[PGT] Flames 4 Sharks 2: Saved The Best For The Last!

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The roster rotations are going to allow us to be healthy for the start of May. Long season, right moves to make now to be ready later.

In past playoffs we were playing with broken players that we had to lean on because we didn't have the depth nor points cushion to afford to sit them. We're just exercising the luxury our GM afforded us this season.

Not too concerned with that. Sure, they didn't dominate their road trip, but in the end they swept California still with a number of guys snake bitten. A bit of adversity right now is way preferable to later. As long as we're ramping up in the back half of April.

Yup the Flames have pretty much won the division, and can't catch Colorado.

Flames have 11 games left, Oilers have 10.

Even if the Oilers go 7-3, then the Flames would need to go 4-7 for the Oilers just to tie them in points.

Time to start resting some bodies.

[bubbsy]

Pretty good game, especially the top line and vladar. I liked the 4th line and our top d pair as well.

I am definitely concerned by the 2nd line scoring, or lack thereof. I realize backlund can go hot/cold for lengthy stretches , but it's definitely not great to see the team's 2nd line C barely getting to 15 goals in this big year.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Is that a legit quote, or a paraphrase?



Gaudreau should only agree to an extension if part of the deal is the Flames agree to revoke all access Francis has to the team. Sportsnet should have him cover the Oilers.

There's a YouTube post in the signing watch thread with him saying those exact words

Sorry, milestones thread.

[ssjshmo]

quality edit!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1512453366575775749

[Snowghost]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Time to start resting some bodies.

Exactly, give Lucic and Tanev some rest. We're going to need them at their best in the playoffs.

[Johnny Makarov]

I said it before. Just lifetime ban Francis from the Dome and we'll get Johnny signed for under $10mil/per

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by hurtin_albertan

My concern is that this is not at all what’s going on. Hopefully I’m wrong but my thinking is that these guys would not be sitting just to have a night off. Not when the stakes are this high. They may be limping into the war.

This is why this team is where it is. Sutter clearly has not been liking the play from the bottom pairing and this is why they sat last night. Zadorov has been hot garbage for way too long and Guddy hasn't exactly been at his best either. Going into the playoffs, that bottom pair needs to be way better and back to the way it was playing in January.

I wouldn't bet against the Flames rolling with the exact same lineup next game before making further tweaks. If it motivates and rests the bottom pair somewhat, or even forces a guy like Mackey into the rotation the rest of the way - great.

Darryl clearly knows what he's doing in terms of pressing this teams buttons so there's no reason to panic. If this team is going to go deep, which should be the goal, they are going to need 8/9 D that can step in and not miss a beat.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

"He will not return to 99 point form, in my opinion, ever in his career"

- Eric Francis on Johnny Gaudreau

Well don't forget all the losers on here who wanted to run little Johnny out of town a few years ago...

It was soo effing ridiculous, I wanted him gone because we didn't deserve the best player in the NHL! I'll change my avatar when he re-signs.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Well don't forget all the losers on here who wanted to run little Johnny out of town a few years ago...

It was soo effing ridiculous, I wanted him gone because we didn't deserve the best player in the NHL! I'll change my avatar when he re-signs.

Yeah it's not like a huge portion of the fanbase wasn't onboard with Francis in some regard either. Suggesting he needed to be moved was hardly an outlying opinion during those down years. Ultimately things started to turn around as soon as he was moved away from Monahan who was at best a lead anchor on that top line doing nothing to help drive play.

Darryl was just the final piece of the puzzle in terms of adding the 200 foot game he had been lacking.

[Naitix]

I have watched some Stockton games this season and I haven't been impressed with Valimaki even down there, and clearly he did not have a good game last night. I really do not think it's just his confidence that's holding him back, his skating is on a similar level as Tkachuk's and that just doesn't work for a dman. His skating has clearly regressed since those 2019 playoffs. I think he can still be an effective NHL player as he has great offensive instincts but I do not think he will ever be an impact/reliable player.

Mackey on the other hand is going to be a difference maker and Sutter has shown Valimaki first hand last night why Mackey deserves the spot over him.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Which begs the question; Why was Valimaki considered an untouchable in all of these supposed "almost trades"?

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Which begs the question; Why was Valimaki considered an untouchable in all of these supposed "almost trades"?

Because new information will change opinions? Pretty sure Valimaki’s stock was extremely high at that time for a reason, and injuries have really set him back since. Do you not think it was reasonable? His trajectory was looking extremely good before the injuries

[redforever]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Which begs the question; Why was Valimaki considered an untouchable in all of these supposed "almost trades"?

He showed a lot of potential at the time of those almost trades...and he had not suffered the injuries that have hampered him since, particularly the MCL I think of one of his knees.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by ssjshmo

quality edit!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1512453366575775749

Haha! Pie in the face moment for Francis.

Thanks for digging that up.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So young Matthew Tkachuk is tied for 6th in the NHL scoring race.

Doing this while being only 270th in time on ice per game.

Johnny is 4th in the same race while being only 222nd in ice time per game.


Eye popping and remarkable numbers.

And how does ol' Conna rank for TOI?

[Manhattanboy]

Francis is a boob.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Because new information will change opinions? Pretty sure Valimaki’s stock was extremely high at that time for a reason, and injuries have really set him back since. Do you not think it was reasonable? His trajectory was looking extremely good before the injuries

Originally Posted by redforever

He showed a lot of potential at the time of those almost trades...and he had not suffered the injuries that have hampered him since, particularly the MCL I think of one of his knees.

Fair enough, I guess I didn't see anything in his game that wow'ed me enough to deem him untouchable. Hopefully he re-finds his game, he's still only 23.

[CroFlames]

His pro season in Sweden left everyone thinking he was going to transition to North American pro seamlessly.

Alas, development is rarely linear and he had a terrible injury. There's still hope for him (d-men develop slower) and I think the Flames should stick with it.

Andersson is a top-pair d-man now and spent tons of time developing.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Fair enough, I guess I didn't see anything in his game that wow'ed me enough to deem him untouchable. Hopefully he re-finds his game, he's still only 23.

And the time he was the #1 prospect in the org.
Plus what are all these trades being referred to? I only know about the Stone rumors.

[dino7c]

Stone also wouldn't sign an extension so I'm glad they didn't trade Vali and picks anyway