Notes from Dec 8 Practice - Hiller, Raymond to play vs Leafs. Colborne on road trip

[codynw]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Raymond: 7 points in 10 games. Ferland: 1 point in 9 games.

So you'd class Ferland as a better sniper/goalscorer than Raymond?

To be fair, if you only count games against NHL teams he really only has 4 points in 9 games. The hat trick against the Oilers shouldn't count.

[Gunkle]

It's time to move Bollig.
We're going to need the room, and he isn't dynamic enough.
Surely, he's the first veteran player to be moved.

I don't think that management should have any egg on their face for signing both Seto, and Bollig and having to move them.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Raymond "most likely" in the lineup tomorrow according to Hartley. #Flames

[sureLoss]

Hiller confirmed starter and Colborne will go on the roadtrip

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by saillias

Those goals do not exist in a vacuum, at the time Hudler was not really producing, Monahan was not producing etc. Now they are, Ferland fills a more important role. Raymond is not a top forward just because he started the season on a hot streak.

But you can't rely on them every game, there will be games coming up where they struggle as they get matched up against other teams top lines. They are hot at the moment, but they will go through dry spells. Putting a decent sniper like Raymond in at 3 gives us a bit of hidden punch which should get time and space against weaker opposition and alongside Granlund and Byron(maybe Ferland and Byron can rotate on that 3rd line?) I'd fancy him to get some points and get that 3rd line moving again.

Put it this way, this swap doesn't weaken the team. We are playing in the next few imo teams that are more reliant on skill and speed than they are on size and physicality. I think this will add more than it takes away.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Glad to see Colborne is going on this extended road trip and 'very close' to returning. It's too bad he won't be in against Toronto. Would of been fitting to see 2 guys back ready to face-off against their former team.

Agree with sending Baertchi back down, but an obvious preference would be to make a quality for quantity trade now that players are coming back. The entire team is rolling right now and the stock has never been so high for many Flames.

Edit: And for the love of god don't bench Glenny. Not only is he putting up points, but he's back to playing the gritty power forward game instead of the Rene Bourque game.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by saillias

Those goals do not exist in a vacuum, at the time Hudler was not really producing, Monahan was not producing etc. Now they are, Ferland fills a more important role. Raymond is not a top forward just because he started the season on a hot streak.

Are those 10 games the only evidence we have to suggest Raymond is capable of putting up points in the NHL or something?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Are those 10 games the only evidence we have to suggest Raymond is capable of putting up points in the NHL or something?

Apparently yes.

Last season didn't happen.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'm hoping Raymond's return can spark Granlund and Byron. Both have been a little flat recently.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

When can we scratch Glencross instead?

Originally Posted by HartAttack

Maybe we could just bench Bollig in favour of Ferland.

This.

[darthma]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Oh and I agree that I'd put Ferland in on the 4th line over Bollig. Yet to see what Bollig adds to that 4th line.

bad penalties. he adds lots of bad penalties.

[GioforPM]

If Ferland gets into a fight (and especially if he does well in it) it might be the end of Bollig. Because that's the only thing that Bollig possibly does better.

The ice is gonna break for Ferland points-wise soon as well. Funny, last time I looked he was still high up on the Addy scoring list, with half the games.

[DJones]

Just a little aside on Glencross. My buddys fantasy league gives points out for a bunch of secondary stats like shots/hits/blocks but Glencross is the 5th overall player in the league. Thought that was funny.

[Huntingwhale]

Glad to see Hiller get the next start. Ramo's played great, but I think Hiller comes in with something to prove and hopefully gets us the win.

[Grimbl420]

I am a little surprised with Hiller getting the start in TO. I would have thought he would slot in against Buffalo on the back to back games. Ramo has been nothing short of spectacular.

[Vulcan]

A 4th line of Ferland - Stajan - Bouma would be pretty decent and let us roll 4 lines. Ferland could still get about 10 minutes of ice time unlike McGrattan's 5 minutes.

[Toonage]

Once Colborne comes back, Bollig will likely be sitting anyway. Unless we want to demote Byron and give that spot to Ferland.

[GioforPM]

I foresee the 3rd and 4th lines being almost equal soon. With Johny and Hudler being locks on the 2nd, you can mix and match Raymond, Ferland, Stajan, Backlund, Colborne, Byron, Granlund, Jooris and Sven with one guy on the second and the others on the bottom 6 and one sitter depending on readiness and play, without losing much in any combo. Trade whichever of Gratts and Bollig gets the better return. Damn we are deep at forward.

[Caged Great]

You have to consider what's in Ferland's best interest developmentally as well. Is 7 minutes a night on the 4th line better than 15-20 in Adirondack?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

A 4th line of Ferland - Stajan - Bouma would be pretty decent and let us roll 4 lines. Ferland could still get about 10 minutes of ice time unlike McGrattan's 5 minutes.

So true. I wouldn't even call this the 4th line. More like either #3A or #3B