[PGT] Flames lose 3-2 to San Jose

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

We have a player on pace for 100+ points, another on pace for 40+ goals, one of the most dominant possession lines in the league, and the largest defence budget in the league.

There's no question this team should be better than this.

Really? Oh no...

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Really? Oh no...

It raises an intriguing question, is having a deep or expensive D a model for success in the modern NHL? Without looking into it closely it doesn't appear to be. Nashville is the one example. Otherwise how many contenders or teams that have gone deep have been loaded on D in recent memory?

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

It raises an intriguing question, is having a deep or expensive D a model for success in the modern NHL? Without looking into it closely it doesn't appear to be. Nashville is the one example. Otherwise how many contenders or teams that have gone deep have been loaded on D in recent memory?

Anaheim seems to go deep with their blue line. No cup finals but a couple western finals in recent years.

The LA Kings had a great blue line when they won their cups.

I think it can be done. I think what's holding the Flames back is their power play. It's horrible. They have too much talent for it to be this bad.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

But how is putting Troy Brouwer in the 1st unit PP a strategy to get the most out of your team? How about overlaying the 4th line. I don't think this is an elite team, but I do believe it's better than it shows under Gulutzan.

I don't get why people keep saying he's such a brilliant hockey mind. To date he has done nothing at the NHL level other than being mediocre. And to me "brilliant" means you shine at the highest levels.

And this is where I depart on Gulutzan.

I like the way the team plays, and the fact they are out playing the opponent for the most part. What they are building seems sustainable to me.

I don't like the deployment from time to time.

I get that the team has an earn it view so it took a few weeks to determine Jankowski has to be in, Kulak over Bartkowski, eventually Rittich over Lack.

But I don't get Brouwer on the powerplay. I don't get players playing their normal sides on the powerplay. I don't get the fourth line starting games, coming on after a goal, or seeing the ice at all in the last two minutes of a close game.

He could be giving more minutes to the top half of the roster and I think that would make a big impact.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

It raises an intriguing question, is having a deep or expensive D a model for success in the modern NHL? Without looking into it closely it doesn't appear to be. Nashville is the one example. Otherwise how many contenders or teams that have gone deep have been loaded on D in recent memory?

Strong blue lines are vital to success with last year's injured Penguins an exception to the rule that goaltender their way to the finish line. Otherwise:

2017 Preds (Ekholm-Subban / Josi-Ellis / Irwin-Weber)
2016 Sharks (Vlasic-Braun / Martin-Burns)
2016 Penguins (Dumoulin-Letang / Cole-Schultz / Maatta-Daley)
2013/15 Blackhawks (Keith-Seabrook / Oduya-Hjalmarsson)
2015 Lightning (Hedman-Stralman / Coburn-Garrison)
2014 Kings (Mitchell-Doughty / Muzzin-Voynov / Martinez-Regehr)

etc. All of these were top 5-ish defense cores.

Our blue line's problem is that we don't use them as an advantage.