Treliving's Talk

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

So you do have a crystal ball then?

Where do you think he would have been getting time? This was discussed in detail over the summer. Seems more than likely he was not getting top-6 action in Calgary.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Tyler

In 4 years, Sam Bennett has done nothing to show he deserves PP2 time.

12 PPG and 9 PPA over 4 seasons is pretty good given the PP2 icetime (485.5 minutes).

Backlund has 14 PPG and 24 PPA during the same time, with 611.7 PP minutes.

I thought Bennett and Ryan started to click on the PP last year a bit after the painfully slow start that PP2 had.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by AC

12 PPG and 9 PPA over 4 seasons is pretty good given the PP2 icetime (485.5 minutes).

Backlund has 14 PPG and 24 PPA during the same time, with 611.7 PP minutes.

I thought Bennett and Ryan started to click on the PP last year a bit after the painfully slow start that PP2 had.

i think Ryan's a really good PP2 forward.

makes everyone better because he can make plays with the puck.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

i think Ryan's a really good PP2 forward.

makes everyone better because he can make plays with the puck.

I agree. Ryan also has an under-appreciated shot.

Other guys that should see more time on the 2nd PP unit: Jankowski and Kylington.

Jankowski can't create scoring chances, but he can bury them. Kylington has issues defensively, but he's got offensive tools.

[AC]

I'm surprised Itse. I think Jankowski might be the last forward I'd want on the PP.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Itse

I agree. Ryan also has an under-appreciated shot.

Other guys that should see more time on the 2nd PP unit: Jankowski and Kylington.

Jankowski can't create scoring chances, but he can bury them. Kylington has issues defensively, but he's got offensive tools.

Most of the time he is converting those chances it's on transition.
My impression is that once in the offensive zone, he's a pretty poor threat.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Most of the time he is converting those chances it's on transition.
My impression is that once in the offensive zone, he's a pretty poor threat.

He has his moments - a good shot here and there, a nice breakaway on a PK. But his offensive skill hasn’t progressed much since he first came in. There are much better options on the second unit - Frolik, Mangiapane, Backlund and Czarnik all have more finish IMO. If Lucic can be an effective screen, he takes another spot.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Most of the time he is converting those chances it's on transition.
My impression is that once in the offensive zone, he's a pretty poor threat.

You might not be wrong.
But he does have a really good shot. On the PP and with the help of set plays he might actually get to use it.

[Split98]

Tree’s mistake was signing Neal, and that mistake is parlayed into an expensive Lucic. His salary really doesn’t matter too much on the ice when he was able to bring the same team back, minus 2. I’ve thought that Lucic has been pretty damn good for his role - and way faster than I expected.

That Tree’s mistake on this roster still brings a dynamic this team sorely needed... and occupies Oiler cap space is remarkable. Every GM has mistakes (different from “I value this player less”), and I’ve loved how quickly he works to rectify them. Ego doesn’t play a role in Calgary.

Hopefully the blue-shirts were able to read that

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Split98

Tree’s mistake was signing Neal, and that mistake is parlayed into an expensive Lucic. His salary really doesn’t matter too much on the ice when he was able to bring the same team back, minus 2. I’ve thought that Lucic has been pretty damn good for his role - and way faster than I expected.

That Tree’s mistake on this roster still brings a dynamic this team sorely needed... and occupies Oiler cap space is remarkable. Every GM has mistakes (different from “I value this player less”), and I’ve loved how quickly he works to rectify them. Ego doesn’t play a role in Calgary.

Hopefully the blue-shirts were able to read that

This is my thought on Treliving too. He isn't married to players he signed or traded for (see also Hamilton).

I expect you won't see another UFA signing like Brouwer/Neal. I think he thought Brouwer was a mistake in player, but perhaps not the type/role. But Neal maybe confirmed that the type wasn't good in the modern game (and also that UFA salaries for players of this ilk are not worth it).

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

And Lucic has?

Lucic is one of two clear cut net front deflectors/screeners we have on the team along with Tkachuk. His role on the PP is very clearly defined and useful. He most definitely deserves to be on the top two units as he’s one of only two forwards who play that role extremely well. You want a net front powerforward on both units.

Now I’d rather have Bennett over Backlund. That’s a different question.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Lucic is one of two clear cut net front deflectors/screeners we have on the team along with Tkachuk. His role on the PP is very clearly defined and useful. He most definitely deserves to be on the top two units as he’s one of only two forwards who play that role extremely well. You want a net front powerforward on both units.

Now I’d rather have Bennett over Backlund. That’s a different question.

I like Bennett fine, but he's never produced like Backlund, can't skate quite as well, doesn't pass quite as well, and probably has a bit lower hockey IQ generally. Backlund has produced fairly well over the years despite vveing in a checking role and often playing with player who are well below him in skill (Tkachuk being the new exception).

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Would love to know the real story behind the Lucic trade. He’s likeable but terrible. The flames can’t possibly think he’s likely to be a useful player again, though I get why they’ll give it a shot now that they have him. And his contract is worse. How poisonous did Neal have to be for that to be a better option?

Neal was an absolute liability on the ice and from what I hear, also the locker room. At least Lucic brings SOMETHING to the ice and the locker room. The amount of hate for Lucic is just sad to see. We are literally two games into the season and personally, I've liked what I've seen and the presence he brings. My expectations of him are not to be flying around out there and scoring twenty goals. But, he was top three in the league in hits last year in the NHL. He is smart with the puck, great possession stats and zone entry. Knowing where he has to be on the ice at all times helps the fact that he knows he has lost a step. Neal brought nothing to the team.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is my thought on Treliving too. He isn't married to players he signed or traded for (see also Hamilton).

I expect you won't see another UFA signing like Brouwer/Neal. I think he thought Brouwer was a mistake in player, but perhaps not the type/role. But Neal maybe confirmed that the type wasn't good in the modern game (and also that UFA salaries for players of this ilk are not worth it).

Hamilton is another good example and so is his goalie graveyard. We've had a bunch of duds travel through here, but he's avoided saddling himself to something in net that's going to hurt much further down the road. 2 decent goalies and playing controlled game at both ends of the ice leaves a tight budget in net... and a trail of terrible... but perseverance could very well be paying off.

I've never thought of it this way before, but I think a lot of Flames fan's anxieties are a melding of old and new Flames management. We're used to going to the same well over and over again (from coaching and management) - and we're seeing every swing-and-miss as more of a long-term burden than Tree & Co. are willing to put up with

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I like Bennett fine, but he's never produced like Backlund, can't skate quite as well, doesn't pass quite as well, and probably has a bit lower hockey IQ generally. Backlund has produced fairly well over the years despite vveing in a checking role and often playing with player who are well below him in skill (Tkachuk being the new exception).

I feel that Bennett has a higher skill level and thus higher upside. I think him gaining confidence on the PP could help get his confidence up and get him on a roll. This team could use a Bennett breakout, there’s upside to that. Backlund has proven to be a mediocre PP option over the years IMO.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I feel that Bennett has a higher skill level and thus higher upside. I think him gaining confidence on the PP could help get his confidence up and get him on a roll. This team could use a Bennett breakout, there’s upside to that. Backlund has proven to be a mediocre PP option over the years IMO.

That’s the thing about Bennett though. People feel like he has more skill. But has he ever shown he’s had more skill than Backlund?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That’s the thing about Bennett though. People feel like he has more skill. But has he ever shown he’s had more skill than Backlund?

Yep. In flashes, but he has shown it

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yep. In flashes, but he has shown it

He's shown flashes of skill. But Backlund has also done some amazing things skill-wise so I have to disagree. Example: