[PGT] Coilers 4, Flames 3: End of preseason

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I disagree. Kulak is more mature and better than both of these kids. Safer bet for a 6thD.

I don't think there is anything safe about Kulak, personally.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I only saw half the game but here's a few thoughts on the battles.

Andersson struggled a bit in the part I watched particularly when retrieving pucks in his corner and trying to evade the EDM forecheck. He definitely looked out of place as a top 4 guy IMO. With the depth on RHD I don't think he wins a job unless he looked like a top 4 guy. I'd send him down and keep Stone/Prout for now. Injuries are inevitable and that depth is great.

Valimaki looked decent. I think he has a better chance than Andersson of winning a job because there's a lot less depth on LHD. Valimaki basically only competing against Kulak. I think it certainly wouldn't hurt for him to start the year in Stockton but I could see it going either way. I think he'll be fine either way. Top pairing minutes in all situations in the AHL or coming along slowly on the 3rd pairing with Stone/Prout.

Dube I think has made the team. His speed and smarts are NHL calibre. He's versatile playing both centre and wing. His speed is a huge asset in today's NHL. Our team needed to get a bit faster up front. Dube, Czarnik, Ryan, Lindholm all are good to great skaters.

Mangiapane I don't think did quite enough. But I think he impressed and would be the first recall if a skilled forward was injured. It doesn't hurt for him to go down and dominate the AHL for a bit. Injuries are inevitable.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Neal
Bennett-Jankowski-Czarnik
Dube-Ryan-Frolik
Lazar-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone
Prout

Smith
Rittich

is how I'd start the year.

Bang on IMO. The only things i can see differently are Gillies over Rittich (if based on camp performance thus far) and swapping Bennett and Dube as i think Dube's speed would be much more effective on the third line.

[Manhattanboy]

The analysts seem to give starting goalies passes in the pre-season.

So I think the Smith debate is best postponed to game 5 or so.

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1046155999684378624

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Can we fire Sigalet yet?

This. Not sure how he has a job still with all the turnover in coaching staff. Preseason aside.

[Enoch Root]

Over the last 2 games, Lindholm was easily the best forward.

[Beninho]

Getting Elliott vibes from Smith

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1046157510577537024

[sureLoss]

Kulak cut? Or just hiding.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1046157756649025537

[djsFlames]

I think Peluso has earned the spot of second popcorn muncher.

[bubbsy]

Smith didn't look all that comfortable to me in most of his preseason time. That being said, he didn't look great last preseason, and is a vet. I'll give him a handful of starts into the season before starting to freak out.



I think the CP discussion around the remaining cuts and line predictions would be a lot more interesting than dwelling on Smith's average preseason.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kulak cut?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1046157756649025537

IMO, Valimaki and Prout have made the team.

Did Waiving Kulak earlier in the summer mean anything for waiver eligibility now?

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Rasmus played himself off the team IMO.

I'd assume you were being sarcastic, but your other comments make me think you might be serious. If so, I feel like this is an overreaction.

I thought Andersson moved the puck very well and made some great plays.

Here are Andersson's on-ice numbers from the game:

GF: 1, GA: 0
CF% - 73.33%
FF% - 71.43%
SF% - 75.00%
SCF% - 60.00%
HDCF% - 100.00%

Even if you saw his game differently than me, how do you play yourself off the team with on-ice numbers like that?

[Enoch Root]

I thought Andersson had a solid game

[Manhattanboy]

There’s a documentary film being screened tonite on Grant Fuhr at the Calgary Film Festival.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Nelson

I'd assume you were being sarcastic, but your other comments make me think you might be serious. If so, I feel like this is an overreaction.

I thought Andersson moved the puck very well and made some great plays.

Here are Andersson's on-ice numbers from the game:

GF: 1, GA: 0
CF% - 73.33%
FF% - 71.43%
SF% - 75.00%
SCF% - 60.00%
HDCF% - 100.00%

Even if you saw his game differently than me, how do you play yourself off the team with on-ice numbers like that?

He looked too slow to play in the NHL without costing his team. I think for all of his skill, it's as simple as that. Can't skate, can't play.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Did Waiving Kulak earlier in the summer mean anything for waiver eligibility now?

No. Clearing waivers in the summer essentially means nothing in terms of assigning a player to the AHL.

The waivers for assignment to the AHL start 12 days before the start of the regular season (Sept 21 this year).

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Rasmus played himself off the team IMO.

Originally Posted by Nelson

I'd assume you were being sarcastic, but your other comments make me think you might be serious. If so, I feel like this is an overreaction.

I thought Andersson moved the puck very well and made some great plays.

Here are Andersson's on-ice numbers from the game:

GF: 1, GA: 0
CF% - 73.33%
FF% - 71.43%
SF% - 75.00%
SCF% - 60.00%
HDCF% - 100.00%

Even if you saw his game differently than me, how do you play yourself off the team with on-ice numbers like that?

I am the last person to base an argument on counting stats, but 100% HDCF flies in the face of "played himself off the team"

[Lanny_McDonald]

I thought the Flames looked pretty good. If they play like that every game they will win way more games than they lose. As I said in the game thread, its going to come down to goaltending. Calgary gets some good goaltending and they will challenge for the division crown. They have too much depth not to be in the mix. If the goaltending is average they are going to be a bubble team. If they get goaltending like they got today, they'll miss the post season. No team gets in without goaltending. Treliving should be exploring all avenues to find a guy who can play behind this team.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

He looked too slow to play in the NHL without costing his team. I think for all of his skill, it's as simple as that. Can't skate, can't play.

He is no slower than Stone or Prout and is profoundly more skilled and aware. Pair him with Kulak and we've got an excellent third pair. Then after a year or so of experience you can ween Valimaki in as his partner.