Flames midseason grades feedback

[Steve Macfarlane]

Hi all.

Grading is super subjective. Do you take contract into account? Expectations? Performance within role assigned? Overall stats?

With that in mind, put together some grades (two parts) for the first 'half' of the season.

Which ones seem out of whack? Anyone get off easy? Too harsh? Who is your first-half MVP? Would everyone say Gaudreau?

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...ies-nhl-trade/

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...ark-nhl-trade/

I looked for a midseason discussion post but didn't see anything.

[Big Erned Nevergivn]

Pretty bang on! The ones I disagreed with slightly, once I read your rationale, they made good sense.

[Steve Macfarlane]

Originally Posted by Big Erned Nevergivn

Pretty bang on! The ones I disagreed with slightly, once I read your rationale, they made good sense.

Be curious to know what ones initially drew reaction?

Bet they are the same ones I went back and forth on before settling.

[dino7c]

I would bump Z up to a C+

Otherwise looks pretty solid

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I would bump Z up to a C+

Otherwise looks pretty solid

Agreed. Zadorov is pricey for a third-pairing defenceman, but it isn't his salary that's playing the game. If Lucic can get a B– in spite of being overpaid, Zadorov should probably bump up a notch or two. After an appalling start, he has quietly improved and is now quite serviceable. I expect his size and mean streak to become more valuable as the games ramp up.

[FlamesAddiction]

I pretty much agree with the defense rankings.

Based on expectations, I think Gudbranson has nailed his role and fits right in, so maybe I would rank him a little higher based on that. Like you said, it's all subjective though.

[kyuss275]

Far to kind for Monahan. He makes over $6 million and is nowhere near a top 6!player . I also feel Mangiapane would easily fit in for Mony on the 1st pp unit. For me Mony gets an F

[Lanny'sDaMan]

I think Dube is the most disappointing player for me. I would maybe even go so far as to rate him a D, but then he's under people who are worse than him.. SO I guess in the end C- will have to do.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Agreed. Zadorov is pricey for a third-pairing defenceman, but it isn't his salary that's playing the game. .

No, but there was an acquisition cost (3rd round draft pick), an opportunity cost (cap space that could be better-directed) and based on his play this year, which has been bottom-pair level, it's likely that the acquisition cost won't be recouped when we let him go in order to make cap space next year.

[1qqaaz]

Ritchie and Zadorov should not have the same grade.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Missed the mark on Vladar. Sample size that small, numbers are skewed by the 2 games on the post Covid road trip of doom, on which Markstrom fared no better

Brett Ritchie is high. But relative to expectations, I guess he could get an A. He’s not expected to be good because he is not good.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

No, but there was an acquisition cost (3rd round draft pick), an opportunity cost (cap space that could be better-directed) and based on his play this year, which has been bottom-pair level, it's likely that the acquisition cost won't be recouped when we let him go in order to make cap space next year.

None of which is on him as a player, except his bottom-pair level of play, which is exactly what you expect from a bottom-pair defenceman.

As for acquisition cost: If you sign a role-player to a one-year deal that takes him straight to UFA, you don't expect to get any of that acquisition cost back. If you end up trading him before that one year is up, it's usually a sign that something has gone very wrong. It's pretty clear that the Flames' management views Zadorov as a stopgap and the 3rd as a sunk cost.