Spooky Halloween Practice Notes

[simmer2]

From the game on Saturday, I didn't see a lot of Rooney for the positive. He seemed to be on the ice more than on his skates.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I think if we go with this next game, Sutter will deploy the Backlund line as the second line and the Lindholm line as the third line.

You know Mikael Backlund already gets the most 5v5 ice time among forwards, right? Blake Coleman is second.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by butterfly

You know Mikael Backlund already gets the most 5v5 ice time among forwards, right? Blake Coleman is second.

I did not know that, but that just proves my point.

Backlund is a deceptively good player that is severely under rated by Flames fans.

[stemit14]

Something to consider with Lindholm is the player he was before he came to Calgary and the player he became so quickly playing with Gaudreau. Lindholm has played better and better every year since he got to Calgary but this is the first time we are seeing him without Johnny. I think he is struggling to adjust. I have no doubt he will figure it out but we may not see the same level of production from him this year as last year. Hard to replicate a 40 goal season with brand new linemates.

Something similar can be said for Huberdeau. He was drafted in 2011 and Barkov was drafted in 2013. Those two have been together for most of their careers… even if they didn’t always play on the same line together all the time, they played a lot of powerplay time together. Also, Huberdeau mentioned how infrequently he has played with right-handed shots on his line. Now, both guys on his line have been right-handed shooters.

I liked the chances the Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli line generated on Saturday but there has been a struggle with finish lately. Strange since Lindholm and Toffoli are both known as shooters. Toffoli alone could have had 3-4 goals on Saturday with the chances he had.


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[butterfly]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I did not know that, but that just proves my point.

Backlund is a deceptively good player that is severely under rated by Flames fans.

Agreed, and this "first line", "second line", "third line" narrative is simply a construct that lives in the heads of reporters and fans.

None of the "first line" is in the top 10 on the team in 5v5 ice time. So who's really the top line?

[joejoe3]

I would've like to see:

Huberdeau-Kadri-Mangiapane
Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli
Rooney-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Ruzicka-Ritchie

Lewis

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

what is Sutter doing lol

all that needed to be done was swap Kadri and lindholm

[Mr.Coffee]

Phillips is prob a better option in top 6 than Lucic. I love Lucic too.

Fairly clear the issue is skill and speed related not a lack of meatheadedness.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We are certainly missing a top-6 winger, that’s for sure.

Lindholm’s strengths are defensive game and strong finishing ability. I don’t see Toffoli ever being a fit for his line, and Lucic is certainly less than ideal. Lindy with Chucky and Johnny worked so well because Lindy would help recover the puck in the defensive zone, and Chucky and Johnny would break it up the ice with Lindy trailing and finding open ice. As bad as Lindholm has looked this season, it’s also that they haven’t found a combo of players that play that way - and I don’t think it’s wise to try and make Lindy change his game. Tree needs to acquire another strong transition winger that can lead the rush up the ice.

To me Lindholm and Toffoli should be the ones being separated. Both right handed players that love to shoot the puck.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Dube-Kadri-Toffoli

[EVERLAST]

For those complaining about production from #28.

It'll come....he's too good as is #10 and once they know eachothers tendencies the puck will start going in.

I see some sticks being held real tight and that tension is interfering with the chemistry of the line and anyone on it.

More Time may be required before we see an uptick in production.

I'm mostly concerned with how we've let Connor McDavid and Pissy dominate when they want . The whole team needs to be way more aware when he's on the ice because we sucked at covering him and awareness of him has got to be better .

Kadri got his ass kicked that one time and I still can't believe how easy he made it look. ...I think all of our forwards need to be backchecking allot better. Our D has been having exit issues and I point directly at lazy backchecks.

Gotta get these W s back.

[calumniate]

Any bets on if Ritchie gets some more top line minutes like a few years ago? :d

[1_Flames_Fan]

I hope Ruzichka gets in and makes the most of his opportunity.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Any bets on if Ritchie gets some more top line minutes like a few years ago? :d

if he scores again before a guy like dube or mangi then it's only a matter of time

[camm13]

Originally Posted by rogermexico

The one thing that's really struck me with Lucic this season is how great he is at carrying the puck up the ice. It feels like he's probably the second best forward (after Kadri) at taking the puck deep into the O zone. If that line sticks it will be interesting to see what that opens up for Lindholm and Toffoli.

He's decent at carrying the puck when it's vs the other teams bottom 6... It's not the case if he has to play the other teams top 6

[activeStick]

Well, people wanted a shake up in the lines... Sutter granted their wish! But I'm guessing this is not the shakeup they had in mind lol.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yikes Lucic shouldn't be that high up in the lineup.

I think people need to stop looking at it as a #1, #2 and #3 line. The Flames have 3 lines that get equal time, and a 4th line. As someone said, Backlund and Coleman are at the top of the list for 5on5 ice time.

Whatever maximizes those 3 lines is fine by me.

I agree that we need another top6 forward, and Lucic should be on the 4th line, but so should Lewis and Rooney. Someone has to play on the top 3 lines, may as well be Looch, and it really doesn't matter which one of those 3 it is (or Ritchie, as well).

My bigger complaint is having Looch on a line with Toffoli, not a lot of speed there. Having said that, as someone mentioned, Lucic is good at carrying the puck up ice, which is what Lindholm and Toffoli need, so maybe it's a brilliant move, who knows?

[Zarley]

Looch has been great of late. Nice to see him get rewarded!

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Seeing Rooney being the odd man out is strange as well he hasn't really done anything to stick out in a negative manner on the line.

I think in this case it is probably as simple as that he is a centre, they want to keep him at centre, but also want Ruzicka to get his reps at centre.

[Ryan Coke]

Not that Rooneys performance has been critical one way or the other, but I haven’t seen anything that makes me understand the signing.

He isn’t big or physical, he isn’t a particularly good skater, he has just about no offence, he doesn’t win most of his board battles. I haven’t seen anything that does much to contribute to winning hockey games or bringing something to the team identity.

And I can appreciate what guys like Lucic, Ritchie, and Lewis bring….each of those players have qualities that can help the team and make a contribution. But Rooney is only “not terrible”.

[Enoch Root]

Love having Dube on Backlund's line, though - IMO, that is where he should be, and he will help get some more offense out of Backlund and Coleman.

It's easy to say Lucic shouldn't be on Lindholm's line, but it makes Backlund's line better. And Lindholm has been completely ineffective 5on5 so far anyway. So nowhere to go but up.