2013/14 General Heat Discussion Thread

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Potential Line-up:

Reinhart-Granlund-Jones
Baertschi-Knight-Locke
Klimchuk-Street-Poirier
Bancks-Jooris-Olson
Hanowski

Billins-O'Brien
Breen-Kulak
Smith-Arsene
Kanzig/Roy

Ortio

??

That's an absolutely filthy third line.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Potential Line-up:

Reinhart-Granlund-Jones
Baertschi-Knight-Locke
Klimchuk-Street-Poirier
Bancks-Jooris-Olson
Hanowski

Billins-O'Brien
Breen-Kulak
Smith-Arsene
Kanzig/Roy

Ortio

??

Add Greg Carr as the backup goalie.

The way Hanowski played last game in Abby, I can't see how he won't be back in the lineup. I'd take Jooris out. Also, Lafranchise is solid on the back end. I don't think Ward would take him out.

Either way, huge additions. Love it.

[BlackWallStreet]

Dang those lines are deadly

[Drury18]

Instead of posting another huge post, these are my predictions for the playoff lineup: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...6&postcount=55

As for the next three games? I think Ward goes full "Kid's Night Out" and sees what they have. The only predictions I'm even going to take a stab at are:

Reinhart-Granlund play together
Baertschi-Knight play together
SOB-Smith play together.

The rest? Get out the Coach Troy G Ward linemaker dart board. That's probably more accurate then I would be at this point.

[LockedOut]

Anyone try the AHL Live streaming? Wondering how the video quality is and how reliable is the connection.

[sureLoss]

Culkin assigned to the Heat

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
The #Flames have assigned Ryan Culkin (@Hulkinator) to the #AHLHeat ~ cflam.es/1pea2MX

[GreenLantern]

I did not know that Granlund was back, I thought his injury was year ending?

Excellent news.

[Roof-Daddy]

There, that's all of em now. (CHL draftees)

Kulak
Culkin
Roy
Kanzig
Klimchuk
Poirier
Gordon

...only ones without a "real" NHL contract are Roy and Gordon.

Roy has until June 1st 2015 to get signed or he re-enters draft
Gordon has until June 1st 2014 to get signed or he re-enters draft

[Roof-Daddy]

I gotta say, I am so excited about Kulak and Culkin.

Kulak - 6'1" 190lbs
Culkin - 6'2" 200lbs

Both are smart, excellent skating defensemen who, IMO, are very similar to and every bit as good of prospects as TJ Brodie was at their ages. However, both are bigger than TJ was at their ages, and Kulak has a better shot as well.

A lot of folks like to state how weak our defense prospect pool is, and I get why....but IMO it's really underrated, and I think that because of D men like these two.

I really look forward to watching them take the next step in turning pro, and hopefully they prove me right.

[PeteMoss]

Could the Heat field two teams yet?

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Could the Heat field two teams yet?

We now have 37 players on the roster. 21 forwards, 14 D, 2 goaltenders.

Would need a couple extra goalies, but yea could probably ice two teams.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Has anybody watched some of the practices lately? How has Gordon looked?

I still remember at the draft some sites listing him as a 'huge steal' where the Flames drafted him.

Also, I believe he went down a similar path to Jankowski in the MPHL, but then went into the WHL rather than NCAA. Anyone know why he went to the MPHL? I am assuming he got passed over in the WHL draft, but that is only my assumption.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Has anybody watched some of the practices lately? How has Gordon looked?

I still remember at the draft some sites listing him as a 'huge steal' where the Flames drafted him.

Also, I believe he went down a similar path to Jankowski in the MPHL, but then went into the WHL rather than NCAA. Anyone know why he went to the MPHL? I am assuming he got passed over in the WHL draft, but that is only my assumption.

He's looked okay. Not the greatest skater. They weren't really running 'system' drills, so I couldn't get a solid gauge on any of them. They were mostly running 'fitness' drills because Pittis and Thompson were in charge.

[Alberta_Beef]

Two games left and still no idea who we will face in the playoffs, could still play Grand Rapids, Toronto or Chicago.

Actually now that I look at the standings there is not a single playoff match-up set in the entire league and only 5 of the 16 playoff teams are locked into a specific seed. It's crazy that so many games still mean so much.

Games that impact the the Heat this weekend are:

Friday

Lake Erie Monsters @ Grand Rapids Griffins - A Grand Rapids win will lock them into the #2 seed and remove them as a possible Heat opponent in the 1st round.
Charlotte Checkers @ Milwaukee Admirals - Admirals are only 1 point back, but a Heat win and Milwaukee loss would lock the Heat in as the 5th seed in the West.
Chicago Wolves @ Rockford IceHogs - If the Wolves win out and Grand Rapids losses their final 2 games, then the Heat could play the Griffins in round 1.

Saturday

Grand Rapids Griffins @ Lake Erie Monsters - 1 Griffins win this weekend locks them into the #2 seed.
Milwaukee Admirals @ Chicago Wolves - This game could decide who the Heat's firs round opponent is.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I'm terrible at reading outcomes of standings, so thanks for this Alberta_Beef.

So basically, the chances of facing the Griffins in the first round is very slim. It's most likely that the Heat will take on either Toronto or Chicago, right?

If that's the case, it's a tough call who I'd like them to face.

Chicago has Jake Allen, the best goaltender in the league, so it'd be one hell of a series between him and Ortio. At the same time, when the Heat are "on" they can score in bunches regardless of who's in net. Cundari playing against his former team would be a neat angle. He's one of those guys you'd prefer not to play against haha.

Toronto, on the other hand, have been feeding on tired and beat up teams anytime they come into Ricoh Colosseum. They seem to get so many teams coming off of the second game of a back-to-back or three-in-three. So a healthy, rested Heat team could give the Marlies a run for their money.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I'm terrible at reading outcomes of standings, so thanks for this Alberta_Beef.

So basically, the chances of facing the Griffins in the first round is very slim. It's most likely that the Heat will take on either Toronto or Chicago, right?

If that's the case, it's a tough call who I'd like them to face.

Chicago has Jake Allen, the best goaltender in the league, so it'd be one hell of a series between him and Ortio. At the same time, when the Heat are "on" they can score in bunches regardless of who's in net. Cundari playing against his former team would be a neat angle. He's one of those guys you'd prefer not to play against haha.

Toronto, on the other hand, have been feeding on tired and beat up teams anytime they come into Ricoh Colosseum. They seem to get so many teams coming off of the second game of a back-to-back or three-in-three. So a healthy, rested Heat team could give the Marlies a run for their money.

Yes, Griffins is a very slim chance, they need to get no more than 1 point and Chicago needs to win both their games.

There is advantages and disadvantages to all, as well as storylines for each possible opponent too.

Marlies took advantage of tired teams, but have had a .600 winning percentage in each month of the year. They are also Colborne's former team. We tied the season series 2-2.

Wolves have the best goalie in the AHL but the BLues are pretty beat up so they have a bit of a depleted lineup with Jaskin, Cracknell and Porter with the Blues and as you stated there is the Cundari storyline. We never beat the Wolves this year going 0-4, but then again Ortio was with the Flames for each of the match-ups.

The Griffins are defending Champs and been one of the best teams all year and have the #2 goalie in the AHL. But the injuries to the Wings have them without Jurco, Nyqvist, Sheanhan and Glendening and the deadline saw Jarkrok get traded. They are also Billins former team. We went 1-3 against them.

Not that we are slouches. IMO Ortio is the #3 goalie in the AHL this year, we have one of the best offenses and our roster is finally stacked again and for the first time all year will have SOB, Billins, Smith and Breen all on the roster.

It's really a no win situation no matter how we slice it. We needed to finish in the top 3 to get a weaker opponent.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

There are so many young players on the Heat that professional playoff experience is a bit of a concern, so I checked to see who actually has some experience in the playoffs:

Our defence is by far the most experienced when it comes to the playoffs. SOB, Billins, Smith and Arsene. Breen only has 8 playoff games played.

On forward, Locke has the most pro playoff experience. After that, the rest of the forwards are fairly green.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

There are so many young players on the Heat that professional playoff experience is a bit of a concern, so I checked to see who actually has some experience in the playoffs:

Our defence is by far the most experienced when it comes to the playoffs. SOB, Billins, Smith and Arsene. Breen only has 8 playoff games played.

On forward, Locke has the most pro playoff experience. After that, the rest of the forwards are fairly green.

Yeah this is all true, but is pro playoff experience really more valuable than other big game experience?

Reinhart and Baertschi have been on teams that won their way into the Memorial Cup. Ortio starred for Finland in the WJC. Granlund has been to the WJC and was captain of the Under 18 team. Knight has been in the NCAA tournament (not the frozen 4), Billins in addition to his AHL experience played in the NCAA Championship and lost to Gaudreau and Arnold. Ferland played in the Memorial cup twice.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Yeah this is all true, but is pro playoff experience really more valuable than other big game experience?

Reinhart and Baertschi have been on teams that won their way into the Memorial Cup. Ortio starred for Finland in the WJC. Granlund has been to the WJC and was captain of the Under 18 team. Knight has been in the NCAA tournament (not the frozen 4), Billins in addition to his AHL experience played in the NCAA Championship and lost to Gaudreau and Arnold. Ferland played in the Memorial cup twice.

That's fair. Certainly solid experience to draw from.

[thymebalm]

I'm not sure there are any favorable matchups for the Heat in the playoffs. Wolves, Marlies, Griffins and Stars are all going to be difficult to beat, and we need to beat at least two of them.

You probably want the Wolves now, before they get anyone back from St. Louis.

It's a pity we don't have Wotherspoon and Ferland, but for the first time all season we have 99% of the roster assembled.

The Heat have a roster right now without any glaring holes. They have 3 potent scoring lines, one awesome defensive energy line, lots of veteran presence on the blue line, talented youth, a strong starting goalie.

The Heat have never looked like this.

I'm dreaming of a Calder Cup championship. The Headlines would be amazing if a team without a franchise won the cup. You'd probably get some awesome traction with the next fan base too.