What is there to do about Special Teams

[JJ1532]

With the PP, is it worth totally switching things up and using 4 forwards and 1 defenceman? A number of other teams use this set up, so is it worth a try? Boston I'm pretty sure use it, and they have the best PP in the league. I know its not as simple as just switching things up, but for me, the 3-2 system we use now just isn't working, nor is switching personnel around. So now is the time to make some more radical changes.

The reason I think why we are struggling is because there seems to be no strategy. We also seem to really struggle with the basics like winning the face off to allow the immediate set up and with zone entries. We don't seem to know who takes what role on each unit, there is no pace, no direction, nobody leading it. It just seems like a disorganised mess. Is that coaching? Is that personnel? I don't know, but it has to improve, otherwise we'll find making the playoffs goes from hard to almost impossible.

As for the PK, yes the goaltending has been a consistent let down, but the PK units for me stink. Remember 2 years ago when we led the league in shorthanded goals? This season, not a dickiebird and we don't even look like getting one. We rarely get break aways, never get odd man rushes, never look like squeaking a shortie. Why is that?

In more detail, the face off winning percentage on the PK is garbage.

Take the last 3 seasons including this one for PK face-offs:

13/14: Backlund(84-85) 49.7% Stajan(74-97) 43.3%
14/15: Backlund(29-45) 39.1% Stajan(43-49) 46.7% Monahan(51-51) 50%
15/16: Backlund(16-28) 36.4% Stajan(23-19) 54.8% Monahan(8-23) 25.8%

Stajan has gotten better over the last 2 years, but man, Backlund and Monahan have been brutally bad and they have both been worse than last season. That has got to have an impact on the PK effectiveness surely?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Face offs are a red herring here IMO. They're at 53% on the PP which is middle of the road. On the PK their second worst at 39.9%, but average is only 46%. With the extra 12 wins to get to average (assuming your 15% is correct), that only gives the flames about 2:20 extra killed. Hardly impactful

It's not the total time that's the issue, it's the puck control (and spread out over a number of PK's naybe those 2:20 is when the goals got scored). That said, on the PK or otherwise, the Flames are also lousy at clearing the zone. They ring it around so often - it's a very readable play.

And goaltending. Every PK is going to give up shots. Not every point shot has to go in though.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by mdubz

Colborne is one of the only skaters that can skate the puck into the zone on the PP. But yes, after that he's useless if he's not in front of the net screening.

....which is exactly what he does and he is good at it. I seriously don't think that Colborne is the problem with our PP and I like him on the first unit.

They need to adjust to a 'plan B' if the other team is taking away point shots. If the penalty killers are getting into the shooting lanes from the point, it seems like the Flames have no other plan.

That is coaching. They need to make adjustments.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by calgary2220

Don't know why they don't keep Gio and Brodie together? When Gio and Wideman go out there first they often play the better part of the entire PP, this leaves no time for Brodie who is a far better player then Wideman.

It's because Brodie has an absolute muffin of a shot (yes I know he sniped on Saturday night, it was a well placed muffin!). Basically takes away an option because the PK knows he's not going to shoot.

Maybe they should go to an umbrella, have Brodie manning the top, and Gio/Wideman just teeing up from either side. Colborne and Monahan screening and cleaning up the garbage.

That's the type of adjustment I'd like to see. Unconventional to have 3 D obviously but gotta try something new!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

It's because Brodie has an absolute muffin of a shot (yes I know he sniped on Saturday night, it was a well placed muffin!). Basically takes away an option because the PK knows he's not going to shoot.

Maybe they should go to an umbrella, have Brodie manning the top, and Gio/Wideman just teeing up from either side. Colborne and Monahan screening and cleaning up the garbage.

That's the type of adjustment I'd like to see. Unconventional to have 3 D obviously but gotta try something new!

No Johnny on that unit?

[Jason14h]

I think we need more Mason Raymond! Use him on the PP AND the PK!!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I think we need more Mason Raymond! Use him on the PP AND the PK!!

Funny. But while the PP hasn't been producing I actually don't think it's Raymond's fault - at least he shoots. It was even worse with Frolik on that second unit at the beginning of the season.

I guess you could put a second unit of Granlund, Bennett and Jones together.

[Jason14h]

I actually don't think it's Raymond's fault

He's sure not part of the solution!

[FireGilbert]

The PP will improve, there is just too much talent.

The PK is suffering from the loss of Byron and Bouma plus horrible goaltending. Getting Bouma back and having Ramo turn things around will help.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No Johnny on that unit?

Good point. Put him at the top of the umbrella instead of Brodie. Actually that makes a whole ton of sense.

1= Gaudreau
2 = Wideman
3 = Gio
4 = Monahan
5 = Colborne

You could even have Monahan slide up into the slot a bit and he can sniff out rebounds/be an option for the slap pass while Colborne mucks.

Just tee them up and take every puck hard to the net.



Right now they play some sort of overload system where the guy on the half wall is the quarterback. It is not working.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

Good point. Put him at the top of the umbrella instead of Brodie. Actually that makes a whole ton of sense.

1= Gaudreau
2 = Wideman
3 = Gio
4 = Monahan
5 = Colborne

You could even have Monahan slide up into the slot a bit and he can sniff out rebounds/be an option for the slap pass while Colborne mucks.

Just tee them up and take every puck hard to the net.



Right now they play some sort of overload system where the guy on the half wall is the quarterback. It is not working.

I like Johnny down low though, making those quick passes to the front, or even driving the net to open the back door.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I've been extremely critical of the special teams this year, but for what it's worth, the last couple games the power play has looked much more effective and generated some good chances and shots on net. The results haven't come, but they will soon.

The PK is another issue. It was pretty bad last year and that was with both Byron and Bouma. We just have bad PK personnel, especially down low in front of our net. Just not enough big tough defensemen to clear the front of the net and let our goalie see the puck, hence the extremely poor save percentages.

[Huntingwhale]

There are 30 teams in the league and someone has to be last in each category.

This year is our turn. Just sucks it has to be both at the same time!!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I've been extremely critical of the special teams this year, but for what it's worth, the last couple games the power play has looked much more effective and generated some good chances and shots on net. The results haven't come, but they will soon.

The PK is another issue. It was pretty bad last year and that was with both Byron and Bouma. We just have bad PK personnel, especially down low in front of our net. Just not enough big tough defensemen to clear the front of the net and let our goalie see the puck, hence the extremely poor save percentages.

Plus the goalies suck.

Smid should help though. He's not great but he clears the net well.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Funny. But while the PP hasn't been producing I actually don't think it's Raymond's fault - at least he shoots. It was even worse with Frolik on that second unit at the beginning of the season.

I guess you could put a second unit of Granlund, Bennett and Jones together.

At least he shoots?

Raymond has only played 17 games this season, yet has the 6th most powerplay icetime among forwards behind Johnny (29GP), Monahan (29GP), Hudler (26GP), Bennett (28GP) and Colborne (24GP).

He has 0 points, and has 3 shots on net in 24 minutes of PP time.

That's just pathetic anyway you want to spin it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

At least he shoots?

Raymond has only played 17 games this season, yet has the 6th most powerplay icetime among forwards behind Johnny (29GP), Monahan (29GP), Hudler (26GP), Bennett (28GP) and Colborne (24GP).

He has 0 points, and has 3 shots on net in 24 minutes of PP time.

That's just pathetic anyway you want to spin it.

6th most, eh? Wow. I guess that puts him ahead of exactly 3 wingers who've been with the team the whole time. Bollig, Ferland and Frolik. Frolik was tried out at the start of the season and it didn't work.

[CroFlames]

I question why Frolik doesn't get more PP time over Raymond. It wasn't one player's fault the PP wasn't working at the start of the year.

Frolik, IMO, has been one of the most consistent Flames all year. Whereas Raymond has good speed. Whoop dee do.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I question why Frolik doesn't get more PP time over Raymond. It wasn't one player's fault the PP wasn't working at the start of the year.

Frolik, IMO, has been one of the most consistent Flames all year. Whereas Raymond has good speed. Whoop dee do.

Frolik gets a lot of PK time, so it's a bit of an evening. But the role he'd play isn't what Raymond does and vice versa. And maybe because Raymond has been on power plays his whole career, with double the goals, whereas it's just not been a job Frolik has done.

I thought the Hudler, Raymond, Colborne unit was pretty good the last couple games, albeit without results.

[polak]

I question why some of the timbits players don't get more PP time than Raymond.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by polak

I question why some of the timbits players don't get more PP time than Raymond.

Did you think Hartley can call them up too, like you thought he controlled who got sent up and down from Stockton?