[PGT] Flames lose in shootout again…4-3 to canucks

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Honestly, it's gotten to the point where I don't even get excited for a Flames game anymore. I don't even check the schedule to find out when they're playing next or what games they have coming up. I haven't even looked at the standings in over a month.

I've been a fan for over 40 years, and this is one of the most disappointing iterations I've seen yet. When 13 bailed and 19 told us he wasn't re-signing, we could have sat back and said, "well this is the perfect year to blow everything up for a pile of draft picks." Instead, we stayed fixated on this notion that we were somehow a "contender missing a couple pieces." Fast forward to today and here we are paying 6M for a backup, 6M for perhaps our 3rd or 4th best defenceman, 10M for a second-line complimentary winger and 12M for two third-line centers.

We could have gone into this upcoming offseason with a pile of picks plus a pile of cap space (with even more coming off the books July 1st)... but nope. We do things the Flames' way here. Play like ass until we're mathematically eliminated, and then, in a blatant fit of stubbornness, go on a 7 game winning streak to close out the season to ensure we're drafting right in the middle of the pack.

Not to mention, closing out the season on a winning streak makes it much easier to sell the fanbase on not blowing it up...

40 friggin years, and only three of them have been worth anything.

That’s way she f’ing goes Ricky

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I think they should just put back together the Ruzicka-Lindholm-Toffoli line. They were good together and could score 5v5

Ruzicka with Lindhom and Toffoli

Phillips with Huberdeau

it's probably the best idea we have right now

Phillips would be quick and skilled enough to work with a guy like huby's elite passes .. apparently few others are

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Ruzicka with Lindhom and Toffoli

Phillips with Huberdeau

it's probably the best idea we have right now

Phillips would be quick and skilled enough to work with a guy like huby's elite passes .. apparently few others are

I really love to see this for a game.



I'm kind of curious to why Toffoli hasn't been able to one time Huberdeau's passes. I mean that's what likes to do, one time passes. Huberdeau should grab him by the chest and tell him be READY for my passes.

[Always Earned Never Given]

Huberdeau should be playing with two left shots. Has never played with righties and it showed again yesterday where no look pass to Toffoli was behind him but if Toff was a lefty he probably one times it.

There have been 1 or 2 instances every game or so where his no look passes handcuff righties.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Goriders

That’s way she f’ing goes Ricky

TPB is a national treasure

Spoiler!

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Always Earned Never Given

Huberdeau should be playing with two left shots. Has never played with righties and it showed again yesterday where no look pass to Toffoli was behind him but if Toff was a lefty he probably one times it.

There have been 1 or 2 instances every game or so where his no look passes handcuff righties.

Interesting take. You could be on to something. Toffoli has one skill, shooting the puck. Everything else he is either average or bad. Despite his propped up numbers playing in good situations, he's a play killer.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Flames have to play .615 hockey to make the playoffs.

They are at 32 points. To make the playoffs the threshold is 95/96. Flames need to make up 63/64 points in the remaining schedule. That’s 52 games to make 64 points. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen with this group? Time will tell. I’m losing faith as I don’t see synergy or growth.

I see vladar playing better. I see zadorov playing well. I see dube gaining more confidence in his skill set. I see Tanev as the same warrior with worse injury luck. I see Lewis as the consummate pro he’s been since he arrived.
I see Rosie blossoming.

What I don’t see is quality shot chances. I’m reminded of the Tampa game. We outshot them but Cooper said he’d happily have their shots vs ours. This team isn’t making life difficult for the opposing groups.

I’m not seeing Huberdeau have any chemistry with any of our players. I’m seeing kadri look inconsistent. I’m seeing mangiapane not as effective.

I’m not seeing lindholm as a number one center.

I’m not seeing weegar as a number one dman.

I’m not seeing hanifin being better in his own zone or a more lethal offensive option.

I’m not seeing markstrom inspire his team despite his occasional deft play.

I’m not seeing sutter adjust his strategy to suit his team.


I think this squad will not have the chops to make it to that 96 mark but will probably make it close enough to for the chance to miss out on the draft lottery.

The team has good assets to trade if they go that way and engage a rebuild/retool. Trading futures to shore up this group is a mistake imo.

I will continue to watch this group because they are the only major ticket in town. They have been my team since 94 and I’m too stubborn to watch other hockey this fanatically. I will remember the iggy and kipper times fondly but they are almost a lifetime ago now.

This version of the flames isn’t going deep in the playoffs. That’s even if they make it. So do people want to be moderately entertained or do they want a shot at glory for their team? I want glory. I want the flames to catch the oilers in championships. But so far the oil have more and they have two top players that are closer to widening the championship gap than seeing it narrow.

I know BT had to pivot after his top line bolted but I just feel his plans have been undermined by bad chemistry and insufficient deployment. I think sutter is out of touch with this team. I think the game has passed Darryl by. People saying this team is like his LA version are missing out on the stud pieces they had there. We don’t have a HOF dominant center. We don’t have a Norris winning dman. We don’t have a game breaking goalie.

We are a hodgepodge of misfit toys. I will still watch and come here to check on the pulse of the fan base. Until that gap betwixt us and the oil tilts more to even I will be tough act to inspire.

I’m not optimistic. I’m not pessimistic. I’m waiting for signs of life.

[delayedreflex]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don't think the opinion that Kadri doesn't use is line mates is a fair one. Look at Kadri setting up Mang last night - and also that he has 11 goals and 11 assists. It's more of an issue when his line mates are playing so bad that Kadri is effectively on the ice alone. Same thing happened to Bennett during the Brouwer/Jankowski era.

Fans: "Don't pass Huby! SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT!"

Also Fans: "God, Kadri shoots too much. He doesn't make use of his line mates"

...that being said, yeah - Huby - Kadri - Dube might be pretty good

The main thing I think is that Kadri is pretty good at carrying the puck and getting controlled zone entries, which I think Huberdeau would really benefit from - Lindholm is a really smart 2-way player, but I don't think that's really his strength. Dube as well seems comfortable carrying the puck, though gets it stripped from him more often (he kind of reminds me of Bennett in that respect, except that Bennett would usually carry it up the middle of the ice and lose it trying to get through two defenders, while Dube usually tries to carry it up the wing and gets taken out along the boards). On paper, Kadri entering the zone, dishing to Huberdeau, then Huberdeau finding the open man in the offensive zone should be a recipe for success - but who knows whether they can actually develop the chemistry necessary to work together as well on the ice as they do on paper.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Always Earned Never Given

Huberdeau should be playing with two left shots. Has never played with righties and it showed again yesterday where no look pass to Toffoli was behind him but if Toff was a lefty he probably one times it.

There have been 1 or 2 instances every game or so where his no look passes handcuff righties.

Shouldn't a player of Huberdeau's stature be able to figure out that he's playing with a right hand shot winger and adjust?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

As frustrating as it is - this is probably the best thing to do. Major changes to team make-up happens more in the off-season

Just wanted to comment on this part of Jiri's post. There is not much urgency to the Flames situation since almost the entire team is signed through next season and well beyond. May as well be patient through the season and see if they can figure it out.

At that point, if the season craps out you have to decide who you want calling the shots for hockey operations. And you go from there.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

snipped for size.

I agree with and feel pretty much exactly the same. Except the part about Sutter and the game passing him by. So many players had career years last year and this year so many players (most of them) are performing below expectations. Did the game pass Sutter by in a year? I doubt that, but something seems off. Have they tuned him out? Seems early for that. Has the massive change in roster completely disrupt the room chemistry and comradery they beamed about so often last year? They say it's a good room, but everyone says that every year. I don't know, but they are running out of time to figure it out. Now, a 5 game winning streak will fix a lot of the negativity (including my own), but it's very difficult to see that happening with the way they're playing.

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by delayedreflex

The main thing I think is that Kadri is pretty good at carrying the puck and getting controlled zone entries, which I think Huberdeau would really benefit from - Lindholm is a really smart 2-way player, but I don't think that's really his strength. Dube as well seems comfortable carrying the puck, though gets it stripped from him more often (he kind of reminds me of Bennett in that respect, except that Bennett would usually carry it up the middle of the ice and lose it trying to get through two defenders, while Dube usually tries to carry it up the wing and gets taken out along the boards). On paper, Kadri entering the zone, dishing to Huberdeau, then Huberdeau finding the open man in the offensive zone should be a recipe for success - but who knows whether they can actually develop the chemistry necessary to work together as well on the ice as they do on paper.

Is Mang a set up goal scorer? Iirc most of his goals seem to come off the chaos of the forecheck/rush where there's a flurry of body's and pressure. He's still a good player and goal scorer but I am unsure if the 2 styles of playing mesh

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Flames have to play .615 hockey to make the playoffs.

They are at 32 points. To make the playoffs the threshold is 95/96. Flames need to make up 63/64 points in the remaining schedule. That’s 52 games to make 64 points. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen with this group? Time will tell. I’m losing faith as I don’t see synergy or growth.

I see vladar playing better. I see zadorov playing well. I see dube gaining more confidence in his skill set. I see Tanev as the same warrior with worse injury luck. I see Lewis as the consummate pro he’s been since he arrived.
I see Rosie blossoming.

What I don’t see is quality shot chances. I’m reminded of the Tampa game. We outshot them but Cooper said he’d happily have their shots vs ours. This team isn’t making life difficult for the opposing groups.

I’m not seeing Huberdeau have any chemistry with any of our players. I’m seeing kadri look inconsistent. I’m seeing mangiapane not as effective.

I’m not seeing lindholm as a number one center.

I’m not seeing weegar as a number one dman.

I’m not seeing hanifin being better in his own zone or a more lethal offensive option.

I’m not seeing markstrom inspire his team despite his occasional deft play.

I’m not seeing sutter adjust his strategy to suit his team.


I think this squad will not have the chops to make it to that 96 mark but will probably make it close enough to for the chance to miss out on the draft lottery.

The team has good assets to trade if they go that way and engage a rebuild/retool. Trading futures to shore up this group is a mistake imo.

I will continue to watch this group because they are the only major ticket in town. They have been my team since 94 and I’m too stubborn to watch other hockey this fanatically. I will remember the iggy and kipper times fondly but they are almost a lifetime ago now.

This version of the flames isn’t going deep in the playoffs. That’s even if they make it. So do people want to be moderately entertained or do they want a shot at glory for their team? I want glory. I want the flames to catch the oilers in championships. But so far the oil have more and they have two top players that are closer to widening the championship gap than seeing it narrow.

I know BT had to pivot after his top line bolted but I just feel his plans have been undermined by bad chemistry and insufficient deployment. I think sutter is out of touch with this team. I think the game has passed Darryl by. People saying this team is like his LA version are missing out on the stud pieces they had there. We don’t have a HOF dominant center. We don’t have a Norris winning dman. We don’t have a game breaking goalie.

We are a hodgepodge of misfit toys. I will still watch and come here to check on the pulse of the fan base. Until that gap betwixt us and the oil tilts more to even I will be tough act to inspire.

I’m not optimistic. I’m not pessimistic. I’m waiting for signs of life.

Logged in to thank. Spot on. It's difficult being a die hard of this team. Glory and generational talent isn't something I've ever seen from this team. Maybe one day, hopefully before I die.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Major changes to team make-up happens more in the off-season

Yup. With them seemingly having difficulty integrating their new players from the summer, the last thing they likely need is more new players.

[CaptainCrunch]

This team just can't to find chemistry anywhere. At the same time when they started the season well they played a pretty fast up the ice type of hockey, now they look slow.

Yeah, we can blame the goaltending, But the pieces just aren't meshing.

I expected a lot more puck support from what I thought was a stellar blueline. I think that's been the biggest disappointment for me.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I really love to see this for a game.



I'm kind of curious to why Toffoli hasn't been able to one time Huberdeau's passes. I mean that's what likes to do, one time passes. Huberdeau should grab him by the chest and tell him be READY for my passes.

Being a right handed shot on that wing will make it tougher to one time for Toffoli. It's why I want to see him with Mangiapane, or even Dube I guess. That line was good last night though. I think you could swap Mangiapane and Toffoli and just see if it works at all.

I would like to see Phillips there but he's also a right handed shot, but a different player than Toffoli so who knows.

Originally Posted by Mindtravellee

Is Mang a set up goal scorer? Iirc most of his goals seem to come off the chaos of the forecheck/rush where there's a flurry of body's and pressure. He's still a good player and goal scorer but I am unsure if the 2 styles of playing mesh

This is also a good point.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

Being a right handed shot on that wing will make it tougher to one time for Toffoli. It's why I want to see him with Mangiapane, or even Dube I guess. That line was good last night though. I think you could swap Mangiapane and Toffoli and just see if it works at all.

I would like to see Phillips there but he's also a right handed shot, but a different player than Toffoli so who knows.



This is also a good point.

Honest question, would it make a difference if Huberddau and Phillips switch sides like in the PP?

[Philly06Cup]

HOVART. Lolz.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I expected a lot more puck support from what I thought was a stellar blueline. I think that's been the biggest disappointment for me.

Kylington being unavailable has hurt the team probably more than most people thought it would. If he's on the roster over the past month, the Flames are likely sitting in a much better spot standings wise.

[Strange Brew]

Adding Weegar should have more than compensated for Kylington. Stone replacing Gudbranson shouldn’t be such a major drop-off, especially in terms of offense.