Flames garbage bag day - May 12

[sureLoss]

Flames will clean out the dressing room and have exit interviews tomorrow.

Treliving and Hartley will address the media.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think we'll find out that there were some major injuries.

that the Flames are happy with the overall season but disappointed with the end result.

That there are lots of good pieces and while the Flames won't burn young assets or draft picks they will look at improving for next year.


Burke will show up with crazy hair and his tie un-done.

Hartley will create a new Hartleyism.

Have a great summer.

[FanIn80]

I have to say that I can't remember the last time I was this optimistic about "next year" at the end of a season. I'm usually pretty disappointed at the end of the season, and don't really get optimistic until post draft/FFA signings.

Mind you, I wasn't really disappointed at the end of last season. I was actually pretty excited about our finish and also about the upcoming draft. I wouldn't say I was all that optimistic about the upcoming season, though. I was really excited to see how Gaudreau would turn out and to see if Monahan would progress or not, but not overly optimistic about the team's success.

As for this year's end-of-season mindframe... I'm in full "bring-on-October" mode.

[hockey.modern]

New friendships were made this year and now they are splitting for the summer.

What friendships were made this year you ask? From outside of hockey I saw pictures of,

Monahan and Gaudreau
Gaudreau and Hudler
Ferland, Bennett Gaudreau
Bouma and Monahan became pretty close friends
Gaudreau and Jooris
Ferland and Jooris
Monahan and Jooris
The Team as a Whole

[Jacks]

I'm guessing that Monahan and Hudler were both playing with significant injuries, wouldn't be surprised if one of them needs surgery. Neither of them seemed quite right for last little while.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'm guessing that Monahan and Hudler were both playing with significant injuries, wouldn't be surprised if one of them needs surgery. Neither of them seemed quite right for last little while.

[Freeway]

One of the most interesting days of the entire year.
And a full month later than it was last year.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Freeway

One of the most interesting days of the entire year.
And a full month later than it was last year.

Yeah, seems as if some the facade and cliches are dismissed on the final day, since there won't be cameras or audio recorders in their faces for 3.5 months or so. Especially after a wildly successful season (and two or three bounces in the last two games away, from playing G6 at home tomorrow...to move to the 3rd round) where answers are more positive than talking about missing the playoffs.

Also, yes, the 1 less month of an offseason which always a bonus around the CP parts.

But, big changes ahead I'd think, probably more than initially anticipated given the success and experiences of the last season, and last two months. The plan can, and should, be accelerated.

Treliving got to see how these guys did when it matters; in a stretch run, and in 11 playoff games, and that gives him a much clearer evaluation (when he takes a step back) of the roster and who's who in the zoo and who can stay and who sould go. Toss in cap$, a lot of picks (to use or trade), increased UFA interest in Calgary, and some glaring holes and the ever-present size issue, next year's group won't look nearly the same overall as will be departing tomorrow.

[CroFlames]

I'm part of a tiny camp of people who don't necessarily think Mony is injured. Sure, bumps and bruises, but I don't think he's injured.

I think the Ducks played him perfectly, and he's a 20 year old Center who is learning to NHL. He had an outstanding reg season, and was learning what it takes to be effective in the playoffs.

I don't think Hudler's got any broken or cracked ribs either. Sure he took a beating from Regehr, and took the viscous crosscheck right before Backlund's OT winner, but again I think he was being effective shutdown by the Ducks.

Sometimes I think that people fall into the trap of only watching one team on the ice (hey we all do it, admit it) and then we yell at the screen WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH MONAHAN?? But in reality, nothing is wrong with him, the Ducks are just an incredibly well balanced and smart team.

I'm excited for next year, and more curious about what exactly was wrong with Bouma.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

New friendships were made this year and now they are splitting for the summer.

What friendships were made this year you ask? From outside of hockey I saw pictures of,

Monahan and Gaudreau
Gaudreau and Hudler
Ferland, Bennett Gaudreau
Bouma and Monahan became pretty close friends
Gaudreau and Jooris
Ferland and Jooris
Monahan and Jooris
The Team as a Whole

One would hope Monahan and Bouma were friends seeing as they lived together and carpooled to the rink. Then again, I think anyone could be friends with those guys as long as you took your job serious.

[Azure]

Strange to me how people think we'll go into next year with the exact same lineup.

I think the top 4 on D will be the same, and quite a few guys on forward, but I don't think guys like Jones, Shore, Bollig, Byron, Granlund will still be around.

A lot of holes were exposed, and the Flames need to fill them.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Azure

Strange to me how people think we'll go into next year with the exact same lineup.

I think the top 4 on D will be the same, and quite a few guys on forward, but I don't think guys like Jones, Shore, Bollig, Byron, Granlund will still be around.

A lot of holes were exposed, and the Flames need to fill them.

Out of the list, I can see Jones and Granlund being around. If Jones has a similar year as this year, can be a good asset to flip at the deadline. Plus his cap hit helps us reach the floor.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by agulati

Out of the list, I can see Jones and Granlund being around. If Jones has a similar year as this year, can be a good asset to flip at the deadline. Plus his cap hit helps us reach the floor.

He's a big winger who can score 10-20 goals, so you could be right, but the 2nd PP unit was non-existent in the last 30 games the Flames played, so they need to fix that.

There needs to be more offensive balance throughout the lineup. Can't depend on the 1st line to do everything. Some of that will come with Bennett, and with continued development from Colborne who could turn out to be an absolute beast and a few other guys.

Gotta think that more AHL guys will be given a full chance to make the 4th line. Not sure how a guy like Bollig fits in. Yes he's big and tough, but Ferland can play the same role and he's a lot better overall player.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm part of a tiny camp of people who don't necessarily think Mony is injured. Sure, bumps and bruises, but I don't think he's injured.

I think the Ducks played him perfectly, and he's a 20 year old Center who is learning to NHL. He had an outstanding reg season, and was learning what it takes to be effective in the playoffs.

I don't think Hudler's got any broken or cracked ribs either. Sure he took a beating from Regehr, and took the viscous crosscheck right before Backlund's OT winner, but again I think he was being effective shutdown by the Ducks.

Sometimes I think that people fall into the trap of only watching one team on the ice (hey we all do it, admit it) and then we yell at the screen WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH MONAHAN?? But in reality, nothing is wrong with him, the Ducks are just an incredibly well balanced and smart team.

I'm excited for next year, and more curious about what exactly was wrong with Bouma.

And this explains why Monahan and Hudler were even worse against the Canucks how exactly?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And this explains why Monahan and Hudler were even worse against the Canucks how exactly?

It doesn't. It's just speculation, just like everyone else is speculating they are injured.

I think that the West starting taking note of the big line in the last month or so of the season, and planned their defense around them. We did the same things with the Sedin's, letting them play on the perimeter.

Many great players go through ruts and lulls for stretches. It's normal. I don't think it was due to injury.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It doesn't. It's just speculation, just like everyone else is speculating they are injured.

I think that the West starting taking note of the big line in the last month or so of the season, and planned their defense around them. We did the same things with the Sedin's, letting them play on the perimeter.

Many great players go through ruts and lulls for stretches. It's normal. I don't think it was due to injury.

The tell for me was the sudden steep decline in Monahan's faceoffs. That alone tells me he is hurt.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by heep223

The tell for me was the sudden steep decline in Monahan's faceoffs. That alone tells me he is hurt.

Time will tell. My guess is that he felt all sorts of responsibilty to lead the team as the 1C, and started overthinking things too much. This explains him flubbing a couple pucks, and losing the puck with minimal pressure. This is good experience for him though. Much like a goal scorer that goes through a slump starts making dumb plays, when all he needs to do is relax.

I also think that during a playoff series, teams obviously study the heck out of their opponents. Being a 20 year old, he doesn't have too many faceoff tricks up his sleeve yet, and I think the more experienced Canucks (and Ducks) were able to exploit him a little.

One other thing that leads me to believe he doesn't have an upper body injury is that I didn't detect any less pace on his shots. He had some decent shots in both series.

[wingmaker]

I don't see why Hudler's ice time would drop as the playoffs went on if he wasn't injured.

With Monahan, he was clearly injured at the start of the Vancouver series. You don't have a player miss multiple days of practice just for the hell of it. It did seem like he was improving as time went on, however.

[Enoch Root]

Monahan:

1) missed practices
2) couldn't win a faceoff
3) shot was weak
4) actually turned away from a contact a few times
5) tested both his ankle and his shoulder at times while on the ice

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Yeah, I think it's pretty clear to even a casual observer that Monahan and Hudler were hurt, and probably not just in a "banged up at the end of the season" kind of way.

Rather, in a "wouldn't be playing if it wasn't the playoffs" kind of way.