Practice notes Nov 13 - Huberdeau returns

[monkeyman]

They already try Huberdeau with Kadri and Mangiapane for games against Seattle and Nashville. They looked terrible together.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

They already try Huberdeau with Kadri and Mangiapane for games against Seattle and Nashville. They looked terrible together.

In fairness...everyone looked terrible so maybe it wasnt a conclusive experiment?

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Locke

In fairness...everyone looked terrible so maybe it wasnt a conclusive experiment?

maybe. but why go back to something that hasn't worked until you've tried other options? Especially after the first win after a long skid.
And like said earlier, I really like Huberdeau-Backlund. I think they'll work well together.

[Enoch Root]

Huberdeau was less than 100% in those games, the Flames played terribly as a group, and it was only 2 games. It takes more than that to determine whether the line combination can work or not.

If you change lines every time they don't work for two games, your bench will be in a permanent blender mode.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I’ve been on this all season but I think Lucic needs to be platooned. He’s much better with games off. We all saw his starts to the season are pretty good and he tails off. Ritchie is the same way. I think they should play on and off.

I agree and was saying that last year too, but then Sutter talked about Lucic playing hurt the last half of the season. So I am trying to remain open on the idea for now.

I still feel that he and all 4th liners are better off in a split-time situation, regardless, though - it keeps them hungry. It also allows you to modify the lineup, depending on the competition: you need speed, play these guys; you need physicality, play these guys.

The best example of this strategy in NHL history was Sscotty Bowman and the 70s Habs. However, it's important to remember that their bench was so deep that all of the split-time guys were quality NHLers. For example, he used Pierre Larouche in this role, who had 50 goal seasons, before and after that role.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree and was saying that last year too, but then Sutter talked about Lucic playing hurt the last half of the season. So I am trying to remain open on the idea for now.

That's interesting, I was under the impression that Lucic got injured during the Dallas series or at the start of the Edmonton series. This coincided with his checking becoming very ineffective in the playoffs. I wouldn't mind reading more about it if you remember when Sutter talked about it.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by neo45

Darryl’s mind games are getting old in a hurry

It's not mind games, it's trying to get guys like Coleman, Mangiapane, Dube and Huberdeau rolling so that this team can compete game in and game out.

I couldn't care less what the combinations are as long as everyone is playing hard and the team starts winning again.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

That's interesting, I was under the impression that Lucic got injured during the Dallas series or at the start of the Edmonton series. This coincided with his checking becoming very ineffective in the playoffs. I wouldn't mind reading more about it if you remember when Sutter talked about it.

Yes, he got banged up during the playoffs.

But Sutter also talked at one point about him playing with something during the season. I might be misremembering, but that is my recollection.

[GioforPM]

Platooning makes sense for all 4th liners and maybe even some 3rd liners IMO. It gives players rest, and keeps them hungry (some of them seem to get too comfortable). Even a guy like Ruzicka seems to fade a little the more games he plays in a row.

Lucic and Ritchie are pretty similar players - hard forecheckers, can fight, have some decent hadn skills. Ritchie is faster and Lucic has a higher hockey IQ and is scarier. But they are, IMO interchangeable and both play better with less games. Likewise Rooney and Lewis play similar games.

[Rick M.]

If I remember correctly, a big if, Lucic played through a sprained knee in the regular season.

[HighLifeMan]

Lucic has one goal in his last 73 NHL games (zero in 48) - and with the exception of the third period last game has been playing some absolutely terrible hockey as of late. He should have had a night off based off his performance in Boston. I think it's more than fair to criticize his placement in the lineup. It sounds harsh to say - but his caphit and relationship with the coach are doing him more favors' than his play on the ice is.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Lucic has one goal in his last 73 NHL games (zero in 48) - and with the exception of the third period last game has been playing some absolutely terrible hockey as of late. He should have had a night off based off his performance in Boston. I think it's more than fair to criticize his placement in the lineup. It sounds harsh to say - but his caphit and relationship with the coach are doing him more favors' than his play on the ice is.

I strongly disagree with this.

Lucic is never going to score 20 goals or set up some highlight reel beauties, but he does his job and he does it effectively.

Should he be in the top 9? No. Though I am not worried about it for a game or two - he demonstrated on Saturday night that he can fill in for a while.

I suspect this is a temporary situation until A) Sutter figures out where to slot Huberdeau, and B) Dube and Coleman work themselves out of the doghouse

[1_Flames_Fan]

I love Looch as much as the next guy but putting him on line 2 makes me seriously question our coaching at this time. Give Huby some time to figure #### out. We have him for 8+ more years.

[robertsfanatic]

Huby set a record for assists playing primarily with Bennett and DuClair last year...are Backlund and Coleman really worse than those 2 linemates?

[Monahammer]

Leave the top line, I would like to see the next two:

Huberdeau-Backlund-Mangiapane

Coleman-Kadri-Dube

Might be able to spark both Coleman and Huberdeau's offense this way. I feel like Coleman's chippy game is less visible alongside backlund, where Kadri might bring it out more.

Might also be able to get Mango back to that sniper role.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

Huby set a record for assists playing primarily with Bennett and DuClair last year...are Backlund and Coleman really worse than those 2 linemates?

Coleman is a bad match for Huberdeau. Coleman is a weird 20 goal scorer (when he does get 20 goals) as he does it unconventionally. He buzzes and skates hard and gets open, but has hands of stone and continually misses easy opportunities.

Basically he needs "40 goals" worth of grade A opportunities to get 20 goals. He'll do that if you put him with the right star player for sure, but it's to his benefit only, not the team.

[robertsfanatic]

you're right but Coleman can be the guy who chases down dump ins and crashes the net while Backlund carries the puck and Huby distributes.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

you're right but Coleman can be the guy who chases down dump ins and crashes the net while Backlund carries the puck and Huby distributes.

I think the issue is that Huberdeau doesn't have good options to distribute to.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Coleman is a bad match for Huberdeau. Coleman is a weird 20 goal scorer (when he does get 20 goals) as he does it unconventionally. He buzzes and skates hard and gets open, but has hands of stone and continually misses easy opportunities.



Basically he needs "40 goals" worth of grade A opportunities to get 20 goals. He'll do that if you put him with the right star player for sure, but it's to his benefit only, not the team.

Repeat exactly what you have said here word for word, and replace every instance of "Coleman" with "Bennett."

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I think the issue is that Huberdeau doesn't have good options to distribute to.

I'd like to see Huberdeau with Backlund for a longer test period.