[PGT] Embarassing loss to Sharks 5-2

[Displaced Flames fan]

Lost one for Auston?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by New Era

This season has been over for almost a month now. The only thing preventing people from seeing that around Halloween was denial. This team is a mess, and it shouldn't be. There are to many good pieces and building blocks on it to be the mess it is. The problem is there are too many vets that can't deal with the pace and intensity of the game any more, and it shows. The sad thing is that many of these guys are the ones management and the coaches like so it is unlikely they are going to be moved any time soon, and we'll watch another year of development for our young players wasted. For this team to really get better in the long term management has to get their heads out of their asses and start clearing the roster.

Wideman needs to go, like yesterday. He should have been moved in the off-season while his big number season was in the minds of other GMs. Now the real Dennis Wideman is on display and we'll be lucky not to have to add an asset for someone to take that salary off our hands. This is a guy where we get better just by not having him on the roster. Treliving needs to move him, even if it means contracting with NASA to use the new Orion platform to fire Wideman into the sun.

Russell needs to be moved immediately as well. Hartley just loves to rely on Russell for some reason, but he's just gawd awful out there. The reason he blocks so many shots is he gives away the puck in his own zone so often and feels obligated to get in the way! He's another guy that is just horrible out there and looks to be getting worse. Hopefully Treliving can rally that blocked shots stat into a 4th round pick or something. The most important thing Treliving can do here is to get Russell off the roster so Hartley can't rely on him any more.

As much as I want to see Bolig, Raymond and Jones moved, the first forward I want traded is Backlund. I am quickly believing he is the poster-boy for the 2015-16 Flames; not good and over-used in every situation. I don't understand why he's eating up any time at center when he sucks so bad at the position. Hartley is playing Bennett out of position in favor of Backlund? WTF??? The highest drafted player in team history, with the highest pedigree at that position, is being played out of position in favor of Mikael Backlund? Again, Treliving needs to take Hartley's toys away from him and give him only the assets he needs. Keep doing this until he starts to ice the team that has a future in this league. If Hartley doesn't want to play the future, then make a smart move and put Hartley on that same Orion booster you've got Wideman on.

While Treliving is at it, please make sure Hudler is moved for something and don't follow the Burke mindset of I'd-rather-get-nothing-than-take-less-than-I-want. We need to get assets to use to move our unmovable assets. You're going to need another draft pick to entice someone to eat Wideman or Stajan's contract, so make sure you get something for every player possible!

I still contend the thing missing the most from last year to this year is the youthful enthusiasm. The Flames need an injection of youth every single year. This year it should have been from the likes of Arnold, Agostino and Poirier. Those guys should have been taking the places of Raymond, Bolig, and Stajan/Backlund. You could add Kulak and Nakladal to the mix on the blueline as well. These guys would be giving it their all just because it is the NHL and they want to stay. Instead we have a bunch of slugs who are at the end of their string and struggling to hold on. Think that might be why the team sucks?

Our playoff hopes are done, but that doesn't mean the season is done. We still have 58 games to bring up the kids and see what they have to offer, whether they are NHL players or whether we need to find other talent in the off-season. Get the damn trades done and get on with getting the youth in the line up and seeing where we stand. We have nothing else to lose at this point.

i don't think it was over a month ago, it is now though.

Wideman gets you nothing substantial, maybe a 2nd, and he has to approve the trade.

Russell also gets you nothing substantial, maybe a 4th.

Backlund might get a 2nd and a prospect.

Bollig, Raymond, Stajan don't get you anything substantial, more 4th round picks?

Most of these will have to be depth moves at the deadline, for teams that are making a run. None of these guys is likely in demand.

With all of these guys I think the benefit is, as you say, getting them off the roster to make spots for development players.

IMO the Flames will have to make moves of substance to fix some of the issues on this team and that might involve moving guys that we like a lot.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Lost one for Auston?

Gettin' Messy for Jesse

[Matty81]

Just depends on how many other teams are selling. If the pack stays tight, the flames could really rake in some good returns even though ome of the rental players are not gems. And Hudler will bring in a very good return regardless.

I think a season like this where they move out some dead wood, add another potential young all star through the draft and stockpile more prospect depth, is crappy but realistically improves the team's chances of winning the cup longer term.

The part I hate is that it is happening just as the nhl revamps the lottery to punish tankers... Which the flames are clearly not.

Odds of getting Matthews are bad no matter what. At least the next two finnish kids look really good if it comes to that.

[CaptainCrunch]

If this was the team that we got last year, it would have been expected and accepted, but we got hideously spoiled last year, as the team found something within themselves that made them massively over achieve.

But this team is on the verge of or has embarrassed itself. If they were working hard I could accept it, but I don't see that peerless work ethic, and I get that when your down its hard to work your way out of things.

While there are bright spots you can see that they're starting to fade as they get beaten down.

I guess what I want to see is a team that clearly gets pissed off about losing like this team is losing, but instead I'm seeing a team that folds its tent to easily and mentally states that maybe tomorrow night will be better.

I comfort myself by stating that this team is still rebuilding, but the transition of leadership is a ways away.

[polak]

Hah at least we got the oilers beat for the worst team in the league. We have at least 5 Ferences.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

i don't think it was over a month ago, it is now though.

Wideman gets you nothing substantial, maybe a 2nd, and he has to approve the trade.

Russell also gets you nothing substantial, maybe a 4th.

Backlund might get a 2nd and a prospect.

Bollig, Raymond, Stajan don't get you anything substantial, more 4th round picks?

Most of these will have to be depth moves at the deadline, for teams that are making a run. None of these guys is likely in demand.

With all of these guys I think the benefit is, as you say, getting them off the roster to make spots for development players.

IMO the Flames will have to make moves of substance to fix some of the issues on this team and that might involve moving guys that we like a lot.

I am starting to think Wideman has put himself back onto the un-tradeable list. I can't see any team wanting to pay him $5 million next year. I guess if the flames would eat 50% of his salary they could get a 2nd. That's a big "if". Have not seen many or any teams for that matter eat up 50% of salary in trade.

I think the flames can get a 2nd for Rusell depening on how many d-men are on the market come the deadline.

Raymond does not get you a 4th. No team is trading for him and i will be shocked if he is not bought out at the end of the season.

[polak]

Even Gaudreau is slumping. It sucks. There's really zero reason to watch the games anymore besides being a sadist/masochist, cause no one is going to convince me that this is entertaining.

We're all sick, twisted people.

Also I'd say that none of our players besides Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett and Brodie have any value. There's nothing good coming out of this season besides the draft pick.

[AcGold]

The worst part of all of this is Gio playing like a novice. He was one of the best in the league, now he's one of the worst. That's a hard pill to swallow.

[dirk diggler]

At some point, they need to play Ortio more than once a month and see what they have. same with Granlund, he needs to stay up all year, see what you have with a larger sample size than just one game... nobody could have forseen this to be the worst flames team of all time.

[TKB]

Originally Posted by AcGold

The worst part of all of this is Gio playing like a novice. He was one of the best in the league, now he's one of the worst. That's a hard pill to swallow.

I still think he is having lingering issues from his injury last season. The guy was Norris level good last year and all of a sudden drops off to looking like a AHLer? something isn't right.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Gettin' Messy for Jesse

Give the opponent a hat trick for Patrick

[polak]

Originally Posted by TKB

I still think he is having lingering issues from his injury last season. The guy was Norris level good last year and all of a sudden drops off to looking like a AHLer? something isn't right.

An arm injury doesn't cause you to make absolutely terrible decisions with the puck.

[Gaskal]

[GranteedEV]

I'd prefer if it were more like:

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by polak

An arm injury doesn't cause you to make absolutely terrible decisions with the puck.

At this stage it's a lot about confidence. He has none right now. Every mistake he makes ends up in his net.

I'm worried about him but also hoping he figures it out once the team gets better next year.

[Travis Munroe]

You have the same team as last year with a couple of solid additions.
There is absolutely no excuse to be in this position and there is 1 person on the hot seat imo - Hartley.
Last year is last year...

[sharkov]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'd prefer if it were more like:

So you're saying this season's suckyness a catalyst for next seasons stanley cup victory? Quick plan the parade!

[DuffMan]

I think it's time we go for the non athletic, big fat goalie, experiment. It can't get worse.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I think it's time we go for the non athletic, big fat goalie, experiment. It can't get worse.

I wonder if we can put all 5 guys in net with the goalie? Never move, and just wait for OT.