Lee Stempniak

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I also don't think Sempniak is as soft as he is made out to be either, he was 6th in hits amongst Flames forwards last year despite playing only 61 games, in his final year in Phoenix he put up 124 hits and the season before that he was just over a hit per game.

I agree, if you go to youtube you can find a lot of videos of him laying hits and playing hard on the forecheck.

ricardodw has it in his (one track) mind Stempniak is Sedin-soft and just repeats it ad nauseam thinking that will make it true.

It would be one thing if he said it once or twice but it's a daily routine for him.

I think Sven would have a lot of success setting up a 20-goal scorer like Stempniak and if Backlund has a bounce-back season that could indeed be a good line.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I also don't think Sempniak is as soft as he is made out to be either, he was 6th in hits amongst Flames forwards last year despite playing only 61 games, in his final year in Phoenix he put up 124 hits and the season before that he was just over a hit per game.

Thanks for bringing up how soft the Flames were last year.

On LA forwards he would have been 12th in hits.... 2 of the forwards he out hit - Justin Williams and Jeff Carter are in a different skill category than what Stempniak brings to the table.

On NJD he would be 11th in hits.... Kovalchuck, Sykora and Zajac( only 15 games) behind him.


on the Vancouver Canucks forwards, who would rather dive than man up he would be the 11th in hits..... The Sedins are both behind him in hits but they contribute in other ways.

The Kings physically imposed their will on the Canucks . The Canucks saw this coming and traded Hodgson ( more skill than Stempniak) to get a bigger tougher less talented Kassian.

If you are going to be as soft as Stempniak you had better be as good as Tanguay, Cammalleri and Hudler.

I have to admit I did not watch him close enough when he had 124 hits in Phx. He gave no indication as a Flame that he could bang.


I guess even this conversation has shown how far we have come where we are using hits to gauge the ability to stand up and watch a rookie's back and provide some room.

Stempniak has had 4 career fights.

He projects small. Perhaps last year he did not find an opportunity to express his physicality for a whole season. Perhaps due to the Flames lack of physical support he decided it would be best not to go looking for trouble.

[FAN]

Stempniak is an enigma and it's not just because he's a streaky goal scorer. His physical game also comes and go. When he's on, Stempniak is definitely not a soft player by NHL standards.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Well then what do you suggest? I agree that Baertchi shouldn't be with Stempniak, but the Flames don't have nearly enough "bangers" to put one on every line. I like Baertchi-----Cervenka------Hudler. I like it because that could be a good "chemistry" line and I think even as a rookie, Sven needs to play in a top 6 role. I know, other coaches will say "go after Baertchi physically" but what else are you going to do? You can't put him with Jones and give him top 6 minutes. I dunno, Glencross maybe?

If Baertschi somehow is not on the top-6 then I would see him being put on a line with Comeau.

Jones is liable/likely to get top-9 minutes but in a 100% checking role that would not have Baertschi on his wing.

You have to have someone who has some grit. It may come down to who can play harder/bigger Stajan or Backlund.

A lot depends this season if Cervenka really is a Brick outhouse 5' 11" 185 that plays in the hard areas. Jokinen had the size to match up with the stronger Centres but not the disposition.

The Flames lineup just has too many soft skilled player on one-way contracts to fit in.

I have difficulty believing that Tanguay, Cammalleri, Hudler, Stajan, Backlund, Stempniak, Baertschi, Horak will all be on the opening day roster. 8 skilled non-physical guys out of 13 forward spots.... or 7 out of 13 if horak is pushed to the Heat.

It might not be the softest lineup ever, because of Glencross and Iginla... but it will compare to the Edmonton line up where they have the 4 young stars plus Hemsky and Horcoff playing soft non-contact and Smyth and Jones the only forwards with jam that get more than 12 minute/game.

People point to the Edmonton D being their downfall, but the Flames match up well with Edmonton because the Oilers are even weaker physically.


There likely is a trade coming , or there will be some Horak/Brodie surprises coming out of camp. Alui, Bouma, Nemisz, Byron, Rienhardt, Howse play their way on to the team and some big contracts watch and wait for injuries like Babchuck and Sarich did last year.

Prust and/or Kostopolus would have dressed for as many games as they were physically fit.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I was just imagining what the line-up would had been if the Flames didn't re-sign Stempniak, Comeau or Jackman and if they found a way to move out Stajan and Babchuk. It would be as follows:

Tanguay-Cammalleri-Iginla
Glencross-Cervenka-Hudler
Baertschi-Backlund-Nemisz
Horak-Jones-Bouma
Byron

Bouwmeester-Wideman
Giordano-Butler
Brodie-Sarich
Smith

Kiprusoff
Irving

I can honestly say that that line-up would have been more interesting to watch. We'd have 8 players 25 or younger and we'd have over $10M in cap space open. The only downside is that we wouldn't really be a playoff team but those young guys have a lot of room to grow.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I was just imagining what the line-up would had been if the Flames didn't re-sign Stempniak, Comeau or Jackman and if they found a way to move out Stajan and Babchuk. It would be as follows:

Tanguay-Cammalleri-Iginla
Glencross-Cervenka-Hudler
Baertschi-Backlund-Nemisz
Horak-Jones-Bouma
Byron

Bouwmeester-Wideman
Giordano-Butler
Brodie-Sarich
Smith

Kiprusoff
Irving

I can honestly say that that line-up would have been more interesting to watch. We'd have 8 players 25 or younger and we'd have over $10M in cap space open. The only downside is that we wouldn't really be a playoff team but those young guys have a lot of room to grow.

Alui makes the 4th line rather than Horak but that is not that much of a downgrade to what we are going to be going with anyway.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Alui makes the 4th line rather than Horak but that is not that much of a downgrade to what we are going to be going with anyway.

Alui is better then Horak after playing 2 NHL games? Ha

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by Mitch

Alui is better then Horak after playing 2 NHL games? Ha

Better in a 4th line role.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by jaikorven

Better in a 4th line role.

How's that? Alui is a better agitator- that's it. I can't believe how overrated he is here on CP. Horak is much better defensively and I'd rather play him then Alui.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Mitch

How's that? Alui is a better agitator- that's it. I can't believe how overrated he is here on CP. Horak is much better defensively and I'd rather play him then Alui.

I think it depends on teh role that needs to be filled. Aliu is more physical and a better agitator, but Horak is more skilled and better defensively.

Personally I would like Horak in the AHL for a year in order to try and improve his offensive game and faceoffs, Or to move him to the wing outright.

As for Aliu he has become very overrated yes, but he does possess some qualities that that Flames lack. But I expect him to spend the year in the AHL as well.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I'm still thinking that the success Baertschi had with Nemisz last season was no fluke... wouldn't mind seeing them together again at start the year and see how they do.

Definitely agree there

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Definitely agree there

3rd...

Nemisz's board work in the Minnesota game was just fantastic. He was creating chances for his linemates.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I agree. I hope Nemisz can win a roster spot out of camp.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I agree. I hope Nemisz can win a roster spot out of camp.

I just don't see Nemisz beating out Jackman, Comeau, Stempniak, Hudler or Ignla for a RW job. His best shot IMO is to sneak in and steal the 4th line center spot.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I just don't see Nemisz beating out Jackman, Comeau, Stempniak, Hudler or Ignla for a RW job. His best shot IMO is to sneak in and steal the 4th line center spot.

They shouldn't have re-signed Comeau or Jackman. I think Nemisz is rdy for an NHL job.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Psytic

They shouldn't have re-signed Comeau or Jackman. I think Nemisz is rdy for an NHL job.

I think he is too, but that isn't the problem, its that no one after Nemisz is NHL ready on the right side.

I think the ridiculous number of injuries last season have made Feaster a bit gun shy to be honest. I think he sees this as Nemisz being an NHL ready call-up when we do have injuries, and believes that is a better option than having Nemisz as a regular and then having Aliu as the call-up depth.

As for who they should have or shouldn't have signed, it's all moot because what's done is done.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I think he is too, but that isn't the problem, its that no one after Nemisz is NHL ready on the right side.

I think the ridiculous number of injuries last season have made Feaster a bit gun shy to be honest. I think he sees this as Nemisz being an NHL ready call-up when we do have injuries, and believes that is a better option than having Nemisz as a regular and then having Aliu as the call-up depth.

As for who they should have or shouldn't have signed, it's all moot because what's done is done.

They really still only needed to re-sign one of those two. Msg Boards are for discussion most threads here talk about what the Flames should or shouldn't have done its the point of a message board so I don't understand the last comment.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Psytic

They really still only needed to re-sign one of those two. Msg Boards are for discussion most threads here talk about what the Flames should or shouldn't have done its the point of a message board so I don't understand the last comment.

Why can't the discussion be about what will happen? Talking about what should have happened can only be said a few times before becoming painfully redundant and we already have ricardo to remind of of how we shouldn't have signed him in every post he makes

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Thanks for bringing up how soft the Flames were last year.

On LA forwards he would have been 12th in hits.... 2 of the forwards he out hit - Justin Williams and Jeff Carter are in a different skill category than what Stempniak brings to the table.

On NJD he would be 11th in hits.... Kovalchuck, Sykora and Zajac( only 15 games) behind him.


on the Vancouver Canucks forwards, who would rather dive than man up he would be the 11th in hits..... The Sedins are both behind him in hits but they contribute in other ways.

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I guess even this conversation has shown how far we have come where we are using hits to gauge the ability to stand up and watch a rookie's back and provide some room.

Just brilliant. Complains for paragraph after paragraph by using hit statistics, and in the very next thought throws sarcasm on those who bring up hits to try and prove anything.

Couldn't be more typical of your short-sightedness.

Suggesting that because Stempniak can't fight means he would be a poor line mate for Sven is beyond ridiculous.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Mitch

How's that? Alui is a better agitator- that's it. I can't believe how overrated he is here on CP. Horak is much better defensively and I'd rather play him then Alui.

It depends what you want your 4th line to do. An Aliu/Jones/Jackman (or Comeau) 4th line would obviously be designed for checking and physical play. A line like Horak/Stajan/Comeau would be less physical and would serve as a more of a two-way line.