[PGT] Flames 1 v. Divers 3

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Had a Canucks friend tell me that he already can't wait for Sam Bennett's retirement.

Didn't see the full game but heard Lack was the best player last night because he was the only one that kept Bennett from running away with the game. =\

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Super Nintendo Chalmers

Didn't see the full game but heard Lack was the best player last night because he didn't let Bennett run away with the game. =\

Lack was very good, as he usually is against the Flames. I'm pretty sure he didn't give up a single rebound.

[Aeneas]

I was actually hoping the Flames would draft one of the other 3 guys, Reinhart, Ekblad or the German. I hope last night was just the start of me eating my thoughts so to speak.

He had me literally sitting up and taking notice. I could not wait for his next shift.

I was giddy. Someone my age and size should never be giddy. Not pretty I am sure.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Redrum

A very small sample size but I was a lot more impressed with Carr than Hiller.

Wasn't that Thiessen?

[HartAttack]

Sam Bennett

Sven Baertschi

Go Flames

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by heep223

Wasn't that Thiessen?

Well, between the winsport games + the various preseason games I think Hiller's been the 2nd worst of the goalies ahead of only Ortio thus far. I have been quite impressed with both Thiessen and Carr. Solid depth between the pipes.

[FAN]

Monahan and Bennett = the future

[OzSome]

Only saw the 2nd period to the end. Very impressed with Sam Bennett. The guy is awesome and very confident. I can't wait to see this guy in Calgary full-time (probably this season?) or next season. Too bad he was playing with David Jones' line last night.

Other players that impressed me was D Ryan Culkin. He won't make the NHL this season and definitely bound for AHL but his positioning was pretty good. D Raphael Diaz might have a little advantage that the other tryout D Brookbank because he is more of a two-way defenseman and can help the team in power play. F Garnet Hathaway is a long shot to make it and will definitely start in the AHL.

As for F David Wolf, i hardly noticed the guy and I think he need to be groom in the AHL to keep up on the NHL speed. I like F Michael Ferland but he seems timid and a bit slow. Maybe it is confidence right now but I think he really needs to use his body a lot, the way he played in Penticton.

The guys who did not play last night that is turning heads I think is Granlund. I thought him and Gaudreau was pretty good in Sylvan Lake. These two players should definitely be in Calgary this season. Hopefully the Flames make some room for them by trading some useless players like David Jones. I like Stajan but I am still puzzled why the Flames gave him an extension last season especially on his play early last season.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by heep223

Wasn't that Thiessen?

In previous games I mean.

[Street Pharmacist]

Ferland plays like a vet. So good

[Vinny01]

Bennett was electrifying out there. Missed most of the game due to watching football but caught a few amazing plays including the slick deke for a near goal and the set up for Monahans goal. Hoping he plays again tonight!

[edslunch]

We need to keep in mind that it is still mid-pre-season and all the teams are icing AHL calibre rosters (on average). We'll need to see which prospects continue to shine as they closer to real NHL level play and opponents.

[CsInMyBlood]

Baertschi had another solid outing. He made a couple of all world backhand saucer passes right on the stick of streaking players. He certainly has some natural vision and playmaking skills.

I listened to Gio this morning on the FAN960 and he was talking about the pass that Sven made to him and how he fired it wide. He said the best part about it was after he shot it wide he saw some woman along the glass with a disappointed look on her face, shaking her head at him. Hahaha.

What is with Eddie Lack vs. the Flames? Since Pentiction about 3 years ago where he made 50+ saves vs the Flames, he always looks like a superstar. I don't even remember him letting a rebound out last night. I have the feeling he will outplay Miller this season.

Bennett looked great almost every shift, what a way to start your Flames career. My Canucks buddy already hates him just after that one viewing last night. Jackpot.

Easy to tell Monahan has put on a bunch of muscle and with it his confidence is sky high. Seems like the kind of guy that wont fall into the dreaded sophomore slump.

Setoguchi is not a good player anymore, looked slow and delayed all the time. Such a waste of a contract/roster spot when we have so many kids that deserve a shot.

Jones was once again underwhelming. If Treliving is serious about people getting spots on this team due to their play, I have no idea how Jones and Seto are going to be on this team. That goes for Matt Stajan too. Those that argued signing Stajan to a 4 year extension last year was a good thing have to be questioning it now. One good thing if these guys do play all year, the Flames WILL be adding another top prospect to our already impressive stable of kids at the end of the season. Maybe that is the plan.

Diaz is an interesting one. He has the offensive skills (although I'm already annoyed at how he pinches in chasing pucks down low and stays there too long). His defense is not good. His decisions in our zone haven't been great either.

I also liked Ferlands game, just going to be hard for him to crack the lineup with Bouma looking like he will build off of his strong play last season and the signing of Bollig.

Regardless of what happens with these kids this year, NHL, AHL or Jr, the future looks very bright for the Flames.

[Erick Estrada]

Was Lack really that good? Flames shot pucks right at him. He made a couple of good saves off Bennett but every other Flame shot the puck right into him. I don't recall him having to dive or stretch for any saves as he just had to position himself in the crease and absorb the pucks coming right at him. It's easy to look good when shooters are doing a poor job of finding openings.

[Huntingwhale]

Nice video AC. There was also a sequence you missed where here stripped the puck from the defender in the offensive zone, then dangled around and did a spin-o-rama shot from in close. Great stuff from the kid. Is it possible that we might potentially have 2 game breakers in Gaudreau and Bennett now?? 2 players like that are exactly what the Flames need.

I do think that juniors is best for Bennett in the long run. No need to burn off an entry level year while still allowing him to bulk up. I see Bennett as the type of guy who gets a taste of the big leagues and uses that as motivation to have the best year possible in Juniors.

I remember when the Haws won back in 2010, they have both Toews and Kane still on their entry level deals. Often on cup winning teams, there are players who are major contributors who are still on their entry level deals, which allows for big acquisitions to fill other gaps in the lineup. Flames are no where near ready to compete for a cup yet and while I see the appeal of having players like them stay in the NHL for the fans sake, I'm certain management has discussed the possibility of the team starting to become competitive in the future while still having young players like Bennett still on entry level deals.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

What is with Eddie Lack vs. the Flames? Since Pentiction about 3 years ago where he made 50+ saves vs the Flames, he always looks like a superstar. I don't even remember him letting a rebound out last night. I have the feeling he will outplay Miller this season.

I was lmao at Miller last playoffs.

Then Benning signs him.

[Street Pharmacist]

The more I think about it, the more I think there's more room for Ferland than anyone else:

-He's solid 5v5. Backchecks well, confident but careful with the puck
-more physically capable than any other prospect that could crack the roster.
-lead Penticton in scoring
-played great in the preseason
-plays the hard, physical, drop-the-mitts kind of style that Breliving (sorry) wants

[goodyear]

About Diaz...guy can skate, shoot and pass but seems like he can be a liability on defense. So why not put him at forward?!

Because we're speaking in a hypothetical sense, put him up front, give him David Jones money and roster spot?

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Was Lack really that good? Flames shot pucks right at him. He made a couple of good saves off Bennett but every other Flame shot the puck right into him. I don't recall him having to dive or stretch for any saves as he just had to position himself in the crease and absorb the pucks coming right at him. It's easy to look good when shooters are doing a poor job of finding openings.

I think there is some merit it what you are saying, but when a goalie is on his game he makes everything look easy. Flames had some grade A scoring chances last night, Eddie deserves the credit.

[Poe969]

I agree that Diaz should be tried at right wing. I'd like to see what he can do there as he's more offensive minded, he could turn into a defensively responsible right winger we need.