[GDT] Rangers at Flames - 7pm MDT

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

This image of Ramo needs a caption...

Hey. Cool story bro!

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

What's the downside of sending him back? One last season where he can dominate amongst his peers as opposed to playing substantially less on what is probably going to be a below average NHL team. He's still developing and it's key that he plays as much possible at this age. Lets not do things the Oilers way. Lets do this right. There's not a lot to be gained having him play on the big club this year.

This was more my point. As much as I feel it would be great for Monahan's confidence to make the team out of camp this is going to be a losing team. I feel in the long run he'd be better served going back to juniors and getting traded to a winning club. He would have a chance to shut up the critics about his offensive ability (which I've been very impressed with; nothing flashy, but very consistent) and also a chance to play a major role on the WJHC team, which he missed out on last season.

I also firmly believe that with how many years it might be until we're competitive again that these ELC years are gold, and we should preserve as many of them as we can.

[sun]

Originally Posted by AC

The girl playing the Pizza73 shuffle game. Niiiice.

Hey, StrykerSteve, did you happen to get a video of this? I could only catch the first period. Thanks in advance!

[calgarywinning]

It was a very enjoyable game. The flames top line was dominant and smart. The young flames were just about everywhere. Fast action paced. I noticed that Knight was behind on a few plays.

Goaltending was solid. #4 Russell got off to a shaky start but was solid in the third.

[EYE_Overstand]

Originally Posted by sun

Hey, StrykerSteve, did you happen to get a video of this? I could only catch the first period. Thanks in advance!

Very nerdy

[stemit14]

Tough decisions for the flames brass to make... I've been impressed with lots of guys at camp... Right now, my guess for opening night roster:

Cammalleri - Backlund - Baertschi
Stempniak - Stajan - Glencross
D. Jones - Monahan - Hudler
McGrattan - Reinhart - Galiardi

Brodie - Giordano
Wideman - Russell
Butler - O'brian

Ramo
Macdonald

With Jackman, Knight, and Wotherspoon as the extras.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Cammalleri - Backlund - Baertschi
Stempniak - Stajan - Glencross
D. Jones - Monahan - Hudler
McGrattan - Reinhart - Galiardi

Switch Cammalleri/Backs/Baertschi to the second line, and I'd be very comfortable with that group of forwards. Solid balance of youth/vets, good depth, hardworking; and enough grit, skill, and two-way play to get by. It could be a really pleasant surprise this season

[Demaeon]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

This image of Ramo needs a caption...

Mentos. The Freshmaker.

[Falclore]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

It was a very enjoyable game. The flames top line was dominant and smart. The young flames were just about everywhere. Fast action paced. I noticed that Knight was behind on a few plays.

Goaltending was solid. #4 Russell got off to a shaky start but was solid in the third.

I think you were too busy eating to catch most of the game!

[getbak]

I know the whole "Keep Calm" thing is played out, but this occurred to me during the game...

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

For some reason I take your player assessments with a grain of salt. I think it's way too early to say how good Ramo or Berra are going to be, but so far they've been fine to great.

Well, with my assessments, I'm projecting how they "should" perform based on seeing other similar players in the past and the issues they faced and the overall structural weaknesses that the player possesses and combine them.

It's more a educated prediction of how they should do based off current information.

It's like how I'm optimistic with a bunch of the prospects. They each have certain tools that could make them legit NHL players. However, it depends on how they progress over time that determines how good they'll be in a few years. Look at Culkin and Kulak for example. They both look better than what TJ Brodie did when he was 19. However, TJ took several huge jumps in his development since then that saw him become a legitimate top 4 D-man. If they don't have the same progression, they won't become that and would likely not be nhlers, however they have the raw tools at their disposal. There are about 15 or so guys that have the tools to become NHLers, but it's really up to them to take the steps forward to earn the spots. So I choose to be a bit more optimistic that they might take those steps forward instead of the more likely fact that they won't make it. Being optimistic is a lot more fun.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Small sample size, but not hugely impressed by Reinhart tonight. If it came down to that game his spot, at least if it was on wing, would go to Ferland or Bouma easily. It's not though and wouldn't be the worst case scenario to give Ferland some time in the AHL. The other young players like Horak and Knight seemed to have NHL caliber games. Will be interesting as there's just not enough spots to go around.

Overall got to be pretty happy with the team effort considering that Cammalleri, Hudler and Jones were left off and have a combined salary of roughly the entire forward lineup tonight.

I thought Backlund had a strong game and looked like a season vet carrying two rookies. Considering he's only 24 that's encouraging.

Monahan looks NHL ready. Not saying he would be a star player or even fight for the Calder but he would not be out of place and I feel would at least quietly have a good season. I think the question should be what's better for his development now, playing on a bad team and (hopefully) dominating his competition against boys or playing on a bad team and learning against men. And Monahan was 188 pounds at the Combine, he's listed as 185 on the Flames' website, yet he's being reported to have passed the 200 mark (and I can believe it). That's dedication gaining 15 pounds in the off-season, and rewarding him with a spot he's earned is worth the burning of a year on his ELC in my book. Send a message to the rest of the organization and future draft picks, "If you come into camp in the best condition of your life after working all off-season you can fight and earn your spot on the team."

[Jake]

Nice to hear Bouma had good game. It is amazing that after a year off of hockey, he seems to be picking up right where he left off.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Well, with my assessments, I'm projecting how they "should" perform based on seeing other similar players in the past and the issues they faced and the overall structural weaknesses that the player possesses and combine them.

It's more a educated prediction of how they should do based off current information.

It's like how I'm optimistic with a bunch of the prospects. They each have certain tools that could make them legit NHL players. However, it depends on how they progress over time that determines how good they'll be in a few years. Look at Culkin and Kulak for example. They both look better than what TJ Brodie did when he was 19. However, TJ took several huge jumps in his development since then that saw him become a legitimate top 4 D-man. If they don't have the same progression, they won't become that and would likely not be nhlers, however they have the raw tools at their disposal. There are about 15 or so guys that have the tools to become NHLers, but it's really up to them to take the steps forward to earn the spots. So I choose to be a bit more optimistic that they might take those steps forward instead of the more likely fact that they won't make it. Being optimistic is a lot more fun.

Not true, TJ Brodie really lit up the camp when he arrived. His poise and stick handling were top notch and brought high praise from Sutter.

As for being optimistic, that's not what
you are when you say this about Ramo,

He'll be a bottom 5 starter in the league, that would be an decent backup on several teams. Nothing really to write home about at all.

I'd say Ramo is showing more promise than a bottom 5 goalie.

[flamesrule14]

Solid win for the flames. I'll give my thoughts on a few of the guys that stood out.

Ramo- Solid game from him. Looked really comfortable in net. His rebound control worries me at times, but tonight it didn't get him in trouble.

Bouma- Good solid game from him and nice to see him rewarded with the empty net goal. His preseason has made Jackman expendable in my eyes.

Ferland- Wasn't impressed with his first two periods, but he picked it up in the third. He finally started playing physical in the third and ended up getting some chances because of it.

Monahan- Kid is just a solid hockey player. His offence may not come right away, but he is just a smart player and he looks NHL ready to me. He'll get his 9 games for sure, but I think he'll be here to stay.

Backlund- I think he is going to have a tremendous year. Looks so confident out there and the puck seemed to follow him when he was out there.

Some tough decisions for Hartley and Co coming up. I've really like the effort that I've seen from most of the kids.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Not true, TJ Brodie really lit up the camp when he arrived. His poise and stick handling were top notch and brought high praise from Sutter.

As for being optimistic, that's not what
you are when you say this about Ramo,



I'd say Ramo is showing more promise than a bottom 5 goalie.

When Brodie first started he was completely lost in his own end and was dreadful. He did have some offensive skill chops that were evident, but Kanzig looked better in his end than Brodie did that first year. He was basically a forward playing defense. Eric Roy would be as close of a comparison of a guy that we have at the moment.

I'm not at all optimistic on Ramo. When it comes to NHL players, I try to be as realistic with expectations as possible. They are beyond the if maybe period that most of our young guys are in (they get leeway for their mistakes because they're young)

With Ramo, what I see is a goalie that is sloppy in several aspects of his game. He goes down way too early and stays there too long instead of resetting, he moves too much in his crease and his movements themselves are not as controlled as I would like. He also is very prone to giving up rebounds instead of controlling the puck or directing it into the corner. I'm thinking that he'll have the stats in the neighbourhood of 2.75-3 GAA and a .890-.905 range. Those stats are in the same range as Joey Mac's last year and I think they'll have very similar stats this year.

He has more natural talent than a guy like Joey Mac, and you'll get games where he'll stand on his head, but the sloppy parts of the game will cause some really stinker goals to be scored and there will be frustrating times with him because he does have talent. If he can learn to tighten up the parts of his game that are causing him problems, then he might become an average goalie in the NHL, but as it sits right now I think he'll trend towards the bottom of the starters heap.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

[...]

With Ramo, what I see is a goalie that is sloppy in several aspects of his game. He goes down way too early and stays there too long instead of resetting, he moves too much in his crease and his movements themselves are not as controlled as I would like. He also is very prone to giving up rebounds instead of controlling the puck or directing it into the corner. I'm thinking that he'll have the stats in the neighbourhood of 2.75-3 GAA and a .890-.905 range. Those stats are in the same range as Joey Mac's last year and I think they'll have very similar stats this year.

He has more natural talent than a guy like Joey Mac, and you'll get games where he'll stand on his head, but the sloppy parts of the game will cause some really stinker goals to be scored and there will be frustrating times with him because he does have talent. If he can learn to tighten up the parts of his game that are causing him problems, then he might become an average goalie in the NHL, but as it sits right now I think he'll trend towards the bottom of the starters heap.

Even if we agree with your analysis, it's a big assumption to say that "as it sits right now" is the best he can do or the best he'll be. He has played 2 preseason games, and this is after 4-5 years of not playing in NA. Lots of sloppy goalies around the league at the moment. I don't disagree with you about what the most likely outcomes are, but you are still concluding too much from too little.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by the2bears

But that's exactly what you're trying to do...

Nah, just tempering expectations. Which isn't a terrible thing. I'm hopeful, but keeping my feet on the ground.

I wan Monahan to go back to junior, year it to pieces and come back next year bigger, stronger and hurting with confidence. And spared the cruelty of what this season will likely bring.

[Gary83]

How exactly do you judge how our goalie's performance is going to be after he's put in what, 2 and a half preseason games? He's not even playing in front of what our gameday roster will be.

[Da_Chief]

Didn't Feaster and co. say if the young guys and the vets perform the same they're going with the youngsters? lets see how true that was.