[Game Takes] Sharks 3 Flames 2

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

You can rotate through guys like Bouma/Ferland/Bollig/Byron etc. They don't have to sit in the press box permanently like McGrattan.

Byron and Bouma should not be rotating in. They should be in the lineup every game. I agree that they could go with Ferland over Bollig. Doesn't do anything for Granlund though.

[belsarius]

I would love to see Mcgrattan in a coaching role. I really think his energy and personality has rubbed off in the dressing room, especially on the bulked up Monahan. He doesn't fit on this team playing, but I think he is actually a pretty important cog in the machine at this young stage. Some people may scoff at the joking around, the pranks the possible twitter fun, but I believe its this attitude that has really helped cause the team to gel and become a family.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by stone hands

They might get claimed, but id rather waive bollig and mcgrattan than send down Ferland and granlund. Rolling 4 lines > rolling 3 lines + 5 mins of ern skating circles in the neutral zone

I think it may go something like this. Raymond comes back and Baertschi goes down. Backlund comes back and Granlund goes down. Colborne comes back and Ferland goes down. Unless we need to make room for Jooris, having McGratten sitting is better than having one or two of our prospects sitting.

[flamesfever]

I'm glad you acknowledged Paul Byron...he does so much for this team, both offensively and defensively. He plays like he's twice his size. I hope he is appreciated and rewarded accordingly next year.

[nik-]

I don't see how Wotherspoon is going to do a worse job on the 3rd pairing than Smid/Engelland/Diaz are doing. I don't think that "only" getting 12 minutes a night in the NHL is going to hinder his development. He belonged last year, we should bring him up at this point.

[ricardodw]

Hartley is playing with fire with Diaz obviously being his Swiss favorite.


Diaz is not a valid NHL #7 defenseman.

He make Butler look solid.

He has nothing to earn any ice time.

Engelland and Smid are the #2 defense pairing killing penalties. Dressing Diaz makes Wideman have to kill penalties (3:48) this game and pump up his minutes 28:44 so he is a bit tired when he is going for the tying goal.

[sa226]

I think the problem with Diaz is that he needs to play more to get comfortable (ie more games) It must be hard to be scratched for 5 games and then jump in at the pace that this team plays. But you don't want to play him more because he isn't very good.

In other words, I think he is a better player than what he has shown, but not by much.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Diaz is not a valid NHL #7 defenseman.

He make Butler look solid...

I generally agree about Diaz here, but let's be clear about one thing: Butler is making Butler look solid. 1 assist, a plus-1 rating, and second among defensemen in ice time for the Blues in their last game.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

You mentioned McGrattan in the lineup, but he was on the fourth line, not the third. The lines at the end of the article also show Bollig as being dressed.

Thanks for the write up as always.

I'm not convinced that Ferland has passed Granlund yet, but it's closer than it was.

I don't think it has anything to do with who is ahead of who. They are completely different players and play different positions.

I don't think there is any question that Granlund goes down before Ferland. Ferland is a big fast winger who plays the body. Glencross and Bouma are the only other guys that bring both speed and size. Ferland fits the mold of the team and he fills a position they are lacking in.

Granlund is a solid player, but there are a bunch of Cs ahead of him. When Backlund is back, I don't see any way that Granlund stays up.

Jooris is insanely valuable. He brings speed and some physicality. He is good in the dot (unlike Granlund). He can move up and down the lineup, and is just as effective on the wing as at C. He kills penalties (the 5 on 3 last night was unbelievable). And he is providing at least as much offense, if not more, than Granlund.

IMO, Jooris stays over Granlund. Ferland is a separate issue, but he stays, period.

So Baertschi, then Granlund.

If they still have too many bodies, they have to look to make a move because there is no way that Jooris and Ferland shouldn't be in the lineup.

(and I assume it goes without saying that Gaudreau doesn't need to be discussed)

[Enoch Root]

Culkin is not close to NHL ready.

Wotherspoon is a very good skater. He also has good size, but doesn't throw too many hits. His game is actually far more suited for the Flames than Smid and Engelland's are. To be clear, I don't dislike those guys (especially Smid) and I think the FLames desperately need some size on the backend, but the type of game that the Flames are playing doesn't really suit them. Wotherspoon is for sure a better fit.

Having said that, I have no problem with him continuing to play big minutes in Addy. In fact, I would rather that be the case. This is still a rebuild season after all.

Maybe look to bring Wotherspoon up in February or March. But not now.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Assume Hiller again in Toronto as well?

I'd say it's almost a certainty. Not that Ramo was at fault last night, but he's had a nice small run and now's a good time to get Hiller some playing time again. I don't want either one of those guys sitting for too many games, unless the other is absolutely lights out.

[dammage79]

Smid looks like the inevitable is coming, I know the man is a tank but once every two games or so he goes down in a heap and slowly heads to the bench. I can see him getting some vacation time to heal up soon. The man takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', but getting older doesn't help that.

Engelland needs some serious stick coaching. other than that he's been okay, can't handle a puck though. Canot count how many times he's los the puck on a stick handling move or just cannot corral it.

So after watching Wotherspoon last season up with Calgary, he could slot in at any moment and not miss a beat from where he left off last season. It was mentioned a bit last year where some players' game isn't good in the AHL and is better suited for the NHL, Wotherspoon is one of those guys. If you have to lop the head off of one of the bottom six to make it happen, they should really do it. Wotherspoon to me is like Granlund when he was on the Farm, has no real business being there save for recovering from injury.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't think it has anything to do with who is ahead of who. They are completely different players and play different positions.

I don't think there is any question that Granlund goes down before Ferland. Ferland is a big fast winger who plays the body. Glencross and Bouma are the only other guys that bring both speed and size. Ferland fits the mold of the team and he fills a position they are lacking in.

Granlund is a solid player, but there are a bunch of Cs ahead of him. When Backlund is back, I don't see any way that Granlund stays up.

Jooris is insanely valuable. He brings speed and some physicality. He is good in the dot (unlike Granlund). He can move up and down the lineup, and is just as effective on the wing as at C. He kills penalties (the 5 on 3 last night was unbelievable). And he is providing at least as much offense, if not more, than Granlund.

All very good points. Honestly, the reason I see Ferland going down before Granlund is for a lot of the reasons you mention, combined with the fact that I think Backlund will be the last of the injured players to return to the lineup. Granlund has been very responsible defensively, even when he's not scoring, and I think we'll see two of Jooris, Colborne, and Raymond on the wings. That will squeeze another body out on the wings, but still leave us needing a center until Backlund returns IMO.

Of course, one could just as convincingly argue that two of Jooris, Colborne, and Raymond should play at center, which squeezes out Granlund and leaves a spot for Ferland.

It will be interesting to see it unfold.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

All very good points. Honestly, the reason I see Ferland going down before Granlund is for a lot of the reasons you mention, combined with the fact that I think Backlund will be the last of the injured players to return to the lineup. Granlund has been very responsible defensively, even when he's not scoring, and I think we'll see two of Jooris, Colborne, and Raymond on the wings. That will squeeze another body out on the wings, but still leave us needing a center until Backlund returns IMO.

Of course, one could just as convincingly argue that two of Jooris, Colborne, and Raymond should play at center, which squeezes out Granlund and leaves a spot for Ferland.

It will be interesting to see it unfold.

I don't believe Raymond plays centre at all but whoever comes back first between Backlund and Colborne should replace Granlund at centre. I like Granlund but he could use a little more seasoning.