Practice Notes - Jan 5

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Numbers I saw last night seem to show they are the line getting cooked since Lucic arrived on it.

xGF% 47% HDCF 34%

Doesn't seem like great metrics too me.

Didn't say the line ... said the team.

[Bingo]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...flames-are-at/

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Frankly Lucic is as good a fit to play with Kadri as anybody IMO.

He generated as much offence in the last few games as anyone else. I think this is the best iteration of line combos as there has been this year. And there has been a ton of line combos.

I’d keep everything intact until they have a down stretch. Then mix it up again.

Still think there will be someone else brought in at some point.

[calumniate]

Lucic is slow but he makes solid outlets out of the zone.. it's actually kind of uncanny. However I'd like to see Zahorna again and Rosie up the lineup a bit as well

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Not in this thread but I see it in others and all over the garbage dump of opinions that is twitter. I agree Lucic is long in the tooth on the second line but they won't put someone there until they prove they deserve to be there. Overall the team is playing well right now so I see the reason not to mix up all the lines. Still a lot of season left and I'm sure they don't expect Looch to stay there all year.

Except, I guess, if you are Milan Lucic.. who quite frankly is the least deserving of those minutes based off of his play over the past calendar year.

If the lineup can be changed to net a better result why wouldn't you do it? The second line as a whole has been the teams worst since being put together, and it consists of arguably our two most important forwards. Again, Sutter can cry to the media about the lack of a big goal from his top players - but when he actively attaches deadweight to them, maybe he should look into the mirror.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Except, I guess, if you are Milan Lucic.. who quite frankly is the least deserving of those minutes based off of his play over the past calendar year.

If the lineup can be changed to net a better result why wouldn't you do it? The second line as a whole has been the teams worst since being put together, and it consists of arguably our two most important forwards. Again, Sutter can cry to the media about the lack of a big goal from his top players - but when he actively attaches deadweight to them, maybe he should look into the mirror.

I don't think it's that simple.

I think he looks at it as a formula

2nd Line without Lucic - 2nd Line with Lucic vs 4th line with Lucic - 4th line without Lucic

He seems to sink the 2nd line less than the combinations we've seen of the fourth line that becomes a complete black hole.

Overall that means less time in their own zone, and better metrics in games for the last 8 contests.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Except, I guess, if you are Milan Lucic.. who quite frankly is the least deserving of those minutes based off of his play over the past calendar year.

If the lineup can be changed to net a better result why wouldn't you do it? The second line as a whole has been the teams worst since being put together, and it consists of arguably our two most important forwards. Again, Sutter can cry to the media about the lack of a big goal from his top players - but when he actively attaches deadweight to them, maybe he should look into the mirror.

Right now I think the coaching staff is seeing him provide something to that line that no one else on the team currently can. Must be something the coach wants and it seems like Kadri and Huberdeau are gaining chemistry. I think it's so easy as fans to see one thing they don't like and get hyper-focused on it (especially with the internet) but a hockey team has a lot of different parts and roles to manage as a coach.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't think it's that simple.

I think he looks at it as a formula

2nd Line without Lucic - 2nd Line with Lucic vs 4th line with Lucic - 4th line without Lucic

He seems to sink the 2nd line less than the combinations we've seen of the fourth line that becomes a complete black hole.

Overall that means less time in their own zone, and better metrics in games for the last 8 contests.

Let's try one more permutation a few times: Lucic eating popcorn

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...flames-are-at/

Thanks, not much in the way of specifics as expected. But:

Still hope OK comes back
Mentions internal adds to top 9 as a possibility, seemingly without being prompted
Said there have been some discussions on his contract. I'm thinking he has some power in that dynamic.

[FBI]

Love the guy but can't wait till Lucic is gone.. We need to get faster..

[Erick Estrada]

One issue with him on that line is that he's playing too many minutes. 15 minutes is too much for a lumbering forward that has limited pep in his step. Less is more with players like Lucic.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by FBI

Love the guy but can't wait till Lucic is gone.. We need to get faster..

I hope the cap structure next season forces them to play young players on ELCs/league minimum contracts

the team will get faster and more skilled by default

stupid vet loving team/coach

this feels like 2010-2012

[sonq]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Right now I think the coaching staff is seeing him provide something to that line that no one else on the team currently can. Must be something the coach wants and it seems like Kadri and Huberdeau are gaining chemistry. I think it's so easy as fans to see one thing they don't like and get hyper-focused on it (especially with the internet) but a hockey team has a lot of different parts and roles to manage as a coach.

I think at least one "something" that he can/could provide is space for Kadri and Huberdeau, IMO Dube and Rozie could also bring that into the line AND more offence

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by sonq

I think at least one "something" that he can/could provide is space for Kadri and Huberdeau, IMO Dube and Rozie could also bring that into the line AND more offence

I agree that is one thing he brings that is working. Dube is fitting in on the Lindholm line so don't mess it up. With Ruzicka he just doesn't bring it consistently enough. Once he gets broken in by Sutter and starts bringing it every game I think that spot is his.

[sonq]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

I agree that is one thing he brings that is working. Dube is fitting in on the Lindholm line so don't mess it up. With Ruzicka he just doesn't bring it consistently enough. Once he gets broken in by Sutter and starts bringing it every game I think that spot is his.

Also true. I do have faith in Ruzicka, he's still young and has time to grow and mature

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

I can't believe he keeps running with Lucic.

Starting to become concerning.

Since Looch was put with Huberdeau and Kadri, 7 games ago:

-Looch with 4 pts
-Kadri with 5 pts
-Huberdeau with 6 pts

They did indeed have some horrid possession metrics in the Anaheim, Vancouver and Jets games but we won 2 of those games anyway, and have had their heads above water otherwise.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Frankly Lucic is as good a fit to play with Kadri as anybody IMO.

Gotta disagree. SO many rushes are dying on his stick. I’m to the point where I wonder if Lucic has something on Sutter.

[Naitix]

I think the reason Huberdeau and Kadri have more points on a line together than before is not because of Lucic, I think it is because Hub started playing better himself and Kadri fits in better with Hub. Sure Lucic has looked way better but he is still detriment to that line imo

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Since Looch was put with Huberdeau and Kadri, 7 games ago:

-Looch with 4 pts
-Kadri with 5 pts
-Huberdeau with 6 pts

They did indeed have some horrid possession metrics in the Anaheim, Vancouver and Jets games but we won 2 of those games anyway, and have had their heads above water otherwise.

I was just responding to Bingo saying the team had a strong stretch of metrics.

They are riding a high shooting % which is great, what isn't great is being outplayed by Vancouver and Anaheim.

[Flaming Horse]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Counting the days until that contract is done. Oh sweet baby Jesus.

Or until he and Lewis are resigned. What does Lucic even do. When was the last time he fought. Gilbert has more fights then him lately. He rarely gets a big hit, unless its against the boards and he doesn't even seem to like the front of the net.