[PGT] Chicago 5 - Calgary 3

[tfi racing]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Well that decade sucked.

Fast forward to NYE ten years from today. The Flames will have yet another decade that sucked, almost exactly like the last few before.

[heep223]

I believe in this group. Need to trade a dman for another top 6 F.

GFG

[Rick M.]

Brodie’s absence was very obvious in this game.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

It's very difficult to play in front of a struggling goalie. Rittich lost the Montreal game, killed the Vancouver game and lost this game. He has been flat out terrible lately.

It's the exact same as last year, he can't play 65 games.

Why did they even sign Talbot?

Had no problem last year. They had worse goaltending most of the year not just a few games and kept on winning.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Red

Had no problem last year. They had worse goaltending most of the year not just a few games and kept on winning.

While true, all it really does is further illustrate just how unrepeatable last year’s success was.

[Red]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

While true, all it really does is further illustrate just how unrepeatable last year’s success was.

That is true.
I am amazed at how the "top team in the west" keeps getting thrown around here. This was probably the worst "top team" ever. Showed in the playoffs.

[ComixZone]

What surprised me during the off-season was the apparent lack of interest in Robin Lehner.

Dude won the Vezina in my heart and he got no interest. How grotesque is that? The league is big on “bell let’s talk” day, but when it comes to investing in a player who has openly discussed struggles with mental heath, everyone passes. What a missed opportunity.

Treliving could have finally addressed the goaltending position that he’s failed to do his entire time here.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Dion

I question the leadership group on this team. That's 2 games in a row where they've had starts where their collective heads are not in the game. No acceptable.

I have been questioning the leadership for 3 or 4 years now. It seems pretty thin.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

What surprised me during the off-season was the apparent lack of interest in Robin Lehner.

Dude won the Vezina and he got no interest. How grotesque is that? The league is big on “bell let’s talk” day, but when it comes to investing in a player who has openly discussed struggles with mental heath, everyone passes. What a missed opportunity.

Treliving could have finally addressed the goaltending position that he’s failed to do his entire time here.

Shocker his own team the Islanders moved on from him I don’t blame BT for taking a pass. Also I don’t remember Lehner winning the Vezina.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

What surprised me during the off-season was the apparent lack of interest in Robin Lehner.

Dude won the Vezina and he got no interest. How grotesque is that? The league is big on “bell let’s talk” day, but when it comes to investing in a player who has openly discussed struggles with mental heath, everyone passes. What a missed opportunity.

Treliving could have finally addressed the goaltending position that he’s failed to do his entire time here.

Either that or Lehner would have cracked up and we would be calling Treliving an idiot for signing him.

[Poe969]

One player not playing shouldn't make that big of a difference. This team and a lot of fans are too quick to come up with excuses and ignore the actual reason.

It's getting hard to cheer for this team. The whole win one lose one BS is getting old especially with such a "deep and talented" roster that has no heart. I'd be more than happy to cheer for a team of prospects and journeymen who aren't as talented but try every game.

[gamesaver]

Done with this "fanbase". Not with the team, but fans are embarrassing. Rittich is having a rough stretch now, it happens. You cannot rely only on one player doing it all night in and out. Flames would be a front runner for Lafreniere if not for him, period. Get real.

[icecube]

Originally Posted by gamesaver

Done with this "fanbase". Not with the team, but fans are embarrassing. Rittich is having a rough stretch now, it happens. You cannot rely only on one player doing it all night in and out. Flames would be a front runner for Lafreniere if not for him, period. Get real.

Thank you. Every goalie has poor stretches. Even the all time greats. Rittich is a number one goalie period. He has been overplayed and needs some rest.


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[CaptainCrunch]

Yup. absolutely correct, every player has slumps and dead periods.



If you look at Johnny, his dead period is almost feeling like a calendar year now, he fell apart in the second half last year, and he hasn't been awesome this year.



But like others I do question the leadership group, there are too many long stretches of uninspiring hockey or even lazy hockey this year.



I also think for some reason that there are serious chemistry issues on the ice, I still don't like their breakouts and offensive zone play that much.

[keenan87]

I would be open to trading anyone except for Tkachuk and Lindholm. I do think it may be time to move on from Backlund and Gaudreau this off-season.

Tkachuk-Lindholm-???
???-Monahan-???

This is the top six I would move forward with in the off-season. I wonder if there is a deal that can be structured around Konecny+Sanheim for Gaudreau+Kylington.

[442scotty]

The big problem with the NHL, and why attendance is dropping, is that , show up for the game or not, the players still get paid. Other than personal pride and playing for a roster spot/big contract there is no incentive to put it all out there. This team has too many players that, while they want to win, are not willing to pay the price. On the top teams the slackers are in the minority and either play the right way or they are gone.

The Flames slackers outnumber the guys willing to go to war and if management doesn’t do something players like Chucky , Lindholm, and Anderson to name a few are going to say “why am I killing myself out there? No one else is!”

Hockey is expensive to watch in person. Unless you are well off you’d have to be crazy to go to a game when there’s only 30% chance the team will show up and entertain you!

Management needs to clean house and the NHL needs to do something about guaranteed contracts. Most of us have to show up every day or we are on the unemployment line.

[The Cobra]

Calgary has scored 16 less goals then they have given this season, with is very concerning.

If it wasn't for OT, shoot outs and loser points, this a very much a below average team in the NHL.

Good thing they play in the leagues worst division, or they could already be buried in the standings.

[Voodooman]

Chucky at least cared about the loss. I’m sick to death of watching Johnny’s total lack of give-a-s*#tedness out there. I don’t know if he’s fighting a nagging injury, or just doesn’t care, but I’m leaning towards the latter.

The problem is, how do you fix that? I’d love to see him in the press box for a couple of games, but it’s never going to happen. Maybe Gio needs to deliver a much needed ass kicking.

Rittich seems more susceptible to swings in play than most starters. When he’s on, he’s a legit #1, but he slides too frequently, and the slides last too long. It’s likely a mix of conditioning, both physical and mental, and overuse (mostly overuse), but if he can’t get more consistent, it’s time to move on. For now, it has to be Talbot for a few starts.

[nik-]

Changes should probably start with the guy who's presided over almost two decades of mediocrity and go down from there.

Enough already.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Yup. absolutely correct, every player has slumps and dead periods.



If you look at Johnny, his dead period is almost feeling like a calendar year now, he fell apart in the second half last year, and he hasn't been awesome this year.



But like others I do question the leadership group, there are too many long stretches of uninspiring hockey or even lazy hockey this year.



I also think for some reason that there are serious chemistry issues on the ice, I still don't like their breakouts and offensive zone play that much.

This is pretty accurate. Gaudreau has been playing poorly for nearly a year, to the point of hurting the team with his turnovers. But some of the supposed leaders of the team have been extremely disappointing and invisible for long stretches.

People often talk about building around Tkachuk but he goes invisible often and like Gaudreau, I suspect he is more likely to be an important piece on a good team than the guy. It just seems that there are not enough players on this team who know how to win over a prolonged period in the NHL.

Seems the Ward “bounce” was a team thankful to be rid of their ####### coach and we are back to where we were.