Garbage bag day

[Tyler]

Hot take - Neal will have an ever poorer season next year than this year

[Ashes]

Fan 960 just said they are hoping to have Tre on during the 1pm hour

[Classic_Sniper]

Not surprised at all that Monahan wasn't injured. I know people have a hard time believing that someone can look like a shadow of themselves in the same season.

But honestly, Monahan is a lot like Neal in my opinion. Both players need to be fed the puck in favorable situations to utilize their shots to score. They both aren't great skaters and both have a hard time creating their own shot to score, so they need someone to do the heavy lifting for them.

But what happens when the style completely changes after the All Star game when checking becomes tighter and physicality picks up? Both Monahan and Gaudreau shy away from contact, so naturally if Johnny's time and space starts to disappear and Monahan is well covered, then of course their scoring rates drop. This probably applies to Lindholm too who ended up scoring something like 2 goals in his final 2 months.


These 3 will either have to adapt and find other solutions or Treliving will have to find himself better options. Personally, I don't find Monahan to be good enough at holding on to pucks and creating time and space for his linemates which I think is a requirement for a #1 center, so he might be the odd man out if it came down to it.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by blender

I think Frolik used the term meanness. I believe there is something lacking on that end for sure. Sam Bennett is mean. Monahan, not so much (although didn't he have a big suspension in junior?)

Nate McKinnon is mean. He tells his coach to do his ****ing job! Zadorov, definitely mean. Landeskog is mean and nasty for sure. It's a fine line between being mean and tough to play against and being Evander Kane, but when people suggest that the Flames need more meanness, I think this is whag they are talking about.
I think there is something to this

Yeah I think Meanness and emotion makes more sense if that was the context.

And the Rittich news does help explain some of the post Jan 1 struggles as there was clearly a pre-injury and post-injury split.

From start of the season to Dec. 30:
GP: 22 GAA: 2.26 SV%: .924

After the injury:
GP: 23 GAA: 2.92 SV%: .899

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Toonage

1. I hope James Neal stays motivated and I hope he finds his game again. Chances are good we'll have a front row seat to watching that play out. Regardless its good to hear him own it.
2. I'm concerned about Monahan for a number of reasons. If he isn't hurt (and sounds like he isn't) then all I can hope is that he too finds his game and that there isn't anything outside of hockey thats got him down.

"Stays motivated"?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

"Stays motivated"?

I mean I hope he sticks to what he said today.

[burn_this_city]

Wonder if Neal took last summer off to recover from back to back finals. Probably never got his legs back this year. Hopefully he puts in the work over the summer.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Doesn't add up. How did the Flames end up with 8 more penalty minutes than the Avs, while "shying away from anything resembling contact or board battles"?

Playing bigger and taking penalties is now mutually exclusive? Doesn't work that way. You play more assertive, driven hockey and you do it within the rules. Not hard to pull off.

[Rick M.]

So, a skating coach for Monahan, Tkachuk and Neal and a shooting coach for Bennett. Problems fixed.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Playing bigger and taking penalties is now mutually exclusive? Doesn't work that way. You play more assertive, driven hockey and you do it within the rules. Not hard to pull off.

Flames also took more penalties due to not playing with the puck

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Hot take - Neal will have an ever poorer season next year than this year

I can’t imagine that will be the case.

His salary (for me) is a 25 goal salary (as he doesn’t do ‘other’ things). So 25 goals will be a break even salary wise. That being said, if he can score 15, that’ll earn a ‘C+’ from me on his report card in 2019/20.

Credit where it’s due, at least he took responsibility.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I mean I hope he sticks to what he said today.

Oh I know. Hope springs eternal after all.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by blender

I think Frolik used the term meanness. I believe there is something lacking on that end for sure. Sam Bennett is mean. Monahan, not so much (although didn't he have a big suspension in junior?)

Nate McKinnon is mean. He tells his coach to do his ****ing job! Zadorov, definitely mean. Landeskog is mean and nasty for sure. It's a fine line between being mean and tough to play against and being Evander Kane, but when people suggest that the Flames need more meanness, I think this is whag they are talking about.
I think there is something to this

Seems like specious reasoning to me. James Neal was brought in partly because of the edge he plays with and the "meanness" he brings on to the ice, but he was the team's worst skater.

Rantanen and Barrie aren't mean or tough either and they both made a massive impact in this series, especially Rantanen who was the scoring leader between both teams.

Flames were also one of the meanest and toughest teams coming out of the lockout and all they did was disappoint in the 1st round. Meanness and toughness may look important from an optics standpoint, but outscoring your opponent is still the objective of winning hockey games.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

The last 4 games? Tkachuk pretty much mailed it in after the Matthews contract signing. Well thanks for the hometown discount Matt!

This is simply not true. He was quiet for a stretch late in March into April, but he was effective for most of the season. Matthews was signed in early February.

Playoffs were weird as he was great in game 1 and then just vanished...along with his linemates.

He is a guy though that learns as he goes and adjusts to be better. That part of him, I'm not worried about but his contract? Very much worried about it.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Hot take - Neal will have an ever poorer season next year than this year

That's more of a "Bold Prediction" than a "Hot Take".

Would be nice to hear Monahan, Tkachuk, Gaudreau, etc... admitting they need to be better after their disappearing act in the playoffs. Nevermind talking about the team learning a lesson, I want to hear ownership.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Fan 960 just said they are hoping to have Tre on during the 1pm hour

Who is interviewing him?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by nik-

Who is interviewing him?

sounds like steinberg.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Rittich has been playing through an injury since Dec 31.

Kristen Anderson @KdotAnderson
David Rittich on world championships: "I was hurt for big part of the season. It's a little sad but I'm not going there ... I want to be healthy (for next season) and that is more important to me." Said the injury was painful. Wouldn't say what it was. Hurt on Dec. 31.

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
David Rittich says he was playing through an undisclosed injury from January to the end of the season.

Says it’ll keep him from representing the Czech Republic at Worlds. Says he really wants to go but needs to take care of his injury. #Flames

Wow, Rittch's game actually dropped off a lot right around this time too. His season after this year will be very interesting. I have him penciled in as the #1A and hopefully his contract is ends up being very reasonable.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Seems like specious reasoning to me. James Neal was brought in partly because of the edge he plays with and the "meanness" he brings on to the ice, but he was the team's worst skater.

Rantanen and Barrie aren't mean or tough either and they both made a massive impact in this series, especially Rantanen who was the scoring leader between both teams.

Flames were also one of the meanest and toughest teams coming out of the lockout and all they did was disappoint in the 1st round. Meanness and toughness may look important from an optics standpoint, but outscoring your opponent is still the objective of winning hockey games.

No question the scoring is the thing. Goes without saying.
I was clarifying what Frolik said, and I do think it's noteworthy coming out of the locker room. Plus, not every player has to be mean, but if your team lacks it in general it could be a problem.
Not even remotely suggesting that this lack of meanness was the singular factor in the Flames loss. Obviously they were outplayed in all facets.
Again, I was just jumping off of what Frolik said and discussing.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Hmm, the "meanness and bigger bodies" comments are interesting. Should the Flames go for a Semenko type player? Useless offensively but go near Johnny and get pummeled.

It might work.

Sure! I mean, it never, ever does, but why not try it again?