[Game Takes] Flames 6 Oilers 4

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Pelletier hasn't played a minute of professional hockey, you have no idea where he slots.

What are you using to deem the best? He went with a set of nine for sure, but given the way that Sam Bennett and to a lesser degree Dillon Dube has played this season I wouldn't say the nine best.

When it comes to play driving Leivo is 4th by xGF% and 1st in CF% ... puck just isn't going in when he's on the ice.

Simon is 9th in play driving ...

Bennett is 13th, Dube 12th.

You need Ryan to center the fourth line when he's healthy given the top three centers.

So last night I wouldn't say he dressed the best roster, or put the best players in the top nine.

I’m usually agreeable with a lot of your posts but I’m not going to be convinced Leivo and Simon are not, at most, our 11th and 12th best forwards.

The players that played in our top 9 last night and Ryan are our top 10.

However, I do agree it’s way too early to proclaim anything about Pelletier.

[Sylvanfan]

I don't know enough about analytics, and again the Flames are still a smaller sample size. Driving play is nice and should predict successful results, but you still need skill to finish. That and Special Teams are still pretty impactful as scoring at Even Strength in today's game is very difficult.

Dube appears to be a guy with a bit of finishing skills that the likes of Simon and Leivo don't have. Plus Power plays are still a big part of the game, so guys who can score on the PP enough are still needed. So even if he was your 11th best play driver he may still be a guy you play because you need to score to win games, and he seems to be able to do that a bit.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I’m usually agreeable with a lot of your posts but I’m not going to be convinced Leivo and Simon are not, at most, our 11th and 12th best forwards.

The players that played in our top 9 last night and Ryan are our top 10.

However, I do agree it’s way too early to proclaim anything about Pelletier.

I'm honestly not saying Dube is garbage and the 12th forward. He's young ... so you live with the warts and hope he develops his two way game to the point where he's good in all measures.

Sam Bennett generally has decent numbers but no finish. This year so far he's had terrible numbers and no finish ... he's tumbled.

Leivo I think is a goal away from breaking the new team curse and contributing. He's in the meat of the game, and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Generally think he contributes to lines he's added to.

Simon ... not a huge fan yet. Thought he'd be grittier, and so far he's disappointed. I was prepared for a guy with no finish but was hard to play against. Haven't see that yet.

The forward group to me is the obvious four ... with Mangiapane joining the group with his recent play. That's five.

Backlund and Leivo are in there for me because they are good compliments five on five.

Dube you include because he's growing and has a great upside.

So that's 8 ... Lucic with his play in the last few games has certainly moved up to the point where yeah I'd say he's a third line and not a fourth line guy right now.

Bennett has to gain traction to challenge the Lucic and Leivos of the team going forward. He's had good stretches before so it's in him. Think he has to accept he's a third line guy and be tougher to play against and it would unlock his career.

Anyway I'm rambling ...

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm honestly not saying Dube is garbage and the 12th forward. He's young ... so you live with the warts and hope he develops his two way game to the point where he's good in all measures.

Sam Bennett generally has decent numbers but no finish. This year so far he's had terrible numbers and no finish ... he's tumbled.

Leivo I think is a goal away from breaking the new team curse and contributing. He's in the meat of the game, and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Generally think he contributes to lines he's added to.

Simon ... not a huge fan yet. Thought he'd be grittier, and so far he's disappointed. I was prepared for a guy with no finish but was hard to play against. Haven't see that yet.

The forward group to me is the obvious four ... with Mangiapane joining the group with his recent play. That's five.

Backlund and Leivo are in there for me because they are good compliments five on five.

Dube you include because he's growing and has a great upside.

So that's 8 ... Lucic with his play in the last few games has certainly moved up to the point where yeah I'd say he's a third line and not a fourth line guy right now.

Bennett has to gain traction to challenge the Lucic and Leivos of the team going forward. He's had good stretches before so it's in him. Think he has to accept he's a third line guy and be tougher to play against and it would unlock his career.

Anyway I'm rambling ...

I have definitely been impressed with Leivo lately but much like Bennett in the past we need tangible results before I’d call it a win for our top 9.

He should be dressed no doubt and can work his way up because you are right he looks like he will pot one here soon. He’s been driving to the net with confidence.