[Rumour] Friedman: Flames have begun contract negotiations with Gaudreau

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames window for success closed at the start of the 2016-17 season.

The Flames window closed when Kipper retired.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

They looked less worse.
I don't think they looked great.

On most nights, I do not have confidence that our best players will out play the other team's best players.

That's a problem.

Tough crowd. Johnny was back on pace for 100 points. It's also not the job of your first line to shut down the other team's first line. That's what Backlund is for.

[Goriders]

The Flames problem last season was effort in the first half not skill.

Once the effort level changed they were competitive. The hole was to big by then though.

They need some changes as every team in the league minus one does.

I think they will be a lot better next season.

[MrMike]

Take Gaudreau out of this line up and might as well rebuild. Our powerplay might never score again.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Take Gaudreau out of this line up and might as well rebuild. Our powerplay might never score again.

That’s what I think too. Johnny Hockey is not the biggest problem.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by blankall

Tough crowd. Johnny was back on pace for 100 points. It's also not the job of your first line to shut down the other team's first line. That's what Backlund is for.

Over how many games and did those games matter?
Late season performance when teams are out of it matter little to me
And it isn’t his job to shut down the other first line
But you need your best players to be as good or better than he other teams best players or it’s hard to win

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Over how many games and did those games matter?
Late season performance when teams are out of it matter little to me
And it isn’t his job to shut down the other first line
But you need your best players to be as good or better than he other teams best players or it’s hard to win

They weren’t out of it until the last couple of games.

[flamesgod]

Coaching definitely played a role in Gaudreau’s lack of success. There is also an adjustment period when a new coach comes in. I really do look forward to Gaudreau playing a full season under Sutter.

[Britflamesfan]

Boy how quickly you guys forget. JG cannot get it done when the it matters, same with Mon. They disappear when it get tough. If you want to remain a mediocre team then fine keep them but I thought the aim was to win the cup. Fans here get far to attached to players, resulting in the team hanging onto them for far to long. This teams core has proved time after time that it cannot get it done, we need to move on and be far more ruthless if we want to win the cup again.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Goriders

They weren’t out of it until the last couple of games.

They looked to me like they were just playing out the string. Do you honestly believe they were trying to make the playoffs?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by blankall

Tough crowd. Johnny was back on pace for 100 points. It's also not the job of your first line to shut down the other team's first line. That's what Backlund is for.

I don’t think he was talking about shutting them down - just outscoring them. But that said, if you play top line minutes you inevitably match up against the other top line, and the best top line players play a 200 foot game so they can’t be line matched easily.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don’t think he was talking about shutting them down - just outscoring them. But that said, if you play top line minutes you inevitably match up against the other top line, and the best top line players play a 200 foot game so they can’t be line matched easily.

I would say that the top line of one team certainly doesn’t match up against the other teams top line very much.

That’s what Backlund’s line is for.


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[Goriders]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

They looked to me like they were just playing out the string. Do you honestly believe they were trying to make the playoffs?

Yes

[Da_Chief]

North for 7 for Gaudreau with a flat cap? yop, not going to regret that one at all.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I would say that the top line of one team certainly doesn’t match up against the other teams top line very much.

That’s what Backlund’s line is for.


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Other teams try like crazy to match their top lines against Calgary’s top line. And look at ice times. You can’t play your top line against other top lines if you have to - now you are cutting your top line’s minutes severely. If you want your top centre playing 18-21 minutes, he’s going to have to face the other team’s top line from time to time. Especially on the road.

TBL did the same thing to Montreal. They tried to get Point out against Suzuki constantly. Which meant that Suzuki/Toffoli never got into a rhythm.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Over how many games and did those games matter?
Late season performance when teams are out of it matter little to me
And it isn’t his job to shut down the other first line
But you need your best players to be as good or better than he other teams best players or it’s hard to win

Unrelated to Gaudreau, but Mangiapane gets a lot of love for the numbers he put up last year. Take away the 4 game exhibition series against the Canucks, and his output was very pedestrian. He was the biggest culprit when it comes to racking up numbers in meaningless games.

I agree with the thrust of your comments, I'm just hopeful that a real training camp and a full season with a highly accomplished coach will bring out the best in many of these guys. And that what we saw at the end of the season is some indicator of how they might do.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I agree but I also want to see some changes. I don't think it's reasonable to expect 3 or 4 core pieces to change, as that doesn't happen a ton - but I think there needs to be some sort of shake-up to the forward group. I'm bored with this group. Doesn't mean it has to be Johnny but I want to see something in that top group changed.

[flambers]

Totally agree, core has to change.

Flames are just good enough to be a fringe team.... maybe make the playoffs or finish just outside.

They have to make changes to find a way to take the next step....

If they just change up the depth players once again.

At that point an management change is required in my opinion

[3rd Degree]

1. Is Johnny built for playoff hockey?
2. Does he elevate his game in the playoffs?
3. Does he have a killer instinct?

The answers to these questions make it abundantly clear what should be done with Johnny.

[MrMike]

Why can’t Johnny be the number one powerplay spark and a great second line winger for 7-7.5 mill per season? It’s not his fault he’s the defacto number one guy, that’s managements fault.