Practice Notes - February 3, 2020

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Toonage

A little positivity to start your day

(Albeit positivity behind a paywall)

Some fun and perhaps surprising stats in here.

https://theathletic.com/1579653/2020...-the-playoffs/

Coles Notes: "the Flames appear poised to lock in their playoff berth over the back-half of the season."

Also:

Led by the improving and strong play of Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Andersson and Kylington, the Flames appear poised to lock in their playoff berth over the back-half of the season.

There's plenty of data in that article that shows just how bad some of the takes on Kylington have been this year. Kid is good and getting better game to game.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Again, with the coach.

Not playing Rinaldo for this game, again a misstep by the coach.

And finally continuing to feed Hanifin ice time after miserable mistake after mistake. Coaches decision.

Hmmm......whats the common denominator here?

I just don't hold Rinaldo's impact at that level.

It's funny. There are many that think his presence on the roster is a wasted space and a joke, and then others that think his being healthy scratched is a fireable offence.

I'm honestly not that passionate either way. He plays a physical game, but he's only had one fight this year, and I don't see from the fourth line how he moves the needle much in a game like Saturday's.

There are plenty of things to discuss in Geoff Ward's systems etc, but Rinaldo scratch isn't a big deal to me.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Also:



There's plenty of data in that article that shows just how bad some of the takes on Kylington have been this year. Kid is good and getting better game to game.

Kylington has made some glaring mistakes but he's a guy who's been in the league for less than 80 games total. His wheels are a real asset and he's learning the game pretty well IMO. I was iffy on him last year but IMO he's been just fine this year and his progression is obvious. If he can put on some muscle without losing speed, he will really add to his game.

[UKflames]

I don't get how people keep thinking that we are going to rise to the top and the oilers are going to sink to the bottom because of the schedule, at the moment the oilers are winning and we are playing pretty poorly. Someone somewhere didn't get the schedule memo.


Just to be clear E=NG regardless

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Why wouldn't Lucic be in the lineup? The injury talk is purely speculative as people try to rationalize why he was a no-show in the BOA.

If anything I'd scratch him for the next boa. Much rather have someone with a pulse in those games.

[GranteedEV]

Kylington is the kind of playing who can do fifteen things really well in a row, from closing off gaps, to cutting off the cycle, to executing a strong breakout, to covering for his teammates' breakdowks... but the second he tries threading the needle on a breakout pass or trying to skate the puck through a dicey area of the ice and it doesn't work out, that becomes the only thing anyone remembers about his play.

He's not Brodie, but he's the same package of "the events you remember may colour your perception if you don't take some time to give merit where due". People want simple players. They can overlook an awful impact on the game by these simple players if it doesn't look like they tried to do too much, even if it resulted in them doing too little.

[blender]

Originally Posted by UKflames

I don't get how people keep thinking that we are going to rise to the top and the oilers are going to sink to the bottom because of the schedule, at the moment the oilers are winning and we are playing pretty poorly. Someone somewhere didn't get the schedule memo.


Just to be clear E=NG regardless

Where are you getting the impression that people think the Flames are rising to the top? Even the 3-4 most optimistic posters here are pretty subdued at the moment. The majority seems to be in the blow it up, eternal mediocrity, fire the coach, fire the GM, trade everyone camp at the moment.

[Gaskal]

He's basically Erik Karlsson lite, you have to expect the occasional below reaction from his brainfarts in his first few full seasons in the show as a young defender.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

He's basically Erik Karlsson lite, you have to expect the occasional below reaction from his brainfarts in his first few full seasons in the show as a young defender.

Even in his prime, Karlsson was a disaster in his own end but when you score 80 points a year, that is forgiven.

I think they should actually let Kylington looose more and live with his defensive shortcomings. Pair him with Hamonic, the true stay at home instead of neutering Rasmus’s offense.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 868904

Even in his prime, Karlsson was a disaster in his own end but when you score 80 points a year, that is forgiven.

I think they should actually let Kylington looose more and live with his defensive shortcomings. Pair him with Hamonic, the true stay at home instead of neutering Rasmus’s offense.

The problem was, that was kind of the theory with Brodie and it didn't work out well. Didn't work out that well with Hanifin either. On reflection I think the gaps get too big when the playing styles don't match.

I swear Hamonic ends up looking bad because he's left hanging out to dry or given the puck in awkward situations a lot.

[868904]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The problem was, that was kind of the theory with Brodie and it didn't work out well. Didn't work out that well with Hanifin either. On reflection I think the gaps get too big when the playing styles don't match.

I swear Hamonic ends up looking bad because he's left hanging out to dry or given the puck in awkward situations a lot.

That's because people are confusing what Brodie is. Brodie is a great skater, but he is not an offensive defenceman. He is a highly mobile defensive defenseman who can skate the puck out with great transitions and defend with his skating ability.

He has never been an offensive defenseman. He doesn't have the offensive skills to be a big point producer and there's nothing wrong with that.

I think Brodie is a great defenseman and he is at his best when he is transitioning the puck up and neutralizing the opposition in the defensive end. Brodie is NOT an offensive defenseman.

Kylington has the tools to be a point producer. He is a great shooter and passer. He should definitely be getting powerplay time over the likes of Hanifin and Brodie. He should be sheltered defensively and shouldn't be playing much when the Flames have the lead, but when the Flames need a goal, Kylington should be given the green light to join the rush.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Stone coming back in for either Hanifin or Kylington makes sense given the #### show those two were the past two games. I guess we really only have one option to replace them with right now, so I get how Kylington becomes the one who sits.

I agree a benching of Lucic would make sense........but not surprised to see it not happening. That would be a very public shaming of him that likely isn't going to go over very well with a player we are going to have to have around (like it or not) for a little bit. It's probably the best to try and deal with that away from the public eye versus pilling on to it if you are Ward and the Flames.

I wonder if Lucic waiving was a handshake deal rather than something on paper. He could turn around and spite the Flames and not waive his NMC come the expansion if we piss him off and start sitting him lol.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 868904

That's because people are confusing what Brodie is. Brodie is a great skater, but he is not an offensive defenceman. He is a highly mobile defensive defenseman who can skate the puck out with great transitions and defend with his skating ability.

He has never been an offensive defenseman. He doesn't have the offensive skills to be a big point producer and there's nothing wrong with that.

I think Brodie is a great defenseman and he is at his best when he is transitioning the puck up and neutralizing the opposition in the defensive end. Brodie is NOT an offensive defenseman.

Kylington has the tools to be a point producer. He is a great shooter and passer. He should definitely be getting powerplay time over the likes of Hanifin and Brodie. He should be sheltered defensively and shouldn't be playing much when the Flames have the lead, but when the Flames need a goal, Kylington should be given the green light to join the rush.

If Brodie is a defensive defenceman, it hasn't shown in previous years. This year it's been much better because of his lack of blue line turnovers.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by UKflames

I don't get how people keep thinking that we are going to rise to the top and the oilers are going to sink to the bottom because of the schedule, at the moment the oilers are winning and we are playing pretty poorly. Someone somewhere didn't get the schedule memo.


Just to be clear E=NG regardless

There is 28-30 games left and six points between the 1st and 5th team in the pacific. Lots is going to happen in the next two months.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Kylington is the kind of playing who can do fifteen things really well in a row, from closing off gaps, to cutting off the cycle, to executing a strong breakout, to covering for his teammates' breakdowks... but the second he tries threading the needle on a breakout pass or trying to skate the puck through a dicey area of the ice and it doesn't work out, that becomes the only thing anyone remembers about his play.

He's not Brodie, but he's the same package of "the events you remember may colour your perception if you don't take some time to give merit where due". People want simple players. They can overlook an awful impact on the game by these simple players if it doesn't look like they tried to do too much, even if it resulted in them doing too little.

This is actually an issue with the way most fans evaluate all defensemen. In order to truly evaluate a defenseman properly you need to be watching live, isolate the player and watch them exclusively the entire time they are are on the ice. This is what a scout would do when evaluating a defenseman. Obviously not many do that as our tendency as fans is to watch the puck. With the way the brain and memory work large mistakes will stand out and be the only or major thing some fans take away from a game even if a defensemen did 16-22 mins of great work. Some fans also have a tendency to want to scapegoat or blame particular players on goals against and it was quite easy to do that in the STL game for example as a couple Kylington plays contributed to goals against.

I wasn't as high on Kylington as some before he entered the league as I knew the gaffes were going to be there. But he has continually surprised me with how he competes, he battles, how he defends. He's gained strength and his size/strength is not a significant detriment anymore. He's a good young player with a bright future. The Flames are absolutely stacked at LD with Valimaki, Hanifin and Kylington all being as young as they are.

The only way he'll improve is through playing. Any calls to ship him to Stockton are completely misguided IMO. Like any young defenseman you're going to have to live with the occasional mistake. Hopefully he shows as much progression over the next year as Andersson has over the last year. He's on the right track, let's have some patience with him.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Also:



There's plenty of data in that article that shows just how bad some of the takes on Kylington have been this year. Kid is good and getting better game to game.

Much like Brodie and his historical gaffes ppl only remember what is most recent - which to a certain extent is fair.

Kylington has had a rough couple games since the allstar break and everyone is crapping on him big time. Before the allstar break he was coming into his own and making smart plays.

Hes a young kid, essentially in his first full season in the league. He is going to have some growing pains.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Much like Brodie and his historical gaffes ppl only remember what is most recent - which to a certain extent is fair.

Kylington has had a rough couple games since the allstar break and everyone is crapping on him big time. Before the allstar break he was coming into his own and making smart plays.

Hes a young kid, essentially in his first full season in the league. He is going to have some growing pains.

It was also interesting hearing yesterday that Kylington was a right-side defenceman all the way up to his time in the AHL - which I think helps us hugely going forward.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It was also interesting hearing yesterday that Kylington was a right-side defenceman all the way up to his time in the AHL - which I think helps us hugely going forward.

That is outstanding news. I never heard a report on that but I knew he did play on the right side in Sweden.

Also Stockton has had a shortage of RHS dmen so I figured he may have played a bit there as well.

I personally hope they keep Kylington and start giving him PP opportunities to develop his offense as I think he has some of the highest offensive potential of the group.

I find Hanifin as our most frustrating dman this season and think Hamonic gets alot of undue blame because of him.

[8sPOT]

There's just something about 'how' Kylington does certain things. The way he receives some passes looks really awkward for no apparent reason, he chooses some really strange routes when skating without the puck, as if to give the opponent an open lane. Not to mention he's tiny, for a dman. Could all just be young dman type stuff, but I think he lacks a certain hockey IQ required to play NHL caliber defense, in my opinion.

He's young so he very well could prove me wrong, but I just don't see NHL defense-man upside with him, certainly not top-4 pairing.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Also:



There's plenty of data in that article that shows just how bad some of the takes on Kylington have been this year. Kid is good and getting better game to game.

I'll admit I haven't watched as much as I normally do so far this year, but Kylington has absolutely been a bright spot for me

Originally Posted by 868904

Even in his prime, Karlsson was a disaster in his own end but when you score 80 points a year, that is forgiven.

I think they should actually let Kylington looose more and live with his defensive shortcomings. Pair him with Hamonic, the true stay at home instead of neutering Rasmus’s offense.

I've been whining to see that for a while now. Give us

Giordano - Brodie
Hanifin - Andersson
Kylington - Hamonic