Because Cammalleri has been Crosby compared to Stempniak.
Anyway, what is truly pathetic for this team is not being shut out three times in four games. It is the fact that Paul Byron had to embarrass his teammates into giving a damn by fighting one against three and nearly getting a good scoring chance before they even showed the slightest hustle. I love what Paul Byron is doing right now, but when he's the only skater looking to make a difference, this is what happens.
LOFT isn't the main reason for this funk so much as lack of frigging desire.
Also, it would help if the officials would stop screwing us around. There was no cause to blow the play dead for that skate blade issue. Play does not stop for reasons of a need to adjust equipment. And we'll never know what would have happened had that play been properly allowed to continue.
Also, not surprised that wannabe Oiler fans have jumped out of the woodwork wanting to finish last.
Ever since the refs waved off the goal against the Oilers, the offense has all but disappeared. The Flames don't need any help losing but the refs have really taken it to them through this stretch.
The Flames really can't play an offensive style while keeping their defense sound. Brent Sutter couldn't do it, Hartley can't do it, Keenan couldn't do it either.
Blow it up? Core is rotten? Maybe Giordano is a bad captain and telling the team not to score?
BTW, I was reading everyone admiring the intelligence of the girl behind the penalty box on Twitter. But the ONE TIME they showed her on the jumbotron, some dick had his nacho tray on screen, completely blocking the view.
That, honestly, was the greatest tragedy of attending tonight's game.
so i only got to watch half the game, as my GCL f'd up (watching it delayed) and then saw the score when trying to re-connect.
few things i noted in the period and a half that i saw.
- it was hilarious how many times, maybe 4, that cammalleri lost the puck to st. loius, like it seemed just too easy for st. loius to know where #13 was planning to do
- cammalleri has looked bad, but i don't know if he's that much to blame. He's a small trigger man. He shouldn't be the guy bringing the puck into the offensive zone, he won't be the guy in the corners winning back the puck, and he's not a gifted playmaker. He's a guy who can find some open space and snipe goals. He is not in any position on any line on this team to be successful.
- Backlund has played well, probably best flame out there in the time i got to watch. He just is doing everything right, and looks like a NHL player. Yet, i'm still unclear as to what role and what linemates would make him a successful NHL'er.
- this team needs high skill players, that want the puck on their stick and have patience with it. The only player on the team that has that right now is hudler. Tanguay, and his better version huselius, are exactly what this team needs more of, it's NOT just size/"truculence".
- i'm buying a two-four to myself on trade deadline, calling in sick, and getting ripped.... that will be my additional "hockey highlight" of the year, aside from the olympics...
- Accelerate the rebuild, without trading bluechip prospects or high draft picks, please make this team better as soon as possible. I want to watch this team be relevant again, while i'm young enough to enjoy it. 2 years of getting past the first round in almost 25 years is painful.
Even my 7 year old exclaimed "I"M BORED" in the second period, prompting much laughter in our section. I knew they'd be bad this year, but where's the effort they showed early in the season?
The only player who shouldn't be embarrassed is Paul Byron. Kid has heart and should be on this team for a very long time. This team is trying to play big to impress Burke and failing miserably.
Why isn't reinhart up here? Where is the youth? What kind of message are we trying to send? Be a goon and become a Calgary Flame?
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The only player who shouldn't be embarrassed is Paul Byron. Kid has heart and should be on this team for a very long time. This team is trying to play big to impress Burke and failing miserably.
Why isn't reinhart up here? Where is the youth? What kind of message are we trying to send? Be a goon and become a Calgary Flame?
I'm thinking that the Flames want the AHL team to succeed.
It's probably best for somebody like Reinhart to play 18+ minutes a night in Abbotsford (and win more games than not) than play 8 minutes in Calgary.
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the good:
-ramo could be a legit #1, very solid. Made a lot of very good positional saves, the goals against were not his fault at all, team left him out to dry in the worst way with terrible turnovers.
-Joe Colborne, high ceiling that I'm not sure people recognize. He was the only player for the Flames that could create any offense. He could hold the puck, create some room and dish the puck off to his completely inept linemates that should have scored had they not been grinders. Seriously though, the Flames better keep this guy because his potential is ridiculous. The majority of even getting close to having scoring chances came from Colborne drawing guys out of position and passing to pluggers that wouldn't be able to score on an empty net. Out of all the guys that have joined the team recently he's the only one with any actual talent that can be developed. Give the guy some time to develop and better linemates and he could produce way beyond what anyone thought.
the bad:
-way too many giveaways and way too much time spent thinking, the team has no cohesion between any of the players right now. No chemistry whatsoever.
-The lines were very confusing, Mcgratton and Westgarth out there at the most inopportune times. Not sure what the coach was thinking but the presence of these guys on the ice seemed to absolutely kill any offensive momentum.
-they are more than just struggling, there is something wrong with them where ordinary players make boneheaded mistakes that simply shouldn't be happening. Team couldn't make a pass the first 2 periods. I think first the lines need to be fixed, we don't have an energy line and scoring lines. 4 lines of individuals skating around lost with no real direction.
It sucks not scoring goals, but I'm happy with what Hartley and the Flames are doing with defence and goaltending. Firing Hartley is a stupid move right now. What, we're going to bring in a coach who suddenly ... makes us a contender?
We suck. Everyone knew we were going to suck, and we suck. Nothing that is happening right now is a surprise, except for one thing, our defence and goaltending has been good for the last month. THAT is what I want the young players learning on the team.
Flames in November:
4-8-2 32gf 50ga 3.57 GA/GM
Flames in December:
5-7-2 26gf 32ga 2.28 GA/GM
We dropped our GAA by 1.3 goals in a month. Over the long haul that is what we want to see from this team.
If what we want is the foundation of a championship culture I will take 2-1 and 2-0 losses all year long over the odd 5-4 shootout win and a bunch of 4-2 and 5-3 losses.
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It sucks not scoring goals, but I'm happy with what Hartley and the Flames are doing with defence and goaltending. Firing Hartley is a stupid move right now. What, we're going to bring in a coach who suddenly ... makes us a contender?
We suck. Everyone knew we were going to suck, and we suck. Nothing that is happening right now is a surprise, except for one thing, our defence and goaltending has been good for the last month. THAT is what I want the young players learning on the team.
Flames in November:
4-8-2 32gf 50ga 3.57 GA/GM
Flames in December:
5-7-2 26gf 32ga 2.28 GA/GM
We dropped our GAA by 1.3 goals in a month. Over the long haul that is what we want to see from this team.
If what we want is the foundation of a championship culture I will take 2-1 and 2-0 losses all year long over the odd 5-4 shootout win and a bunch of 4-2 and 5-3 losses.
It's killing the value of our rentals.
I thought Stempniak would get a 2nd round before his injury, now I think we'll be lucky to get a 4th.
I thought Stajan might get a 2nd, will probably get a 3rd now.
Cammalleri I thought would land a 1st and a 2nd/decent prospect. Now I'm worried he might not land a 1st alone.
