[GT] Flames Oilers split squad. Oilers @ Flames

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Corral

he is a 30 something tender whose best years are almost certainly behind him. Only those here with their homer glasses on actually think or thought Mike Smith is taking this franchise anywhere further than it has been in the last decade. He is a stop gap measure to buy time for something else to arise.

The poster you quoted is hoping for "reasonable goaltending," which is certainly a realistic expectation from Mike Smith.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Toonage

R-e-l-a-x

Don't do it.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Hopefully the coaches rip these guys hard. These kinds of efforts are inexcusable from vets in meaningless preseason games.

Don't mistaken my post for doom and gloom.

I just still don't like Brouwer and am an advocate of signing Jaromir. Tonight is pretty meaningless and no one will remember in a couple weeks. Will say a little effort wouldn't have hurt though.

Time to get down to business. Trim the group and start getting the players scrimmaging on off days. Oilers were ahead of the curve in terms of practicing their guys in an actual game setting.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The poster you quoted is hoping for "reasonable goaltending," which is certainly a realistic expectation from Mike Smith.

OK agreed on that.

[Wolfman]

Wouldn't it be sweet if Brouwer lost a job this year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I sense the sarcasm, but pretty tough for the coaching staff to justify making cuts when the vets were making such big mistakes

And yet, every NHL coach has no trouble with such justifications every year.

Hopefully tonight's showing allows the coaches to really press the group that much better is needed and there isn't a lot if time to settle and figure it out.

Do you really think NHL veterans need a reminder of expectations after their first preseason game? I am fairly sure these players know what they are doing.

[GoJetsGo]

Douggie and Jankowski both hit at least a couple posts / cross-bars each and Johnny had a few lasers just miss.

Really liking Janko's chances to crack the roster, he looks so poised and looks huge out there.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Wouldn't it be sweet if Brouwer lost a job this year.

I would much prefer for him to have a great season.

[AC]

Janko looked great.

Loved that Dube rush to set up his goal. Just embarrassed Larsson 1 on 1.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Wouldn't it be sweet if Brouwer lost a job this year.

Not really, at 4.5 million for the next three years it would suck if he failed to boost his trade value

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Wouldn't it be sweet if Brouwer lost a job this year.

No. It would be sad and very embarrassing.

[Vinny01]

Was at the game and the rational side of me is saying it's just the preseason. Having said that the goaltending provided by Smith was terrifying.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Its the first game of preseason man. Everybody is going to need to pick their game up. Some extreme statements based on the first game of the year.

Brouwer comments probably aren't based on just this game.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Was at the game and the rational side of me is saying it's just the preseason. Having said that the goaltending provided by Smith was terrifying.

I was just going to ask if he was as bad as the stats indicate and it seems so. If this is the case I hope they play him a lot in the preseason to get him used to playing with the new system and team.

[djsFlames]

I feel like Gillies could've handled the backup role this season as well as Lack will. But I could be wrong.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I feel like Gillies could've handled the backup role this season as well as Lack will. But I could be wrong.

That might be true but they want him playing more, not sitting on the bench.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

That might be true but they want him playing more, not sitting on the bench.

Agreed. It should be remembered that while Gillies is technically in his third professional season, he lost a full year to an injury and last year was for all intents and purposes his first full year in the AHL. The best thing for him is to dominate in Stockton.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

That might be true but they want him playing more, not sitting on the bench.

A goaltender has to start in the NHL somewhere.

NHL starters don't just come in from starting in the A to starting with the parent club like one day they're suddenly ready and skip over the being a backup to prove they belong part.

Problem with some fans on here is they're so concerned about players getting ample quality minutes that they forget that depth roles in the NHL are required in order to first make the transition. And the experience of skating with an NHL team and learning the ropes also seems undervalued. If you always put minutes first then you're probably never graduating that player. Something we're used to lately with the Flames, as the prospects now have to be exceptional to break in in any significant role. But I suppose you need to find a happy medium, as I also don't like the idea of reserving spots for youngsters (ala Oilers).

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

A goaltender has to start in the NHL somewhere.

NHL starters don't just come in from starting in the A to starting with the parent club like one day they're suddenly ready and skip over the being a backup to prove they belong part.

Problem with some fans on here is they're so concerned about players getting ample quality minutes that they forget that depth roles in the NHL are required in order to first make the transition. And the experience of skating with an NHL team and learning the ropes also seems undervalued. If you always put minutes first then you're probably never graduating that player. Something we're used to lately with the Flames, as the prospects now have to be exceptional to break in in any significant role. But I suppose you need to find a happy medium, as I also don't like the idea of reserving spots for youngsters (ala Oilers).

Still disagree, Textcritic mentioned above he lost a year of development.

It's not the fans that are worried about him getting minutes... Treliving has said several times over, these young goalies need consistent game play. He's said as much in several interviews this month regarding Gillies, Rittich and Parsons.

I think he could be our backup this year. I'd probably trust him more than Lack based on what we know right now. But it's still better served for him to play consistently in the AHL, and that's what's going to happen.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by codynw

Brouwer comments probably aren't based on just this game.

Exactly I think Brouwer should have a short leash this year because really this was preseason game 87 for him including last year. I can't fathom any of our prospects having nearly the amount of rope this guy gets, it's so blatantly contract driven and I just wish sometimes the people in charge of managing these things swallowed their pride.

If Wade Redden can be sent to the minors so can Troy Brouwer or Matt Stajan if they're getting outplayed, and Brouwers been outplayed for about a calendar year now by younger, hungrier players.