Shinkaruk or Ferland could still work depending on chemistry but there's really not an ideal player for that spot on the team.
Also Elliott is awesome. I love our goaltending this season.
Unfortunately, we have to wait for another year until all the "bad" contracts end. If they had the room I still think that Backes would have been added at the same time.
It will cost too much to address it during the season unfortunately.
__________________ Fireside Chat - The #1 Flames Fan Podcast - FiresideChat.ca
What are your guys opinion on Tkachuk? There are times when I think he'll be an NHLer this year, but other times when I think another year in Juniors will do wonders for him.
I think both of those statements can be true. He will be an NHLer this year. I also believe that like any player who has only played 1 year in junior - there are a lot of things he can still learn at London so it would probably do wonders for him, especially being the go-to guy for the Knights, adding size and working on his skating a bit more.
Some rookies are good enough to continue their learning in the NHL. But they have to benefit the team - cant just keep them up to develop them as this isnt a developmental league.
Personally I think not only can Tkachuk hang with the big leaguers - he offers a lot to this team. He can be our guy who constantly goes to the front of the net, gets under opponents skin and makes us very tough to play against while potentially putting up something like 15-20 goals and 40-50 points in his rookie season playing with Bennett and Brouwer who are a match made in heaven for him.
I think he stays up and impresses a lot of people. He plays a very pro style game. A lot of rookies come into the league and still play a very junior-type game that wont work in the NHL where as Tkachuk honestly looks like a vet out there. Reminds me of a more physical winger version of Monahan, especially with his on ice maturity and hockey IQ as a rookie although personality wise he's far more outspoken and less boring.
Last edited by Crumpy-Gunt; 10-01-2016 at 02:04 AM.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Crumpy-Gunt For This Useful Post:
Order of NHL readiness from what I've seen (..for their respective projected roles)
Tkachuk
Shinkaruk
Hathaway
Jankowski
Klimchuk
Wotherspoon
Kulak/Culkin
Kylington (though he's a treat to watch)
Tkachuk and Wotherspoon are likely the two to make the dance as I don't see the coaching staff or management wanting to separate that second line if it continues to play at that level. And though I hate to say it cause he hasn't shown much of anything, coach G called Higgins and elite penalty killer, and that alone may nab him a cheap contract for this season as the vet filler. Unless Shinkaruk makes a really strong case for him in the remainder of the preseason. He was decent tonight, but will want to display a bit more to make a case to stay.
Wanted to highlight Tkachuk's reaction on his goal.
For a split second after he scores what is his first goal in the bigs, you could see the look of elation on his face and it was almost like he was about to break out into an elaborate celebration. But then just as fast, he composes himself almost as if he's thinking, hang on, it's just preseason/act like you've been here before. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I love the maturity and composure. Kid's a keeper.
Last edited by Murph; 10-01-2016 at 05:19 AM.
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Murph For This Useful Post:
As much as I love the potential 2nd line of Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer...something tells me Brouwer will probably play on the 1st line at some point.
I dont see Chaisson/Shinkaruk/Vey being the guys we put with our 1st line duo but who knows.
I remember hearing the coach talk about pairs. I'm thinking to start it will be
Monahan/ Gaudreau.
Bennett/Brouwer.
Backlund/Frolik.
Curious to see if the lack of 1st line RW options will prompt Glen to put Troy on the 1st line. Maybe it will be Shinkaruk or Tkachuk playing the off wing. But I dont see Chaisson/Vey being those guys.
As much as I love the potential 2nd line of Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer...something tells me Brouwer will probably play on the 1st line at some point.
I dont see Chaisson/Shinkaruk/Vey being the guys we put with our 1st line duo but who knows.
I remember hearing the coach talk about pairs. I'm thinking to start it will be
Monahan/ Gaudreau.
Bennett/Brouwer.
Backlund/Frolik.
Curious to see if the lack of 1st line RW options will prompt Glen to put Troy on the 1st line. Maybe it will be Shinkaruk or Tkachuk playing the off wing. But I dont see Chaisson/Vey being those guys.
I think the pairing is right,but I would hate to breakup the benett line. Maybe just throw Frolik in the first line and just play Backs with whoever. Too bad we could not trade for nuschnin ( maybe sp mistake) dallas Russian guy that went home. There is always Yak from Edm that we can trade for...
Impressed by Bennett (again), Klimchuk, Ferland, Parsons, and Shinkaruk. Wideman also looked better than expected. But that's not saying much. Both Hamilton brothers were above average
I wasn't a huge fan of Chucky's game. Was slow on the forecheck and on a few occasions failed to get pressure fast enough to force a quick decision. But he's gold behind and around the net.
Kylington needs to get way stronger. Wotherspoon was meh.
Best player in the game after Bennett? Markus freaking Granlund. If he was a half step faster he'd be a perennial 30 goal 60 point player.
I think the pairing is right,but I would hate to breakup the benett line. Maybe just throw Frolik in the first line and just play Backs with whoever. Too bad we could not trade for nuschnin ( maybe sp mistake) dallas Russian guy that went home. There is always Yak from Edm that we can trade for...
No, you ... you got it.
The Following 18 Users Say Thank You to Five-hole For This Useful Post:
I thought Parsons acquitted himself quite well. Looked pretty composed in the net. The Flames really didn't give up anything of quality in the third so he didn't get tested too much. Still he's an 18 year old goaltender just drafted. I think that's pretty promising. I expect he'll be going back to Junior in the next round of cuts, but he made an impression on me at least.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
The Following User Says Thank You to Sylvanfan For This Useful Post:
Order of NHL readiness from what I've seen (..for their respective projected roles)
Tkachuk
Shinkaruk
Hathaway
Jankowski
Klimchuk
Wotherspoon
Kulak/Culkin
Kylington (though he's a treat to watch)
Tkachuk and Wotherspoon are likely the two to make the dance as I don't see the coaching staff or management wanting to separate that second line if it continues to play at that level. And though I hate to say it cause he hasn't shown much of anything, coach G called Higgins and elite penalty killer, and that alone may nab him a cheap contract for this season as the vet filler. Unless Shinkaruk makes a really strong case for him in the remainder of the preseason. He was decent tonight, but will want to display a bit more to make a case to stay.
I largely agree with your list. I would slot in Hamilton ahead of Hathaway and put Kulak ahead of Culkin and Wotherspoon. He needs some NHL games and could work his way into a Brodie-lite kind of role. I really like his game.
Wideman didn't look awful. I think he's put a bad taste in everyone's mouth because of last season's antics. Looking at it objectively, I quite like Wideman in a third pairing role with Engelland/Joki. He can be used on the PP as his trademark shot is still there. He's not as useless as many fans make him out to be. He's been fine this pre-season, IMO.
Engelland is someone who I keep looking at as just "one of the slow, replaceable vets," but every time he takes a shift he impresses with smart plays. He's not the quickest and will probably get exposed throughout the season by quick third and fourth liners, but his footspeed and transition from backward to forewords skating is adequate for his role (or until someone like Kylington forces him out down the line).
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Pierre "Monster" McGuire For This Useful Post:
Unfortunately, we have to wait for another year until all the "bad" contracts end. If they had the room I still think that Backes would have been added at the same time.
It will cost too much to address it during the season unfortunately.
