[PGT] Annnnnd..... cut! Flames allow seven unanswered, lose 7-3. Season over.

[genetic_phreek]

I think a problem is any new coaches that come in always go to the default pairings and lines. They base a lot of how they deploy lines by history of what others did before them. I wished we had a coach that came in and gave everyone a clean slate, see how they play and react. I think this is one of the things I respect about Torts. He doesn't care about veteran or salary or history. He cares about who gives him the best chance to win. Unfortunately he doesn't have a great roster on paper compared to us.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

No I really don't think so.

Dallas's D-core for one, looked much better than ours. That was the big difference in the series.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ya, his luck is obviously burned out.

No. He brought us a hell of a first period. How much more can you ask of a simple frog?

Clearly you need to get two more. Keep them in a dark room and pull one out at the start of each period. Easy Peasy.

That would be better coaching than Ward too!!

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by troutman

Dallas's D-core for one, looked much better than ours. That was the big difference in the series.

I'm afraid that Hughes, Heiskanen and Makar will be terrorizing the Flames for a LONG time.

Maybe our answer is Andersson? He's certainly top pairing, but he's not a star like those three are. Not yet anyway.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm afraid that Hughes, Heiskanen and Makar will be terrorizing the Flames for a LONG time.

Maybe our answer is Andersson? He's certainly top pairing, but he's not a star like those three are. Not yet anyway.

IMO Andersson is a number 2/3. I don't see anyone learning what Heiskanen/Makar/Hughes have.

[Table 5]

If he hasn't been sidetracked too much, Valimaki is probably the closest thing we have to a future #1 Dman...but even then I don't seem him being at the level of the above 3.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Originally Posted by Monahammer

At no point this season was Hamonic in any way shape or form better than Rasmus Andersson.

I personally don't think Gio or Brodie were either, not even sure how one would begin an argument that Hanafin was.

You're out to lunch unfortunately!

That's just players being used incorrectly by a poor coach. Whatever order you want to put them in. name a D core in the league better than Anderson, Gio, Brodie, Hanafin and Hamonic.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That's just players being used incorrectly by a poor coach. Whatever order you want to put them in. name a D core in the league better than Anderson, Gio, Brodie, Hanafin and Hamonic.

This is a problem that has long plagued this team.

Overspend on defence to compensate for building your roster and coaching staff incorrectly. It fails over and over and over, but we do it over and over and over.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That's just players being used incorrectly by a poor coach. Whatever order you want to put them in. name a D core in the league better than Anderson, Gio, Brodie, Hanafin and Hamonic.

As Troutman said, I’d start with the team we just played.

Brodie and Rasmus were magnificent in the playoffs IMO. None of the others.

And Hamonic just isn’t that good IMO.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Titan

No. He brought us a hell of a first period. How much more can you ask of a simple frog?

Clearly you need to get two more. Keep them in a dark room and pull one out at the start of each period. Easy Peasy.

That would be better coaching than Ward too!!

That is a plan!

[Winsor_Pilates]

We have good young D.
You don't have to have a Heiskanen/Makar/Hughes to win (sure helps).

Of the holes in this team, that's a much lesser concern.
#1C, top coach and a #1 goalie are bigger priorities.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

That’s fist up the ass bad

You can say that?!?

I am reporting that to a moderator...oh...nvm.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

We have good young D.
You don't have to have a Heiskanen/Makar/Hughes to win (sure helps).

Of the holes in this team, that's a much lesser concern.
#1C, top coach and a #1 goalie are bigger priorities.

Here is where things get to be a huge problem for the Flames:

They have drafted only 1 Dman in the last 3 years and Pelletier is the only 1st or 2nd round pick used on a Forward over the same time frame.

with 15 (!) UFAs on the roster this offseason not having been moved for any picks and further picks out the door for Forbort and Gustafsson, the flames asset ledger is arguably worse than it was when Feaster took over.

Detroit has drafted 18 times in the top 3 rounds in the last 3 years.

Who will win a round first do you think?

[GirlySports]

The Stars D? With Sekara and Fedun?

[blankall]

Somehow the Flames went from having a Norris winner and one of the best young crop of defenders in the league (Valimaki, Andersson, Hanifin, and Kylington) to absolute crap?

Last night was a debacle on a variety of levels. However, the real problem, and the problem that has plagued the Flames through many years, is the inability to get consistent offence going.

Sign Hall. Try and trade Gaudreau for an upgrade on centre. Maybe even keep Gaudreau. It seemed like the team did quite well with faceoffs on several nights. They need more large forwards that can gain possession and drive the night. Losing Tkachuk was a huge blow to the team too.

Even on the back end the Flames could use a cannon from the point and another d-man capable of moving the puck through the centre of the ice.

[GirlySports]

I can imagine a Hall-Bennett-Tkachuk line?

[jg13]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I can imagine a Hall-Bennett-Tkachuk line?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by jg13

You're right, at this point we have so many great options and ways to acquire a number 1 center that it would be foolish to make the best center we had in the playoffs our number one, giving him a long-term chance to not only play at the position he excels at, but play with quality linemates.

That would just be a terrible idea, you know, given how well everything else has gone.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You're right, at this point we have so many great options and ways to acquire a number 1 center that it would be foolish to make the best center we had in the playoffs our number one, giving him a long-term chance to not only play at the position he excels at, but play with quality linemates.

That would just be a terrible idea, you know, given how well everything else has gone.

Sam Bennett can't play the exact role he played in the playoffs during an 82 game regular season.

Sam Bennetts success in the playoffs was partially because his matchups were significantly easier than the top lines. This changes once he's moved to #1C

Sam Bennett has never exceeded 18 goals in a full season.

Sam Bennett as your #1C is your ticket to the draft lottery but maybe that's the goal depending on what moves Treliving makes this summer.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

No I really don't think so.

Might not be the best, but we're not far off.

Hanifin, Brodie, & Anderson had a good playoffs.

Valimaki, Kylington both with high upside.

Decent depth.

Giordano has shown he can be exposed. He's a great person, and great in the community, but as the captain he has to be responsible for the lack of leadership and team falling apart.

The D core looks very good for the future.