[GDT] Will we win? CGY @ MIN 6PM Sportsnet West

[Alpine Fisher]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

The Burke/Treliving/Gulutzman trio is starting to resemble the Lowe/MacTavish/Eakins era in Shelbyville. Hopefully the Flames owners realize this quicker than Katz did.

Regarding Burke, I think there should be a rule where he only gets to wear an undone tie around his neck if the Flames are above .500

The more under .500 they are, the tighter the tie should be tied

[Toonage]

Here's a(nother) concern. Given Gulutzan's track record this year, even if the Flames win he'll change the lineup for Arizona tomorrow.

[Strange Brew]

Of the tens of thousands of people that follow the Flames, I challenge you to find one who in the off-season expected we would see a line of Stajan/Chiasson/Bennett.

Let's hope something works.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Considering Stajan has been one of the most consistent players this season I don't mind this move as much as most. I would rather Ferland on the other side of Bennett instead of Chaisson, but I guess they'd rather Bennett on the LW.

I haven't minded Chaisson's game, maybe a little too north-south for the top line, but he worked well early on the fourth line and letting Bennett play a simpler crash and bang game might take his mind out if it and allow him to just play.

Yeah, I don't get hate either. To me this move says "Sam concentrate on your offense, let Stajan worry about the defensive responsibilities". The offense will go through Bennett on that line. I think putting Brouwer on the first also might help simplify/jump start their game with his veteran presence.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Toonage

3rd line.

Ferland-Hamilton-Hathaway the 4th tonight.

If they want to use him on the wing, where he has had some success, then put him back with Backlund & Frolik. Tkachuk w/ Stajan on the 3rd line.

Why?

Tkachuk has been better than Bennett this season, why would you demote Tkachuk.

Icetime is earned and Bennett has been invisible or sinking the team with penalties more often than not this season.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions 5m5 minutes ago St Paul, MN Sam Bennett will be on left wing with Stajan and Chaisson. Gulutzan confirms

Could they have ####ed up this kid's development anymore? Sweet Jebus

Why??? Jesus GG....

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Why?

Tkachuk has been better than Bennett this season, why would you demote Tkachuk.

Icetime is earned and Bennett has been invisible or sinking the team with penalties more often than not this season.

Thats a fair point. But if I'm looking at creating the lines which provide me with the most proven consistency over a longer period of time I go with Bennett-Backlund-Frolik. Just my take on it.

[shadowlord]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Thats a fair point. But if I'm looking at creating the lines which provide me with the most proven consistency over a longer period of time I go with Bennett-Backlund-Frolik. Just my take on it.

Agreed. This is where Bennett needs to be a little bit.

I understood the rationale of promoting Bennett to C last year after we were out of the playoffs, might as well give him some training for the position he's ultimately destined for.

But right now, the team is struggling, and he needs a confidence booster. Playing alongside Backlund and Frolik will help in that regard, and give him some top-6 minutes. He's not suited for a bottom-6 role, that would be a waste.

[GranteedEV]

I like the D pairings today. I very much dislike Bennett on the wing, but it might get his confidence going a bit.

Ferland demoted to fourth line is idiotic though. THe third line should have Stajan, Bennett, and Ferland in some combination. I would suggest Ferland-Bennett-Stajan.

[bubbsy]

if you're going to move bennet to the wing, why not load up the top line and try to get our frigin struggling core forwards (gaudreau/monahan/bennet) going....

ugh...

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Thats a fair point. But if I'm looking at creating the lines which provide me with the most proven consistency over a longer period of time I go with Bennett-Backlund-Frolik. Just my take on it.

Again, I say: why?

Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik has been the team's best line on the season.

At this point, the season is done with. With that said, now is the time a coach can instil solid habits and reward good play with icetime.

Without the pressure to win-win-win a coach can properly motivate, punish and reward players. It's the silver lining to a lottery pick for a good developmental team. It remains to be seen if Calgary is a good developmental squad, but hopefully they are taking the long term approach to these players.

[TheIronMaiden]

Is it outside of the realm of possibility that Bennett's "demotion" is due to all the offensive zone minor penalties he is taking?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Again, I say: why?

Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik has been the team's best line on the season.

At this point, the season is done with. With that said, now is the time a coach can instil solid habits and reward good play with icetime.

The team doesn't see it that way so I'm basing my decision on the team wanting to move Bennett to the wing and jump starting him offensively. This would be the best choice if they're going that route, in my opinion.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if you're going to move bennet to the wing, why not load up the top line and try to get our frigin struggling core forwards (gaudreau/monahan/bennet) going....

ugh...

Well Bennett isn't a right shot and neither is Gaudreau. We have seen no indication that Bennett would be comfortable playing his off wing. Brouwer makes a ton more sense on the top line IMO. He's a right shot and a good complimentary powerforward.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Alpine Fisher

THey wont put Chiasson in Stockton because that will be another Burn on Tre's record.
Already had Grossman demoted. Vey is another suspect signing.

But I agree, if it were me, Chiasson would be eating popcorn in the pressbox or riding the bus (in the seat near the toilet) in Stockton

Yes, because if it is one thing that has been proven, it is that Treliving will not admit to a mistake or try to fix it. BTW, I think Raymond will get 20 goals this season playing alongside Gaudreau and Mon... oh wait...

Ahhh.. you fooled me! I thought you were serious!! You got me good there young lad. Only the most simplistic troll would put that post up in all seriousness.

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Again, I say: why?

Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik has been the team's best line on the season.

At this point, the season is done with. With that said, now is the time a coach can instil solid habits and reward good play with icetime.

Without the pressure to win-win-win a coach can properly motivate, punish and reward players. It's the silver lining to a lottery pick for a good developmental team. It remains to be seen if Calgary is a good developmental squad, but hopefully they are taking the long term approach to these players.

I look at that Backlund-Frolik line as the 'fix it' line. Someone has trouble with their game? Backlund and Frolik will have that player going again in no time. Put someone next to Backlund, and you get a career year it seems. Frolik was known as the 'fix it' line guy too in Winnipeg.

From that standpoint, I think we will see every single forward and every single defencemen taking a turn playing LW on that line. I am almost serious there

[You Need a Thneed]

Flames fluke out a win tonight 2-1.

Start of a 13-1-1 stretch of hockey

[killer_carlson]

Minnesota 3 Good guys 1.

Empty net goal.

Lots of talk about how close we were and are going to catch a break, rinse and repeat.

Still a few more losses before hitting rock bottom, which itself will be a stretch of 3-4 games of melancholy.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well Bennett isn't a right shot and neither is Gaudreau. We have seen no indication that Bennett would be comfortable playing his off wing. Brouwer makes a ton more sense on the top line IMO. He's a right shot and a good complimentary powerforward.

fair enough. Thought he played on the right side a bit in the past wtih the flames.

[Coach]

Is a Flames game a valid reason for getting black out drunk on a Tuesday? Do I care?

[ComixZone]

Panicking to win some games is yet again coming at the cost of player development.

Remember when Monahan was a rookie and he played extremely sheltered minutes to learn the game as a Centre? The priority was on teaching Monahan.

Last year, Hartley had Bennett on the wing because the team needed to win, and the focus on the standings didn't allow the team to take the bumps that naturally occur when such a young player is developing at centre.

This year, rather than sheltering Bennett - Gulutzan fed him to the wolves. Now that he's struggled against the likes of Getzlaf, Toews, Thornton, Pavelski, Kopitar, Seguin etc., Gulutzan is taking a shortcut, shuffling Bennett off to the wing and hoping it results in a few quick wins right now.

That playoff series win against Vancouver seems to have cut short this team's "teaching" phase of the rebuild. Now, it's a win now mentality, and teaching is no longer the most important thing. This will hurt the team, and the young developing players on the team. There are no shortcuts. I really wish the team trusted the process on the ice, rather than just paying it lip service.