Practice Notes: Jan 20

[FlamesAreOne]

@Fan960Steinberg

#Flames at practice Friday:

Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli
Lucic-Kadri-Huberdeau
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Lewis-Duehr
Ruzicka

Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Tanev
Zadorov-Stone
Mackey

Markstrom
Vladar

[SuperMatt18]

Good to see Pelletier in a regular spot but I do feel for Ruzicka.

His leash in the top 9 and lineup is a lot shorter than it has been for others.

He was pretty much a PPG when he was demoted back to the 4th line.

Man I dislike how this Sutter has handled young players, he wasnt like this in San Jose or early in his Calgary tenure (03-04 specifically he gave lots of young guys prominent spots)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Ruzicka has had every opportunity to earn more ice time.
His effort level is wildly inconsistent. Always has been.
He earned his way up the line-up and his earned his way down it.

[CFO]

Sutter needs to go.

As bad as Edmonton is recycling the old boys club - flames are same way with Sutter. The game has passed him.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Good to see Pelletier in a regular spot but I do feel for Ruzicka.

His leash in the top 9 and lineup is a lot shorter than it has been for others.

He was pretty much a PPG when he was demoted back to the 4th line.

Man I dislike how this Sutter has handled young players, he wasnt like this in San Jose or early in his Calgary tenure (03-04 specifically he gave lots of young guys prominent spots)

The thing is with the exception of Lucic, the top 9 for Calgary is pretty set. Everyone struggles at some point, but none of those guys is a 4th liner. There just aren’t that many opportunities available in the top 9.

[keenan87]

Lucic on that line is a joke at this point. Watch him get a random assist though and cement his place on that line for another 5 games.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Tbh I’ll take Pelts on the 4th line. Backs, Mangi and Dube were able to work their way up the line-up when they started. Hopefully he’s able to do the same. Sucks to see Ruzicka scratched though

[Bonded]

Was hoping to see Lucic dropped to the 4th line

[Burning Beard]

Ruzicka hasn't been very good lately. Hopefully Pelletier can play well and earn that spot from Looch.

[Naitix]

Lol Lucic on the 2nd line still, I bet Pelletier switches with him in the 3rd period.
I do not understand what was the point of scratching Pelletier for 6 games if you are just going to play him on the 4th line.

[zukes]

I'm guessing that Pellitier will also get Ruzicka's spot on PP2.

[dustygoon]

What's the point of Dube on the first line? I don't get this stuff. I don't see what the team sees in him.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Ruzicka has had every opportunity to earn more ice time.
His effort level is wildly inconsistent. Always has been.
He earned his way up the line-up and his earned his way down it.

I could not disagree more.

Since his demotion

16 games

CF% - 59.60 (4th among forwards behind the Backlund line)
SF% - 62.96% (2nd among forwards)
xGA - 4.93 (lowest on the team)
xGF% - 54.7%
HDCF% - 51.06% (4th among forwards behind the Backlund line)
On ice SH% - 4.71% (lowest of any forward)

This kid is literally doing everything that is asked of him this season, and single handedly turned that 4th line around.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

What's the point of Dube on the first line? I don't get this stuff. I don't see what the team sees in him.

Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman is this team's first line at 5v5, tbh.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman is this team's first line at 5v5, tbh.

Not trying to get into analysis of what the 1st line is.

How about this.....why waste the LW spot alongside Lindholm by giving it to Dube?

[Ashes]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

@Fan960Steinberg

#Flames at practice Friday:

Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli
Lucic-Kadri-Huberdeau
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Lewis-Duehr
Ruzicka

Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Tanev
Zadorov-Stone
Mackey

Markstrom
Vladar

Nice to see Pelletier in the lineup and if he shows well, maybe we could see a Lucic/Pelletier swap places, but Daryl was never going to give the kid a shot on the second line right out of the gate, he'll have to show some offensive flair and keep his head above water defensively before getting his shot in the Top 9. I think he can do it though, that 4th line as it's constructed should have decent speed and skill. Closer and closer to looking like the old Hathaway/Mang/Ryan line that was so successful.

Nice to have something to look forward to next game!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Not trying to get into analysis of what the 1st line is.

How about this.....why waste the LW spot alongside Lindholm by giving it to Dube?

Because if the Backlund line is set and operating successfully as our most important line, (and was by far Mangiapane's most successful combination) and the Huberdeau-Kadri line is the line expected to be our primary scoring line, as Huberdeau showed zero chemistry with Lindholm, then Lindholm's LW options are:

- Dube
- Lucic
- Pelettier
- Ruzicka
- Trevor Lewis
- Duerr

Out of this group, if Ruzicka is a healthy scratch for some reason Dube actually seems to be the best option!

[sonq]

I wish Mackey would get another shot, he really did look better in his last games (minus the pizza)

[Toonage]

I've been whining for a while about getting Pelletier in so I'm not going to bemoan his slotting. Glad to see him, hope he gets a fair shot.

[Manhattanboy]

Dube on the 1st line and Lucic on the 2nd.

There are a number of playoff teams where these guys aren't even in the line up let alone the top 9.

Rather telling in my view.