[News Roundup] Monday, November 27th, 2017

[Cheese]

Flames goaltending prospect Parsons putting up sparkling numbers in ECHL

Tyler Parsons doesn’t consider himself a numbers guy.
But for those obsessed with that kind of thing and, also, wondering what is happening with one of the Calgary Flames top goaltending prospects who is currently toiling in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks, his numbers are telling a pretty good story.
While Parsons, only 13 games into his first professional season, has a rather bloated 3.24 goals against average and an equally unimpressive .907 save percentage, a deeper look into the statistics reveal that things have tightened up significantly.
Three up, three down: Flames’ Mikael Backlund on the rise

Mikael Backlund – C – Flames – 6 Goals, 10 Assists, 49 Shots, 23 Games
The Flames’ shut-down centreman is having another quietly effective season. He has 10 points in his past 10 games, climbing up to a 57-point pace.


Five things to know about Brock Boeser, Canucks superstar rookie

I bring up the Calder Trophy for obvious reasons. Right now, Boeser is the front-runner. But let’s not talk about how he’s doing in relation to the rest of the league. Let’s focus on how he stacks up against his fellow Canucks (very well, thank you) and, more specifically, the Canuck rookies of yore.
Through his first 19 games of the NHL season, Boeser has registered 21 points — 11 goals and 10 assists. That’s a point per game average of 1.11, a better rate through the first quarter of the season than all but 17 NHL players. (Boeser is tied for 18th in the category with Toronto superstar Auston Matthews, his future 2022 Olympic linemate.)

Atrocious Sabres a reminder tanking guarantees nothing

You’ve heard it a million times before: if you’re not a Stanley Cup contender and are stuck in the “mushy middle” of the NHL, you’re better off tanking for the first overall pick, where you could get a superstar player to push your franchise forward, than trying to restructure on the fly.
Fall for Hall. Fail for Nail. Lose for Matthews.
All in for Dahlin.
But it’s not always so easy to turn it around. For every Chicago, Los Angeles or Pittsburgh, you have a Florida or Edmonton or Colorado, whose rises have started, stopped and stalled. None of those teams are even in a playoff spot at the important American Thanksgiving benchmark.
Statistically Speaking: First quarter NHL awards

Flames centre Michael Backlund drives play like Bergeron, but is still starting more of his shifts in the defensive zone.

[foshizzle11]

Wow, I didn't know that Boeser was doing that well. Great to see guys develop into stars (potentially) when it wasn't completely expected.

Anyone who wants to trade Backlund doesn't realize how important he is to our team. I think it would leave a huge hole if he were to be traded for anyone in the league. He is one of the top 3, shutdown centres in the league. You can't find those very easily. I think how our team is setup is great with the 1st line all about scoring, 2nd line is both and the 3rd line should be about scoring...I think they are getting there. 1 rookie, 1 extra old veteran (Jags is great) and a teenager in Sam.

Thanks for posting the news today!

[belsarius]

Great news to have Backlund getting more respect!

But to not even mention Johnny in the Hart conversation is a bit of a slap. Talk about a guy who drives the play, can score and pass and elevates his linemates. Obligatory Mathews and McDavid mentions and JG snub.

[metal_geek]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Great news to have Backlund getting more respect!

But to not even mention Johnny in the Hart conversation is a bit of a slap. Talk about a guy who drives the play, can score and pass and elevates his linemates. Obligatory Mathews and McDavid mentions and JG snub.

Was just about to post the same thing.

How he can not even garner a Hart mention show just how easily he’s overlooked outside of Calgary and Philly!..

[alan21]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Atrocious Sabres a reminder tanking guarantees nothing

I think the Oilers are a great example too. McDavid is propping up a really bad team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Great news to have Backlund getting more respect!

But to not even mention Johnny in the Hart conversation is a bit of a slap. Talk about a guy who drives the play, can score and pass and elevates his linemates. Obligatory Mathews and McDavid mentions and JG snub.

Scott Cullen never fails to disappoint.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Great news to have Backlund getting more respect!

But to not even mention Johnny in the Hart conversation is a bit of a slap. Talk about a guy who drives the play, can score and pass and elevates his linemates. Obligatory Mathews and McDavid mentions and JG snub.

I wonder if Smith is detracting from JG in this regard. Johnny's having a phenomenal year, but plenty of people think Smith is the team MVP so far.

[Huntingwhale]

Meh, I say let Johnny fly under the radar. As soon as he starts making headlines, you get fans from other teams start tossing around the 'overrated' word (dumbest term in all of sports) and suddenly it turns into a debate about why he ISN'T an MVP caliber player.

I say we just let Johnny do what he does best, and that's to quietly let him do his thing and win us games without big fanfare, outside of our own fanbase.

[albertGQ]

I wonder if we can re sign Backs this summer. He's going to command $6M/year give or take on a long term contract. I hope so. Bennett hasn't progressed enough to take his spot. Monahan, Backlund and Jankowski should be our top three centers moving forward.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I wonder if we can re sign Backs this summer. He's going to command $6M/year give or take on a long term contract. I hope so. Bennett hasn't progressed enough to take his spot. Monahan, Backlund and Jankowski should be our top three centers moving forward.

I wonder if our rumoured interest in Turris speaks to what the Flames think of Backlund going forward. He'll be 29 when he hits free agency, and likely looking for a 6-7 year deal in the 6M range.

Turris is the same age as Backlund, and fills a very comparable role. Turris landed a 6x6 deal with Nashville so I would expect Backlund to sign for pretty much the exact same, with maybe a .25M adjustment for wizardry?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I wonder if Smith is detracting from JG in this regard. Johnny's having a phenomenal year, but plenty of people think Smith is the team MVP so far.

Except Kucherov is his top pick and Stamkos is outscoring him. And Schwartz is on a line with Tarasenko, another pick for MVP of his team. It's quite clear that Cullen is not taking Hart to mean most important to his team but rather the more commonly held best player (forward) award.

Otherwise, where's Bobrovsky? Clear cut most important player for his team this year.

[Otto-matic]

Roger Millions‏Verified account
@RogMillions
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Looks like no Versteeg today and hearing we may not see him in the lineup during the home stand. #Flames

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Roger Millions‏Verified account
@RogMillions
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Looks like no Versteeg today and hearing we may not see him in the lineup during the home stand. #Flames

Gee, that is too bad.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Roger Millions‏Verified account
@RogMillions
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Looks like no Versteeg today and hearing we may not see him in the lineup during the home stand. #Flames

Assuming he goes on IR I wonder who will be called up? Probably Hathaway - good fit for 4th line, last cut in camp (after actually).

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Except Kucherov is his top pick and Stamkos is outscoring him. And Schwartz is on a line with Tarasenko, another pick for MVP of his team. It's quite clear that Cullen is not taking Hart to mean most important to his team but rather the more commonly held best player (forward) award.

Otherwise, where's Bobrovsky? Clear cut most important player for his team this year.

Cullen is a complete moron who is too in love with stats.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Assuming he goes on IR I wonder who will be called up? Probably Hathaway - good fit for 4th line, last cut in camp (after actually).

Maybe Mangiapane? Could be worth a look at 4LW

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Assuming he goes on IR I wonder who will be called up? Probably Hathaway - good fit for 4th line, last cut in camp (after actually).

I don't see why we need a callup, You have Hamilton/Staj popcorn munching. One of the two can slot in for Versteeg.


#Flames today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Jankowski-Jagr
Hamilton-Stajan-Brouwer

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Bartkowski-Stone

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I don't see why we need a callup, You have Hamilton/Staj popcorn munching. One of the two can slot in for Versteeg.

Need, no, but it’s an opportunity to audition/reward one of the players that are killing it in the AHL

[gunnner]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Roger Millions‏Verified account
@RogMillions
1m1 minute ago
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Looks like no Versteeg today and hearing we may not see him in the lineup during the home stand. #Flames

Would love Hathaway in the lineup.

[Major Major]

The flames will be all for calling up Hathaway to give him a game. He brings a different element then anyone on the roster. He has the ability to throw other teams off kilter. Now all we can hope for from our fourth line is they don't get scored on.

Prediction: he's called up, sits one game, CP throws a temper tantrum, he gets put in his second game with the team and until versteeg's healthy, posters begrudgingly give the flames credit for "finally listening to the fans" and add that they still don't like GG despite that win streak.