QOTD: Are the Flames re-thinking the Drew Shore situation?

[Erick Estrada]

Worst case scenario is he doesn't work out but given Knight was likely going to be in tough to crack the Flames roster in upcoming years I don't think there will be much regret.

[Enoch Root]

I agree with the 'nothing to see here' sentiment.

I think they want to get some bag skating in to get him into 'Flame' shape, while at the same time giving him some time to gain familiarity with the systems.

The one thing I found puzzling was the way they dealt with his one free game that they had in their pocket. Why spend it in Arizona when he wasn't up to speed with the team? If it were me, I would have had him practicing with the team for the past week (and skating hard), and then use that first game tonight against LA (his brother plays for the Kings).

Apparently, lots of family was heading to LA for the big event and now he isn't playing. Unfortunate. If they hadn't played him in Arizona, they could have played him tonight when he would be jacked for the event, after several days of practice, and still be waiver-free afterwards.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Worst case scenario is he doesn't work out but given Knight was likely going to be in tough to crack the Flames roster in upcoming years I don't think there will be much regret.

If we lose Shore for nothing, I'm sure we'll all be pissed for losing Knight for nothing.

[DoubleF]

Silly question... but who sits in the pressbox?

Do you think Treliving or Burke wants to chat with Shore about the contract, expectations as well as have him learn the system from above? Meeting management in person might be a reason to discuss thoughts on the system, what does he like, what management expects, what to consider and change, even comments about team mates etc.

I assume Shore is guaranteed a contract. Trading Knight and letting him float is dumb. Instead of doing that, you let Knight float, not go through this. There's really no point in putting it to the last minute either. Lock him up to a small contract, free mental resources to focus on trade deadline and not on silly grunts you're pretty sure you're signing.

That's my thought. I think Treliving is a "Let's get the ball rolling" guy, not a "We have time to evaluate" guy.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by FBI

If we lose Shore for nothing, I'm sure we'll all be pissed for losing Knight for nothing.

Of course, but the chances of this happening are practically nil.

I voted for Granlund forcing the Flames' hand. While I tend to agree that there is nothing at all unusual in how Shore is being handled, Granlund's strong game has at minimum provided a little more breathing room for the team to make a decision. There is no time limit for this season on how long before Shore plays his last game before being waiver-eligible, but with there being so few games in Adirondack this month, no harm, no foul in keeping him with the Flames, even if he stays in the press box.

[nik-]

He honestly didn't look in shape enough to play the Flames style in his one game. He didn't let himself get out of place, but he was sucking wind a few times.

[saillias]

We assume that coaching and management decisions are always 100% collaborative. Management can go out and get this player and envision him as our 3rd line centre... But Shore didn't make it difficult to scratch him. Guys like Ferland and Granlund and Jooris were balls to the wall when they got their chance.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Silly question... but who sits in the pressbox?

Do you think Treliving or Burke wants to chat with Shore about the contract, expectations as well as have him learn the system from above? Meeting management in person might be a reason to discuss thoughts on the system, what does he like, what management expects, what to consider and change, even comments about team mates etc.

I assume Shore is guaranteed a contract. Trading Knight and letting him float is dumb. Instead of doing that, you let Knight float, not go through this. There's really no point in putting it to the last minute either. Lock him up to a small contract, free mental resources to focus on trade deadline and not on silly grunts you're pretty sure you're signing.

That's my thought. I think Treliving is a "Let's get the ball rolling" guy, not a "We have time to evaluate" guy.

Shore has a contract.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by New Era

He's nothing more than a marginally better Corban Knight. He looked about as good as Corban Knight in his one game. He had a little more speed, but nothing else that made me feel like he'd be anything more than what Knight was. They should have kept him in Addy until he had 10 games in the Flames system under his belt before calling him up.

Seriously? One game with the Flames and you feel qualified to decide that Shore is a negligible upgrade on Knight?

He has more NHL games and substantially more NHL production than Knight. His 95 pts in the AHL are demonstrably better than Knight's overall AHL production, and Shore has far outstripped Knight this season. Given that Shore's numbers suggest he is likely a better player than Knight, I would be less inclined to make this decision after one game in which he looked unexceptional.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by saillias

We assume that coaching and management decisions are always 100% collaborative. Management can go out and get this player and envision him as our 3rd line centre... But Shore didn't make it difficult to scratch him. Guys like Ferland and Granlund and Jooris were balls to the wall when they got their chance.

Colborne was not.

Shore is in a similar type of situation, which is one that is most effectively handled with a modicum of patience.

[Robo]

cant see why the last game would have sealed his fate i thought he played well, probably just sitting him so he can learn the system as he looked out of position in the defensive zone a couple times . In the offensive zone though the line of bouma, shore, colborne had some very dominating shifts with their size

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Robo

cant see why the last game would have sealed his fate i thought he played well, probably just sitting him so he can learn the system as he looked out of position in the defensive zone a couple times . In the offensive zone though the line of bouma, shore, colborne had some very dominating shifts with their size

I agree with this. And if Granlund hadn't performed well in practice and then last game, I imagine they'd start Shore. Granlund has just given them more time to get Shore some review and practice time.

If Granlund shines in the upcoming games, they might consider sending Shore down to avoid his waiver status, but I think the current plan is Granlund goes down soon.

ETA: they also might be showcasing Granlund a bit.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I wouldn't be rethinking this one bit. Shore is better than Knight.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Shore has a contract.

I mean the waiver concern whatchamacallit that everyone seems so concerned about.

Sorry, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would still assume the Flames are higher on Shore than they were on Knight. His one game isn't likely to change the way the organization feels about him at this point. Every player has a bad game - there is not a single Flame in the lineup this year that hasn't had a bit of a stinker.

I am hoping he develops as Textcritic pointed out - Colborne. Not all prospects have a 'great' game, and even those that sometimes do often fizzle out anyways. Longer sample sizes + development will dictate which prospects eventually push themselves as full-time NHL'ers.

With that being said, nobody knows if Shore will be a solid NHL'er or not in time, or even if Knight goes on to have a better career than Shore. Flames were high on Shore (as were a number of other teams as well). Leads me to believe that this organization will give him every opportunity possible to become a full-time NHL player.

[saillias]

Colborne cracked the lineup when the team was terrible, he just had to be better than Westgarth, McGrattan, Blair Jones... Ben Street to keep a roster spot. And there are way more guys knocking on the door right now than there were then. And to top it all off the team is expected to be competing for a playoff spot. So Shore cannot be compared to Colborne in a vacuum like that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by saillias

Colborne cracked the lineup when the team was terrible, he just had to be better than Westgarth, McGrattan, Blair Jones... Ben Street to keep a roster spot. And there are way more guys knocking on the door right now than there were then. And to top it all off the team is expected to be competing for a playoff spot. So Shore cannot be compared to Colborne in a vacuum like that.

Shore just has to be better than Granlund. Or, if he plays wing, Bollig or Raymond or the oft discussed Byron. Jooris coming back complicates things, but they are slowing his return somewhat.

[Bingo]

I hate to find issues where there are none, I'm not a conspiracy guy, but I do think something changed.

a) he didn't play as they expected in Phoenix
b) he wasn't in the shape they expected
c) he is too far behind on systems
d) they didn't expect to be on a three game win streak when they called him up and suddenly they're back to playoff mode again

otherwise why call him up when they did?

[Yrebmi]

I voted for the first option as well, but dislike that it insinuates that Drew's one game appearance was a disappointment to the club.

I expect Drew Shore will play along side Emile Poirier in the 2015 AHL all star game slated for Jan 26. The Flames are keeping him waiver eligible until then.

[Gaskal]

He needs conditioning, that's all. I don't expect him to be played until his gas tank is up to scratch, and if reassigning to Adirondack will bring him up to speed sooner, then I'm all for it.