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

[Fire]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

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

Kulak didn't play the last two games. That tells me he will be waived and sent down. Valamaki will start with Stone and Prout will be in the press box.

[getbak]

I think Dube and Andersson make the team at the expense of Lazar and Prout. Kulak starts the season as the 7th d-man, Hathaway and Peluso as the extra forwards.

Not sure about the backup position, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Rittich on waivers in the next two days even if he starts the season in Calgary. That would buy them some flexibility for the start of the season.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

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.

I think he has worse acceleration than both.

[JurassicTunga12]

Will we hear some cuts today? or tomorrow

[Gaudreau is a Ninja]

Didn't watch the game, were there any Flame injuries? Someone mentioned Tkachuk didn't play that much.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yeah, we just can't know until the real games begin.

A cautiously optimistic take is that he's an older guy and has been through a lot of pre-seasons and is locked in for opening day. Annoying game but he probably knows he isn't fully engaged yet and that he doesn't need to be. Might see it as logging minutes, feeling the puck and killing time until the games matter.

Neal looks just about as engaged so far as well and he's a guy that perennially scores 20+.

These games mean the most to the guys who are trying to get NHL jobs and that's probably where most of the focus should be put. I wouldn't hesitate to say that Dube, Valimaki and Andersson have earned regular season games. The other guys, not so much.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by Gaudreau is a Ninja

Didn't watch the game, were there any Flame injuries? Someone mentioned Tkachuk didn't play that much.

Tkachuk didn't play the 3rd period for precautionary reasons. He was banged up after the SJ game apparently

[getbak]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Will we hear some cuts today? or tomorrow

Probably tomorrow. They don't need to get down to the opening 23-man roster until Tuesday, which means the final waiver decisions need to be made by Monday.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I think he has worse acceleration than both.

Maybe forwards, where he got exposed on the breakout a bit (in a tough minutes role on the top pair) but he's a better reverse skater than either, and I think that's more important for a Dman. I also have a feeling the fact that he tried to make plays with his skating, where both those guys would have slapped the puck up the ice for a hopeless red line tip, is colouring your perception.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Fire

Kulak didn't play the last two games. That tells me he will be waived and sent down. Valamaki will start with Stone and Prout will be in the press box.

People sometimes read too much into who is and isn't playing in pre-season and it can just as easily be the opposite of what we always infer.

"He's not playing because he's cut" can just as easily be "He's not playing because they know exactly what they have in him and are giving the young guys a chance to surpass his bar before they are sent down for more seasoning".


Personally, I think if Kulak was close to being cut, he'd be given these past two games to push for his job back.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Funny cause every time I watched the Coyotes in the Mike Smith era he was basically the major star of the team and the reason they were in most games at all. He was great for the Coyotes. Your version of events doesn't quite add up for me.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kulak cut? Or just hiding.

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

Isn't he from Edmonton? Maybe he was in the crowd with his family?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by New Era

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.

Goaltending is my biggest worry going into the season. I have no doubt that Smith will be good, it's the backup position and can they take a good share of the load that has me concerned. I don't like the idea of Smith playing 60+ games this season.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Just watched the post game interview with Dube. Man that kid oozes confidence. A very good trait for such a young player.

[Strange Brew]

Not having watched much pre-season, I’m a little disappointed to hear the Andersson comments. Savvy, positionally sound defensemen can overcome a lack of quickness but it’s not exactly what you want to hear about a young defenseman. And one of the club’s top prospects.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Dion

Goaltending is my biggest worry going into the season. I have no doubt that Smith will be good, it's the backup position and can they take a good share of the load that has me concerned. I don't like the idea of Smith playing 60+ games this season.

I have just the opposite concern. I don't think Smith is a starter at this point, and relying on him is roll of the dice need not be made. Smith could be a good backup, but relying on him for any more than 30-35 games is probably asking for an injury to derail his season. The Flames needed to have someone step up last season and take the starter job at the end of the season. That didn't happen and now they are likely in a bit of a bind. Someone is going to have to step up, or Treliving is going to have to make a move.

[JetsFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by New Era

I have just the opposite concern. I don't think Smith is a starter at this point, and relying on him is roll of the dice need not be made. Smith could be a good backup, but relying on him for any more than 30-35 games is probably asking for an injury to derail his season. The Flames needed to have someone step up last season and take the starter job at the end of the season. That didn't happen and now they are likely in a bit of a bind. Someone is going to have to step up, or Treliving is going to have to make a move.

I agree. He's not getting any younger and he hasn't played well since that injury. I'm very concerned about the Flames goaltending and I can't imagine those in charge are that comfortable with Smith right now. I think they will have to make a trade for a goalie or get really lucky and have one of our young guys turn into a starter basically, or it's gonna be a rough year. Smith's save % took a nosedive after his injury in spite of the Flames keeping the shots down to 26 per game over Smith's last 9 games

[DeluxeMoustache]

Not a nice collapse. But no big deal, it’s a nothing game

Smith - I would consider this a warmup game. What I do wonder though is about the puck handling. I would argue that his overplaying the puck gives the team no net benefit overall. When puck tracking becomes available, I believe that it can potentially be easily measured.

Ryan - not sure what to make of this guy. Certainly didn’t look to me like a fit on the PP. Peters reportedly loves him

Peters - the funny thing is that in Carolina he was winning the Corsi battle. Gully was winning the corsi battle here as well, and losing. Especially in that brutal streak down the stretch. Some people were concerned why not getting a coach with an actual winning pedigree, Unfortunately the result today fits the same storyline.

But I will say that the puck movement on the PP, which was a problem last year, seems to be improving. Generally play in the offensive zone looks like it is leveraging the strengths of the players so far, which is encouraging.

The breakout thing where Smith hold the puck behind the net and the D go in the corners was happening in the 3rd. That’s not good for anyone

A few things to clean up for sure, and am looking forward to the season, seeing what we have. I really like the roster on paper

[Enoch Root]

Wow, just looked at the boxscore for the game... I had absolutely no idea that RNH played. Never noticed him, never heard his name, literally never saw him once.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by JetsFlamesFan

I agree. He's not getting any younger and he hasn't played well since that injury. I'm very concerned about the Flames goaltending and I can't imagine those in charge are that comfortable with Smith right now. I think they will have to make a trade for a goalie or get really lucky and have one of our young guys turn into a starter basically, or it's gonna be a rough year. Smith's save % took a nosedive after his injury in spite of the Flames keeping the shots down to 26 per game over Smith's last 9 games

Sv% took a nosedive because of the reduction in shots.

It’s the denominator!

Edit: those low percentage muffins from outside rack up the shots and pad the percentages. Flames down the stretch last year were allowing unimpeded access to the net. Other teams didn’t have to keep their shots to the outside