Practice Notes Nov 28

[sa226]

I'm not sure if it's been tried yet this season for any length of time, but I think they need to reunite the Mangiapane/Backlund/Coleman line.

With so much changeover and lack of proper fit anywhere in the lineup, that is a proven trio that was excellent last year. It could serve to get Mangiapane going as well.

Keep the Lindholm Huberdeau Toffoli line together, then deploy Dube on the right side with Kadri and Ruzicka as essentially your 2B line.

This team is desperate for some chemistry in the forward ranks, why not go with what worked last year.

Having an improved but still inconsistent Ruzicka in the top 9, on the wing, helps with the forward balance a bit.

I get it, Lewis and Lucic are the forward veteran darlings and do what they're told with low offensive expectations. But for a team that is struggling offensively, they can't be in your top 9.

I doubt Lewis sits anytime soon, but I think we're already forgetting that the Rooney, Lucic, Ritchie line was a pretty good 4th line early in the season.

[joejoe3]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Don't matter. It's still four 4th lines.

[Bingo Jr.]

Ruizcka with Backlund and Coleman should work out nice, curious to see if Huby can gel with that top line 2nd time around. So far promising signs between him and Toffoli.
But for the love of god can we please try Phillips/Pelletier at some point? Offence is stale.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Bingo that still doesn't change that there should be good players on all four lines. You can up guys' minutes with PP deployment if need be. But the current arrangement isn't working, and the only reason you keep dusting off that explanation is because nothing has changed.

In a Utopian hockey world with no issues in developing hockey players why not.

But in a capped NHL where you need to play your best players more than Sutter likely is, having to play your fourth line more because you don't want to waste their development puts even more pressure on things.

You keep bringing it up weekly despite nothing having changed. If the league went to Aussie rules and the powerplay went the way of the Do Do you could do it.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

I am curious as to why Kadri and Toffoli have not been given a look together. Stylistically they seem like a match, and the 2nd line just isn't working anymore.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Ruzicka - Kadri - Toffoli
Dube - Backlund - Coleman

This just makes sense to me - but what the heck do I know.

I haven't figured Kadri out yet.

He has to be trying to do too much, because 95% of the time he's just trying to do it on his own and not use his wingers.

Toffoli is 100% a get me the puck so I can shoot it guy.

He'd just be watching Kadri until Kadri turned it over, and then not have the speed to get back.

[TheScorpion]

I keep bringing it up weekly because the current arrangement isn't working. The current arrangement is not the only way to do things.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I keep bringing it up weekly because the current arrangement isn't working. The current arrangement is not the only way to do things.

So you're going to bring up kids and play them 8 minutes a night then? Aren't we collectively upset that Sutter isn't playing the top six enough?

[Kovaz]

I'd really like to see Huberdeau tried with Dube on the other wing. Try to recreate some of what he had in Florida with a fast winger like Duclair on the other wing. Maybe something like:


Huberdeau-Kadri-Dube
Ruzicka-Lindholm-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman

[gvitaly]

I think the Hanifin - Andersson pairing seems like a shadow of what it was last year. That's why I really want us to try a top 4 of:
Weegar - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev

As for the forward lines I'm running out of ideas. As many have mentioned Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman is a combination that worked both last year and this year. Also, Toffoli and Dube have chemistry, that's why I vote for Huberdeau - Kadri - Lindholm as a first line, with the hope that all 3 players see 18 or more minutes a game in all situations. That leaves Dube - Ruzicka - Toffoli as a capable 3rd line that did well last year.

PS: The 5 players I want to see on the ice when we need a goal are:
Huberdeau - Kadri - Lindholm
Weegar - Andersson

[Paulie Walnuts]

Kadri has been very bad this last stretch. He carries the puck in with tunnel vision so that line is easy to defend, his defensive zone work and faceoffs have suffered a lot as well.

Seems like a guy trying to force the issue because the team is struggling.

Weegar-Tanev have not worked as a tandem, it's time to try something different. Andersson hasn't looked very good either. Pairings need to be shaken up and we need to find a way to utilize Weegar better.

This feels like the 19/20 season when Peters panicked and destroyed the lineup.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Kadri has been very bad this last stretch. He carries the puck in with tunnel vision so that line is easy to defend, his defensive zone work and faceoffs have suffered a lot as well.

Seems like a guy trying to force the issue because the team is struggling.

Weegar-Tanev have not worked as a tandem, it's time to try something different. Andersson hasn't looked very good either. Pairings need to be shaken up and we need to find a way to utilize Weegar better.

This feels like the 19/20 season when Peters panicked and destroyed the lineup.

Who is the current James Neal? lol

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Ok, back to the top line from the first 6 games. About time

4th line full of 4th liners

the question is why weren't these just the lines all along

every time we spread the wealth we always come back around to these traditional lines after failing to produce and losing games

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Ruzicka and Phillips on line 3 together would look pretty good right now with their proven chemistry

Coleman could be the engine for the 4th line with his strong forechecking lately

[1_Flames_Fan]

We miss Shilly, get back soon buddy

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by 1_Flames_Fan

We miss Shilly, get back soon buddy

He is someone who can carry the puck into the zone with control. That is in short supply on the Flames.

[Strange Brew]

Guess i don't see what's so bad about calling up a player like Phillips and putting him on the 4th line for low minutes 5 on 5. Lucic or Ritchie do have a little hockey sense and I don't have the hate for Lewis that some do. And I assume if Phillips is on the roster you're going to give him some PP time.

I don't see that stunting his development. The guy will be 25 before the season is done.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Guess i don't see what's so bad about calling up a player like Phillips and putting him on the 4th line for low minutes 5 on 5. Lucic or Ritchie do have a little hockey sense and I don't have the hate for Lewis that some do. And I assume if Phillips is on the roster you're going to give him some PP time.

I don't see that stunting his development. The guy will be 25 before the season is done.

For sure ... and a UFA.

Not much to lose

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Kadri has been very bad this last stretch. He carries the puck in with tunnel vision so that line is easy to defend, his defensive zone work and faceoffs have suffered a lot as well.

Seems like a guy trying to force the issue because the team is struggling.

Weegar-Tanev have not worked as a tandem, it's time to try something different. Andersson hasn't looked very good either. Pairings need to be shaken up and we need to find a way to utilize Weegar better.

This feels like the 19/20 season when Peters panicked and destroyed the lineup.

That was one of the scouting reports on Kadri back when he was still a prospect, that he would hold onto the puck too long trying to make a move. Or he felt a desire to skate through the whole team, who had talent to dish the puck off, but at times waited too long to try.

He will figure it out here, I am sure. However, he is still a number 2 centre overall, so to expect him to carry this team is unrealistic. (Not saying anyone here is asking him to do that).

[Jiri Hrdina]

Yeah I think that's probably what is fueling the frustration is the reluctance to try him out, that none of us understand

- He is producing offensively at a high level in the AHL
- The NHL club is struggling to score goals
- And the NHL club seems to be struggling with the chemistry of the players.
- The NHL club has acknowledged that they lack a top 9 forward. They've been very blunt about that.

So what's the downside in calling him up and giving him a spin.

I think almost all of us are looking at it and just saying there is an obvious thing to try. It may not work, but if that's the case you probably aren't in a worse situation than you are now.

I try to look at every situation and understand why something may not be happening, but in this case, I'm struggling to justify why they won't give him a crack.

[rhino]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Agreed Cecil. Happy that Lewis, Looch and Ritchie are no higher than 4th, happy that Rooney is a scratch, unhappy that there is no opportunity for Pelltier and/or Philips . They have scored 3 goals in 3 games... what is the harm? I love Sutter but come on...

Cap space, roster space