[PGT] Jan 21: PIT 4 CGY 1

[Enoch Root]

Is the hockey boring and hard to watch? Often, yes. But that is what a rebuild looks like. And it will continue to be bad hockey for a while yet. The good news though, is that it is at least fun to watch the kids, while the bad hockey persists. But the kids take a while to arrive.

The good news is that they are about to start arriving. I think we can assume all of the following players to be on the team next year (25 and under):

Wolf, Zary, Coronato, Kuznetsov, Brzustewicz, Honzek, and Gridin

Parekh and our 1st this summer are wildcards - they may or may not be on the team to start the year, but both will be on the team, sooner rather than later.

That's 9 young players (not counting Bahl and Klapka who are 26 next year).

So come next year, we are arriving at the point where the on ice product will start to look like a rebuilding team. And I think everyone will welcome that.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Devin Cooley is probably the last remaining threat to the bottom out down the stretch.

1st in NHL SV%
3rd in NHL GAA

Thankfully we're keeping the starts down for the gnarly cali bruh.

He be doesn’t deserve the starts. Stats don’t lie.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by FBI

Nah Weegar definitely the main tank commander now.

Add Huby to the list.

[Goriders]

Hoping they can keep Gridin in the lineup over Huberdeau. I think he is our best offensive prospect. Huberdeau is hitting rock bottom again.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FBI

Nah Weegar definitely the main tank commander now.

I wouldnt say that.

Weegar is having a rough go, no questions about that, but once again, I feel that its because he's trying to do too much of the heavy lifting. He's out there working, blocking shots, etc. He's givin' 'er but its too much and it leaves him exposed.

He's showing heart.

Huberdeau? That guy is checked out. He clocked out months ago and is basically just going through the motions and playing out the string. Did anyone even notice him on the ice last night?

[SutterBrother]

Will this be the lowest scoring Flames team of all time?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Is the hockey boring and hard to watch? Often, yes. But that is what a rebuild looks like. And it will continue to be bad hockey for a while yet. The good news though, is that it is at least fun to watch the kids, while the bad hockey persists. But the kids take a while to arrive.

The good news is that they are about to start arriving. I think we can assume all of the following players to be on the team next year (25 and under):

Wolf, Zary, Coronato, Kuznetsov, Brzustewicz, Honzek, and Gridin

Parekh and our 1st this summer are wildcards - they may or may not be on the team to start the year, but both will be on the team, sooner rather than later.

That's 9 young players (not counting Bahl and Klapka who are 26 next year).

So come next year, we are arriving at the point where the on ice product will start to look like a rebuilding team. And I think everyone will welcome that.

All those guys are already on the team currently except for the one who's injured.

[UKflames]

A lot of flames fans on socials really struggling with the concept that you have to be a bad team to tank for that top pick.

I thought the team played well, just don't have the skill.

[blankall]

My view of watching Flames games for the rest of the season:

1. I want them to lose. The more the Flames lose, the better reward we will have at the end of the season Losing now = winning long term. And the top 3 picks are great. Like the best potential draft picks the organization has ever had great. Yes, I know that the Flames drafted Nieuwendyk and others like him, but he was taken in the second round and developed into a great player. He wasn't a blue chip prospect from the get go.

On top of this, one of those franchise changing prospects grew up a Flames fan, and could fall to as low as #3 right now. When have the Flames had an opportunity to grab a prospect like that...the answer is never. This is unique opportunity for the Flames. They need to lose as many games as possible for the last half of this season.

2. Yes, it's not the best hockey to watch right now. I tune into the free games on tv. I don't watch them as intently as I would, if they were winning. At points, they are just in the background. But I'll pay more attention when I see a young player like Zary or Coronato drive towards the net, there's a PP, a new prospect like Gridin gets a chance, Wolf makes a big save, etc... there's still lots of entertainment here.

Anyways, after so many years of competing, but without enough skill, I don't see why people are complaining about losing now, when the Flames have every incentive to lose. If the Flames do draft either McKenna or Stenberg, a combo of either of them with Parekh will be more skill than the Flames have had in a long time (although I guess you could debate that Johnny plus Tkachuk had lots of skill).

The Flames need to finish bottom 2. I'm all for all the "bad" hockey for the remainder of they year to get there. Great game last night. Hope the next 40 look just like it.

[Johnny Makarov]

thoughts and prayers for whoever paid to watch this last night!

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Devin Cooley is probably the last remaining threat to the bottom out down the stretch.

1st in NHL SV%
3rd in NHL GAA

Thankfully we're keeping the starts down for the gnarly cali bruh.

If they ride him harder then it will be interesting to see if he can hold his stat lines. Wolf is having a sophomore slump but it's well timed for where the team is

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

All those guys are already on the team currently except for the one who's injured.

And yet people whine continuously.

But the point was that they will all be full times, with increasing ice time, and bigger roles. Plus the additions of Parekh and maybe our 1st. Next year will start to feel much more like the future is taking over the team.

[redmile04]

Pretty crazy how little of a deal sitting a 10.5 million player was.. hardly any chatter.. i know just one but awful how he would have made no difference if he played. 4-1 Loss would have been... a 4-1 Loss.

Not really a big deal cap wise but how do we get him going for the remaining years of his contract?!

[dino7c]

Huberdeau is injured...there isn't much chatter because the coach said he was banged up and day to day with an injury

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Whitecloud is a solid 4/5 guy. He fills some of the Andersson gap for sure.

But none of the offensive gap.

The Flames were a challenged team offensively before, but now they've lost their best dman for PP, transition and shots from the point.

Don't think they score enough to stay anywhere near .500 the rest of the way.

Defensively the top 6 teams in each conference have averaged 147 goals against, the Flames are 149 so they're competitive defensively.

Offensively they're scoring 167. The Flames are at 128. It's obvious where the improvements need to be.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Defensively the top 6 teams in each conference have averaged 147 goals against, the Flames are 149 so they're competitive defensively.

Offensively they're scoring 167. The Flames are at 128. It's obvious where the improvements need to be.

Flames were 28th in the league in all situations scoring per game at 2.56 when Andersson was on the team.

Will be interesting to see where they goes a) with no other moves and b) if they move other players.

Guessing it drops.

St. Louis is the worst at 2.40.

Guessing Calgary challenges that. In 2 games they're 31st at 0.99 / game

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Huberdeau is injured...there isn't much chatter because the coach said he was banged up and day to day with an injury

Or perhaps sitting but protecting the player?

Not sure why they would have been playing him if he was injured at all. It's not like he was contributing at all.

[D as in David]

At the beginning of the season, I did not have Cooley as the Flames' goalie to most likely get you a win on my bingo card.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Pretty crazy how little of a deal sitting a 10.5 million player was.. hardly any chatter.. i know just one but awful how he would have made no difference if he played. 4-1 Loss would have been... a 4-1 Loss.

Not really a big deal cap wise but how do we get him going for the remaining years of his contract?!

We spike his Poutine with heroin and lace his Montreal smoked meat sandwiches with Cocaine?

Otherwise we start up a new sidekick for Harvey the Hound with a Bonhomme de Neige and see if he's any better at that than he is at hockey.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Or perhaps sitting but protecting the player?

Not sure why they would have been playing him if he was injured at all. It's not like he was contributing at all.

He missed practice too...injured players play all the time