Dec 11 Practice Notes. All injured players are "not close" to returning.

[sureLoss]

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
#Flames RW Austin Czarnik skating with Derek Ryan and Matthew Tkachuk on second line today.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames at practice today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Ryan-Czarnik
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Neal
Bennett-Quine-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

[timbit]

Like it.

[Burner]

probably a differing opinion but I think its time for Mangiapane to show something. He has been given lots of opportunity and has shown some flashes but nothing to show for it. For me, he gets knocked off the puck to easy and forces passes when there is nothin there

[Temporary_User]

Quite the demotion for Bennett. And Neal still can't be bumped up as a replacement on that line

[DoubleK]

Love it.

[Hot_Flatus]

I find it quite odd that Neal wouldn't be moved up at this point. Whether you argue he hasn't earned it or not, Neal needs a change and this seems like a good opportunity to see if he can get going with different players.

[Bingo]

big game for Czarnik.

Peters mentioned the other day humorously that it was the coach's fault for putting him on the left side when he's better on the right.

I think Bennett deserves the demotion ... maybe to the third line not the fourth, but whatever. He needs to get that edge back that had him moving up. That's who he is now, he shouldn't forget it.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Quite the demotion for Bennett. And Neal still can't be bumped up as a replacement on that line

No sense demoting a guy for a lack of results with great effort level and replacing him with a guy who lacks results AND effort level.


Czarnik has sort of gotten a raw deal this year lineup wise. Very short leash and he hasn’t been that bad. Good to see him rewarded with a chance at the top 6. He played well with Tkachuk in preseason.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Quite the demotion for Bennett. And Neal still can't be bumped up as a replacement on that line

I'd rather see Neal with Jankowski and Mangiapane than Ryan, if they are trying to get him some goals.

Bennett might mesh with Quine.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I find it quite odd that Neal wouldn't be moved up at this point. Whether you argue he hasn't earned it or not, Neal needs a change and this seems like a good opportunity to see if he can get going with different players.

I think the thing keeping Neal off that second line is foot speed. Tkachuk does not move fast, and I suspect the coaches are leery of going with two lumbering guys on a scoring line with how the Flames have pushed the pace in games this season. With both Monahan and Tkachuk in the top-six, it may just be enough to keep Neal out of it.

[dissentowner]

I like it. I think Czarnik has big time potential.

[TheIronMaiden]

I've been impressed with the jam Quine has shown. He seems like a good option for that fourth line.

[bax]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames at practice today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Ryan-Czarnik
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Neal
Bennett-Quine-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Man, who would have predicted this would be a lineup for us 12 months ago.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think the thing keeping Neal off that second line is foot speed. Tkachuk does not move fast, and I suspect the coaches are leery of going with two lumbering guys on a scoring line with how the Flames have pushed the pace in games this season. With both Monahan and Tkachuk in the top-six, it may just be enough to keep Neal out of it.

That's a good point, but I fail to see how Neal has stuck in the top 6 with up tempo teams like Vegas and Nashville all these years if his foot speed was such a concern. Personally, I think Tkachuk and Neal would flourish together if given enough time to gel.

Bennett couldn't create much or finish on that line and Neal is certainly a finisher despite some flaws in his game. Not sure what the team has to lose to try this when they've gone through Bennett, Czarnik, Frolik already this year with mixed/poor results in that slot.

[Toonage]

Really wanted to see
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Neal
Mangiapane-Ryan-Czarnik

But the lines look good and I'm interested in seeing how Quine & Bennett mesh. Should be a fun game tomorrow. Any word on the starter?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

That's a good point, but I fail to see how Neal has stuck in the top 6 with up tempo teams like Vegas and Nashville all these years if his foot speed was such a concern. Personally, I think Tkachuk and Neal would flourish together if given enough time to gel...

It is not his foot speed in isolation that is the concern. It is the pairing of 2/3 players with poor foot speed on a scoring line that is the issue. I honestly don't recall who Neal played with regularly in his last two stops, but I would warrant a good deal of his success come from the fact that he was 1) faster a couple years ago than he is now, and/or 2) his line mates could move.

Bennett couldn't create much or finish on that line and Neal is certainly a finisher despite some flaws in his game. Not sure what the team has to lose to try this when they've gone through Bennett, Czarnik, Frolik already this year with mixed/poor results in that slot.

But Bennett can skate. So can Czarnik. Frolik moves better than Neal and he is a superior defensive player. It's not just about finish, it is about finding balance between a variety of factors which include overall speed and quality of back-checking.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
No goalie decision for tomorrow vs. Philadelphia.

When asked about injured players Stone, Valimaki, Backlund, and Frolik, coach Peters said “not close” to all. #Flames

[Phagoof]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames at practice today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Ryan-Czarnik
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Neal
Bennett-Quine-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

I threw-up a little

[Bonded]

Is Valimaki a broken foot?