to make the team and upgrade our defence is Wotherspoon.

[calgarywinning]

Very well written article. My question will be to see if Camellari's production is somewhat replaced by the team. His production was good, but was spotty and happened in streaks.

[stemit14]

My one problem with everyone saying cammalleri's offence can't be replaced is the number of guys on the team that have shown the ability to score 27+ goals in a season. Raymond, setoguchi, glencross, hudler, jones have all shown that ability within the last few years and when given top six minutes. Plus emerging offence from Monahan, backlund, colborne, gaudreau/baertschi would also contribute. I'm not saying any of those guys are as good of a goal-scorer as cammalleri right now but I figure healthier seasons from most of them should fill the gap as a group.

[Freeway]

Chris used to run United States of Hockey and is no doubt familiar with the Flames as a result of the Gaudreau/Arnold/Gillies/Jankowski connections.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Very well written article. My question will be to see if Camellari's production is somewhat replaced by the team. His production was good, but was spotty and happened in streaks.

That's the way I see it.

Last season, Cammalleri and Galiardi scored a combined 30 goals. Last season, Raymond and Setoguchi scored a combined 30 goals.

A full season of Glencross and Jones should be good for a few more goals (and if they're injured again, we'll have some young, hungry kids wanting to prove themselves).

Although no one may score as many goals individually as Cammalleri did last season, I wouldn't be surprised if the Flames collectively score as many or more than last season.

[Husky]

Good article for the most part. However I think the loss of Cammalleri is overrated. He did not put the team offensively on his back. If anything the Flames are a stronger team based on collective scoring versus the power of one. Cammalleri was not an Iginla in that he carried the offense over stretches.

Last year:
Cammalleri 26 goals
Stemniak 12 goals

Raymond 19 goals
Setoguchi 11 goals

Better overall in 2 way play, plus younger. Is the loss of 7 goals going to really break this team? It would be much different if the Flames did not go out and sign a player like Raymond to help fill the void and rely on a somewhat unkown like Baertchi or Gaudreau.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Great assessment of the Flames as a team and as an organization. The line in this article that bothers me, as I see it to be something of a concern of my own, is this.

Calgary does not appear to be a team that is rebuilding currently, but this roster as constructed looks more like a placeholder.


This should be more of a transition year for the team, but it looks like it is going to a year of spinning their wheels. I would hate to be a season ticket holder and have to pay for the team that is going to take to the ice. This group is going to be painful to watch, especially if the young talent is held in the minors for much of the season. I would hope that this team would start filtering in the kids, but the number of one-way contracts makes that difficult. I hope that isn't prophetic and we see the kids like Reinhart, Granlund and Wotherspoon filter in sooner than later. It would be great to see Agostino and Arnold both force their way into the lineup and the team make a move or three to accommodate the youth in the system. If they don't, this is going to be a very frustrating year to watch.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by New Era

Great assessment of the Flames as a team and as an organization. The line in this article that bothers me, as I see it to be something of a concern of my own, is this.

Calgary does not appear to be a team that is rebuilding currently, but this roster as constructed looks more like a placeholder.


This should be more of a transition year for the team, but it looks like it is going to a year of spinning their wheels. I would hate to be a season ticket holder and have to pay for the team that is going to take to the ice. This group is going to be painful to watch, especially if the young talent is held in the minors for much of the season. I would hope that this team would start filtering in the kids, but the number of one-way contracts makes that difficult. I hope that isn't prophetic and we see the kids like Reinhart, Granlund and Wotherspoon filter in sooner than later. It would be great to see Agostino and Arnold both force their way into the lineup and the team make a move or three to accommodate the youth in the system. If they don't, this is going to be a very frustrating year to watch.

These are all things we thought about last year too, yet I think most would say the team was well worth the price of admission, and even more than the previous 3 years or so. Not to mention that an astounding amount of young players made it into the lineup at various points in the year for a cup of coffee. They shouldn't have been there for more than that because they just aren't ready, so if you're frustrated it's more about the process of waiting on a developing prospect than what the team is actively doing. Basically…just chill out man.

As far as Agostino and Arnold go, I doubt you see them forcing themselves into the lineup this year. They don't possess high end skill and could use a season in the AHL to learn the pro game. Injury call ups, sure, but not permanent roster spots just yet. Knight has a better chance at a full time spot than either of those two.

[Huntingwhale]

Other then the sentence about how the Flames aren't currently rebuilding (wtf...) or some choices of core members, it was a pretty decent write up.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by New Era

Great assessment of the Flames as a team and as an organization. The line in this article that bothers me, as I see it to be something of a concern of my own, is this.

Calgary does not appear to be a team that is rebuilding currently, but this roster as constructed looks more like a placeholder.


This should be more of a transition year for the team, but it looks like it is going to a year of spinning their wheels. I would hate to be a season ticket holder and have to pay for the team that is going to take to the ice. This group is going to be painful to watch, especially if the young talent is held in the minors for much of the season. I would hope that this team would start filtering in the kids, but the number of one-way contracts makes that difficult. I hope that isn't prophetic and we see the kids like Reinhart, Granlund and Wotherspoon filter in sooner than later. It would be great to see Agostino and Arnold both force their way into the lineup and the team make a move or three to accommodate the youth in the system. If they don't, this is going to be a very frustrating year to watch.

Its more exciting to the fans to have a young team, but the team is going to suck either way.

I'd rather have them develop players properly rather than rush guys up early to excite fans.

The Flames have one guy signed beyond 3 years (Stajan). There are going to be ton of spots opening up. Guys like Setoguchi or McGratton aren't going to hold guys back if they are ready.

[ForeverFlameFan]

What would your core be if you made one? I only have 4:

1) Monahan
2) Giordano
3) Brodie
4) Backlund

5) Gaudreau?

^ And maybe arguably Gaudreau, assuming he makes the team full time?

[gvitaly]

Good article, thank you for sharing. The way I see it the biggest hole for next season is the man advantage... I just can't see the Flames putting it well to use this season.

[djsFlames]

I think "at least a few more years" is exaggerating the amount of time it'll take for our young guys to round into form and contribute.

This season will be on par with last, if not a step backwards due to lack of high end talent up front. But next year Gaudreau, Granlund, Baertschi, Bennett, our 2015 1st rounder (let's face it, it's probably a better than 50/50 chance it's in the top 3) should all be playing in the NHL. If Poirier does well this season, he could make the jump next year as well. How long until that crop starts doing damage in the NHL? Well I don't know about this writer, but I don't think it'll take a few years. And if one of McDavid/Eichel joins that group? You can bet it'll be even less time. Many of these kids (minus Bennett) have already made large strides in their development and have shown ability to produce at the NHL level, which strengthens my point that we're closer than some might suggest.

Things are looking good, not for this season but the season after next I'd expect to see us start to make some noise.