[News Roundup] October 1, 2016

[Machiavelli]

Had to get this up quick; want more non-Gaudreau discussion today

Former Blues Brouwer, Elliott lead Flames over Canucks

"I've talked to (Mark Giordano) and I've talked to a couple other guys and they say how calming and easy it is to play in front of him already, even though it's been two pre-season games," Brouwer said.

Gulutzan says stable goaltending enables the players to play more relaxed. Calgary's goaltending was worst in the league last year.

"It lets everybody play with a little less tension. You're not afraid if you have one little bobble or turnover, that it's going to end up in your net," said the coach.

Trio Shine In Flames' 2-1 Win Over Canucks

Troy Brouwer had a goal and an assist, Sam Bennett had two assists and 18-year-old Matthew Tkachuk scored his first goal for the Flames (2-2-0). Guillaume Brisebois scored for the Canucks (1-1-1).

"We're learning each other," Brouwer said. "The good thing is we've started camp together from Day One. We've had lots of good conversations. [Tkachuk] was beside me in the room. They've moved him around after a couple of shift changes here. I think the three of us work well together. There's a lot of pedigree from each guy that fits well together. It's just been a pretty smooth transition so far."

"That's where the goals are scored," said Tkachuk, who scored 30 goals with London of the Ontario Hockey League last season. "It's a little bit tougher in this league than in junior. You've got some of those D out there that are 6-4, 6-5, 220, that are pushing you out of the way. It's tough but you have to keep battling. I know what my strengths are and I know what I need to provide to this team to help win."

Ferland Demonstrates Unity In Flames Win

"Oh, when Ferly came back to the bench after serving (the five minutes),'' confessed Tkachuk. "That just shows what kind of teammate he is. Shows that we're in this together. I told him I owed him one."

In short order, though, Tkachuk returned to the fray.

"I just got hit,'' he explained later, "and they wanted to check me out.

"I'm fine."

"We've talked about being together, playing together, sticking together, five guys,'' said Gulutzan at his post-game media availability. "A pack mentality. Ferly exemplified that today.

"And after the second period, I talked to the guys about it; made mention of what Ferly did, and I thought we had a way better third."

Plenty Of Positives In New Flames Goaltenders

"Both,'' says Sigalet admiringly, "are great pros, on and off the ice. You don't have to be around them long to realize that.

"It's going to be fun watching them push each other.

"Very technically sound. It's their compete and positioning that are, in my mind, really going to help this team out.

"You can't teach compete. You either have it or you don't.

"These two guys, they don't give up on a puck. And they hate giving up a goal.

"Some guys aren't happy about it but these two absolutely HATE it.

"And that's exactly what you want to see."

Flames goalie prospect Tyler Parsons rewarded with pre-season audition

“As a kid, I would be watching Elliott on TV,” Parsons said. “To be skating on the same ice as him now, it’s awesome … If you watch those guys, they just look so relaxed and they make it look so easy. And I think that comes with experience, too. These guys have been in the league for a while, they work hard every day and they learn their game after all those years. And they look really good in net.

“So it’s definitely been awesome being on the ice with them. They make me work, for sure. It’s something to work towards.”

Gulutzan grabs players' attention while adjusting to Flames' hot seat

After four years of Hartley, this is a tough transition. And Treliving hired a gentle soul to undertake it.

“There’s always this, sometimes negative, connotation about a ‘players’ coach — whatever that means,” Treliving said Friday afternoon. “In today’s game, you do have to communicate. But that shouldn’t be lost as being soft. Players need to be pushed. Glen said it best: You build a relationship and trust with players, and that allows you to take a deposit out of the bank account when you need to push.”

Gulutzan said: “When you’re the assistant, it’s a different job. I got used to it over the three years in Vancouver and I enjoyed it. But as a head guy, you have a different role. It doesn’t change the person you are. I’m never really mad at the guys. I was forceful today, but I want them to be great.”

[FBI]

Love the team unity thing.

[Racki]

It cannot be overstated how much better I feel about our goaltending situation going into the season. The plethora of horrible goals last year changed the way we were able to play. The fear permeated throughout the entire lineup and our guys just weren't able to play loose and relaxed.

[MissTeeks]

[simmer2]

Originally Posted by Racki

It cannot be overstated how much better I feel about our goaltending situation going into the season. The plethora of horrible goals last year changed the way we were able to play. The fear permeated throughout the entire lineup and our guys just weren't able to play loose and relaxed.

It sounds ridiculous but I've even noticed this in my beer league. We really struggled with our goaltending last year.

New goalie this year and our team is playing entirely different and way more calm. You aren't nervous about every single shot getting fired on net.

[Scornfire]

Has there been any word on the status of Daniel Pribyl?

[MarkGio]

Ferland belongs on the squad. I would way rather him over Bollig. Ferland has good sense and good hands when he's not playing physical. Bollig has a good shot and that's really about it

[agulati]

Ferland can bring much needed toughness, grit and heart to the lineup. The only issue is consistency. He needs to find a way to consistently bring those elements to the game, 59 carve out a career in the NHL.

I hope he finds a way to have a more consistent year, because we can definitely use it

[transplant99]

"That's where the goals are scored," said Tkachuk, who scored 30 goals with London of the Ontario Hockey League last season. "It's a little bit tougher in this league than in junior. You've got some of those D out there that are 6-4, 6-5, 220, that are pushing you out of the way. It's tough but you have to keep battling. I know what my strengths are and I know what I need to provide to this team to help win."

Outstanding.

He could become something special if he can stay healthy and show this kind of maturity. He has to be careful with his temper and retaliation scenarios, but if he puts all that together? Nothing but a huge win for the club.

[Alpine Fisher]

I like the make up of this team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by simmer2

It sounds ridiculous but I've even noticed this in my beer league. We really struggled with our goaltending last year.

New goalie this year and our team is playing entirely different and way more calm. You aren't nervous about every single shot getting fired on net.

It isnt ridiculous, I think anyone who has played sports realizes this, for me its soccer, especially as a defenceman, if you know you'll be digging the ball/puck out of your own net after every tiny mistake it wears on you.

So when you look at a team like the Flames where our strength really comes from that D-Corps it drags the whole team down because they cant/wont take risks.

On top of which, goaltending that cant stop a beach ball is brutally demoralizing.

When that softie goes in you can feel the entire team just slump their shoulders and the feeling gets exponentially worse with each muffin that goes past him.

[fire_starter]

I know it isn't mentioned here but is Mony gonna get any pre season games in? Or is he just going to wait it out till the season starts?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by fire_starter

I know it isn't mentioned here but is Mony gonna get any pre season games in? Or is he just going to wait it out till the season starts?

It has been said that coaches want him in the last two or three at least. He may play as early as Monday.

[MissTeeks]

[Toonage]

Make sense as there are only 3 pre season games left. Last 2 should be dress rehearsals.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Ferland, Tkachuk, Bennett, Brouwer, Freddie, Bouma.

Seems like that 'truculence with skill' nonsense that Burke and Treliving have been building towards.

[getbak]

Here's my picks for who will survive the cuts on Monday...

DEFENCE

LOCKS:

1. Brodie
2. Engelland
3. Giordano
4. Hamilton
5. Jokipakka
6. Wideman

LIKELY:

1. Wotherspoon
2. Kulak

POSSIBLE:

1. Culkin
2. Kylington
3. Grossmann
4. Andersson

FORWARD

LOCKS:

1. Backlund
2. Bennett
3. Bollig
4. Bouma
5. Brouwer
6. Chiasson
7. Ferland
8. Frolik
9. Monahan
10. Stajan
11. Tkachuk

LIKELY:

1. Hamilton
2. Hathaway
3. Vey
4. Higgins
5. Shinkaruk

POSSIBLE:

1. Jankowski
2. Poirier
3. Klimchuk
4. Carroll

[MarkGio]

You think Higgins and Vey are likely? I would put Jankowski over both guys personally

[Heavy Jack]

I know he's not signed yet but not seeing JG in that list of getbak's is all kinds of depressing

[getbak]

Just because Higgins and Vey are NHL veterans, I think they have a better chance of surviving the next round of cuts.

Higgins is working for a contract, so a cut for him is a release from the team. Based on Gulutzan's comments yesterday, I think they'll give him every chance to earn a contract.

Vey requires waivers to be sent down, so it's likely that they'll wait until the big final roster compliance day, when every team puts a bunch of guys on waivers, to put him through.