[News] October 4 Practice

[Toonage]

Dude, some people aren't that high on Shinkaruk. Its ok. Let it go.

[The Yen Man]

I like how that picture of Kerr is basically just them going out to the back of the building and just half assing it. It'd be funny if they did it with a camera phone.

Kerr: The sun's in my eyes, so I'm really squinting in that picture. Do we need to do another one at a different angle?
Camera guy: Meh, late for my coffee break. This one's good enough.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Dude, some people aren't that high on Shinkaruk. Its ok. Let it go.

That's fine, but there's also a lot of misinformation being spewed about it. I feel the need to speak up when posters are saying stuff that is factually incorrect.

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I like how that picture of Kerr is basically just them going out to the back of the building and just half assing it. It'd be funny if they did it with a camera phone.

Kerr: The sun's in my eyes, so I'm really squinting in that picture. Do we need to do another one at a different angle?
Camera guy: Meh, late for my coffee break. This one's good enough.

At least the dumpster was moved from behind him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Dude that actually makes no sense...

Why is the younger Tkachuk able to play his off-wing, but Shinkaruk can't. The same Shinkaruk WHO HAS ALREADY HAD SUCCESS PLAYING RW.

Shinkaruk is 5'11 185 lb's. He's not small and he doesn't play small either. Look at his frame, he's pretty built.

Shinkaruk is a tenacious forward who can forecheck and isn't afraid to get into dirty areas.

This is what I'm talking about guys. There are so many on this forum who have no clue who Shinkaruk is or what kind of game he plays.

I like Shinkaruk. But he is smaller (and the Flames say 5'10, 181 and why would they undersize him?) than any Flame forward not named Gaudreau. Also the smallest prospect except for Lindholm and Philips. Mangiapane, who everyone thinks of as small, is the same height and a couple pounds heavier.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I like Shinkaruk. But he is smaller (and the Flames say 5'10, 181 and why would they undersize him?) than any Flame forward not named Gaudreau. Also the smallest prospect except for Lindholm and Philips. Mangiapane, who everyone thinks of as small, is the same height and a couple pounds heavier.

Mangiapane is as scrawny as they come. Shinkaruk is as wide as Marchand.
180 lb's on a guy who's 5'10 is pretty damn impressive. Especially considering he's fast too.

Marchand is 5'9 and 180lbs. Would you have an issue with him on Gaudreau's line?

[FBI]

OK I just stared at that photo for like 5 minutes and eventually Kerr's arm and left side of his body morphs into Steinbergs right side of his body so Kerr's arm just becomes Steinberg's jacket..

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Mangiapane is as scrawny as they come. Shinkaruk is as wide as Marchand.
180 lb's on a guy who's 5'10 is pretty damn impressive. Especially considering he's fast too.

Marchand is 5'9 and 180lbs. Would you have an issue with him on Gaudreau's line?

How is 5'10 184 lb Mangiapane "scrawny" and 5'10" 181 ib Shinkaruk "wide"? Is Mang drinking 4 litres of water before the weigh-in?

I won't say Shinkaruk is too small to play. I think he's was adequate in his call-up and he's been OK in this year's camp. I'm just saying, in today's NHL, he's not big and arguably on the smaller side of the curve. If he plays like a Marchand or a Theo, all the better.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Dude, some people aren't that high on Shinkaruk. Its ok. Let it go.

I'm not super high on the dude either, but given what the current options are, it's tough to argue we have anyone who might be better.

It sucks to giftwrap a top line spot with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to someone, though if those guys had been in camp from day 1, I feel like this may be a much different discussion. The reality of Shinkaruk on the top line might be something we're all much more comfortable with.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

How is 5'10 184 lb Mangiapane "scrawny" and 5'10" 181 ib Shinkaruk "wide"? Is Mang drinking 4 litres of water before the weigh-in?

I won't say Shinkaruk is too small to play. I think he's was adequate in his call-up and he's been OK in this year's camp. I'm just saying, in today's NHL, he's not big and arguably on the smaller side of the curve. If he plays like a Marchand or a Theo, all the better.

People have different builds and body fat percentages. For all we know Mangiapane puts on 5 lb's of water weight before he weighs in because he's tired of people talking about his size. But just look at them without pads on. Mangiapane looks like he has a teenagers body and Shinkaruk has wide shoulders with a mans build.

Shinkaruk doesn't get manhandled against NHLers and that's what matters at the end of the day.

Obviously it's not set in stone. I would love for Hamilton or Ferland to force their way into that spot, but Shinkaruk is as much of an option as anyone.

[jaymac106]

Originally Posted by FBI

OK I just stared at that photo for like 5 minutes and eventually Kerr's arm and left side of his body morphs into Steinbergs right side of his body so Kerr's arm just becomes Steinberg's jacket..

haha I noticed that too.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Dude that actually makes no sense...

Why is the younger Tkachuk able to play his off-wing, but Shinkaruk can't. The same Shinkaruk WHO HAS ALREADY HAD SUCCESS PLAYING RW.

Shinkaruk is 5'11 185 lb's. He's not small and he doesn't play small either. Look at his frame, he's pretty built.

Shinkaruk is a tenacious forward who can forecheck and isn't afraid to get into dirty areas.

This is what I'm talking about guys. There are so many on this forum who have no clue who Shinkaruk is or what kind of game he plays.

Not sure if you didn't read my post, didn't understand what I said or if you're trying to be obtuse because I explained it pretty clearly. But here we go again.

Monahan and Gaudreau are very skilled but neither player excels at winning board battles or net front battles. In order to compliment them best and maximize their effectiveness they should be paired with a big, strong powerforward.

Shinkaruk at 5'10 is undersized and does not fit the description above. As you note he is quite feisty and aggressive for his size unlike the softer Baertschi and Granlund but he does not play a big, strong power game. What's this success on RW you are yelling about? As far as I know he's barely played RW in his careeer.

Why is the younger Tkachuk a better fit? It has nothing to do with him being better able to play his off wing and everything to do with the fact he's bigger, stronger, more physical, better at winning board battles, better at screening the goalie, while being as skilled and smart as Hunter if not more so.

Don't insinuate I have no clue about Shinkaruk, I've watched him too. As I said I can see him as a Gaudreau holdout replacement or I could see him fitting well in his natural LW with the bigger and stronger Bennett/Brouwer combo.

It sounds like you may be underrating how much Gaudreau and Monahan could use a powerforward to maximize their effectiveness. Not all fans agree with me on that but I'm guessing a lot of Flames hockey coaches and management might agree with me there.

[djsFlames]

Pretty sure Shinkaruk has been recorded as being 5'11.

And he himself said he got up to 190lbs, or somewhere around there during the offseason. He doesn't look that undersized out there, and he won a decent share of board battles when he was playing on the top line later last season putting up 3pts in 7gp. One of the goals I recall was him banging away at the puck in front of the net.

People will have their opinion. Some think a power forward that will crash the net needs to be on that right side, but like others pointed out, this team arguably had one of the top first lines in the league for over a season with 5'10 Hudler on it.

So that argument kind of fails to hold up. The top line needs that speed and skill just as much as it needs grit and size. I think above all, it needs a player skilled enough, and with the instincts to keep up with the level of play of Gaudreau and Monahan.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

When Hudler was on the line it was shut down quite easily by the bigger, stronger Ducks in round 2. Yes that line had some success but arguably would have been much harder to shut down with a skilled powerforward instead of Hudler, Last year showed Hudler wasn't the one driving that line, he was bad for most of the season.

Gaudreau and Monahan with a skilled powerforward could be the best line in the league IMO

[djsFlames]

What example of "powerforward" do you propose would be ideal for that line?

Keeping in mind that in reality practically no top lines have 3 true first liners on it.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by FBI

OK I just stared at that photo for like 5 minutes and eventually Kerr's arm and left side of his body morphs into Steinbergs right side of his body so Kerr's arm just becomes Steinberg's jacket..

Chang and Eng

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

What example of "powerforward" do you propose would be ideal for that line?

Keeping in mind that in reality practically no top lines have 3 true first liners on it.

On our team? One of Tkachuk, Ferland or Brouwer. Not sure Chiasson has the ability to play with Gaudreau/Monahan although maybe he does

League wide? Obviously Benn as the top powerforward in the game would be the pipe dream scenario.

[sarge]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

Steinberg looking savage!

Yeah, he looks like he could eat corn on the cob through a picket fence...

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Dude, some people aren't that high on Shinkaruk. Its ok. Let it go.

Is Hunter the one who use to wear gold skates at the old centennial arenas?

[badradio]

Haven't seen much of Shinkaruk this preseason, I wonder if he's nursing an injury or maybe the new coach coming from Vancouver has something to do with it. I hope not. I think coming to the Flames was a fresh start for Hunter, if he's given a chance I think he could be a dark horse.