Just some random Flames thoughts.

[GranteedEV]

These have been running through my head:

5) As short-sighted as a lot of his moves seemed, it was Darryl Sutter that first really placed emphasis on establishing a truly effective farm system and he made some serious strides on that front. It was Jay Feaster that made a lot of these draft picks in late rounds. All of our GMs over the years are partially responsible for what's on the ice right now and I never disliked any of these class acts. Yeah, there came times where changes were necessary, but never did any GM truly fail us in terms of long-term thinking. Just an ovation from me to Flames management AND former flames management.

4) I can't decide which new Flames jersey to buy. Too many options. Kinda wanna get a Hudler jersey, since he sort of brought that "Red Wings" mentality of never-quitting, but I worry he might be gone in a year. A lot of more safe bets in guys like Monahan, Brodie, Gaudreau, on the other hand. I want a new Flames jersey or twelve. Just love this entire TEAM.

3) I really want to pair Smid with a skating d-man. I noticed Ian White has had his struggles over the years and is now in the AHL. I'd love to bring him in as a cheap signing... His short stint with us around the time of the Phaneuf trade made me a big fan so I'm biased, but I'd like to think at age 30 he's still an NHL d-man, even if he's not a topline guy.

2) Barring the above, I think there's no doubt we've got a lot of "extra" solid forwards. I wouldn't mind an experiment where one of our forwards plays on the 3rd D-line. I feel good hockey players, especially in this system, transcend their position. Byron-Smid anyone?

1) I hope everyone has gotten their all-star votes in for TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano, among other Flames.

[Hatter]

Oh god no Ian White. Not again.

Babchuk was better than him, and Babchuk was generally awful.

[AcGold]

If Rapha Diaz is a scratch White is the bus driver for Addy.

[DoubleF]

You want to know what's random? I know an individual who is a relative of a young hockey player. She works for a client. Last year chatting with her, says he's working hard and hoping to join an international competition. At the time, I thought he was too young to really think anything about. This year, she says he's doing good in the NHL and has been telling her she doesn't have to worry as he will not give the team a reason to send him back. I scratch my head. Never heard of him.

Look up the kid... was he doing good?

The kid is Damon Severson.

Wow... just wow...


EDIT: I guess this has nothing to do with Flames except maybe wishing we could have him.


EDIT 2: Random actual Flames thing.

I hate the #Boblieve hashtag. I'd rather play terrible puns and go with something "Hart" related like, "We have Hart" and go for the double entendre. Be absolute bonus if we could make it a triple entendre with Hartley Hart, Hart = Heart and winning the Hart trophy.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Fair thread

I agree on the GMs. Interesting thought I had well articulated by Friedman today. He is a former GM who most likely wants to be a GM again. His resume includes the TB cup and Calgary. If Calgary does not succeed with a number of key parts he left behind he will face more challenges than if they do. Forget the hockey guy or non hockey guy stuff, he brought in Hartley which appears to be sorta influential, and also his fingerprints are all over the roster. Even people who were brought in by Darryl still had to survive Feaster and his assembled team's prioritization and handling. ROR fiasco aside, he fared well. Heck , even the Bouwmeester trade was perhaps one if his greatest domino achievements . The prevailing question was who would fill first line minutes. Gio is perhaps the best all around defender in the league, Brodie is everything that Bouw was advertised to be, and sending Bouw to
StL made Russell expendable. Honestly these are 3 smart capable guys that I would take on this team over Bouw moving forward. And between those moves and Hartley's philosophy, this is why we have an effective team. Reference the post game interview. Let the D create and jam up lanes and be available for rebounds. Beautiful game being played these days

As for jerseys, this is a nice problem to have . Too many impressive players. After a slow start, Gaudreau is pretty much point per game over his last 20. Gio and Brodie are 1-2 in D points and Wideman ( not sure if I have seen a Widemsn jersey) leads all D in goals about a third of the way through the season. Monahan has 3 OT winners in less than 10 percent of the games it took for Iggy to get 6. Enjoy your conundrum