Hunt and Morton up; Kerins Down

[fotze2]

Mike

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah it's kind of weird or maybe Flames fans simply don't understand or come to grips that the team's current standing is more a reflection of the talent level on the roster than it is the coaching. I'm not saying that Huska is a really good coach and pressing all the right buttons but I've seen enough bad NHL coaches that he's nowhere near a bad coach. To me he looks like an average NHL head coach at the end of the day and given the current trajectory of the team it's pretty ideal as he's not letting them play pond hockey and trying to keep the team on the same page, playing a team game. I personally don't think he's holding anyone back and poor play is more a reflection of talent which simply isn't good enough. Also I'm not sure if a lot of the Flames current young prospects are good enough as I think we (myself included) have overrated some of these young players. I think Parekh will become an NHL player (could end up a PP specialist) and Coronato will have a career but I'm not seeing a lot on the Wranglers to get excited about outside of Gridin. This organization badly needs that top 3 pick. Badly!

Coronato continues to look like a good top-six RW in my eyes.

Zary? I was hoping he'd be more, and he's shown more than he's currently showing - but realistically what is he? He's a middle-six winger/centre. I think some stability at centre would probably do him well, but it's still a middle-six guy. For a dude taken in the 20's of the draft, that's not a bad outcome either.

Gridin, Parekh, Potter, and Reschny are all strong picks in my eyes - but none of them are a slam dunk either. Parekh in particular has probably the most difficult skillset to translate from Jr. to the NHL level (Offensive Defenceman).

The most important piece in this organization is their 2026 1st round pick, and then after that Dustin Wolf, followed closely by their 2027 1st round pick in my eyes.

We just shouldn't fool ourselves. We're the worst team in the league, and I believe we were a bottom-5 team in the league last year propped up by a once-in-a-generation goaltending performance.

There should be no panic in the fanbase, and no panic in the front-office. We, and they, just have to acknowledge we're at the very beginning of a team building process. Embrace it, and hopefully along the way we see glimmers of the future to come.

Being upset over Huska's decisions right now just doesn't make all that much sense. Those who do not like his results so far, who would you rather have in the chair? What else would you like to see? Who, of notable higher pedigree, would actually be here doing this?

Coach Q just joined Anaheim and it's a slam dunk - but that's because the Ducks did the heavy lifting before he arrived. Huska, in all likelihood, won't be the guy here when we actually have a foundation worth building on. The earliest I see that foundation being there? Summer 2027, and that's ridiculously optimistic on my side I think.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

There are also a handful of posters here that jump at the chance to frame everything as his fault and categorize anyone who wades in to disagree or just to temper the criticism a bit as “cheerleaders” or some other hyperbole in an attempt to discount those positions.

There’s plenty to criticize him for, but not everything. And given that Conroy is the one who ultimately decides who sits on the Flames roster and who sits on the Wranglers, I’m not sure why Huska is singled out and Conroy skates. Do we think he has no agency and just does whatever the coach, who played Kerins in every game he was up, says?

Conroy does not decide who is in the Flames lineup, that is Huska. Huska also gets a say on who he wants called up.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think it wise not to interpret pushing back against hyperbolic criticism as being a fan.

Except you are one of those who defends the coach no matter what. Show me where you have ever criticized Huska Bingo? You come running to his defence every time. It's ok for people to post how none of this is his fault, it's a lack of talent but as soon as there is pushback there you are. Show me one time Enoch Root has ever criticized Ryan Huska. Yet as soon as someone does he is one of the first to come to his defence. So exactly how is that hyperbole? It isn't, it's just facts. You said this site was about encouraging differing opinions and yet you are trying to do the exact opposite by coming down on anyone who criticizes the coach.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Conroy does not decide who is in the Flames lineup, that is Huska. Huska also gets a say on who he wants called up.

Kerins played in every game while he was on the roster, no?

Hunt has played in zero this year while on the roster?

[Reggie Dunlop]

The best part is that Hunt is on a two year contract.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

At least Kuznetsov "made it". A small victory.

But that's strictly because his style of game makes him a stabilizing, low risk presence. So he shimmied successfully under the coach's limbo bar.

Graduating any players who project to top six roles will be a painstaking process because Huska is risk adverse and needs every one to conform to a style of play. But every successful team relies on a few players who aren't polished on the defensive side, but help the team becasue of their offensive instincts and talent.

So players like Kerins and Gridin will be in tough to graduate full time under the current philosophy unless they convert into a type of player that ceases to let them be what they naturally are.

I just hope Huska acknowledges that not every player on your roster is going to nor supposed to be a well rounded, cerebral 2-way player that stays between the lines. You're supposed to have a few hand grenades at your disposal, and be willing to use them.

Honzek is playing a key role.
Coronato broke through last year.
Gridin made the team and was given a top six role to start.

Why must we ignore things that don't fit?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Except you are one of those who defends the coach no matter what. Show me where you have ever criticized Huska Bingo? You come running to his defence every time. It's ok for people to post how none of this is his fault, it's a lack of talent but as soon as there is pushback there you are. Show me one time Enoch Root has ever criticized Ryan Huska. Yet as soon as someone does he is one of the first to come to his defence. So exactly how is that hyperbole? It isn't, it's just facts. You said this site was about encouraging differing opinions and yet you are trying to do the exact opposite by coming down on anyone who criticizes the coach.

Why don't you go look?

I've said a 1000 times that I don't necessarily think he's the best coach in the world but that the roster just isn't that good.

Said today that many may be right that he won't be a good coach when / if the team has said offensive weapons.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honzek is playing a key role.
Coronato broke through last year.
Gridin made the team and was given a top six role to start.

Why must we ignore things that don't fit?

I’d include Zary who was being given big opportunities before his injuries that really seem to have set him back.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I feel like Blake Coleman is a very North-South high volume high effort player.

And yes they aren't all crash and bang rebound goals, and that was over simplifying it for sure.

But I'd say pretty much every one of those goals (the only one that wasn't was the SH goal) came more from high effort, North South type of plays, where you're more trying to get pucks on net or generating off of the forecheck.

Which I don't really think changes my point which is that Huska's system is more tailored to those players that play more of a North-South game.

Outside of the SH goal I don't think they were scoring many goals in those highlights off pretty passing plays. It's a lot of North South hockey, getting traffic to the net, generating off turnovers.

Crash and Bang was admittedly a bad descriptor for what I was trying to say but I do think that guys like Kadri, Farabee, and Coleman are much better at playing to the system that Huska wants (volume of shots, generate off the forecheck, jump on turnovers) than guys like Sharangovich, Zary, etc are at playing withing that structure.

This is exactly my point, however. Once again, I am totally not trying to single you out in any way.


When I log-in on this site, and go to post in a PGT after a game (and especially after a loss), I often feel like I have watched a completely different game than the posts I see. I saw a team that tried to make high-end plays - lots of back-door attempts, lots of east-west plays. I see them being broken up a lot, or mishandled, and often miss-shot (missing the net, or going right at the goalie).


If I didn't see these plays being attempted regularly, then I would either 100% agree with you, or if I was some Huska apologist, I would argue that the team has to play a certain way in order for success. However, what I am seeing is a lot of attempts, with very little success. Often the receiving player has to make a different play since the other team has already adjusted before the shot can come off.


I am really seeing a lack of talent and/or execution, more than a system that is shying away from east-west skilled plays. That's my contention, and why I feel like I have just watched a different game.


I also think that some of the skilled players aren't producing not because of the system, but because of the effort/confidence. For instance:


Sharangovich: Effort is poor. Not at all to do with what Bieska said - I don't expect Sharangovich to take the body as he is simply not that player - but his effort level. How much is he skating? How hard is he skating? He is an elite-level shot, but he is not skating hard enough to get open, and he is not attacking the net either. He is doing nothing that helps him score, and it seems to me that he is either playing with an injury, or is simply not engaged.


Zary: I see the effort and the willingness, but he is always getting himself caught. I think he is holding onto pucks too long trying to make plays at times. I think he simply needs to move the puck faster. I don't think Huska is asking him to attack the net more - I don't see him doing that often. He is getting crunched along the boards or in open ice too much, and I think it is making him a little hesitant.


Kadri is Kadri - yes, he is fine crashing the net, and he is fine making skilled plays (or scoring off of them). I think he should have another 4-5 more goals, if the passes arrived in his wheelhouse. This is a great example actually - he is open, but the pass gets deflected, or it is too far out of his wheelhouse. By the time he shoots, the goalie - and often a defencemen - is already on him. Not his fault - he is pretty good shooter - but it is the east-west play that didn't connect properly.


What I am not seeing is many ugly goals. The Flames are not playing ugly hockey right now. Ugly hockey is crashing the net a lot, getting at rebounds, poking at pucks... there are a couple of players that are doing this, but not enough. For a team that isn't scoring, they are not doing this nearly enough. What I see is actually the opposite - they seem to constantly try a lot of east-west plays that aren't working and don't even register as high-danger chances, since they are often not generating those chances. I am pretty sure that many of those underlying metrics that are showing a HDCF and xGF are being counted when puck arrives, but takes too long to get off. The chance was there, and the goalie/defence had to react, but the puck came off too late, and thereby you are seeing a low shooting percentage.


That's my theory anyway. If you have any specific things to watch for when I am watching the game (or anyone else - feel free to chime in) I will be happy to. I am sure I have blindspots that I am unaware of, or perhaps I am simply a dummy. I just am not seeing what so many others are seeing, and it is causing me to question my own sanity at this point, that's all.


I simply see a team that tries a lot of skilled plays, but aren't able to pull them off. I am not seeing a north-south team that is committed to scoring ugly goals around the net, or being forced to make low-percentage shots. I see Sharangovich doing that a lot, and I see the defencemen taking low-percentage shots sometimes from the point with no traffic (one of my biggest Hanifin pet peeves), but I can't imagine that this is a game-plan.


People complain about a lack of scoring off the rush, but I think this is a team that tries to score off the rush more than off the cycle. That's what I am seeing anyway.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I wonder what they tell Kerins and Hunt when they're returned to the AHL now

Both have been top 10/15 players in the AHL for a year and a half..

What do you want them to do. 0-2 game look-sees aren't enough to stake their claim at the NHL level. There is an adjustment period and no stability with how they're plugged in (often at a position they arent accustomed to) and promptly taken out.

They have to score a hatty to stay another week?

[shutout]

Or maybe the point was that Kerins was never meant to stay up long term.
They watch in in the AHL and in practices and they have a plan to help him grow into the player he is capable of.
That means giving him chances to play NHL games to evaluate where he sees his game and then have the ability to go down and work on the things that need to be improved.
Huska had mostly positive things to say but there are still things that Kerins needs to work on and they feel its easier for him to work on those things so that they become habits and muscle memory down with the Wranglers than with the Flames.

At some point there has to be some faith that the organization is trying to help and develop players rather than trying to ruin and destroy them with their decisions.

[Badgers Nose]

Ryan Huska, ‘ChatGPT: I drank all the goat blood as instructed, but I still suck at coaching and now my tummy hurts!’

Ryan Huska, ‘ChatGPT: where can I sell 50 kg of goat meat?’

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I wonder what they tell Kerins and Hunt when they're returned to the AHL now

Both have been top 10/15 players in the AHL for a year and a half..

What do you want them to do. 0-2 game look-sees aren't enough to stake their claim at the NHL level. There is an adjustment period and no stability with how they're plugged in (often at a position they arent accustomed to) and promptly taken out.

They have to score a hatty to stay another week?

this is why they are called tweeners...both players have cleared waivers. None of the 32 teams think they are full time NHLers right now.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Except you are one of those who defends the coach no matter what. Show me where you have ever criticized Huska Bingo? You come running to his defence every time. It's ok for people to post how none of this is his fault, it's a lack of talent but as soon as there is pushback there you are. Show me one time Enoch Root has ever criticized Ryan Huska. Yet as soon as someone does he is one of the first to come to his defence. So exactly how is that hyperbole? It isn't, it's just facts. You said this site was about encouraging differing opinions and yet you are trying to do the exact opposite by coming down on anyone who criticizes the coach.

Please stop making things up and then calling them facts.

I have criticized Huska many times, and I have said many times that I think he is an okay, not great coach. I have said he is far from perfect, but I think he (like anyone) can grow in the role, and I hope he does.

Stop telling me and Bingo what we've said, and start taking a little more accountability for your own single-minded hyperbole.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I wonder what they tell Kerins and Hunt when they're returned to the AHL now

Both have been top 10/15 players in the AHL for a year and a half..

What do you want them to do. 0-2 game look-sees aren't enough to stake their claim at the NHL level. There is an adjustment period and no stability with how they're plugged in (often at a position they arent accustomed to) and promptly taken out.

They have to score a hatty to stay another week?

Yeah, they have to make an impact with the limited time they have. There's thousands more players than there is NHL spots. Thems the breaks. Hunt is 29 for crying out loud, you don't need to tell him anything at all

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Please stop making things up and then calling them facts.

I have criticized Huska many times, and I have said many times that I think he is an okay, not great coach. I have said he is far from perfect, but I think he (like anyone) can grow in the role, and I hope he does.

Stop telling me and Bingo what we've said, and start taking a little more accountability for your own single-minded hyperbole.

Show me where you have criticized Huska if this has happened many times.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Show me where you have criticized Huska if this has happened many times.

From earlier in this thread...

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This is the problem with blaming the coach, IMO. Once you do (once you open that door), then EVERYTHING becomes the coach's fault, and you see everything as a bad decision by the coach.

It is evident with every single poster that has joined the Huska Sucks Club - literally everything that happens is another reason to bitch about him.

I am no huge fan or anything, and I'm not going to argue that he should get the Jack Adams. But JC, do we have to rant about him every single day, about every single decision or event?

Wow, what a pile of apologetic hyperbole!

If you want more, go look yourself. I know what I've said, and don't need to waste time proving it to you.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honzek is playing a key role.
Coronato broke through last year.
Gridin made the team and was given a top six role to start.

Why must we ignore things that don't fit?

What is the point in talking about things as they are when you can complain about things that you made up?

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honzek is playing a key role.
Coronato broke through last year.
Gridin made the team and was given a top six role to start.

Why must we ignore things that don't fit?

You're not off base but I also don't think its controversial to suggest that this is an organization that is conservative about how they insert kids into the lineup.

Honzek - 1st rounder, sent down at the start of the year, now back and in the universal babysat role, looks like a low ceiling but long term NHLer.

Coronato - 1st rounder, sent down to start last year, brought back up and became impossible to send down.

Gridin - 1st rounder, totally in agreement with how he's being handled so all good there.

But time and time again this staff seems inclined to lean to older more conservative vets for smaller roles, spot duty or cameos over younger players. Kuznetsov spent 4 years in the minors before finally getting a look, Stromgren is 156 games into his AHL career and hasn't sniffed a rookie lap, Kerins is up and down, Morton isn't a baby but he wasn't able to beat out a largely ineffective Kirkland to start the year.

You can agree with preferring the low impact guys over the kids in call up situations but it does often come across as though young guys have far less of an opportunity to show they can play than the Rooney/Kirkland/Lomberg types.