[Signing] Flames sign Brad Richardson (1 yr, $800k)

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Sutter mentioned a number of times last season that in his opinion skill wasn’t the issue. Mental toughness was.

I think the Flames upgraded physical and mental toughness this offseason more than anything else. Which lines up with what Sutter said.

Agreed. We can't get the core to buy in if we don't first change the team culture. Sutter will be counting on the top line to be that group that carries the offense. I bet we see a different Tkachuk if he feeling more like he is part of the team. If the bottom guys are mentally tough and play a strong defensive game we could surprise.

[djsFlames]

This is very much a wait and see thing for me.

There are so many questions marks that I can't begin to strap myself into the optimism train yet.

Most skeptical I've felt coming out of an offseasoh in a while. I am open to the possibility of a hard working culture being established and lending itself to some success but I can't buy into that bring the case until I see how these pieces work together and how the top players show up.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

This is very much a wait and see thing for me.

There are so many questions marks that I can't begin to strap myself into the optimism train yet.

Most skeptical I've felt coming out of an offseasoh in a while. I am open to the possibility of a hard working culture being established and lending itself to some success but I can't buy into that bring the case until I see how these pieces work together and how the top players show up.

I think we have enough horses if we can play a solid hardworking game. If you recall Sutter's old teams were very confident, winning 1-0 2-1 games. Everyone knew their jobs fans knew what team was going to show up every night.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

This is very much a wait and see thing for me.

There are so many questions marks that I can't begin to strap myself into the optimism train yet.

Most skeptical I've felt coming out of an offseasoh in a while. I am open to the possibility of a hard working culture being established and lending itself to some success but I can't buy into that bring the case until I see how these pieces work together and how the top players show up.

Isn’t that every teams fanbase at the start of the season?

I’ll going to see what happens. My guess is the Flames aren’t going to be as bad as all the negative nellys on here think.

There’s not much difference between the top and bottom of the league anymore. I think the roster is more solid physically and mentally than the start of last season and the coaching staff is way better.

That will add a lot of value in my mind.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Hard to believe its a cap team now.

A lot of fat, very little meat.

Your 2021-22 Calgary Flames, a club steak.

[Reggie Dunlop]

They do realize there's no Taxi Squad this season?

[timbit]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Hard to believe its a cap team now.

A lot of fat, very little meat.

Prime Rib is pretty tasty.

The fat enhances the meat flavor.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Isn’t that every teams fanbase at the start of the season?

Not in Ontario and Central Alberta it isn't.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Well all the flames really needed was to get rid of their best dman, replace him with a worse dman, and get 3 or so bottom 6 'sutter-esque' depth forwards to fix everything wrong with the skill level of the team.

I love sutter as much as the next guy, but this faith in '... Full training camp and season of sutter, that's all we need ' sure feels like a prayer.

I don't think that's what people are saying. I don't see anyone predicting great success.
What folks are saying is the signing makes sense in the context of giving the head coach a roster aligned to his approach.

Doesn't need to be over-stated and we don't need to argue on the extremes. Who is proclaiming anything as grand as "that's all we need".

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think that's what people are saying. I don't see anyone predicting great success.
What folks are saying is the signing makes sense in the context of giving the head coach a roster aligned to his approach.

Doesn't need to be over-stated and we don't need to argue on the extremes. Who is proclaiming anything as grand as "that's all we need".

Fair enough. The gm proclaimed the need for change at the end of another remarkably mediocre season. I definitely misinterpreted the sentiment I guess.

[1qqaaz]

The way I see it, the 4th line can't possibly produce much less offense than they did last year. Sure, Ryan is gone, but even his production declined quite a bit.

I'm more concerned about scoring on the backend. Gio was the only defenseman with proven offensive capabilities. The powerplay relied on him.

For me, there are 3 musts:
-The top line has to produce
-Markstrom needs to put up good numbers
-One of Andersson, Hanafin, or even Valimaki needs to suddenly take a huge leap in production

The Flames likely aren't going to be scoring a ton of goals. So Markstrom is hugely important.
Luckily, goalies have often succeeded under Sutter.

[dino7c]

Just a reminder that nearly every team is a "cap team"

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Well all the flames really needed was to get rid of their best dman, replace him with a worse dman, and get 3 or so bottom 6 'sutter-esque' depth forwards to fix everything wrong with the skill level of the team.

I love sutter as much as the next guy, but this faith in '... Full training camp and season of sutter, that's all we need ' sure feels like a prayer.

You severely under rate Coleman but you aren't alone. He is this year's Tanev

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Fair enough. The gm proclaimed the need for change at the end of another remarkably mediocre season. I definitely misinterpreted the sentiment I guess.

I was hoping for more substantive change as well but not if that means selling the players they have for marginal return.
If you can't get much for Monahan because his season was SO bad then you are better to wait and see if he can rebound.
The Johnny situation puzzles me. I've been advocating to move him for some time but there doesn't even appear to be smoke there.

In order my preference would have been:
1. Re-build (not happening)
2. Making material changes to the team where they made hockey deals that could help them
3. Status quo
4. Trading off players for bad returns

What we got is something in between 2-3. Don't love it. But if #1 was off the table and they couldn't make #2 happen - it's better than #4.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The way I see it, the 4th line can't possibly produce much less offense than they did last year. Sure, Ryan is gone, but even his production declined quite a bit.

I'm more concerned about scoring on the backend. Gio was the only defenseman with proven offensive capabilities. The powerplay relied on him.

For me, there are 3 musts:
-The top line has to produce
-Markstrom needs to put up good numbers
-One of Andersson, Hanafin, or even Valimaki needs to suddenly take a huge leap in production

The Flames likely aren't going to be scoring a ton of goals. So Markstrom is hugely important.
Luckily, goalies have often succeeded under Sutter.

I agree the Flames need a pp dman but so many criticize the Flames over the years for not leaving roster spots for the Gawdins or phillips or Ruzicka but right now it appears they are set up to give bigger roles to the hanifin’s or Anderson’s or valimaki’s. I like that they are set up to see what these kids can grow into and these players growth is much more valuable than what guys like gawdin might be. If we have injuries those ahlers will get a crack

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I agree the Flames need a pp dman but so many criticize the Flames over the years for not leaving roster spots for the Gawdins or phillips or Ruzicka but right now it appears they are set up to give bigger roles to the hanifin’s or Anderson’s or valimaki’s. I like that they are set up to see what these kids can grow into and these players growth is much more valuable than what guys like gawdin might be. If we have injuries those ahlers will get a crack

Not only that but the team has shown that they will make room for youngsters that earn a spot.

People are just negative because they want more drastic changes but I still think a big trade is going to happen so I’m not going to make my final judgement until opening night.

[GioforPM]

Absent an Eichel deal and knowing they are not tanking, Sutterizing the team is their best move, I suppose. I expect Richardson will end up in the press box a fair bit, as a useful extra forward. They might also have taxi squads - I dunno.

ETA: I know the present plan is no taxi squad but I could see that changing.

[Burning Beard]

I'm happy with this. Haters Gunna hate but this seems like a decent move. And I'm not a big Treliving guy that's for sure.

[Lanny_McDonald]

The team needs bodies and needs guys that can play Sutter hockey. It's really a nothing move that is a result of having nothing ready on the farm. Just another move that makes an unlikeable team even more unlikeable.

[TheSquatch]

Nothing to get worked up about, just cements my fears that this year's version of the team is looking worse than last year's, and last year's sucked.