Notes from Jan 13 Practice - Raymond likely scratch? 3 goalies on the road?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by flamesfan55

I still don't understand why Byron hasn't been a healthy scratch yet. I would personally rather see Raymond over Byron right now.

Byron is a far better player when he doesn't have the puck, be it defending or on the forecheck. Since neither of them are producing it makes sense to keep the more responsible one in the lineup

[hackamore]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

This is something I really don't get at all. He comes back from a significant injury and is essentially given no opportunity to produce or play in the top 6. The guy isn't going to get comfortable out there again unless he's playing regularly.

This would be fine but when you consider the fact that guys like Jones and Byron are pretty much left to play night in and night out while doing nothing it really makes you wonder.

He does not appear to be a Hartley player. He seemed to just be finding his game with Flames systems when he got hurt. He said his injuries are not to blame, but you can tell they have really affected his play, even the injury he had coming out of training camp slowed his start to the season. He has not had a lot of swagger since coming to Calgary. The other scratches to get guys going were one game, not multiple. Dressing Raymond for warm up and then scratching him in Vancouver was quite a slap in the face when you take into account how much crap he got from that fan base and Vancouver media. At least when Bolig got scratched against Chicago he knew ahead of time.

Raymond had good underlying numbers in Vancouver on the pk and finished in top five percent in stats last half of the season in Toronto, yet has no time in Calgary. Maybe a few shifts would help get his confidence back.

[MissTeeks]

Aaron Vickers‏@AAVickers1m1 minute ago
David Jones skated on a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund this morning. He seemed pretty impressed with Johnny. Go figure. (1/2)

Aaron Vickers‏@AAVickers57s57 seconds ago
Jones: "He sees a different game than I do. He’s one of those guys that can turn on a dime and fire the puck to you." (2/2)

[Lumby Lager]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

This is something I really don't get at all. He comes back from a significant injury and is essentially given no opportunity to produce or play in the top 6. The guy isn't going to get comfortable out there again unless he's playing regularly.

This would be fine but when you consider the fact that guys like Jones and Byron are pretty much left to play night in and night out while doing nothing it really makes you wonder.

Raymond has worked his butt off at earning his seat in the press box ( always earned never given ), he has just simply been horrible since coming back from the injury. IMO he was even horrible before the injury, he never engages at all, even Gaudreau plays the body more then he does ( I think Raymond has like 2 hits all season ). At least when Byron and Jones are not on the score sheet they show way more effort then Raymond and Byron hits alot for his size, does it quite well actually.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I'm excited to see what Shore brings but I'm also concerned that his waiver status gives him an unfair advantage over other prospects. Once he's up he pretty much has to stay up. If rather see him stay in the AHL and prove himself alongside other prospects before getting the call. Otherwise he's a parachute prospect

I guess the flip side could be that the waiver status works against him and he stays down longer than normal

I myself felt exactly the same way with Colborne and didn't even want us to acquire him for free as I felt that would send the wrong message to the other prospects - especially Horak.

Now Colborne is a guy that I absolutely love on the team and think he is becoming a valuable piece. Shore might be that one day.

I have thought about it since then, and I have come to this conclusion: All the other prospects in the organization will eventually reach the same waiver issue, or even decide not to re-sign on the Flames and force a trade. I think the prospects that deserve to be on the team will eventually earn their way up regardless of waiver eligibility, and this team will simply make room to deserving prospects.

Every prospect I am sure knew right away that Shore will get a nice long look whenever he is recalled, even if his initial play in the NHL leaves something to be desired. Though it must 'suck' to them, at least they will know that when they reach that issue, the Flames will give them a nice long look at minimum as well. I think it all evens out in the end, and I am sure prospects are aware of it.

[foshizzle11]

Did anyone hear on the Fan today that Bennett has a stall in the locker room now? I wonder what it means?? Seems interesting since a guy like Jooris didn't have a stall for quite a while this season.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

This is something I really don't get at all. He comes back from a significant injury and is essentially given no opportunity to produce or play in the top 6. The guy isn't going to get comfortable out there again unless he's playing regularly.

This would be fine but when you consider the fact that guys like Jones and Byron are pretty much left to play night in and night out while doing nothing it really makes you wonder.

Hmmm I watched Raymond earn his way to the dog house with some very very poor games. He has quite possibly been even less effective than Setoguchi.

This is what I like about this management team, Hartley has full power to use the players he wants. There is no leeway for guys to take 20 games to hit their stride. There are too many guys in the A that could take these guy's jobs

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

Did anyone hear on the Fan today that Bennett has a stall in the locker room now? I wonder what it means?? Seems interesting since a guy like Jooris didn't have a stall for quite a while this season.

I think one was made available when McGrattan was sent down.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

Did anyone hear on the Fan today that Bennett has a stall in the locker room now? I wonder what it means?? Seems interesting since a guy like Jooris didn't have a stall for quite a while this season.

The pic of Jooris a couple days ago confused me. I've been in the Flames locker room and it didn't look at all like the pic, and it also looked like there would be a surplus of stalls no matter how many players (within reason) were on the NHL roster.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by MattyC

it seems to be drying up for Hudler and Gaudreau since being separated.

They've been separated for one game, and Gaudreau got an assist on the Flames' only goal in that game.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by Parallex

True.

I think he comes up at or around the deadline. Since once he's up he has to stay up they'll want to be really Shore about him and if/when they're Shore about him they'll want him to play meaningful (top 9) minutes so they'll probably move a body first.

fyp

[djsFlames]

Stop splitting up Hudreau! Me no like.

[SuperMatt18]

I liked the look of the Jones-Backlund- Gaudreau line. Caused Jones to skate and was using his body better.

Actually like to see Hudler with Monahan to see if they can't get him going offensively again.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Stop splitting up Hudreau! Me no like.

I like them split up because they give us 2 lines. When we are on the power play, they should definitely be together (pretty sure they already have been). Besides, the Gaudreau - Backlund - Jones line was pretty effective last game, I'd like to roll with them again.

And I am on the boat of having Hudler with Monahan again, if a winger could get him going again, it's Hudler. Glencross with them makes a decent top 6 for us.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The pic of Jooris a couple days ago confused me. I've been in the Flames locker room and it didn't look at all like the pic, and it also looked like there would be a surplus of stalls no matter how many players (within reason) were on the NHL roster.

I'm pretty sure that pic was from their practice facility..

I'm sure they all have stalls at the dome.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Glencross-Monahan-Colborne;
Gaudreau-Backlund-Hudler;
Bouma-Granlund-Jones;
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

Would rather see this. I understand that Hartley is trying to get other guys going, but it seems to be drying up for Hudler and Gaudreau since being separated. I'd rather he keep them together and play with the other combinations.

The Gaudreau · Backlund · Jones line was the Flames best line in the Vancouver game, and I also thought Colborne and Granlund looked really good together at times. It has been one game. Give it at least a few to see if Glencross · Monahan · Hudler can get going.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Why? Raymond hardly even touches the puck, and when he does have it, its like a hot potatoe on his stick.

Based purely on offense, an argument could be made to scratch Byron as both he and Raymond have had basically no offense lately, although Raymond has better potential to go on a hot streak. But Byron does the little things so much better than Raymond: PK, forecheck, hitting, etc. If Raymond isn't on the score sheet he's close to useless.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

This is something I really don't get at all. He comes back from a significant injury and is essentially given no opportunity to produce or play in the top 6. The guy isn't going to get comfortable out there again unless he's playing regularly.

This would be fine but when you consider the fact that guys like Jones and Byron are pretty much left to play night in and night out while doing nothing it really makes you wonder.

The difference is that Jones and Byron, although not producing, are also not really hurting the team with stupid turnovers.

Raymond is terrible at managing the puck. Soft as butter, he's a scoring chance waiting to happen for the opposition every time he has the puck. I'd honestly, rather he not have the puck and just skate aimlessly around, because he turns it over when his teammates are on the attack, leading everyone to scramble to defend.

That's the difference. That's also why Sven was sent down cause he needed to work on that. I thought Sven made huge strides in this department right before he was sent back down, but by then it was about the numbers.

[Travis Munroe]

I like the split up of Hudler and Johny as a experiment.
Hudler makes players around him better and brings a huge offensive aspect to his line. Hartley obviously wants this to rub off on Mony.
This was made possible with the few shifts before the canucks game where Johny and Backs were playing together. They had instant chemistry and are both very creative.
Adding Jones to that line looks good on paper. Jones' best games are when he is skating and playing the body. Sometimes I don't think he realizes how big of a game he can play.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

I like the split up of Hudler and Johny as a experiment.
Hudler makes players around him better and brings a huge offensive aspect to his line. Hartley obviously wants this to rub off on Mony.
This was made possible with the few shifts before the canucks game where Johny and Backs were playing together. They had instant chemistry and are both very creative.
Adding Jones to that line looks good on paper. Jones' best games are when he is skating and playing the body. Sometimes I don't think he realizes how big of a game he can play.

I agree. Also, Hudler won't be around forever, so JG has to learn to play with other guys. His first game with Monahan and Jones wasn't good but the last one with Backlund was.