Feb 3 Practice. Sven and Granlund likely scratched. Hiller starts.

[sureLoss]

Bennett continues to practice with the Flames with no contact

@Fan960Steinberg: Bennett on the ice again this morning. This will be his first full practice with the team. Still in the yellow no-contact jersey. #Flames

Backlund is on the ice after missing last night's game due to illness. Granlund and Baertschi will likely be healthy scratched tomorrow.

@Fan960Steinberg: Backlund at practice after missing last night. Baertschi and Granlund look to be your extra forwards. #Flames

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
#Flames on the ice for practice. Backlund on the ice; Granlund and Baertschi wearing green sweaters = the extras.

Glencross and Wolf were not on the ice:

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Everyone accounted for this AM. No Wolf, no Glencross today. #Flames

Lines:

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames forwards:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Colborne-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Byron
Baertschi-Granlund
Bennett

#Flames defence:
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Diaz-Engelland
Wotherspoon

Goaltenders:
Hiller
Ramo

More updates as they come

[djsFlames]

Sven was pretty good last night.

Too bad Hartley wouldn't consider sitting Byron for him.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Sven was pretty good last night.

Too bad Hartley wouldn't consider sitting Byron for him.

Byron was also good why should he sit?

[Yrebmi]

Byron's missed opportunities can be frustrating, but he does get himself into those positions. IMO he keeps the opposition honest. A missed break away is still a breakaway, and the other teams defense is less likely to pinch.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Sven was pretty good last night.

Too bad Hartley wouldn't consider sitting Byron for him.

He was good last night. But the problem for him is that there were no players on the team who had a bad night. He'll get back into more games this season, but the key right now is patience. I'm just pleased that he looked so much better yesterday, and that he finished the night with + 13 mins of ice time.

[djsFlames]

Because when you've put 11 of your past 12 breakaways into the opposing goalie's chest, as well as every other offensive chance you've had recently, it might not be such a bad idea to take a game off. It's worked for other players this season - Jones, Gaudreau, Raymond, even Hiller.

Why's it gotta be chalked up to just punishment?

[Vinny01]

I thought Sven was great last night. I am hoping that the Flames dump a vet or 2 at the deadline for picks to open some permanent spots for some of the prospects pushing for full time duty

[heep223]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Because when you've put 11 of your past 12 breakaways into the opposing goalie's chest, as well as every other offensive chance you've had recently, it might not be such a bad idea to take a game off. It's worked for other players this season - Jones, Gaudreau, Raymond, even Hiller.

Why's it gotta be chalked up to just punishment?

Also Wideman.

[Muta]

I don't understand the Byron hate. He's a damn good fourth liner. Why are we expecting him to score like a first liner? We don't hold Bollig or Stajan to that same standard.

Dude brings speed, great two-way play, some offensive ability (although he has been snakebitten lately) and heart. He's never been a liability on the ice. He's a prototypical 4th liner in today's NHL.

[The Big Chill]

Sucks for Sven, but this is a very positive environment for growth. Players know they have to play really well to get a spot, and play even better to keep it.

Sven has shown some resiliency through this entire process. He'll keep his head up and do something positive when he cracks the lineup again soon.

[devo22]

Sven was good yesterday, but the truth is there wasn't really a Flames forward that took a night off and now deserves to sit. So with Backlund back, it makes sense that Sven goes back to the press box although he played well.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Because when you've put 11 of your past 12 breakaways into the opposing goalie's chest, as well as every other offensive chance you've had recently, it might not be such a bad idea to take a game off. It's worked for other players this season - Jones, Gaudreau, Raymond, even Hiller.

Why's it gotta be chalked up to just punishment?

Ya I agree with you on this, I think just 1 game out just to give him a chance to watch the game and maybe learn something. Spend some extra time watching some game tape of himself and others doing what he does.

Might give him a bit more motivation as well, just a boast in determination when trying to score goals.

[sureLoss]

Lines:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Jooris-Colborne
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Because when you've put 11 of your past 12 breakaways into the opposing goalie's chest, as well as every other offensive chance you've had recently, it might not be such a bad idea to take a game off. It's worked for other players this season - Jones, Gaudreau, Raymond, even Hiller.

Why's it gotta be chalked up to just punishment?

scored vs. the Oilers, nice assist and rang one off the post vs. the Jets

Guy is a 3rd/4th liner, strong on the pk...again why would Sven replace him?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Lines:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Jooris-Colborne
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

good lines! And that's the reason Sven sits. Everyone on the top 9 deserves to play and it makes no sense to ice Sven on the 4th line.

[sureLoss]

I think they may start Ramo against the Sharks. He has played the other 2 times they played the Sharks.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Muta

I don't understand the Byron hate. He's a damn good fourth liner. Why are we expecting him to score like a first liner? We don't hold Bollig or Stajan to that same standard.

Dude brings speed, great two-way play, some offensive ability (although he has been snakebitten lately) and heart. He's never been a liability on the ice. He's a prototypical 4th liner in today's NHL.

I agree. Byron is a good 4th liner. Stajan is an outstanding 4th line centre. If anyone is going to come up to replace these guys, it's going to be someone who can fit those roles.

Sven is a below average 4th liner. And an above average 2nd or 3rd liner. He needs to prove that he can displace, or replace, one of the top three left wingers, and I think that he is getting close to doing that. He is, and never was, going to replace Byron. The same thing goes for Granlund replacing Stajan.

[Bourque's Twin]

Byron is one of the best backcheckers on the team because of his speed. Taking him out of the lineup for Baertschi would do more harm than good.

Baertschi is only 22. He will have an opportunity to establish himself in the next 1 - 2 years.

Wotherspoon was drafted the same year, and everyone is patient with his NHL ice time.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by devo22

good lines! And that's the reason Sven sits. Everyone on the top 9 deserves to play and it makes no sense to ice Sven on the 4th line.

Agree that the lines are good.

But that also makes me curious as to what management is doing / planning? I understand they need a spare body in case of injury, but they have 2 developing young forwards playing sparingly (plus one injured) while Glencross is on the mend.

[CanadaMatt]

What is increasingly clear is that 'some' are too emotionally invested in Sven's success. He was 'OK' last night, not spectacular, not terribad...just OK.

If Backlund is back then Sven should sit, based on last nights game. Simple. Sven is not one of our top 12 available forwards at the moment.