[PGT] Flames Fall to Oilers Both Games

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Get used to it. Let it feed your hate.

Hate the hype, but I don't hate McDavid...yet.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Thanks to everyone for the analysis and updates last night and this morning. Apparently Florida is outside of the Flames region.

Sounds like Ferland is making the most of his opportunity to make this team. Others like Shore, Granlund, Nakladal, Wilson, Kylington, and Anderson looked solid, but do we think they will actually take jobs from anyone this year?

On defense, there really only seems to be an opening at #6/7 unless Smid makes a miraculous comeback. Engelland is a limited player, but the Flames management seems to like him and the role he plays, so I don't see him going anywhere right away. The top 5 look really good already, and are only going to get sharper as time goes on, so I imagine most of those other guys will start in the AHL or junior.

Forward is more interesting. Shore or Arnold might actually take Stajan's job away. Stajan is a solid all-around player, but he doesn't do anything at a particularly high level, making him expendable if Shore or Arnold can do the same at less salary. Experience is the only thing saving his job at the moment. Raymond obviously needs to be jettisoned, but who's gonna take him? He might get buried to start the year or bought out. Does anyone else see any of the veteran forwards as vulnerable?

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Hate the hype, but I don't hate McDavid...yet.

Is it okay if I already hate Nurse?

[Azhouse]

Yes.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Sounds like Ferland is making the most of his opportunity to make this team. Others like Shore, Granlund, Nakladal, Wilson, Kylington, and Anderson looked solid, but do we think they will actually take jobs from anyone this year?

It's too small a sample size, but I truly hope we open the season with:

Johnny
Monny
Frolik
Hudler
Bennett
Colborne
Bouma
Backlund
Jones
Ferland
Stajan
Jooris
Byron
Shore

Giordano
Brodie
Hamilton
Russell
Wilson
Wideman
Nakladal

Ortio
Ramo/Hiller (flip a coin)

TBQH Wotherspoon and Kulak are very deserving of spots themselves. But more time in the minors never hurt no one.

Forward is more interesting. Shore or Arnold might actually take Stajan's job away. Stajan is a solid all-around player, but he doesn't do anything at a particularly high level, making him expendable if Shore or Arnold can do the same at less salary. Experience is the only thing saving his job at the moment.

Stajan still has value to the team as the younger centres (Bennett/Monahan) continue to learn the position. He's worth keeping around for another year, but I would move him after this season.

[Demetric]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

On the plus side, if he has a slump, or is slow getting started (i.e. no points in 10 games) we get to enjoy endless analysis on "What's wrong with McDavid???"

Spoiler!

Answer = Oilers

[dustygoon]

If Granlund can win some face-offs, he is going to make it tough on coaches to send him down. He looks like he should be in the NHL....whether its the flames or not.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Shore will be an interesting case. I thought he showed good jump, but playing with Bollig and Smith was like being short handed the whole game. Curious if he some offence, playing with more skilled players.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Huh? What hockey plays did he make that made you think "they have a real player"?

Looks like a glorified face-puncher to me.

Watching him in Jr and the international tournaments. He showed his toughness vs Smith. No easy task.

Look I love to rag on the oilers as much as the next guy, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that rival or not, Nurse will be a damn good player down the road.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Thanks to everyone for the analysis and updates last night and this morning. Apparently Florida is outside of the Flames region.

Sounds like Ferland is making the most of his opportunity to make this team. Others like Shore, Granlund, Nakladal, Wilson, Kylington, and Anderson looked solid, but do we think they will actually take jobs from anyone this year?

I think Nakladal will beat out Engelland for the #6 spot. He is just a much better D man.

[AcGold]

Nurse is pretty good now, not NHL ready, but he's obviously one of their best d prospects. Big, tough, skilled. He'll be an impact player soon.

[Ashasx]

I'd say Nurse is easily a top 6 defenceman in that organization and will most certainly start the season in the NHL.

Unless the contracts of Ference and Nikitin force him down, but I doubt it.

[Street Pharmacist]

I doubt Nurse starts the season up. He'll finish it though once they get rid of Nikitin. Kid's a really good prospect.

As for Draisaitl, he'll do far, far better as a winger. His strengths are along the boards and at the half wall, and he's absolutely brutal at carrying the puck. Going to wrong minimizes his weakness and plays to his strengths.

[2Stonedbirds]

I think Nurse will have an uphill battle due to vet contracts. Will probably start the season in the minors and be first call up, or after some seasoning in the ahl they may try and move a dman to make room.

[Coach]

It's amazing to me that they would need to make room on that awful blueline due to contracts. You would think there were spots for the taking, but I guess not.

[Poe969]

lol, it's the oilers...not only will he start the season in the NHL, he'll be on the top pairing and end up with a letter on his jersey. He's the best defensive prospect they've had since...ever. They're going to hype up Nurse and McDavid as the future of the oilers and the NHL.

[cannon7]

Wotherspoon looks ready to fill a #6/7 spot. Only problem is there's a logjam in front of him. Kulak looked great also, expect to see him called up at some point. Flames have some decisions to make regarding their vets.

Wanted to see more from Klimchuk, Agostino, Poirier, etc. Hope we get to see another game.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Thanks to everyone for the analysis and updates last night and this morning. Apparently Florida is outside of the Flames region.

Sounds like Ferland is making the most of his opportunity to make this team. Others like Shore, Granlund, Nakladal, Wilson, Kylington, and Anderson looked solid, but do we think they will actually take jobs from anyone this year?

On defense, there really only seems to be an opening at #6/7 unless Smid makes a miraculous comeback. Engelland is a limited player, but the Flames management seems to like him and the role he plays, so I don't see him going anywhere right away. The top 5 look really good already, and are only going to get sharper as time goes on, so I imagine most of those other guys will start in the AHL or junior.

Forward is more interesting. Shore or Arnold might actually take Stajan's job away. Stajan is a solid all-around player, but he doesn't do anything at a particularly high level, making him expendable if Shore or Arnold can do the same at less salary. Experience is the only thing saving his job at the moment. Raymond obviously needs to be jettisoned, but who's gonna take him? He might get buried to start the year or bought out. Does anyone else see any of the veteran forwards as vulnerable?

I would argue that Stajan may be a bit of a special case. I don't think he will get replaced if someone cheaper provides an equal performance. I think whomever replaces him will have to provide much more on the ice than Stajan does. I think Stajan is now what Ference was back in the day for the Flames - that guy in the dressing room that was sort of the 'glue' or the 'heart' of the team. That team was never the same after that trade (though I acknowledge that Ference's discount in exchange for his 'handshake no-trade clause' may have had something to do with it).

If that really is the case, then I can assume the Flames would replace Stajan only if someone (looking at Arnold here - not as high on Shore as others are, but Arnold I think is the heir-apparent) provides a substantial increase on the ice, not just an 'equal performance but for much less money'. I could be wrong and may be overvaluing what Stajan means to the team, however. Just what I think anyways.

[Ashasx]

Stajan also somehow manages to keep his head above water playing with possession blackholes like Bollig.

He's a good player. If we dump him solely on the purposes of cap space, it hurts the team.

[Coach]

Did Arnold get hurt? Why wasn't he in one of the games?