For the team to sustain I believe we need to keep seeing Monahan and Gaudreau take the offensive reigns from the forward group. Both have been scoring at impressive rates since their respective slow starts. They are playing together recently and have the skill to really take off IMO. Add Colborne to that line at RW and I like the looks of it a lot. Glennie-Backlund-Raymond would be a nice second line that could take the tougher matchups and provide a ton of speed. All of a sudden Hudler is playing on a third scoring line and heavy pp and this team has more scoring depth than many thought possible.
At this point I think the Brodano pairing will remain elite and with good goaltending playoffs are a realistic possibility
Brodie and Gio are on pace for roughly 80pts. Wideman is on pace for roughly 55-60pts. Russel is on pace for about 40pts.
I love this team as much as the next guy and agree with the majority of people that say that the Giordano\Brodie pairing is among the best in the league right now. They are just plain fun to watch.
But given the career averages in addition to the ebb and flows of a 82 game grind to go along with the added difficulty of competition as the season progresses it will be difficult for those guys to sustain that pace. I'm not saying its impossible, but its unlikely.
This post is likely a bit "Moonish" just defending my point is all.
Thanks for the reference. I had forgotten about that cranky fellow.
I would like to congratulate the 14 other posters (Arya Stark, CaptainSunshin3, dammage79, endeavor, Frank MetaMusil, habernac, jg13, Mister Yamoto, Mr.Coffee, robbie111, TapeToTape, TheDebaser, Tron_fdc, _Q_), besides myself, who were courageous enough to stand up and shout "YES!" and believe in the team.
Too early for celebrating but hopefully you're right.
Meh - mistakes happen, and Hiller is part of the team, anyway. Besides, it may or may not be Monahan against the likes of Ovie when Backlund comes back.
Which is why I'm glad Monahan wasn't benched for the OT. He has earned the right to make mistakes and remedy them on the ice.
But the meh attitude is exactly what I'm cautioning against. That was a brutal read and most seasons (after the Kipper glory days) that's 0 points. In the course of the full season, those plays will be the difference between playoffs or not.
As long as it was addressed and learned from then I'm happy!
__________________ Would there even be no trade clauses if Edmonton was out of the NHL? - fotze
If by some miracle, the Flames make the playoffs and the Avalanche dont I will laugh for days and days....
Do you think Iginla will jump ship at the deadline?
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"An idea is always a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize means to think." Georg Hegel
“To generalize is to be an idiot.” William Blake
Do you think Iginla will jump ship at the deadline?
Absolutely. If the Avs dont even make the playoffs? No question.
Hes 37, if he just wanted to play out his days and make a few bucks he could have done that anywhere, including here.
If they make the playoffs he might stay for his first year, otherwise I imagine hes gone.
He went to Colorado, I presume, under the impression that he could have stability, money and a shot at the cup, when in reality you usually only get one of those three.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Absolutely. If the Avs dont even make the playoffs? No question.
Hes 37, if he just wanted to play out his days and make a few bucks he could have done that anywhere, including here.
If they make the playoffs he might stay for his first year, otherwise I imagine hes gone.
He went to Colorado, I presume, under the impression that he could have stability, money and a shot at the cup, when in reality you usually only get one of those three.
I don't know... I'd give it a year before he really wants to jump to a different team.
I don't know... I'd give it a year before he really wants to jump to a different team.
How many years do you think he's got left? I'm with Locke on this one. He's gone at the deadline.
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"An idea is always a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize means to think." Georg Hegel
“To generalize is to be an idiot.” William Blake
- for the Flames to make it, obviously someone who made it last year will have to miss. Colorado and Dallas look terrible.
- This team can score. 2nd in the conference in goals, with Raymond and Colborne coming back soon, and the rookies improving every game. And a defence that drives the offence.
- This team can defend. Gio and Brodie playing lights out. Wideman and Russell don't stink this year. Hiller top 5 in every goalie stat with Ramo pushing him. And forwards that sort of give a crap about checking. (most nights)
- Management. Hartley is the right guy for the job. Burke is building a TEAM,knows when, and when not to make a move.
- Advanced stats say that they will not make it
Last edited by Mister Yamoto; 11-11-2014 at 01:39 AM.
I don't think Iginla would leave unless asked. Don't think he'd request a trade. At least not this year.
I think it's pretty clear Iginla is in the "I don't give a #### how, bad I'm winning a cup" mode. Everyone remembers the whole Pittsburgh/Boston trade tirade, he jumps ship immediately after failing to win to the place that was unacceptable to him 3 months prior, then he leaves them for the young team du jour in Colorado. He doesn't care about his image anymore now that he isn't a one city player. He has no affinity for anyone aside from how likely they are to win.
Edit: And if Colorado is floundering, knowing Roy he isn't afraid to be somewhat rash.
Do you think Iginla will jump ship at the deadline?
Doubtful, besides the point that he really isn't that kind of guy (I bet he wants some stability), no contender is going to have the cap space to take his contract. If he had a cap friendly contract, I could maybe see the option of it; but with the dollars and length he signed for, it would be almost impossible for any contender.
I actually kind of secretly hope that contract stays on the Avs books and we might be able to take a run at either Nathan MacKinnon to a offer sheet (ya ya ya I know, Burke) and if that fails, go after Tyson Barrie. Fills the 2 needs I see we have - a game breaking scorer, and a top 4 dman.
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"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
- for the Flames to make it, obviously someone who made it last year will have to miss. Colorado and Dallas look terrible.
Dallas was actually one of my predictions for becoming a contender - whoops! those 2 teams probably out, I think Vancouver will be in... Dallas and Colorado both have the talent to make a push back in, but I don't see both teams nudging out Vancouver, I think only 1 can come back... in the end, I bet this season comes down to Flames vs Dallas/Colorado. In that 3 horse battle, I like Dallas, but I think we got a good shot.
(Edit: appears I forgot Nashville in all of this... maybe a 4 horse battle, Dallas I think can still go for it, but its close between Dallas and Nashville for me. I think we'll be in the thick of things, but its gonna be tough.)
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"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
Last edited by Phanuthier; 11-11-2014 at 02:00 AM.
This is a team that will rely on hard work and doing the small, basic things better than more skilled ones. In a 82 game schedule in arguably the toughest division in hockey I think skill will end up on top.
There are a lot of pieces in place to match the skill with hard work but at this point I am guessing the youth won't be able to consistently do the basics night in night out like veteran teams can do. Gaudreau/ monahan might end up being players who can end up shouldering the loads of playoff teams but at this point a recent college graduate and a young center looking at getzlaf/ Thornton/ backstrom etc... Will have a few too many bumps this year.
Doubtful, besides the point that he really isn't that kind of guy (I bet he wants some stability), no contender is going to have the cap space to take his contract. If he had a cap friendly contract, I could maybe see the option of it; but with the dollars and length he signed for, it would be almost impossible for any contender.
I actually kind of secretly hope that contract stays on the Avs books and we might be able to take a run at either Nathan MacKinnon to a offer sheet (ya ya ya I know, Burke) and if that fails, go after Tyson Barrie. Fills the 2 needs I see we have - a game breaking scorer, and a top 4 dman.
Isn't Burke's problem being blind-sided by an offer sheet and not offer sheets themselves? I think he actually gave an additional first to Boston than Kessel's then contract would have entailed, because he believes you have to overpay to get someone in an offersheet(which passes the sniff test).
Rather than strap the Leafs with an enormous enough contract that Boston wouldn't match(6m plus a year entered 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd territory) he traded for his rights, and gave Boston the 2 1sts and a 2nd, so he could sign Phil to a more market friendly(ie: no Penner-like contractual "grenade") deal at 27/5. The compensation for that would have been "only" a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd - likely not enough to entice Boston to not match. Thus both teams got what they want. Pretty creative move.
Sorry to go off on a tangent. Anyways, I'm sure if Mackinnon is available and with Roy who knows what happens in the future, then the point is RFA status won't scare Burke.
If by some miracle, the Flames make the playoffs and the Avalanche dont I will laugh for days and days....
I think it would be funnier if they both made it, ended up playing each other, and Calgary won the series. Maybe that's just me, lol.
But I think like much of this board I'm seeing much potential for a playoff berth should they keep up a good pace and not falter in the last couple months(thankfully they don't wear leaf Jerseys).
It would also be great to see them make the playoffs so early in a rebuild as opposed to the rivals up north who are in the 8th year of their 5 year rebuild plan I believe.
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Scottsdale Police spokesman said Brett's speech was slurred, but in his defense, they may not have heard a Sutter talk before. And CalgaryPuck needs a "no thanks" button.
Way too early to tell if they're a playoff team, but I'm sure they're not a bottom 4 team. I'm already resigned to the fact that we won't get McDavid, Eichel, or Hanefin (unless by some miraculous chance we win the draft lottery).
