[News] Ben Street called up. Backlund out 4-6 weeks MCL. Babchuk activated

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's not just the 8 games, Backlund has a pedigree better than anyone else except Seven.

Typo?

I assume you meant Forty Sven.

[GirlySports]

yeah SVEN!

[Dienasty]

Originally Posted by Wolven

But your definition is wrong.

The players you are talking about are not established NHLers by any stretch of the imagination. When you re-tread a tire you take a used tire and try to make it new. Byron and Nemisz are the definition of "new" as both of them are new to the NHL and have only ever been temporary call ups to the big show.

99% of the time when we talk about "re-treads" on this forum we are not simply talking about veteran NHLers that are trying to find their previous form on a new team. The term usually refers to players that were with the Flames and are coming back for another tour with the team (Jokinen, Tanguay, etc.)

On the topic of Street, I liked his speed and acceleration last night. It really stood out when he would suddenly zoom past other players. I hope he gets
some more opportunities to show he can use his speed at this level.

Thanks for the definition. My point stands there is no upside in the system other then maybe horak, and horak has a third line ceiling, maybe second line on a non playoff team.

As for me squashing people getting excited about street. I think this made my point about how poor the system is. It's fine to get excited about street, but I
thought I would point out reality.

[zukes]

I really hope we see Street sent down today and Horak called up. Street does not look like an NHLer in these first two games. He looks lost out there. I am glad they gave him a chance, but we know what we'll get with Horak, a responsible two way player, who can chip in occassionally.

[gargamel]

^Really? I thought he looked fairly good last night considering that it was only his second game. He did disappear at times, but he looked good for some stretches and had one of the best shifts of the night. He'll probably be the odd man out once other guys get healthy, but I certainly don't think he's played himself out of the lineup.

[Erick Estrada]

Not sure what's going on in Abbotsford but the only forwards that are doing anything are career AHL players. Reinhart, Horak, Nemisz, Aliu, Byron look like they are all playong 3rd, 4th line judging by how horrific their stats look. Throw in how Ward burried Irving and I'm not sure Ward is the right type of coach to develope prospects.

Stupid Flames. Even their farm team has adopted the 'Win now' mantra where career AHL players are given all the ice time in hopes of wins.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by gargamel

^Really? I thought he looked fairly good last night considering that it was only his second game. He did disappear at times, but he looked good for some stretches and had one of the best shifts of the night. He'll probably be the odd man out once other guys get healthy, but I certainly don't think he's played himself out of the lineup.

The only nice play I saw that he made was when he cut from the corner and tried to roof it short side.

He is lost on defensive coverage and the puck bounced off of his stick almost every time he touched it in the offensive zone. In the neutral zone he just quickly looks to pass and forces it.

Don't get me wrong, he hasn't been horrible, but Horak at least has the confidence to carry the puck and is good defensively.

[gargamel]

^That wasn't how I saw Street's game, but I'm with you in wanting to see Horak back up. I'd be happier, though, if it was at the expense of Comeau or Jones.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not sure what's going on in Abbotsford but the only forwards that are doing anything are career AHL players. Reinhart, Horak, Nemisz, Aliu, Byron look like they are all playong 3rd, 4th line judging by how horrific their stats look. Throw in how Ward burried Irving and I'm not sure Ward is the right type of coach to develope prospects.

Stupid Flames. Even their farm team has adopted the 'Win now' mantra where career AHL players are given all the ice time in hopes of wins.

If you haven't watched Abbottsford play I don't think you're in a position to throw out accusations such as these.

Giving young players ice time just because they're young is worse logic then giving players ice time because they are playing well and giving them a chance to win. I watched nearly every Abbottsford game during the lockout and guys like Horak and Byron consistently played top 6 minutes along with Sven. Brodie played 25-30 minutes a game and Breen was given top 4 minutes.

Mentioning Nemisz is besides the point given the amount of opportunity he has been given in his AHL career and the few NHL games he has played. He started the season off with an injury and really hasn't gotten back to 100%.

Reinhart has been used as as a primary defensive forward and has been given loads of ice time. His stats are usually mis-perceived when people just look at his plus minus but from what I have seen of him he has played well, just hasn't has bounces go his way. If you payed any attention to the Abby thread the past few weeks you would have noticed the point totals he has been putting up and how key of a player he has been for Abbottsford.

Troy Ward is treating players like they would in any level of hockey, if they play well they get ice time if they don't then they don't get ice time. It's simple logic. Again, don't throw accusations out if you have no knowledge of what you're talking about.

[Dienasty]

@Mitch

I would prefer if abbotsford treated the team as a developmental team for the flames rather then playing the veterans in an attempt to win more games. Kolanos will never play as a top 6 forward in the NHL so why waste all those minutes on him when guys like horak Byron nemisz (although a pretty sad group of prospects) sit on the bench. What made me really upset is when ward continued to dress Taylor and burst over Irving when neither of those 2 guys had a future with the organization.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by zukes

The only nice play I saw that he made was when he cut from the corner and tried to roof it short side.

He is lost on defensive coverage and the puck bounced off of his stick almost every time he touched it in the offensive zone. In the neutral zone he just quickly looks to pass and forces it.

Don't get me wrong, he hasn't been horrible, but Horak at least has the confidence to carry the puck and is good defensively.

Actually i agree. He wasn't bad but he seems to be lost. Hartley gave him the 2nd line and also 1st line minutes and didn't do much. Even with the 3rd line minutes he seems lost. I am sure he'll be better next time. It must be tough for a rookie's nerve to play in front of the home crowd and also in the city where he grew up on. He definitely need more time in the AHL.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Mitch

If you haven't watched Abbottsford play I don't think you're in a position to throw out accusations such as these.

Giving young players ice time just because they're young is worse logic then giving players ice time because they are playing well and giving them a chance to win. I watched nearly every Abbottsford game during the lockout and guys like Horak and Byron consistently played top 6 minutes along with Sven. Brodie played 25-30 minutes a game and Breen was given top 4 minutes.

Mentioning Nemisz is besides the point given the amount of opportunity he has been given in his AHL career and the few NHL games he has played. He started the season off with an injury and really hasn't gotten back to 100%.

Reinhart has been used as as a primary defensive forward and has been given loads of ice time. His stats are usually mis-perceived when people just look at his plus minus but from what I have seen of him he has played well, just hasn't has bounces go his way. If you payed any attention to the Abby thread the past few weeks you would have noticed the point totals he has been putting up and how key of a player he has been for Abbottsford.

Troy Ward is treating players like they would in any level of hockey, if they play well they get ice time if they don't then they don't get ice time. It's simple logic. Again, don't throw accusations out if you have no knowledge of what you're talking about.

What?! Are you actually questioning THE Erick Estrada? He's gods gift to hockey foums don't you know. The prodigal prognasticator, if you will. If you don't believe me, just ask him.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Zevo

What?! Are you actually questioning THE Erick Estrada? He's gods gift to hockey foums don't you know. The prodigal prognasticator, if you will. If you don't believe me, just ask him.

...And hope and pray you don't upset him enough to get out of his car.

[Icon]

So the Anton's been activated... is he going to play or is he just off the IR to be traded somewhere for a late pick?

[Poe969]

Who knows, maybe we try the Anton as our first line center.

You'd have to think that someone from our back end is going to be dealt soon... I'd still like to see him play before trading him but at this point I think it's just a matter of time with him

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

@Mitch

I would prefer if abbotsford treated the team as a developmental team for the flames rather then playing the veterans in an attempt to win more games. Kolanos will never play as a top 6 forward in the NHL so why waste all those minutes on him when guys like horak Byron nemisz (although a pretty sad group of prospects) sit on the bench. What made me really upset is when ward continued to dress Taylor and burst over Irving when neither of those 2 guys had a future with the organization.

Calgary just didn't have enough talented prospects to play with the few they did have. Kolanos will never be an NHL player outside of emergency call-ups, you are right, but players like him serve a useful purpose. Helps to develop the skilled players a bit by giving them a skilled player.

As for Irving, I still think that is 100% on Irving, not Ward. Ward kept giving him opportunities over and over. Under two coaches Irving has lost his starter's job. He has just been very inconsistent, and this season he was (by comparison) 'horrific'.

It is pretty discouraging for the Heat to lose games because the goalie let in a couple he shouldn't. To have confidence in your goalie is to have confidence in yourself to try something out there and know that if you make a mistake, you have a good chance that your goalie will bail you out. To say that Irving hasn't been given a fair shake in this organization I think is false. Keetley, Shantz, Taylor and Brust were all 'backups' brought in for Irving, and they all usurped Irving at some point. It has always been on Irving, not on the Flames for not supporting him and developing him enough. What else could they do on the Heat with Irving?

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Zevo

What?! Are you actually questioning THE Erick Estrada? He's gods gift to hockey foums don't you know. The prodigal prognasticator, if you will. If you don't believe me, just ask him.

Here's the pot calling the kettle black