Practice Notes Jan 20th

[Otto-matic]

#Flames lines so far...
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Colborne-Granlund-Jones
Jooris-Stajan-Bollig

Kristen Odland ‏@KristenOdlandCH 5m5 minutes ago
Looks like Deryk Engelland is in for Ladislav Smid. Skating with Dennis Wideman today.

[Otto-matic]

Kristen Odland ‏@KristenOdlandCH 6s6 seconds ago
LW Lance Bouma also skating today. Hartley said he'd "for sure" get into the lineup on this road trip.

A few different looks with the #Flames lines, though. Hudler was rotating with Frolik on the Bennett/Backlund line.

Derek Wills ‏@Fan960Wills 4s4 seconds ago
Based on what I'm seeing at #Flames practice, Ramo will start, Bouma, Hudler, Raymond and Smid are out, Bollig, Jooris and Engelland are in.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Looks like Deryk Engelland is in for Ladislav Smid. Skating with Dennis Wideman today.

I'd like to pretend I'm shocked at the lunacy after a great game but:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Smid since Dec 1:

9 GP
49.5% Corsi For
53.1% Fenwick For
55% Shots For
56.4% Scoring Chances For
63.3% High-Danger Chances For

Watch him be a scratch next game.

*sigh*

[Toonage]

How Wideman hasn't sit out a game yet when last year he did for lesser offenses is beyond me.

[Poe969]

The need Wideman to have a big game to showcase him. I'm sure there has to be a team willing to take him if he can start to put up points again. The pens could always use a guy like him and Rutherford is kind of an idiot... Make it happen!

[Otto-matic]

Hudler still hurt? They need to shut him down for a few weeks and let him heal up.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by Poe969

The need Wideman to have a big game to showcase him. I'm sure there has to be a team willing to take him if he can start to put up points again. The pens could always use a guy like him and Rutherford is kind of an idiot... Make it happen!

I think this is right.
There's no other reason to play Wideman at this point.
They are trying to pump his value.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'd like to pretend I'm shocked at the lunacy after a great game but:
*sigh*

Has Smid even played 2 games in a row this season?

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Hudler still hurt? They need to shut him down for a few weeks and let him heal up.

Could be a healthy scratch. Looked useless the other night, but they said he was good to go.

[FBI]

Glad that Ferland got back to the top line. He was generating a lot, not sure why he was removed. Only thing I would like to see more of is big hits like he does when he's on the third line.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Poe969

The need Wideman to have a big game to showcase him. I'm sure there has to be a team willing to take him if he can start to put up points again. The pens could always use a guy like him and Rutherford is kind of an idiot... Make it happen!

Always get the feeling this whole showcase thing is a fantasy that fans have. Teams have professional scouts continually flying around checking out all teams. Wideman has also played almost 800 NHL games, there aren't a lot of secrets to reveal here.

Wideman has one more year left on his deal too, so this won't be a rental for anyone. Maybe next deadline.

[t0rrent98]

Man, I do hope Ferland turns out to be just like Lucic if he keeps playing on that first line.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Has Smid even played 2 games in a row this season?

-The five game win streak over the Stars/Bruins/Sharks/Sabres/Rangers. Gets scratched. We go 4-4 the next eight games.
-The dominating wins over the Avs and Lightning. Gets scratched. We go 1-2-1 the next 4 games.
And he was easily our third best defenseman on the night yesterday.

Either they're just shopping Russell/Engelland/Wideman or Hartley is just turning a blind eye to his good play because he's not a fighter or offensive defenseman.

[Poe969]

Maybe showcasing is the wrong term (damn I'm good at using the wrong term) but they really need to put Wideman in a position so he can produce. IMO he should be on the PP first unit and have all of his shifts start in the offensive zone. He needs to be sheltered and given the chance to just put up points. Same with Hudler, when he's back he needs to just start putting up points in order to have any kind of value.

With guys like Rutherford and Benning as GM's, trading any player is possible.

[Erick Estrada]

Coaches don't rely on advanced stats to make roster changes. It's all about the eye test from their view at the bench. It's possible Smid had a shift that caught Hartley's eye or possibly just a matchup thing were he feels Engellend presents a better match up against the Jackets. It goes both ways as Engelland was getting scratched earlier in the season when he was playing good hockey. Seems to me after losses especially that Hartley likes to rotate players in and out of the lineup for the sake of changing things up.

[codynw]

Giordano / Brodie
Smid / Hamilton
Russell / Engelland

Please.

[djsFlames]

Wideman needs to sit.

Just like Colborne after his abysmal game.

[northcrunk]

They've been 'showcasing' Wideman for 2 or 3 years now and no takers. Just sit his butt down.

[Harry Lime]

Smid/Hamilton is a really nice pairing going forward. I don't mind the extra year on his contract, now that he is healthy and we can remember how much of a solid defensive defenceman he can be.

If we can find homes for Russell and Wideman, I would love to see a rotation of Nakladal/Englland/Wotherspoon in the 5-6. The balance of team offense vs. defense. would be outstanding under those circumstances, IMO.

[SeanCharles]

I've heard the Flames are interested in Cowan and I've read a quote somewhere that Brian Murray said he changed his opinion on Wideman last year cause before that he didn't think too much of him.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Flames are trying to make a trade with the Sens with these two going either way. The problem is Wideman hasn't played quite as well as he did last year so maybe there is less of a desire..