Brad Treliving on Sportsnet 960 around 3:30pm

[sureLoss]

Rob Kerr @FAN960RKerr
Around 330pm this afternoon on @Sportsnet960 #Flames GM Brad Treliving in studio.

[FBI]

Talking about the cundari waiving? Or anything interesting?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Probably the preseason performances thus far, will probably give information that we already know. But it's good to hear it from our GM.

[sureLoss]

Summary:

very pleased with how things have gone, people are separating themselves

can honestly say that none of the messages to the guys sent down were scolding

all players are going down with the right message

expectations of Elson were low but he put himself on the map

nothing disappointing thus far, met expectations or exceeded them



trying to get veteran players ready, evaluation of vets is not as deep as young player

trying to give lion share of ice time to young guys

there are some players who are in serious contention for roster spots

season isn't over if you don't make opening day roster

veterans are pushing young group and young group is pushing veterans



message to young players is you need to be everydayers, it is great to come and have a good camp, but need to be everyday professionals

going to have some difficult decisions on narrowing roster to 23

no guarantee that roster will be at 23 but expects it to be at that number


no injury that he would consider long term right now

ideally training camp size would be thinner than it is now

Backlund is progressing

all of the [injury] stuff is soft tissue (e.g. groins) that isn't serious but could nag through out season

Smid is turning the corner and is now a conditioning issue


can't help but be impressed with Sam

his attitude around the game, you won't think it was his first preseason NHL game

thought he came through with flying colours in both games

has dealt with some bumps,

has a bump in the Vancouver game that they will get an update with tomorrow

still being evaluated. day to day evaluation

going to do what is best for Sam and the organization


Johnny has been okay

still feeling his way around

last night there was up and downs in his game

still learning what to do without the puck

getting lot of opportunities in offensive situations

can't help but be excited about his offence


we got some very good young players

ultimately these players are going to decide when they are going to be here full timers


really wants to see Colborne in the middle

he has been ok at center, still a work in progress

Bob has some thoughts on where Colborne should play, but have been encouraged by his play so far in the middle

whether he ends up there we will see, but a big body that can distribute the puck down the middle is nice



goal scoring is a concern

going to have to do it by committee

blueline is going to have to help, strength of team last year was offence from the Giordanos and Brodies



thinks they can get something off the waiver wire

identified players they could potentially get in July

scouts are watching the games right now

whether they are active remains to be seen

sometimes it is not just a big name, but a developing player that has been in the AHL for a while that a team is trying to sneak through waivers



getting close to decisions on try outs, picture becoming clearer



goaltending has been a strong suit in camp so far

can't help but be encouraged by Kari's performance so far

Jonas has been good, both are pushing eachother

no decision made on starter, there is competition


The end

[codynw]

Have to think it's Gaudreau, Ferland and Bennett that are the ones in "serious contention for a roster spot". Maybe Granlund before he got hurt. Has anyone else stood out that much?

[AC]

Baertschi has looked good.

I'd say its Baertschi, Bennett, Ferland, and Gaudreau pushing for a spot.

[ForeverFlameFan]

They extracted 5 teeth from Smid? Woah.

Apparently, Smid had a bad infection in his teeth, so they took out 5 teeth.

[FlameZilla]

Glad to hear they want Colborne to stick as a centre. It was nice that he produced well as a RW, but it seems like a waste of potential when he could be plying his trade down the middle.

One of these days Stajan is going to be completely expendable. That will be a happy day (with all respect to Stajan his years with the team). It will be nice to close the chapter of that book...

[UKflames]

thinks they can get something off the waiver wire

identified players they could potentially get in July

scouts are watching the games right now

whether they are active remains to be seen

sometimes it is not just a big name, but a developing player that a team is trying to sneak through waivers

This is what i love to hear, any chance you can grt something for free you look real close and go for it. I know they have to stay on the roster or opened up to waivers again but it is still an opportunity.

[dammage79]

In regards to the D contributing, also lumped Russell in with Gio and Brodie.

My take in terms of Stajan. He's been an anchor on the team and a valuable vet but Colborne, Monahan, Bennett and Granlund can force him out. Would be interesting to see how that's dealt with if they decide to go that way with the centers. Especially if Backlund is at the stage where he becomes the stabilizing vet at some point early on.

I'm aware the common theme around Bennett is that hell maybe get the nine games but from what we are seeing right now, this may be another Monahan moment.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by UKflames

This is what i love to hear, any chance you can grt something for free you look real close and go for it. I know they have to stay on the roster or opened up to waivers again but it is still an opportunity.

I agree that it's a good strategy, but he could be putting up a better poker face there; "No, we're not looking at other teams' potential waiver fodder... We'd never dream of picking up one of those talented youngsters. Other teams should feel free to put anyone on the waiver wire because we will definitely not pick up anyone."

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I agree that it's a good strategy, but he could be putting up a better poker face there; "No, we're not looking at other teams' potential waiver fodder... We'd never dream of picking up one of those talented youngsters. Other teams should feel free to put anyone on the waiver wire because we will definitely not pick up anyone."

They don't have to. They already got their man on waivers. Welcome back 44!

[Wastedyouth]

Sounds like they are going after Elliott. Me like.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by UKflames

This is what i love to hear, any chance you can grt something for free you look real close and go for it. I know they have to stay on the roster or opened up to waivers again but it is still an opportunity.

Totally the right thing for the org. to be doing, smart to grab someone with long term upside in our position if they become available.

But OMG, the crying and whining that will go on in here if it happens and this waiver wire acquisition gets to stay up in the NHL while some other fans favourite young player who can be sent down doesn't get as "much time in the NHL as this new player despite earning it as much as the new player did, it's not fair, it's not just, what kind of message........blah, blah". It will become close to intolerable.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

They don't have to. They already got their man on waivers. Welcome back 44!

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Johnny has been okay

still feeling his way around

last night there was up and downs in his game

still learning what to do without the puck

getting lot of opportunities in offensive situations

can't help but be excited about his offence

That's why he's going to spend most of this season in the AHL.

[djsFlames]

It's not a big enough issue with Johnny for him to spend "most of the season" in the AHL. A month or two, tops. He backchecks well and is better than most at reading plays and picking off passes and turning the play up ice. It's not a huge issue but there's an adjustment period, regardless. He's too good to spend the entire season in the AHL. Not when he can make an impact on the big team.

[Goriders]

Would not be surprised to see Sieloff get a shot at the big club this year. Probably not at the start of the season since he missed all of last year.

But we need a guy like him to KABONG oilers and canucks coming up the ice with thier heads down. We haven't had a guy like that for a while.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by UKflames

This is what i love to hear, any chance you can grt something for free you look real close and go for it. I know they have to stay on the roster or opened up to waivers again but it is still an opportunity.

they don't have a lot of contracts left to throw around. So if they grab anyone I'd be surprised if it's more than one. Unless we can trade one of our plugs.

But who's going to want our scraps?

[Wastedyouth]

Apparently picking guys pockets in the neutral zone is Gaudreau "not knowing what to do away from the puck."

Amusing.