Valimaki: ‘Stupid’ that he’s sitting - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BigRed · 11-13-2021, 02:42 PM

Interview google translated from Finnish.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/statu...675204096?s=20

Not sure whether Sutter wants him to play mad, desperate, or just not play.

Pretty sure flames are 6-0 with Valimaki. And Zad is bad. So …

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Knightslayer · 11-13-2021, 02:45 PM

I agree with him. Zadorov is a very bad defenceman who will be out of the league within 2 years.

Valimaki is a much better defenceman than him now and should be playing.

AC · 11-13-2021, 02:48 PM

At the very least Valimaki should have been put in on the back to back last night, if not several games before.

Zadorov coughed up the puck against Montreal causing an odd man rush that Coleman had to take a penalty to stop. Montreal tied the game on that PP. I'm surprised that wasn't enough of a reason to sub in Valimaki vs Toronto as well.

He also scored the own goal vs SJ, and otherwise didn't look irreplaceable.

djsFlames · 11-13-2021, 02:49 PM

I do think the Flames worked better as a group with Valimaki in there. He has some of Kylington's skillset, and we see how much that is benefitting the team.

When you're losing i think its important to switch things up, and Zadorov for Vali would be top of my list.

I think Sutter is a little too enamored with his big boys. You don't need two monsters on that bottom pairing and Gudbranson has been buoying zadorov for the most part.

I don't think Valimaki comes without mistakes, but there's undoubtedly more upside there.

He can't develop in the press box.

dammage79 · 11-13-2021, 02:51 PM

Sutter isn't dumb. Nor is he that stubborn. There's a reason Valimaki is sitting over Zadorov. I don't know what it is but Sutter does. And right now, I'll take sutters decision making over upset roster players to form my opinion on things like this.

Personally, Valimaki needs to be playing. Sitting for extended periods of time is just hampering his development. Of which I agree with the kid about. But if he's sitting still, he needs to find another gear in practice. Force Sutters hand, which is what he wants anyways.

dino7c · 11-13-2021, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knightslayer

I agree with him. Zadorov is a very bad defenceman who will be out of the league within 2 years.

Valimaki is a much better defenceman than him now and should be playing.

I highly doubt this

djsFlames · 11-13-2021, 02:52 PM

Maybe the reasons are valid but just don't create a Bennett on defense situation please.

AC · 11-13-2021, 02:52 PM

Yeah, chances are there's a reason Valimaki didn't get swapped in recently. Could be poor practice habits or something which Sutter wouldn't reward.

Can't risk stalling his development further either though. Don't need this becoming a serious issue.

djsFlames · 11-13-2021, 02:54 PM

I just don't see why we can't have a 2 games in/out type of rotation between the two guys.

Neither is hitting it out of the park, but Juuso also needs to grow his game.

GreenLantern2814 · 11-13-2021, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Maybe the reasons are valid but just don't create a Bennett on defense situation please.

Already well on its way, don’t worry.

1-2-3 in November - no justification to not replace Zadorov.

BigRed · 11-13-2021, 02:57 PM

Zadorov is mid career. At this point he is what he is — a big slow moving lunkhead with some ability to play physically who is terrible with the puck.

Valimaki is barely past his rookie season, and while I think he has been demonstrably better than Zadorov even this year, I am open to the suggestion that they have been about equal.

even if that were the case, Valimaki still has a ton of room for growth. Zadorov does not. Valimaki is not going to grow in the press box. So I’m flummoxed.

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GranteedEV · 11-13-2021, 02:59 PM

Just another year as a Flames fan.

Hopefully this is the last year of the treliving era and the next GM is fine with a team built on internal roster competition based on meritocracy rather than default vet favouritism.

robertsfanatic · 11-13-2021, 02:59 PM

last year and early this year Sutter sat Kylington and it seemed to work out well...maybe Valimaki needs to do whatever OK did to get back in the line-up and prove he belongs in there everyday.

even though as a fan I believe he should be playing and think he will be a stud defenseman.

robertsfanatic · 11-13-2021, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Just another year as a Flames fan.

Hopefully this is the last year of the treliving era and the next GM is fine with a team built on internal roster competition based on meritocracy rather than default vet favouritism.

how is this Tre's fault that the coach doesn't think he should play???? seriously guys, give it a rest.

dammage79 · 11-13-2021, 03:00 PM

Add in the Fact Kylington has eliminated himself from the rotation competition, there really is only one spot to rotate players through on D right now. So Valimakis job is simple, elevate things in practice to get the slot. Barring injury, it's a tough spot to claim.

Edit: and the mega cheap revelation that has been Gudbranson. This guys come out of nowhere to just own a top 6 d spot. Which has likely surprised everybody not named Gudbranson.

Jiri Hrdina · 11-13-2021, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Just another year as a Flames fan.

Hopefully this is the last year of the treliving era and the next GM is fine with a team built on internal roster competition based on meritocracy rather than default vet favouritism.

Lineup decisions are Sutters
But blame Tree for everything I guess

SeanCharles · 11-13-2021, 03:09 PM

He should be playing 100%

GranteedEV · 11-13-2021, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

how is this Tre's fault that the coach doesn't think he should play???? seriously guys, give it a rest.

Sutter isn't blameless, but the coach doesn't build the team.

Zadorov is part of this team.
Lewis is part of this team.
Richardson is part of this team.

Once upon a time, GG's BFF Grossman was part of this team, too.

Even if Sutter was in absolute love with the play of Zadorov or Lewis, the GM has the final say on the roster.

Tre is very much a part of the problem. And this problem has existed long before Darryl Sutter. When Ward, Peters, and Gulutzan were making baffling decisions on player usage, the GM did nothing to get the roster on the ice that we were supposed to have. All we have to show for it is Heineman, a second, a massive draft pick deficit used to acquire Zadorov, Hamonic, Gustfafsson, Fantenberg, etc etc

Tre took over a team with some of the best drafting in the NHL, period, and has managed to populate it with overpaid anchors on a yearly basis.

robertsfanatic · 11-13-2021, 03:14 PM

so Tre should trade away the players Sutter wants and trusts to use in order to force him to use someone like Valimaki? and this makes sense to you?

is it possible that Tre picked up players (or the types) that Sutter wanted?

Jiri Hrdina · 11-13-2021, 03:14 PM

Jusso IS on the roster
Sutter is choosing not to play him
Has nothing to do with Tree
As a reminder Tree cut his BB after just three games. Using his as an example of whatever point you have is pretty silly