[PGT] They got dougie right!! Flames 5 - NYI 2

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Agreed.

So what #s do you offer them in the offseason?

Stone - $3.5 - $4, but willing to go to $4.5. #4 D-man is a surprisingly hard position to fill, and very important, as your #4 D-man greatly affects how your #3 D-man performs.

If we have a solution that works this well, you take the steps to keep it in place next season, imo.

Bartkowski - $750 - $950k. Calgaryblood was probably pretty accurate that he's getting a bit of the #6/#7 trade bump in play, so I wouldn't overspend on him.

NM, just saw that Bartkowski is already signed.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Stone and Bartkowski have been absolute revelations for this team.

Between them and the emergence of Ferland as the player he was envisioned as, it has allowed everybody to slot in where they should and where they can have success.

Its really starting to show now.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

Just in from the game. Total domination at the start--they're playing an up-tempo game that is super enjoyable to watch!

Some thoughts:



-haven't been to a game in a month or so...when did they put in the "Lion King Cam"? That is SO funny!

That lion king bit was hilarious. Don't know if I'd trust my kid being held in the air by a guy in a big furry Costume....

But those were all pretty funny, especially the 10 year old dangling in the air at the end!

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

This has been a great hockey team for 50 games now, playing at a 107 point pace over that time.

Overall NHL Standings over the last 50GP:

#1 - Washington 35-9-6 = 76pts
#2 - Minnesota 35-10-5 = 75pts
#3 - Columbus 33-13-4 = 70pts
#4 - Pittsburgh 31-13-6 = 68pts
#5 - Chicago 32-15-3 = 67pts
#6 - San Jose 30-13-7 = 67pts
#7 - Calgary 31-16-3 = 65pts

Understanding that the Flames are still a young team, I can't help but wonder if we are watching the Flames starting to turn the corner from average to above average (contender status) hockey team. You could see it when that young Blackhawks team beat the Flames in the '09 playoffs and ditto for the '15 Wild.

...it's obviously premature to be stating it one way or the other at this point, but I wonder if we'll look back at this stretch and view it as such.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Stone - $3.5 - $4, but willing to go to $4.5. #4 D-man is a surprisingly hard position to fill, and very important, as your #4 D-man greatly affects how your #3 D-man performs.

If we have a solution that works this well, you take the steps to keep it in place next season, imo.

Bartkowski - $750 - $950k. Calgaryblood was probably pretty accurate that he's getting a bit of the #6/#7 trade bump in play, so I wouldn't overspend on him.

NM, just saw that Bartkowski is already signed.

I can't see Stone getting that much. He's coming off major knee surgery and has had a down year.

I think the market might pay him $4,000,000 on a one year "Show me" contract.

I think he'll opt for stability and longer term, lesser dollar contract. 3 years at $3,000,000 per?

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

That lion king bit was hilarious. Don't know if I'd trust my kid being held in the air by a guy in a big furry Costume....

But those were all pretty funny, especially the 10 year old dangling in the air at the end!

I just love how so many of those kids were infants, completely unaware of how their parents were using them for the sake of our collective entertainment. Likely to be one of those "stories parents tell kids when they're older".

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Agreed.

So what #s do you offer them in the offseason?

Jersey Number?

66.

[sureLoss]

If Stone can continue his great play, he will garner attention on the free market.

After Shattenkirk, Stone and Alzner would be the best names (at least in terms of not over 30 years old) on the market

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Between them and the emergence of Ferland as the player he was envisioned as, it has allowed everybody to slot in where they should and where they can have success.

Its really starting to show now.

They are all playing very well, but Johnson had three solid weeks and everyone wanted to extend him before he fell back to earth.

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how they do when we fall to earth a little. Easy to look good when everyone looks good.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If Stone can continue his great play, he will garner attention on the free market.

After Shattenkirk, Stone and Alzner would be the best names (at least in terms of not over 30 years old) on the market

Unless Stone gets blown away with a ridiculous offer from someone else, I suspect he will be a Calgary after July 1.

Alzner is an interesting option (the local ties help).

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Stone and Bartkowski have been absolute revelations for this team.

Yes, and if BT gets Stone re-signed (as expected) in the off season then our top 5 D are all back next season too, and with the exception of Gio, they are all south of 30.

Engelland will leave a good sized hole to fill though, believe it or not. Very solid #5 Dman and a right hand shot.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Unless Stone gets blown away with a ridiculous offer from someone else, I suspect he will be a Calgary after July 1.

Oh for sure, I am just saying that if he wants there will be good offers from other teams. He won't have to take a low offer from the Flames.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

oops other gif too much..


simpler celebratory one

Are you ever going to comment on the games?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If Stone can continue his great play, he will garner attention on the free market.

After Shattenkirk, Stone and Alzner would be the best names (at least in terms of not over 30 years old) on the market

Thankfully in Calgary he has a really comfortable situation with his wife being a Calgary girl. If the Flames have a good run, I'm sure there will be more than enough reason for him to stay. Also the Flames getting him out of a losing situation.

The Flames offer would be decent I am sure. Someone may offer a better deal, but the intangibles are in the Flames' favour. I have more than enough faith in BT to get it done if he wants to keep him here.

I still think it was a stroke of genius to make this particular move, given the upcoming expansion draft. Brad finding loopholes to continue building this team.

[TheScorpion]

The Flames are in a really good free agency spot right now since three of their top UFAs have Albertan roots.

Stone was the captain of the Hitmen and his wife is from here.
Versteeg is from Lethbridge (and already has two Cups so he won't be motivated to go chasing one).
Johnson grew up a Flames fan living in the city.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, I thought we were hooped for finding a solid #4 D until after the expansion draft, or else we'd just be wasting assets.

Well now at worst we lose a 3rd round pick and then have Stone sign elsewhere in the off season.

That is well worth having our D improve this dramatically for the remainder of this season, and by all accounts we have a really good chance at re-signing him to keep that top 4 intact for many seasons to come.

Pretty unreal some of the things BT does. Not all his moves work out, but plenty of them do and are of the franchise altering variety.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Super late to the party, was expecting a sluggish afternoon game, but that was awesome. My favorite thing lately is that I don't have a sense of impending doom with every shot against, Elliott has been so reliable the last 6 weeks or so, this is the guy we were expecting in the summer. Great job boys.

And if he does let one squeak in, he immediately rebounds by completely shutting the door after it.

No snowballing. And that goes for the whole team.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The Flames are in a really good free agency spot right now since three of their top UFAs have Albertan roots.

Stone was the captain of the Hitmen and his wife is from here.
Versteeg is from Lethbridge (and already has two Cups so he won't be motivated to go chasing one).
Johnson grew up a Flames fan living in the city.

Versteeg can chase a cup here

[AC]

Flames are in a really good spot right now. Crazy what the depth has become both up front and on D.

Goal totals per line:
Gaudreau (13) - Monahan (21) - Ferland (13) = 47
Tkachuk (12) - Backlund (20) - Frolik (14) = 46
Versteeg (12) - Bennett (11) - Brouwer (10) = 33
Bouma (3) - Stajan (5) - Chiasson (8) = 16

Adding in Dougie (10), Giordano (9), and Brodie (6) makes for a dangerous team to play against I figure.

Also funny to consider the defensive depth now compared to what we went to the 2nd round of the playoffs with 2 years ago:

Russell - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland
Schlemko - Diaz/Wotherspoon/Potter

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Versteeg can chase a cup here

They're trending that way.

Considering half the core is only beginning to tap into their potential and still so young, at the very worst they'll still be a perennial post-season team for a good stretch of years. I don't see too many more favourable destinations in the west for the next 5-10 years. Western Canada may be THE place to be.