[PGT] Flames 1 Sharks 3. Flames display "Troy Brouwer vibes"

[Duffalufagus]

Regression to the mean. Was bound to happen. It is early, but this is a team that will fight for a wildcard. They totally overachieved last year and got exposed in the playoffs.

Calibrate expectations people. This team isn’t going to have 5 point per game players this year. Results will reflect that.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don’t think any team is moving those types of players before Christmas.


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I doubt we can get a top 6 guy at any time this year. Probably a top 9 guy given our lack of assets and probably costs a Brodie. I’m concerned that Brodie isn’t open to an extension (just a gut feel) which makes him a true rental and lowers his return, if not negates a trade altogether.

May have to pick through the bargain bin and see if you can get a reclamation project who was recently on waivers or who is on the verge of waivers(Ho Sang/Sprong/Goldobin/Milano). Believe that the guys that we are willing to move (with exception of Brodie) have next to no value and we are looking at replacement level players in any return, which won’t move the needle. If we can offer a low ceiling prospect and hope we catch lightning in a bottle, believe that’s the only option out there to acquire a scoring F to make the second line more dangerous.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Regression to the mean. Was bound to happen. It is early, but this is a team that will fight for a wildcard. They totally overachieved last year and got exposed in the playoffs.

Calibrate expectations people. This team isn’t going to have 5 point per game players this year. Results will reflect that.

They could certainly take a step back, but the Flames didn't over achieve last year.

Every metric had them top 5-7 in the league, and they did that with below average goaltending and bottom third special teams.

Giordano at 36 has to regress, the rest are younger players that should get better.

It's six games people ... yikes

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Regression to the mean. Was bound to happen. It is early, but this is a team that will fight for a wildcard. They totally overachieved last year and got exposed in the playoffs.

Calibrate expectations people. This team isn’t going to have 5 point per game players this year. Results will reflect that.

Little early to be making these types of calls...but not surprised

Tampa is 2-2-1 Wildcard team obviously

Stars are the worst team in the NHL

Lots of hockey to be played, schedules will even out (4 tough road games of 6 games) I would bet a large sum that Calgary is top 3 in the pacific when all is said and done

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Little early to be making these types of calls...but not surprised

Tampa is 2-2-1 Wildcard team obviously

Stars are the worst team in the NHL

Lots of hockey to be played, schedules will even out (4 tough road games of 6 games) I would bet a large sum that Calgary is top 3 in the pacific when all is said and done

I definitely wouldn’t bet you otherwise. We have 4 of the top 50 players in the league on our top two lines. That wins you games. The problem is if they get held off the score board we’re not likely to win many games. And come playoff team if you target specifically those 4 players the rest are unlikely to step up with any kind of finish.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I think we're being awfully quick to jump to conclusions. After years of watching slow start after slow start, it doesn't make sense to make proclamations about "retool years" or "blowing it up" until November, at least. Guys are still getting into the groove of the season.

Many (myself included) rushed to judge players like Smith and Ryan last year. They both helped the Flames win 50. There's a lot of hockey left to play and a lot of room for the Flames to grow

The Flames often outscored the goals allowed by Smith’s crappy goaltending, and could do so as they were the second highest scoring team.

I’m not concerned about this year yet, but I am not interested to pretend Smith wasn’t garbage for most of last year

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

I definitely wouldn’t bet you otherwise. We have 4 of the top 50 players in the league on our top two lines. That wins you games. The problem is if they get held off the score board we’re not likely to win many games. And come playoff team if you target specifically those 4 players the rest are unlikely to step up with any kind of finish.

I would have to think the current Flames team is not the same team game one of the playoffs. BT is obviously trying to upgrade the 2nd line

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I would have to think the current Flames team is not the same team game one of the playoffs. BT is obviously trying to upgrade the 2nd line

I think we could definitely use an upgrade on the 2nd line. But I don’t think that’s the reason for our start of the season woes. Each line needs a driver. Two if your lucky with complimenting players. Tkachuk is a driver. Backlund is an occasional driver. They can “drag” a player along with them. I don’t really see any drivers for us on the 3rd or 4th line. Hathaway was a guy I feel we really undervalued. He didn’t make a lot of impression offensively but I felt like in a 4th role he could of have been considered a driver when you expect that line to grind away and keep the puck out of your net. We have a 4th line of guys who don’t really have a strong role or identity. Guys who should of been playing higher up in the lineup but haven’t panned out and don’t have a lot of finish. Wether it’s a finish on their shot or a finish on their check I don’t see a lot of either.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

I definitely wouldn’t bet you otherwise. We have 4 of the top 50 players in the league on our top two lines. That wins you games. The problem is if they get held off the score board we’re not likely to win many games. And come playoff team if you target specifically those 4 players the rest are unlikely to step up with any kind of finish.

Yeah I think they rebound and become a top ten regular season team.

What happens come playoff time though? ... Whole other conversation.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

The Flames often outscored the goals allowed by Smith’s crappy goaltending, and could do so as they were the second highest scoring team.

I’m not concerned about this year yet, but I am not interested to pretend Smith wasn’t garbage for most of last year

I disagree, Smith had a .910 save-percentage in 26 games after the new year and was huge down the stretch (and in the playoffs) when Rittich faltered with a .902 in 22 games over the same span

[chedder]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I disagree, Smith had a .910 save-percentage in 26 games after the new year and was huge down the stretch (and in the playoffs) when Rittich faltered with a .902 in 22 games over the same span

You mean when Rittich had a knee injury he was playing through.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by chedder

You mean when Rittich had a knee injury he was playing through.

Sure, whatever. Doesn't change the fact that Smith improved substantially down the stretch, just like many players do. All I'm saying is that after many (myself, once again, included) rushed to jump to conclusions about the Flames' lacklustre start to the 2018-19 season, we should maybe avoid doing the same about this year.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I disagree, Smith had a .910 save-percentage in 26 games after the new year and was huge down the stretch (and in the playoffs) when Rittich faltered with a .902 in 22 games over the same span

That was the narrative that Derek Wills was loving too.

Look at the opponents and support that Smith got, and adjust for the two games close together where TB and Toronto pounded Calgary and each ran up 6.

I watched all of the games. Smith was an average NHL level goalie.

He was decent most games in the playoffs but let in 14 goals in the last 3 games and lost them all, and was back to himself in game 5

#### Mike Smith. He’s a dirty Oiler now

[UKflames]

It is early but Peters needs to be finding some different combinations that work or he needs to stick with some and give them chance to gel. Personally I would try Bennett at c with chucky and czarnik (speed, size and shooting), then Backlund with Frolik and Mangipane, with Lucic, Janko and Ryan the 4th line. But what do I know ��

[Dajazz]

For the love of God Bill, just move Lindholm to the second line so you can control the matchups better. If the first line is off this team is dead.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Winger
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Winger
Winger - Backlund - Winger

Bennett, Czarnik, Lucic, Mangiapane, Frolik etc can all be shifted around the lineup.

It'll ease up on both Tkachuk and Backlund's heavy load as they will spread the tougher matchups on two lines, so their offense probably won't dry up.

[UKflames]

I also wish someone would ask Peters why he insists on taking anyone of that RW2 position after a period or so and not give things a little time to bed in.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by UKflames

I also wish someone would ask Peters why he insists on taking anyone of that RW2 position after a period or so and not give things a little time to bed in.

Mangiapane got six or seven full periods. I think Peters likes him on that second line, and he will be back there in the home stand.


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[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Dajazz

For the love of God Bill, just move Lindholm to the second line so you can control the matchups better. If the first line is off this team is dead.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Winger
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Winger
Winger - Backlund - Winger

Bennett, Czarnik, Lucic, Mangiapane, Frolik etc can all be shifted around the lineup.

It'll ease up on both Tkachuk and Backlund's heavy load as they will spread the tougher matchups on two lines, so their offense probably won't dry up.

Was thinking something similar last night in bed. Although I'd try Bennett at 2nd line C for a good while (not that he's earned it, just because of a lack of RW)

Gaudreau - Monahan - Winger
Tkachuk - Bennett - Lindholm
Lucic - Backlund - Frolik
Winger - Ryan - Winger

*Czarnik, Mangiapane, Rieder, Jankowski to fill the holes.

Really need to package one D and Jankowski for RW help.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Was thinking something similar last night in bed. Although I'd try Bennett at 2nd line C for a good while (not that he's earned it, just because of a lack of RW)

Gaudreau - Monahan - Winger
Tkachuk - Bennett - Lindholm
Lucic - Backlund - Frolik
Winger - Ryan - Winger

*Czarnik, Mangiapane, Rieder, Jankowski to fill the holes.

Really need to package one D and Jankowski for RW help.

This is the typical “success” model used in the NHL. Look at a lot of the players Crosby has had with him over the years. He just needs hard workers who follow the game plan. I dunno if that’s what we have here in our supporting cast but I definitely support spreading out the talent. We’re the definition of a top heavy team and considering how much we #### on our neighbors to the north about it, it’s not a good look.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I disagree, Smith had a .910 save-percentage in 26 games after the new year and was huge down the stretch (and in the playoffs) when Rittich faltered with a .902 in 22 games over the same span

Great, doesn't detract from the fact that he cost the team points on at least several occasions including Iggy night in the second half and still ended up what, .897 overall?

Rittich had an injury.