[PGT] Avalanche 4 Flames 1

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I want to see him with Dube and Kadri. Thats the closest playstyle we have to Bennett and Duclair on the team.

Huberdeau is at his best when attacking the the zone with speed and hes able to thread a through pass to a forward attacking the center of the ice with speed, or if those guys attack net front with speed and he can work into the space that vacates when they push the dmen back.

None of that has happened with his linemates this year.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wOKqL8PvFcg

None of his linemates attack the center of the ice like that video. Everything is grind behind the net and get the puck back to the point.

And we generate nothing off the rush because hes scared to cheat in the defensive zone and is often last forward in the zone.

Tough to make the great royal road and cross ice passes like you see in that video when your linemates are behind the net

And then there is the PP where we have him on the right half wall, or sometimes as net front now for some freaking reason. When if you look at the great Florida PP last year he's QBing from the LW half boards

I think its due to our trigger men being RH shots in Toffoli, Lindholm, and Andersson but i dont think hes as comfortable on the RW

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Thats why i think he should play with two quick players in Kadri and Dube. Playing with quick guys that move their feet forces you to also move your feet.

We saw that when he was playing with Backlund and Coleman - the pace in his game picked up too.

When hes playing with Lucic it ends up slowing down both Kadri and Huberdeau IMO. Lucic looked like an anchor tonight. Slow to pucks, late on the forecheck, slow through the neutral zone. And then it slows the whole line down.

Some of this is his defensive focus too. For Huberdeau when I watch him, especially away from the puck i see a guy thats worried about making a bad read or leaving the zone early. Honestly its 10x more noticable live, he looks terrifed to get scored on.

He really looks like a guy that might be almost too bought into what Sutter wants in terms of defensive responsibility. Thinking instead of just reacting and playing naturally.

Boom.

Thank you for this thoughtful analysis. I see it the same way too, especially since I know what Huberdeau was like before coming to Calgary.

This is 100% on coaching. I don't have a major issue with Darryl's overall philosophy, but he is incredibly rigid and he forces guys like Huberdeau to completely change their game to fit his system and philosophy. Like a good soldier, Huberdeau is doing what is asked of him, but it's not taking his strongest attributes into account and this is why he doesn't look like a "100 point player" here. It's a severe lack of imagination on Sutter's part.

Seriously, some of the quotes in this thread I want to save and throw back in people's faces regarding Huberdeau. You can tell who watches games other than Flames' games and who does not. Just some embarrassing posts to read that will definitely not age well.

Also, who the hell wants to get rid of Weegar? He's easily our best defender at denying zone entry. Just so effortless anytime the puck comes to his side of the ice. He takes it away and send the puck the other direction.

[Erick Estrada]

I know some people are down on Markstrom but the Athletic just voted his goalie mask as best in the NHL. That's at least something to be a little happy about I guess.

[DeluxeMoustache]

That black mask with lava is pure excellence

[Strange Brew]

If Tkachuk and Gaudreau can get 100+ points with the Flames, so can Huberdeau. I don’t see why the player can’t have accountability for that. Blaming the coach? Really?

Kadri is almost on pace for a career high in goals, and on pace for his second best season in points. What’s the point of Huberdeau accumulating stats with a style of play that isn’t conducive to winning tough games?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by sonq

If this doesn't drive Sutter to change the lineups and let Vladar start a few, then yeah, I don't know. Super important game and they let it slip away, just like that. Sigh

These games are never pretty after a road trip so take from it what you will, especially against the defending champs who are starting to roll.

I would imagine that this will spur some lineup changes. Mainly along the lines of Pelletier getting into the top 6 for at least a game or two, but even if this isn't the case, the Flames have been rolling so there really isn't much to be worried about.

[sonq]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Boom.

Thank you for this thoughtful analysis. I see it the same way too, especially since I know what Huberdeau was like before coming to Calgary.

This is 100% on coaching. I don't have a major issue with Darryl's overall philosophy, but he is incredibly rigid and he forces guys like Huberdeau to completely change their game to fit his system and philosophy. Like a good soldier, Huberdeau is doing what is asked of him, but it's not taking his strongest attributes into account and this is why he doesn't look like a "100 point player" here. It's a severe lack of imagination on Sutter's part.

Seriously, some of the quotes in this thread I want to save and throw back in people's faces regarding Huberdeau. You can tell who watches games other than Flames' games and who does not. Just some embarrassing posts to read that will definitely not age well.

Also, who the hell wants to get rid of Weegar? He's easily our best defender at denying zone entry. Just so effortless anytime the puck comes to his side of the ice. He takes it away and send the puck the other direction.

It's infuriating how Sutter doesn't give more freedom to a player that has proven season after season to be elite playmaker. What's more infuriating, is the Flames fans s####### on their own players in an excessive way.
And don't even get me started about people calling Huberdeau "JaMeS nEaL 2.0". Neal was an epitome of a selfish, ignorant anti-teammate player who never gave a flying ####. Jonathan is the most extreme opposite of that. You can tell that he cares, a lot. I hope Huberdeau does get traded because I really like him as a player and he's got amazing personality, he doesn't deserve the hate he gets from our fanbase. And we don't deserve him once he gets going.
Absolutely agree on your take on Weegsy. Seeing people saying to get rid of him makes my brain go full error.

I do understand the frustration within fanbase (myself included), but Flames fans are taking it too far regarding few players. Even Oilers fans recognize that Huberdeau is not "a waste", and that's a lot.

[sonq]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

These games are never pretty after a road trip so take from it what you will, especially against the defending champs who are starting to roll.

I would imagine that this will spur some lineup changes. Mainly along the lines of Pelletier getting into the top 6 for at least a game or two, but even if this isn't the case, the Flames have been rolling so there really isn't much to be worried about.

After the 5-2 loss against Blues, they picked their game up and went on a kind of a roll. I hope this loss has the same affect

[442scotty]

I feel sorry for the true fans who pay a LOT of money to go watch this team in person. They deserve better. That’s on ownership from the top down.

[Naitix]

The thing that boggles my mind is that this roster of 12-13 players hasn't had a good game all season, where they and Sutter were satisfied with their effort but he refuses to change the players who are on the ice

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Naitix

The thing that boggles my mind is that this roster of 12-13 players hasn't had a good game all season, where they and Sutter were satisfied with their effort but he refuses to change the players who are on the ice

That's not true. Those first 5-6 games were incredible. Everything was clicking even though Huberdeau and Weegar will still struggling to adjust.

It tells me this team is capable of so much more, but Sutter has indeed lost the room.

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

That's not true. Those first 5-6 games were incredible. Everything was clicking even though Huberdeau and Weegar will still struggling to adjust.

It tells me this team is capable of so much more, but Sutter has indeed lost the room.

Honestly it’s so hard to remember now, but I think they were good games offensively but defence was very bad. Lindholm said last night that they haven’t had a good game all season and it’s concerning

[Burning Beard]

Calgary Puck and fire the coach. Combo as old as time.

[Naitix]

Can this team be a threat if Huberdeau does not get going? No. So get them a coach who can get him going. Huberdeau is a star player, and whatever Sutter is telling him is not helping.

Also side note, any time I have seen Sutter talk about Huberdeau he references him by his full last name, he doesn’t do that with other players… Lindy, Dubs, Matthew, Johnny etc. Do not think they have a good relationship

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Boom.

Thank you for this thoughtful analysis. I see it the same way too, especially since I know what Huberdeau was like before coming to Calgary.

This is 100% on coaching. I don't have a major issue with Darryl's overall philosophy, but he is incredibly rigid and he forces guys like Huberdeau to completely change their game to fit his system and philosophy. Like a good soldier, Huberdeau is doing what is asked of him, but it's not taking his strongest attributes into account and this is why he doesn't look like a "100 point player" here. It's a severe lack of imagination on Sutter's part.

Seriously, some of the quotes in this thread I want to save and throw back in people's faces regarding Huberdeau. You can tell who watches games other than Flames' games and who does not. Just some embarrassing posts to read that will definitely not age well.

Also, who the hell wants to get rid of Weegar? He's easily our best defender at denying zone entry. Just so effortless anytime the puck comes to his side of the ice. He takes it away and send the puck the other direction.

100 percent this. This also reminds me of what the Sutters did to Bouwmeester when he came to Calgary . He played a great transition game before coming to Calgary and they took that away from him. Look at Bouwmeester last year as a flame and Hartley wanted bouw to pinch in more. His points jumped back to .5 a game and he was much more engaged.

[bzoo02]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Highlight of the night.

Early in the 2nd period the organist was playing the Muppets theme song. I was singing along to it in my head and then realized that he was playing the middle part where the old guys chime in.

Why do we always come here?
I guess we'll never know
It's like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show

Confirmed Calgary Flames Organist Warren Tse is on CP

[Toonage]

Darryl seems to dislike confident French players. Huberdeau, Gelinas, Tanguay...didn't he make Tanguay cry once? Thought that was a story some time ago

Also, Calgary Flames ownership and not spending on a coach unless its Sutter. Name a better combo.

[Burning Beard]

I tend to notice that when the goalie has a shaky start the team has a shaky start. Not sure why this is, but it happens when Markstrom plays all the time unfortunately. Once Markstrom found his game the team played better.

This is no help when your number one goalie seems to start shaky all the dang time. I get Vladar has never played a starters load but you gotta start playing him more. He keeps them in the game until they can get a goal or two and this is how this team make-up needs to play.

If we had last year's Markstrom this team would be rolling. With shaky Markstrom here we are unfortunately. There is lots of games left so let's see what Vladar can do.

[Kasi]

But you know that won’t happen and he’ll keep giving Markstrom the majority of the starts. This starting players like Markstrom (and Lucic) when he’s stunk is part of why this board is losing patience with him. Sutter playing favorites is something a lot of people here aren’t enamoured with.

[sonq]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Darryl seems to dislike confident French players. Huberdeau, Gelinas, Tanguay...didn't he make Tanguay cry once? Thought that was a story some time ago

Also, Calgary Flames ownership and not spending on a coach unless its Sutter. Name a better combo.

Pelletier
Haven't heard of the Tanguay story

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Tkachuk and Gaudreau can get 100+ points with the Flames, so can Huberdeau. I don’t see why the player can’t have accountability for that. Blaming the coach? Really?

Kadri is almost on pace for a career high in goals, and on pace for his second best season in points. What’s the point of Huberdeau accumulating stats with a style of play that isn’t conducive to winning tough games?

Is this a style that Tampa and Colorado play? Do they need star players to play grit and grind hockey and set up in the offensive zone?

John and Matthew had big years playing rush hockey with Lindholm doing the heavy lifting for them and allowing them to bolt the zone and create and score off the rush a lot.

Right now Kadri is taking the puck up the wall circling around and allowing coverage to set and setting up the offensive zone. We may have the same shot volume but the danger is down because the other team is allowed to keep us boxed out.

This game plan is a replica for Glen was doing before he was canned and Ward was setting up here. A slow style that sets up as a 5 man unit instead of opening up the middle of the ice and setting up rush chances and pouncing on rebounds.