[News] Calgary Flames Garbage Bag Day Media Availability 10AM

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

How does stuff like this help discussion on this site?
"Watch a new sport"?

Eff that. I love hockey and I'm allowed to have opinions about it.

That was a joke more than anything, obviously a bit crude. But it was definitely born out of frustration of spending countless hours trying to defend the throngs of Gaudreau haters. There is no other place that I post in that causes me more consternation than CP. Sometimes it feels like I'm actually watching a different sport out there. For instance, the coaching talk in this place has probably taken years off my life. I don’t even like seeing the word coach in CP anymore, that’s how far it’s gotten.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If JG is willing to sign an extension at market value, then great. Keep him.

Determining that market value isn't going to be easy though. If his best is behind him, you have to be careful over paying for him.

He is going to get paid

There is no around that

Unless they can get a star back, it’s better to sign him than lose him

[868904]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Those people should watch a new sport. It was so obvious to me that Gaudreau just needed a change of linemates. I waited patiently until that day came and wasn’t surprised by the results. You don’t just lose it over night.

I agree with you that we shouldn't blame Gaudreau solely for not producing in the playoffs. He needed another guy like him to help out. Monahan, Lindholm just aren't offensive drivers on their own. They are good support pieces.

I'm not sure Tkachuk is an offensive driver on his own either. I think he got too much credit for his offense while playing with Backlund who I think is underrated.

I disagree with you about the production of the trio at the end of the season. Other than the Montreal games, the opposition wasn't really playing for much. It's easy to put up points when the other team isn't trying it's hardest.

I'm not sure where you stand on what this team needs to do, but I think the Flames should keep Gaudreau (within reason) but also need to acquire someone who is better or at least equal to him in terms of producing offense. I said it in another post, McDavid is better with Draisatl around. Mackinnion is better with Rantanen around. Crosby is better with Malkin around. I don't think Gaudreau is at the level of McDavid, Crosby, Malkin or Mackinnion, but I do think he's at the level of Draisatl and Rantanen.

Maybe Eichel is the answer.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

what about the people who said the league had 'figured him out' after the performances he put up after being put with lindholm and tkachuk? what about those geniuses?

I think the league figured out the Monahan/Gaudreau combination for sure.

Looks like Tkachuk and is unpredictable play has really helped Gaudreau get back to generating offence.

But how does that have anything to do with what I said?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ah123

Sounded to me that he thought the D is too young.

Of course he does. Sutter moved out Commodore, Lydman, and Montador after the Cup run, and brought in Hamrlik, Hulse, and Marchment. Unless a d-man is a big star like Phaneuf or Doughty, Sutter will always favour the guy with 6+ seasons in the NHL under his belt.

[Poe969]

Fans are funny, not all fans but the fanatic fans. The team is flat out garbage, not good. Haven't been good for a long long time. The team is less than the sum of it's players right now but we should extend these players and have hope because they played great at the end of the year...not the beginning or the middle but the end!

Every single one of these players should be ashamed and embarrassed about this year. They were hot garbage and seemed like a dysfunctional group who didnt' get along with each other. "I still think we're a good team" is a joke. They weren't a good team to begin with. There is absolutely no reason to want to keep this team together, they're not good enough to be contenders and not bad enough to draft elite players. Change for the sake of change is a good thing right now.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Great.
You are allowed to have that opinion and we should be able to debate those points and even agree to disagree.

I see remarkably poor even strength production until recently.
I see a player less willing to go to the tough areas
I see a player that became predictable, but again I think that has improved somewhat.

All things you can disagree about.

But when you start with "those people should watch a new sport" it doesn't get that discussion off on the right foot.

Yes and I saw a player that desperately needed a “change of scenery.” He’s needed new linemates for years now. Linemates that weren’t dragging his game down. I don’t doubt there are flaws in his game, he was a fourth round pick for crying out loud. So the tough areas in his game might not be his forte, but he does things that a lot of other players on this team cannot do. So when you find him linemates that can cover his flaws, then he can in turn cover the flaws of his linemates. It’s about give and take and the new line he’s playing on is a perfect example of that. They help elevate each other’s games.

Tkachuk = Elevates the cycle game
Lindholm = Elevates the checking game
Gaudreau = Elevates the rush attack

It’s a symphony and it was the same thing I saw the first time they were together last season.

[Toonage]

I had to step out and I missed all the fun. Is it confirmed that Treliving will be doing his conference later today? At what time? Thanks!

[NewFan]

If this team don't want to rebuild then I hope we re-sign Johnny and trade Tkachuk, Monahan and Hanifin for 1a/1b C and young D prospect that could become 1st pairing D.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by 868904

Can you remember the last time a teammate came to Tkachuk's defense on the ice? Lindholm trying to hold Kassian back is about the only time I can remember.

I wonder if there is some tension between him and Lucic. If Lucic was the one who told Tkachuk to tone things down because I can't really see anyone else having the presence to be able to do that. Other teams had been trying it for 4 years and couldn't.

It would be odd if it was Lucic seeing as how he saw first hand how effective Marchand was in that role but I just can't explain the sudden change in Tkachuk's game after that Muzzin incident.

Other pests in the league, such as Wilson and Marchand get all kinds of support from their teammates and those two probably cross the line way more than Tkachuk has.

I just get the sense that this group is just naturally timid and don't like having a guy like Tkachuk around to "rock the boat", however, this is exactly what this team needs, in Treliving's own words "someone to drag this team into the battle".

Who wears the "C" on this team?


The team starting with Gio needed to step up and back Tkachuk no matter how stupid his stance/play was.

Gio pulling someone out a Tkachuk scrum and doing some smash mouth would rally the whole team.

[tkflames]

Keep Landeskog...draft McKinnon, trade Duchesne and O'Reilly, tank for a couple of years and then dominate from 2025 to 2035.

[868904]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Of course he does. Sutter moved out Commodore, Lydman, and Montador after the Cup run, and brought in Hamrlik, Hulse, and Marchment. Unless a d-man is a big star like Phaneuf or Doughty, Sutter will always favour the guy with 6+ seasons in the NHL under his belt.

Voynov, Muzzin, Martinez

All came into the league under Sutter and won 2 Stanley Cups with him. I wouldn't call any of those guys "bruisers".

I don't think it has anything to do with age, it's about balance. The team is missing some grit on the backend.

Mackey was the only defenseman to get into a fight this year. That says the defense isn't physical enough. Did any defenseman throw a bigger hit than the two that Mackey threw against Vancouver?

[underGRADFlame]

Just watched the Chucky interview. I didn't get the impression he's not happy, I think he's a very competitive guy who is disappointed in his play and the results of the season. He's young and doesn't hide his emotion well.

That being said if he was moved for a package for a #1 centre, I wouldn't be offended either.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

How does stuff like this help discussion on this site?
"Watch a new sport"?

Eff that. I love hockey and I'm allowed to have opinions about it.

You are correct, Jiri, and I think most people here truly appreciate your voice of reason.

The problem though, is that many (or most) of the opinions in question are phrased as absolute certainties:

The league has figured out Johnny
Johnny is too small/timid to be an impact player in the playoffs
Monahan is broken
The Flames are lazy
Geoff Ward is a bad coach
Darryl Sutter is ____
Tkachuk will leave as soon as he can

It goes on and on here every day, all day. It can be difficult to always remember to mentally preface someone's post with "in my opinion..." when reading it.

It's great that this site has a generally good level of engagement, but it is not great that a lot of posters seem to be more interested in stating their opinions as reality for our information rather than ideas to be considered.

Let's be honest. As a group CP is a bunch of passionate fans with a handful of people with some level experience in competitive hockey, but no one here has much clue about how to run a pro hockey team. We would do better without so many of the self-annointed experts waving their dicks around.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

On Johnny
- I'm happy he has verbalized he wants to stay. Keep at this point is to keep all options open and make the best decision
- I don't know how anyone would expect to say anything different. Even a "no comment" would have been interpreted as him not wanting to stay. There was pretty much one answer the could have given and he did
- Key is what the term and $ value is. I've always said it wasn't about him not wanting to stay alone, it was about the deal itself and what you can get in return.

And that's the other thing. This team needs to make changes. Monahan is off the table more than likely. So if you want to make a core change Johnny is one of a couple that could bring back something of real value.

This is the biggest decision of BT's tenure (assuming he's staying). It has to be the right call.

He could have said what Tkachuk said which was "No". He didn't have to say he wanted to play there and bring a SC back to Calgary in the future.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Gaudreau did have a pretty good season IMO and I'm intrigued to see how he would continue to play under Sutter.

The single biggest issue with him though, as with many others on the club, was their ability to deliver when games became more difficult. We have zero answers to that question.

I think we have been getting out coached in those games. The players need to accept responsibility as well but it’s not like Gaudreau went invisible in the playoffs as he still generated opportunities.

Perhaps Sutter won’t be as overmatched as his predecessors.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Yes and I saw a player that desperately needed a “change of scenery.” He’s needed new linemates for years now. Linemates that weren’t dragging his game down. I don’t doubt there are flaws in his game, he was a fourth round pick for crying out loud. So the tough areas in his game might not be his forte, but he does things that a lot of other players on this team cannot do. So when you find him linemates that can cover his flaws, then he can in turn cover the flaws of his linemates. It’s about give and take and the new line he’s playing on is a perfect example of that. They help elevate each other’s games.

Tkachuk = Elevates the cycle game
Lindholm = Elevates the checking game
Gaudreau = Elevates the rush attack

It’s a symphony and it was the same thing I saw the first time they were together last season.

Do you think always crapping on his linemates is defending Johnny/ Have you ever picked up a hint from Johnny that he would ever do that to his linemates ever

Yes, you want Johnny to play with the best players on the team. What hockey coach hasn't heard that from every father that has a kid in minor hockey

You are creating your own situation if you ask me.

People that you see as "haters" only see you in return as someone that points the figure elsewhere. The team drastically sucked a$$ and every single player is to blame and could have been better. Johnny is a top player and leader on this team. Do you think he would crap on his linemates as much as you have. Especially one that was playing in pain

People are not Johnny haters, because they don't share your opinion IMO

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

He could have said what Tkachuk said which was "No". He didn't have to say he wanted to play there and bring a SC back to Calgary in the future.

I haven't seen the specific Tkachuk quote yet (probably in this thread but I missed it). What did he answer no to?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Who wears the "C" on this team?

.

As of now? Tanev.

[ComixZone]

Treliving:

- this was a good team that underachieved
- clearly some holes that we needed to fill/need to fill, there were some holes we failed to fill and going forward we will need to address
- consistently inconsistent, we never got on a roll
- we played a much better team game in the last 5-6 weeks
- we just didn't get it done, it starts with myself
- we didn't score enough, the people who were brought in didn't contribute to scoring (...that's a good ol Tobias Rieder blame game Edmonton style)
- Gio sets the tone for the group on and off the ice, one of the best leaders Tree has been around, but this is a business, so we'll sit down and talk about it (re: expansion protection)

- is not using covid restrictions as an excuse
- does not expect to see any cap growth in the foreseeable future

- Hesitates a bit on Johnny. Says it's on the "to do list" re: extension talk. Organizational meetings next week, including meetings with Darryl. Had a good talk with Johnny today, and Johnny has expressed desire to be here (Calgary). "It has to make sense for him, it has to make sense for us"

- Andersson "took a step" this year
- Valimaki - believes it was injury related, peaks and valleys. Development path is never straight.

- Tkachuk's injury in the bubble prevented him from skating for most of the off-season, Matthew holds himself to a high standard.

- team underachieved, by in large they've been together for a long time. With how they underachieved, things have got to change and that's our job between now and the start of next year