[PGT] Flames lay an absolute egg, lose to Sens 5-2

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’d like to see Monahan without Jonny, and no Backlund doesn’t need better line mates he needs worse ones on the third line where he belongs.

^It was a veiled shot. Backlund can't do much with two guys that are not really into it.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Jimdon

Just watching the games, the Monahan line is consistently the lone that most often gets hemmed in their own zone and has the most trouble maintaining possession in the other teams end.

a lot of the time it's the wingers that can't clear the zone, that's not on Monahan.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Yoho

I’d like to see Monahan without Jonny, and no Backlund doesn’t need better line mates he needs worse ones on the third line where he belongs.

Maybe it is Johnny that should be moved to the 3rd line there is really no other place to put him in the top six.

[chummer]

Thought this was cool from yesterday's game-

https://twitter.com/user/status/1218910887572049925

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by SebC

See also: pipeline politics.

Hey, hey, that pipeline is going somewhere near where some of us live... Maybe... We think. We don't actually know.

Pipeline bad, Trudeau bad, Alberta bad.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by RichKlit

Agreed. This team is woefully short on the give a $&@! meter. Bring in a new coach, I don’t care, but it’s time for a change to the roster as well. To many passengers not enough drivers.

This core has had to many coaches, to many styles of coaches, IMO it’s on the players now. They don’t want to be yelled at they don’t want to pushed, bring in a player coaches and they can’t find consistency. The core is broken and incomplete.

Bennet sucks, Johnny is incomplete, Gio is old and can’t carry the emotional, physical and offensive load from the backend anymore(rightfully so), Monahan is passive although showing more this year, Lucic is one dimensional, Backlund is lost this year etc etc.

Enough is enough. Start the roster corrections now build a more consistent team and be ready to compete when the new building opens. Just my 2 cents.

As was talked about on the forum back in November or so, this team roster and foundation doesn't require a rebuild to get them to elevate to a more competitive, consistent level. A retool is more ideal, and would be shipping out a couple core pieces, rather than majority of it.

Johnny is a player that definitely should be moved if you believe he won't be a +70 point producing player as a Calgary Flames even if you bring in support via trades. In that case, he should get you a serviceable top 6 player currently, as well as a blue chip prospect, and a 1st rounder.

Monahan is a top 6 centre, and with how rare those are, you don't give them up if you're trying to compete in the near future. Backlund is misplaced, and should be on the 3rd line. Gio age looks to have caught up to him, since his place has taken a sharp drop. But the team overall as a whole has dropped. Gio days as a top paring defenseman could be coming to an end, but he still is serviceable for the team. These are players that I could see sticking around.

Bennett could be traded to bring in futures. I feel this off season that moving Gaudreau, Hamonic, and Bennett, could be trades that will help this team moving forward in the future, without tearing everything down and having to take years to find out if the team pans out to be competitive. Smart trades, and an actual good UFA signing could make this team much better then they are currently.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Hey, hey, that pipeline is going somewhere near where some of us live... Maybe... We think. We don't actually know.

Pipeline bad, Trudeau bad, Alberta bad.

And Vancouver is no good.

[Bingo]

I was going into the game expecting the effort/focus issue to come up. At least to start ... I think it crept in later.

Honestly it didn't. They played a pretty air tight first period and weren't rewarded for it. That's not to say we should chalk it up to luck and just move on, because there's a bigger issue that needs to be solved, and it's been around all season.

Getting more chances.

Playing a possession game is great, it's a good start, but you have to get blue chip chances at some point and then when you do you cash in on them and this game isn't an issue.

In all fairness the Flames had five attempts there were deemed high danger in the first period, and that's a pretty good pace. But when they get them they just don't finish.

Lack of skill? Confidence? Not enough players going to the tough areas to the deemed high danger chances don't come with traffic and rebound threats?

Defensively, the team is decent when it comes to giving up chances, they're ranked 9th, but offensively they're ranked right where their goal production is when it comes to chance rates ... 23rd.

As an aside ... under Ward they are still ranked 9th defensively, but 18th offensively in chance generation.

Coaching? Personnel? Jam?

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I was going into the game expecting the effort/focus issue to come up. At least to start ... I think it crept in later.

Honestly it didn't. They played a pretty air tight first period and weren't rewarded for it.

Bingo, respectfully I think that your take is a rose-coloured glasses one. The first period was abysmal from a structural perspective. They controlled play - and that is all. They failed to develop any pressure, sustained, close-in, net-front pressure. Their passing was terrible...East-West and even in their own zone there was a D-to-D pass that went off the back of some opponent's skate as they were clearing the zone to tag up. That is simply inattentive play.

That's what I saw a LOT of in that period. Sure - they weren't rewarded - but they also played like crap. The only thing that they did was have the puck more. But they really didn't do anything of consequence with that control.

After that it all just fell apart.

[taxbuster]

...and why isn't Gio, as the leader on the team saying (more or less) what Tkachuk said..."I have no answers..".

HE is the one that should be saying that their level of play was completely unacceptable etc etc. and that is all. End of story. No excuses. We've heard WAY too many of those over the years from everyone.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Bingo, respectfully I think that your take is a rose-coloured glasses one. The first period was abysmal from a structural perspective. They controlled play - and that is all. They failed to develop any pressure, sustained, close-in, net-front pressure. Their passing was terrible...East-West and even in their own zone there was a D-to-D pass that went off the back of some opponent's skate as they were clearing the zone to tag up. That is simply inattentive play.

That's what I saw a LOT of in that period. Sure - they weren't rewarded - but they also played like crap. The only thing that they did was have the puck more. But they really didn't do anything of consequence with that control.

After that it all just fell apart.

Rose coloured glasses? Did you read the rest of the post?

Not going to the net, lack of jam, coaching, wrong players ... the possibility that the high danger chances they get don't have the traffic in front to make them truly dangerous.

[timbit]

Historically, a very accurate indicator as to where a team seems to be headed is TEAM GF/GA.

Very infrequently does a minus team make the playoffs.

Especially, as you get down to the last third of the season.

The Flames are TWENTY FIFTH in the NHL, at -12. Only Ottawa, New Jersey, Detroit, LA, Anaheim and SJ have a worse differential in the NHL. Not great company to be associated with if you’re serious about being a playoff team, never mind being a contender.

At this point there is one team , with a minus number, that is currently, in a playoff spot.

Yep, you guessed it. The Flames.

Not promising. Actually, a very sad state of affairs.

[timbit]

See above.

The last time a team made the playoffs in the Western Conference with a minus differential was the Minnesota Wild ( -5) , in 2012-13.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by timbit

Historically, a very accurate indicator as to where a team seems to be headed is TEAM GF/GA.

Very infrequently does a minus team make the playoffs.

Especially, as you get down to the last third of the season.

The Flames are TWENTY FIFTH in the NHL, at -12. Only Ottawa, New Jersey, Detroit, LA, Anaheim and SJ have a worse differential in the NHL. Not great company to be associated with if you’re serious about being a playoff team, never mind being a contender.

At this point there is one team , with a minus number, that is currently, in a playoff spot.

Yep, you guessed it. The Flames.

Not promising. Actually, a very sad state of affairs.

they just can't score enough goals because they don't have enough goal scorers.

It sounds stupidly simple, but there it is. You put a goal scorer or two on this roster and they have a positive differential.

It's really that simple.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

they just can't score enough goals because they don't have enough goal scorers.

It sounds stupidly simple, but there it is. You put a goal scorer or two on this roster and they have a positive differential.

It's really that simple.

They could certainly use more talent, no doubt.

But the same roster was 2nd last year in scoring, so it's deeper than that. The players they have have for the most part taken a step back. It didn't happen with Ward coming in, it didn't happen in October. It seemed to happen in February last year.

I think some of that was converting last year over their heads, but there's more going on.

But adding more talent certainly wouldn't hurt.

[Rubicant]

Giordano looks to be regressing hard.

Gaudreau has either been figured out or just isn’t able to get out of his own head and looks like a not very dangerous player.

Those two things alone are crushing both in 5 on 5 but also the power play.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

they just can't score enough goals because they don't have enough goal scorers.

It sounds stupidly simple, but there it is. You put a goal scorer or two on this roster and they have a positive differential.

It's really that simple.

Or like Dallas, Columbus and NYI, who also have scoring issues, you play better defence.

One or the other...or improvement in both areas.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by timbit

See above.

The last time a team made the playoffs in the Western Conference with a minus differential was the Minnesota Wild ( -5) , in 2012-13.

We'll still easily make it in just due to the fact we play in the worst division in the NHL.

and now enough with the Gaudreau, Backlund, Monahan, Bennett, Brodie, Hanifin blame. This all falls on 1 player and it's Giordano. I mean it's great he sold his soul to the devil for the Norris last year, but man has he been pathetic offensively this year. He SHOULD NOT see another second on the 1st unit pp and 3 on 3 OT.

and if Ward is too chickets*** to demote him then he needs to be fired into the Sun.

[djsFlames]

I think we're seeing substitute teacher syndrome under Ward where the team is picking its nights when they want to put an all around effort in and otherwise approaching things very casually.

I think we're in need of a coach without the interim label to get them working towards a set system night in night out, one that helps our offensive output.

Ownership needs to give Treliving permission to go after Gallant with a good offer if they want what's best for the club at this point. I don't think you need to change the associates.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Rose coloured glasses? Did you read the rest of the post?

Not going to the net, lack of jam, coaching, wrong players ... the possibility that the high danger chances they get don't have the traffic in front to make them truly dangerous.

Sorry - wasn't clear...it was the "air tight" part of the first period that I was referring to....