April 8 Practice - Ortio close? Bollig in for Bouma?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by icarus

Sounds like 2004...

Then we need to play all division/conference leaders

[Daryei]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Nor did we in 04, but it still happened. If anything, I think this D group as it sits now is retrospectively better than that group IMO.

Reghre - Leopold: Decent #1 pair and different, but were they any better than Russell / Wideman right now?

Ference - Warrner - I actually think Engelland and Brodie are better

Commodore - Montador - Tough one, I think Shlomo - Diaz was for sure better, Potter - Shlomo maybe not I guess.

The '04 D was lightning in a bottle. Had Gauthier been healthy we would have played him, and no way will I believe that we'd have gone as far with Gauthier on D.

[Parallex]

I would be pretty ok with Bennett playing. LA is going in on their 3rd game in 4 nights... their legs are going to be tired the Calgary Flames cannot "out-big" the Kings but they can "out-fast" the Kings and Bennett is the fastest player they have available to put into the line-up.

They're going to want to slow the game down as much as possible. Playing Bollig strikes me as playing to their strengths as opposed to the Flames strengths.

[Aarongavey]

I would sit Bollig and play Shore if they think they need a big body, not sure what Bollig brings to the lineup

[MissTeeks]

Derek Wills‏@Fan960Wills14m14 minutes ago

A full practice for #LAKings at Scotiabank Saddledome. It's a quiet group...all I hear are skates, sticks and pucks.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I won't respond with that, but how about this. Many on here think it's a no brainer to put Bennett in, no risk move, Bollig sucks, etc..... Rather than debate that, what about the following:

- Can we at least agree that Hartley and his staff, based on what we've seen this year and even the end of last year in regards to team accomplishments and even individual performances and development from both our young and veteran players, seem to know what they are doing and have a good sense for players and the game?

- Same point above for the management of this team.

- Also fair to say, that people can make mistakes, that includes Hartley and the management.

So if they don't play Bennett, is that what we are saying, that this is one of the situations where Hartley and co are just completely missing the boat? Not impossible by any means, but is it likely. If he goes in that direction, he clearly feels he's got better options than Bennett right now to help us win the next game, we can't possibly believe that's not his goal right?

So what do we think is more likely, that people just really want to see Bennett play and it's clouding their views, or that Hartley is just really making a boo boo?

It's not a right or wrong debate, it's choices. I don't think anyone is saying that Hartley is wrong, they are stating why they think this player or that player is their preferred choice.

There are no right or wrong answers, all we can do is watch the game, and then debate with perfect hindsight!

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I would be pretty ok with Bennett playing. LA is going in on their 3rd game in 4 nights... their legs are going to be tired the Calgary Flames cannot "out-big" the Kings but they can "out-fast" the Kings and Bennett is the fastest player they have available to put into the line-up.

They're going to want to slow the game down as much as possible. Playing Bollig strikes me as playing to their strengths as opposed to the Flames strengths.

I agree 100% with this line of thinking. Whether it's Bennett, or Byron (if he's ready), or Shore....we need to beat them with speed and get the crowd charged up, not play to their style.

[Red Menace]

yep...key to Flames success has been speed, not size despite what Burke has been preaching.

[HOWITZER]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

That was after injuries to Lydman and Gauthier. If you lose two guys off the Flames now you're down to Wotherspoon and whoever.. Cundari maybe.

And you could make a good case that this year it is after sustaining injuries to Giordano, Diaz and Smid. It'll at least be interesting to see what happens.

[Vinny01]

I would like to see Bennett for his speed and skill but having said that the Kings are going to be coming hard and trying to intimidate the smaller Flames tomorrow doughty already quoted they are going to play a big, hard road game tomorrow and Bollig could be utilized by Hartley for sure.

We win tomorrow Sam plays Saturday for sure

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by heep223

I agree 100% with this line of thinking. Whether it's Bennett, or Byron (if he's ready), or Shore....we need to beat them with speed and get the crowd charged up, not play to their style.

Completely agree.

Putting in Bollig is playing to the Kings' strength. We can't beat them at their game.

When we've had success against them, it's been with speed. I would rather see a lineup that was really focused on having as much speed as possible tomorrow - especially considering the fact that the Kings appear to be running out of gas.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

yep...key to Flames success has been speed, not size despite what Burke has been preaching.

Burke has been saying the key to the Flames success has been size? Haven't heard that myself.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Nor did we in 04, but it still happened. If anything, I think this D group as it sits now is retrospectively better than that group IMO.

Reghre - Leopold: Decent #1 pair and different, but were they any better than Russell / Wideman right now?

Ference - Warrner - I actually think Engelland and Brodie are better

Commodore - Montador - Tough one, I think Shlomo - Diaz was for sure better, Potter - Shlomo maybe not I guess.

That's not really fair at all. the '04 d groups has played 5,852 games and counting in the NHL, the average length of their careers was 732 games.

With the top 8 there was plenty of top notch depth. once you got to number 9 it was pretty suspect, they were just lucky never to have more than 2 guys injured for longer than 2 games.

I would be willing to bet if you go back in 10-15 years and look at our current group they will have averaged about 650 career.

It's not the only measure of success but all 8 of the Dmen on the '04 Flames were good NHL players. Also the Game is different, the League is different and more importantly the Team is different.

[Dr. Doom]

Edmonton won last night with speed, puck pressure, and cycling.
Even the LA announcers said puck possession was huge and the cycling was helping big time with that.

Hate to say it but we need to play a puck possession (advanced stats) game tomorrow night whatever it takes to get there.

[Table 5]

Agree about the speed vs. size assessment. People like to bring up the Kings and Ducks in terms of teams to try to emulate a rebuild around, but with our lineup and prospects, I think we are much more successful if we try to emulate the Hawks model, where it's more about speed and skill.

At the end of the day, to match up to the size/toughness of teams like LA, it's our best players that have to be big, not our 3rd/4th liners. But we don't have that, and bringing in Bollig to play 6-7 minutes won't change that. So let's beat them with what we DO have. David beat Goliath with speed and wits. Goliath can't beat the crap out of you if he can't catch you.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Not sure about the goalies, but Crosby sustained a high ankle sprain before so I don't think it's true that it ruins careers.

I'm not a hockey player, but have suffered a high ankle sprain and am currently awaiting my 2nd surgery on it. Tendon has taken chunks of bone with it.

It has limited what I can do in the Navy, is no longer a member of my ships boarding party due to the instability in my ankle that, for at least a portion, is permanent.

So in short, yes. It can end career. Even a NHL career.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by heep223
I agree 100% with this line of thinking. Whether it's Bennett, or Byron (if he's ready), or Shore....we need to beat them with speed and get the crowd charged up, not play to their style.

Another way of looking at it is that we need the space to play a speed game. Bolig helps to give us that space. A well rounded team doesn't rely on just one aspect. It needs speed, skill size, and meanness. In trying to replace Bouma and what he brings, Bollig is the best replacement.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

Edmonton won last night with speed, puck pressure, and cycling.
Even the LA announcers said puck possession was huge and the cycling was helping big time with that.

Hate to say it but we need to play a puck possession (advanced stats) game tomorrow night whatever it takes to get there.

Like we did the first three times we beat them?

[Rollin22x]

Without some added size, I worry we could get pushed around a lot. I'm ok with Bollig. He can provide some muscle in the scrums that I think will happen often tomorrow.

[dino7c]

Bollig had a massive hit in that 3-0 comeback against LA that sparked the Flames and got them a PP that started the ball rolling

no way they throw Bennett into this one, way too much pressure

Bollig is also a vet who has been there before, he was good enough to play 82 games for the hawks last season and they did alright