Practice notes Jan 9 - Brett Ritchie signed to PTO. Bennett unfit to participate

[Enoch Root]

Putting Lindholm with Tkachuk just sets up the entire forward group.

All kinds of great options for their winger: Dube, Mangiapane, Simon, Leivo

Then slot in an RQ for Gaudreau/Monahan: Leivo, Mangiapane, Simon

And you still have Backlund, Bennett, and 2 of the guys listed above, for the bottom 6.

With a shortened and condensed schedule, where you play the same 6 teams over and over, depth will be more important this year than ever. And the Flames are very deep at forward.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Love those lines, but not the defense.

What don't you like about it?

I can't decide if I prefer Tanev with Giordano or with Hanifin, but I think it depends on what happens in games and as the season goes. The way I see it, there are two #1 defensemen to start: Giordano and Andersson. The top pair is loaded up for very heavy lifting, but I wonder if they would also like to run them separately to keep everyone's minutes close.

Valimaki hopefully (probably?) makes it difficult to keep him out of the top-four by season's end.

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[bc-chris]

man... it's gonna take me a bit to get used to seeing so many ex-nucks in our lineup. i hope they work out great, but it just kind of feels wrong right now!

i'm sure that opinion will change once i've watched a few games, but right now i feel like i need to go take a shower! ha! ha!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Yeah the top 6 d-men and pairings look fine to me. Even the depth guys are ok, the bigger surprise is not seeing Kylington in there instead of Stone. Really wonder how long he's going to be with the organization, just has never seemed like a great fit. But who knows, he's still young, maybe something starts to click this season if he can somehow wiggle his way into the lineup for a few games due to injuries.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Yeah the top 6 d-men and pairings look fine to me. Even the depth guys are ok, the bigger surprise is not seeing Kylington in there instead of Stone. Really wonder how long he's going to be with the organization, just has never seemed like a great fit. But who knows, he's still young, maybe something starts to click this season if he can somehow wiggle his way into the lineup for a few games due to injuries.

I tbink Kylngton's camp assignment is most an immigration issue, no? Because he was so late starting camp it is also unsurprising that they would get him up to speed before adding him to the main group.

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[Bingo]

Given Kylington's late arrival due to travel issues and quarantine I don't think we should read too much into the group two assignment today.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I like seeing Mackey in the top 8. I keep hearing how impressive he is for just out of college. It'd be great to see a scrimmage to assess his abilities and style of play a little more.

[Nelson]

I really like Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube.

It seems like the team is committed to three forward pairings: Tkachuk and Lindholm, Gaudreau and Monahan, and Mangiapane and Backlund.

The one question I have is where does Bennett play? I was really hoping he could centre two offensively gifted wingers, but that looks impossible with that top 9. So, maybe you put him alongside Mangiapane and Backlund and move Leivo with Gaudreau and Monahan?

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Lucic - Ryan - Simon

I personally like that quite a bit.

[D as in David]

IIRC, Ward (Tre?) said Kyllington wouldn't join the club until after Monday's scrimmage.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What don't you like about it?

I can't decide if I prefer Tanev with Giordano or with Hanifin, but I think it depends on what happens in games and as the season goes. The way I see it, there are two #1 defensemen to start: Giordano and Andersson. The top pair is loaded up for very heavy lifting, but I wonder if they would also like to run them separately to keep everyone's minutes close.

Valimaki hopefully (probably?) makes it difficult to keep him out of the top-four by season's end.

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I prefer Giordano-Tanev, so that they can play the tough minutes, freeing up Andersson to be able to focus on his game and open up his offense.

It isn't the end of the world this way or anything, just prefer the 'standard' setting with the D.

[Matty81]

Ritchie is a good add if they sign him. He doesn't fight a ton but can play a shift and handle himself. There are going to be lots of fights this year. Having guys like him, Robinson, Petrovic and Rinaldo on the roster mostly in the PB but ready for the Edmonton games is a smart move as Flames have really wilted in those kinds of games in the past.

I'd like more tough players with skill but if you can't land that... press box depth like this makes sense.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Given Kylington's late arrival due to travel issues and quarantine I don't think we should read too much into the group two assignment today.

Fair enough. But I do stand by my comment about me not seeing him as a great fit with this team yet. Just has always seemed like a square peg/round hole thing. I hope he can make his mark sometime this season. I just don't seem him in Calgary long term.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Ritchie is a good add if they sign him. He doesn't fight a ton but can play a shift and handle himself. There are going to be lots of fights this year. Having guys like him, Robinson, Petrovic and Rinaldo on the roster mostly in the PB but ready for the Edmonton games is a smart move as Flames have really wilted in those kinds of games in the past.

I'd like more tough players with skill but if you can't land that... press box depth like this makes sense.

A couple of my Bruin fan friends said Ritchie was by far the worst player on their team in years

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Is Ritchie even in town?

BTW Flames gave Ritchie #24

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
PTO forward Brett Ritchie is on the ice with the team for the first time today.

He’s gone through his seven-day quarantine to clear him for camp. #Flames

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Oliver Kylington is also on the ice for the first time, earlier than expected.

Original plan was for him to join on-ice sessions sometime next week. #Flames

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Fair enough. But I do stand by my comment about me not seeing him as a great fit with this team yet. Just has always seemed like a square peg/round hole thing. I hope he can make his mark sometime this season. I just don't seem him in Calgary long term.

I don't disagree with you. But the team is much more focused on skating and speed this year, so that may change things for him. We'll see.

[1qqaaz]

I still think the Flames can't afford to have so many non-productive players, such as Rinaldo, Ritchie, and to a lesser extent, Robinson.
Games are too close. You can't sacrifice a line of scoring.

I prefer the Josh Leivo and Dominic Simon signings, since at least that can contribute to an extent.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I still think the Flames can't afford to have so many non-productive players, such as Rinaldo, Ritchie, and to a lesser extent, Robinson.
Games are too close. You can't sacrifice a line of scoring.

I prefer the Josh Leivo and Dominic Simon signings, since at least that can contribute to an extent.

Those players are going to be on taxi squad. Sure it would nice to have a bunch of extra skilled forwards on taxi squad. but I doubt many skilled players would sign up with a team like the flames knowing they would be on taxi squad.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Brett Ritchie skating with Byron Froese and Buddy Robinson in Calgary’s second group today.

Oliver Kylington on a D-pairing with Alex Petrovic. #Flames

[djsFlames]

Agreed. More Simon, Leivo signings. Even Nordstrom has his strengths that benefit a team.

I wouldn't have more than one Rinaldo type player on my NHL payroll in this day and age.