[PGT] Arizona 2 Calgary 1

[StrykerSteve]

Suggesting Monahan and Gaudreau be traded. Some people have officially lost it, lol.

Yes, Monahan plays a soft game. It's frustrating to watch sometimes. But he's still far and away the best Center on the team, extremely young and still nowhere near finished developing. Someone mentioned his poor shot.. I strongly disagree. He has a quick release and is one of the guys you can count on to hit the net.

Gaudreau's a bit older, but we mustn't forget this is his sophomore season. Yes, he disappears for stretches, but he's still far and away the Flames best player at generating scoring chances.

As for the Russell hate, I'll never understand it. He's an extremely effective player that contributes nightly in generating offence, blocks an inordinate number of high quality scoring chances and is probably the second best skater on the back end behind Brodie. Yes, he has brain farts where he has trouble clearing the puck, but those are almost always outweighed by the positives he brings to the table. The same can't be said for some other players and those are the ones who should be worried that their days are numbered.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Monahan, IMO, should be on pace for more than 50 pts. That's my problem I guess. Also, even though he may still be getting points, that doesn't mean that his overall game looks great. And yeah, of course pro sports is a 'what have you done for me lately', why wouldn't it be?

It would be nice if young players just got better and better all the time. At this point we don't know how much Monahan is going to make so it is not like henisnon a bad deal. You are suggesting we consider trading a 21 year old that scored 30 goals last year because he is only on pace for 25 goals and 50pts? The guy has had a bad 10 game stretch because earlier in the season he was on pace to top last years totals. To suggest trading your 21 year old #1 centre because of a bad little stretch is ludicrous and I am glad Treliving has more patience than that

[heep223]

Some of you guys have completely lost it.

Monahan has been slumping but hasn't been that bad at all. He's our number one C and plays 15+ mins per night against the other team's top lines. The team has been winning, the best team in the division since Nov 1 I believe. He's having an "off" year offensively which means 50+ points, and that's with Hudler being a complete ghost. He's 21.

I agree that sometimes it's been frustrating to watch him, he seems to be hesitating with the puck, which is what happens when you've lost confidence. I'm sure Pens fans have been frustrated watching Crosby this season and Bolts fans we know have been frustrated with Stamkos.

[Resolute 14]

Easy to blame Colborne for the first line's problems - and he doesn't belong there at all - but neither Gaudreau nor Monahan are playing well at all. Hartley spent the entire back half of the game trying to find someone who could work with those two, but the problem right now is those two. He should have tried splitting them up. They will come around, of course, but it's frustrating to see. Gio and Brodie had sub-par games as well. And when your best players are among your worst players, you're screwed.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Easy to blame Colborne for the first line's problems - and he doesn't belong there at all - but neither Gaudreau nor Monahan are playing well at all. Hartley spent the entire back half of the game trying to find someone who could work with those two, but the problem right now is those two. He should have tried splitting them up. They will come around, of course, but it's frustrating to see. Gio and Brodie had sub-par games as well. And when your best players are among your worst players, you're screwed.

He did split them up a few times. Pretty sure I saw Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones and Ferland-Monahan-Colborne

[Hackey]

I'm kind of shocked by the negativity in here. People were expecting the Stanley Cup in year 3 of the rebuild or something? To me we're way ahead of schedule with some amazing pieces going forward. Few growing pains along the way seems perfectly normal and acceptable. With the UFAs we have this year I see a lot more benefit to being able to trade them all at the deadline and get a top 10 pick. Playoffs are nice and all but why act like the sky is falling when it's not? I think this team is litterally a few pieces away and a little from being really good. Our best players are only getting better. If this is how we play in 3-4 years I'd understand a bit more but for now this seems pretty status quo which is fine.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Going to be ugly around here when Gaudreau gets that big contract this summer and struggles at any point next season. "what have you done for me lately" is completely a short sighted dummy way of thinking.

And anyone who has to end their post with a "yeah, I said it!" should be slapped on site.

What's short sighted dummy thinking is cruising around this website being a condescending smarmy jackass to everyone. How long do you give struggling players before calling them out on disinterested play?

For about 2 years before Iginla was traded, you know during the nights he was just floating around mostly but still collected points? I was calling him out and then getting roasted, but they should have dealt with him way before they did. You can give a guy a few games, sure. And in fact I will be clear that every 1 in 4-5 games Monahan plays a great game- but if you want to make playoffs and if this is supposed to be a first line centre and one of our stars, we need more.

There's more to a game than points. Get over yourself.

[PeteMoss]

Players don't produce 82 games a year - SHOCKING!!

Also - in terms of the defense - as per Corsi and that fun stuff - the defenseman who got wholloped last night was Hamilton. Wideman was actually the only one with a positive Corsi.

The first line got smoked - and when that happens the Flames lose.

[Hackey]

Team also seems like it has a bunch of dead weight which I think we will be able to shed in upcoming years and replace with more effective players. I think thats all a part of the process. Treliving has only been here for 2 years. I'm sure he notices these things and has plans to correct them. Just need a bit of patience.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It would be nice if young players just got better and better all the time. At this point we don't know how much Monahan is going to make so it is not like henisnon a bad deal. You are suggesting we consider trading a 21 year old that scored 30 goals last year because he is only on pace for 25 goals and 50pts? The guy has had a bad 10 game stretch because earlier in the season he was on pace to top last years totals. To suggest trading your 21 year old #1 centre because of a bad little stretch is ludicrous and I am glad Treliving has more patience than that

Please quote where I said trade Monahan. You'll be searching a while. I agree that would be idiotic.

Monahan is a great player, but not as good as he was last year, and yes while that is not the end of the world, I'd like to see it reversed. And a bit of toughness. That's all. Nobody is above criticism, not even prince Monahan if he plays with a lack of urgency 80% of the time.

How much of his wonderful 50 point pace season is due to Gaudreau? Last year I'd argue that wasn't necessarily the case. This year, not so much.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by heep223

He did split them up a few times. Pretty sure I saw Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones and Ferland-Monahan-Colborne

Yes. One shift, then back together. I would start them on separate lines on Monday, frankly.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Please quote where I said trade Monahan. You'll be searching a while. I agree that would be idiotic.

Monahan is a great player, but not as good as he was last year, and yes while that is not the end of the world, I'd like to see it reversed. And a bit of toughness. That's all. Nobody is above criticism, not even prince Monahan if he plays with a lack of urgency 80% of the time.

How much of his wonderful 50 point pace season is due to Gaudreau? Last year I'd argue that wasn't necessarily the case. This year, not so much.

I thought you were the poster that said we should take Monahan off the untouchable list which was my initial post that you quoted. That wasn't you it was someone else.

Gaudreaus goal last night was credit to Monahan as he made the great odd to get him that shot.

No he is not immune to criticism at all but my initial comment stemmed from a poster saying we should consider trading him which I think is ridiculous. I also wish Monahan would go from 34pts to 62pts to 85pts but it doesn't always work that way. He needs to be better but is still a cornerstone player

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yes. One shift, then back together. I would start them on separate lines on Monday, frankly.

I think they should either try Bennett with them or agree and split them up and pair Bennett with one of them (either centre Gaudreau or be Monahan's wing)

[Caged Great]

I'd like to see

Bennett Monahan Ferland
Gaudreau Granlund Jooris

tried out for a couple games. Bennett and Granlund seem to have no chemistry right now. Why not try something different.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

The boring Tippett / Yotes complaints honestly baffle me. That's a coach and a team that is absolutely squeezing the most out of what it's got, which at this stage is very little. Tippett is not in the business of entertaining us by losing to the Flames in a wild river hockey matchup, he's there to win by any means possible...and if our own coaching staff isn't able to get the same out of our superior roster, then too bad for us.

Solid post. I bring up this exact point every time the topic of ''NHL needs more goals'' or ''the NHL is boring'' pops up. Coach's aren't here to put an entertaining product on the ice, no matter how many times Hartley says he is. Coach's do what it takes to win, and these days you win by playing neutralizing, boring hockey.

Forget about reducing goalie equipment or increasing net size to increase scoring. The game is over coached to the point where if you play the style the Coyotes do and execute it perfectly, you'll win more then you'll lose. It happens every time they plays the Flames (with last season being the exception). Coyotes may be a boring team to watch ,but they are IMO easily the most well coached team in the league. No one does more with less then Dave Tippett.

It's a legit complaint for paying fans to complain about a Flames/Coyotes game being boring. But Dave Tippett doesn't give a crap. He's gotten all his players to buy in and they got the win.

He's the front runner for the Jack Adams as far as I'm concerned.

[Erick Estrada]

Paper thin forward scoring depth is catching up with this team. This season guys like Hudler, Bouma, Jooris, etc are not having career seasons to prop up what is essentially a 21 year old top line center and 19 year old 2nd line center which is simply not ideal. This team has played better of late only because the defenseman are playing better and contributing offensively because the forward group is one of the worst in the league.

I think fans need to take a step back and realize that last season was great but the reality is that this team is smack dab in the middle of a full rebuild and it's not remotely close to being a legitimate cup contender or even a playoff team this season. Being in a near historically bad division is further hurting this team as ideally the best thing to happen to this team would be to lose close games like this for the rest of the season and pick in the top 3 of the draft to address the lack of elite forward talent in the organization.

Yes Monahan has not been very good this season for the most part but lets not be Oilers fans and put the cart before the horse and start throwing young players under the bus when they are being placed in a pretty difficult situation trying to carry a team that is rebuilding.

[Vinny01]

I agree with what you are saying EE except that the team is close to being a playoff team and a tweak here or there from Treliving can get this group in the playoffs. The only reason that is the case is because 85-90pta might be all a team in the Pacific needs to make the playoffs

[Erick Estrada]

In regards to the Coyotes I thought they played an excellent road game and while I believe they are in a similar state of rebuild as the Flames they have IMO maybe the most underrated coach in the history of the NHL behind the bench. I hope one day Tippett gets a chance to coach a legitimate cup contender as I have never seen a coach that has done so much with so little year in and year out.

[Jason14h]

Bennett Monahan Ferland
Gaudreau Granlund Jooris

And this is the issue. Jooris and Ferland should be no where near the top 2 lines. (Not saying we have better options~)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I agree with what you are saying EE except that the team is close to being a playoff team and a tweak here or there from Treliving can get this group in the playoffs. The only reason that is the case is because 85-90pta might be all a team in the Pacific needs to make the playoffs

Yeah but what real good is going to come out of squeaking into the playoffs in a poor division and having the 16th overall pick to show for a bad season? This team isn't a cup contender so all it does is add another year before this team can become a true cup contender. I would rather just take the lumps now and accept this is not a very good hockey team and if they make the playoffs then great but I don't want the GM making tweaks just to make the playoffs this season as if the current group isn't good enough then it's telling that they need another good draft.