2013/14 General Heat Discussion Thread

[Freeway]

Mike, how many healthy D-men are in Abbotsford with the additions of MacKenzie and O'Brien? I'm struggling to figure out how they'll all get time.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Mike, how many healthy D-men are in Abbotsford with the additions of MacKenzie and O'Brien? I'm struggling to figure out how they'll all get time.

I'm not the right Mike, but I think the only injuries are Sieloff and LaFranchise (or at least I think I remember PMM saying he was hurt).

So that would leave Arsene, Billins, Lamb, MacKenzie, O'Brien, Ramage, Sieloff, Smith and Wotherspoon that are healthy.

[The Eliminator]

FOSTER, LAFRANCHISE OUT
The Heat welcomed defenceman Zach McKelvie back to practice this week. He's been sidelined since Dec. 11 due to a lower-body injury.
That leaves two Heat players still in the sick bay. Forward Adrian Foster and defenceman Kane Lafranchise both sustained lower-body injuries of their own during the recent six-game road trip. Ward said they're expected to be out for a matter of weeks rather than days.

http://www.abbynews.com/sports/heat/news/241739531.html

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Yeah, nine defense is a lot. Clearly it'll be Lamb, McKenzie and Sieloff sitting, but yeah. I'm a little confused by the McKenzie call-up. Without him though, Lamb's the only healthy scratch, so I don't know.

Lots of options for Ward I suppose if someone isn't playing well.

[Wastedyouth]

I'm hoping T'spoon and Ramage get a look with Billins this season with the Flames. Those three are the only ones who will be battling for a spot in camp next year.

[Drury18]

Flames Future Watch feature is Ben Hanowski:

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=702516

He seems like future Captain material. Or assistant captain at least.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Yeah, nine defense is a lot. Clearly it'll be Lamb, McKenzie and Sieloff sitting, but yeah. I'm a little confused by the McKenzie call-up. Without him though, Lamb's the only healthy scratch, so I don't know.

Lots of options for Ward I suppose if someone isn't playing well.

Ward said on the Fan he felt he needs 8 defenseman to have practices at the pace he wants (and they'll be able to practice a lot over the next little bit with the homestand)

[madmike]

Can anyone who is watching the Heat comment on Baertschi?

His AHL stats are absolutely brutal - worse than his NHL stats actually. 4 points in 15 games and a -7.

[Alberta_Beef]

I think Baertschi has been invisible for a player of his ilk. He will show flashes and then you wonder if he is even in the line-up. Just not good enough if you ask me.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by madmike

Can anyone who is watching the Heat comment on Baertschi?

His AHL stats are absolutely brutal - worse than his NHL stats actually. 4 points in 15 games and a -7.

He has looked almost as brutal as his stats. He will have occasional flashes of brilliance, but not enough to be a factor in most games. Most games, I don't even notice him on the ice because his linemates and other Heat players are playing on a different level then he is right now. Friday was probably the best game from him in awhile, but he couldn't finish and bobbled the puck. That being said, he's also not doing things with the puck behind the play to get that quiet recognition that some guys make a career out of. He's a passenger right now, not someone who is supposed to be head and shoulders above everyone else there. He is being out-shined by Reinhart and Granlund, both players who should be "lower" then him.

He has hit a stall in his development and guys are going to start passing him on the depth chart because he's running out of time to use the "I'm the 6th overall pick" as a reason for getting where he is. He needs to put some hard work in and turn around his game and buying into the fact he is an AHL player and will be until he proves otherwise.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I think Baertschi has been invisible for a player of his ilk. He will show flashes and then you wonder if he is even in the line-up. Just not good enough if you ask me.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

...Could have saved myself 10 minutes of typing

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Drury18

...Could have saved myself 10 minutes of typing

I still appreciate the insight, never know when someone else may see something different.



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[davidbjordan]

Originally Posted by Drury18

He has looked almost as brutal as his stats. He will have occasional flashes of brilliance, but not enough to be a factor in most games. Most games, I don't even notice him on the ice because his linemates and other Heat players are playing on a different level then he is right now. Friday was probably the best game from him in awhile, but he couldn't finish and bobbled the puck. That being said, he's also not doing things with the puck behind the play to get that quiet recognition that some guys make a career out of. He's a passenger right now, not someone who is supposed to be head and shoulders above everyone else there. He is being out-shined by Reinhart and Granlund, both players who should be "lower" then him.

He has hit a stall in his development and guys are going to start passing him on the depth chart because he's running out of time to use the "I'm the 6th overall pick" as a reason for getting where he is. He needs to put some hard work in and turn around his game and buying into the fact he is an AHL player and will be until he proves otherwise.

I hope he isn't using that excuse, his memory wouldn't be very good.

In all reality it is becoming more and more apparent that sven took this year lightly. I think the positive that we need to take out of this season is that he learns how he needs to prepare and come ready to compete for next season. Hopefully we start seeing better and better performances as the year progresses.

[FlameZilla]

I like the sound of the Hanowski/Knight/Jooris line... Sounds like a ready-made energy line for the Flames.

Have they been performing well lately?

[Drury18]

The Abbotsford Heat announced today that they have recalled goaltender Olivier Roy and defenceman Drew MacKenzie from the Alaska Aces, the Heat’s developmental ECHL affiliate. In a related move, the Heat assigned forwards Zach McKelvie and Jordan Kremyr to Alaska.

http://www.abbotsfordheat.com/news/r...article_id=734

...are we firing Joey Mac out of a cannon towards the sun??? Not sure why we need 3 goaltenders.

Apparently Joey Mac isn't feeling great after taking the shot to the head.

[Roof-Daddy]

The only reasons I see for bringing up Roy are:

1. One goalie about to be traded
2. One goalie has been hurt, or is sick and may not be able to dress
3. They want to get Roy some practice time with Sigalet.
4. Brass doesn't care about having three Heat goalies, because they want a good look at Roy

[Drury18]

Apparently it's #2, Joey Mac has been feeling off since the shot to the head.

[TheDebaser]

Olivier Roy:
2013-14 Alaska Aces GP: 20 GAA: 2.10 Sv %: 0.922 SO: 4

[Fire]

I not a big believer in Roy but it's a shame he's hasn't been on the Heat to at least give him a chance to show his worth. Playing MacDonald is pretty much a waste.

[shogged]

Baertschi is going through his sophomore slump.