Practice Notes - Mar 9

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm shocked at your day in day out singular focus.

The choice for forward #12 just doesn't keep me up at night.

The issue is that the #12 forward chews up icetime of the guys that you suggest are the ones we should be kept up at night about.

So, it matters actually. It's less to do with him performing or not as it is with the opportunity cost of dead icetime (or highly improbable lost production time).

It's not irrelevant. Every minute of icetime for star players matters, actually.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by Ferarri

If it's working I say continue to run with it. Dube can play a supporting role for now and then you make changes if and when required. At this time we need points so player positioning is secondary to the bigger goal of getting wo points.

Dube is 4th in goals scored. This team needs more goals not less, saddling him with Lucic and lewis isn't going to help.

[gvitaly]

I get why Dube is playing on the 4th line. It's not because Dube was playing bad, though he has cooled off. With the amount that we play our 4th line, we need a line that can push play, or at least hold their own against 2nd/3rd lines.

Sutter tried to accomplish that, but none of Rooney/Lewis/Ruzicka at center give him what he wants. I'd like to make a case for Ruzicka, but he has to tighten things up defensively. As for Ruzicka - Dube - Duehr that could be a good line, but I don't see Lewis sitting any time soon. Lewis has been consistently good defensively, and great on the PK, the offense isn't there, but we know that Sutter prefers that to trading chances.

I'm a part of the camp that wants to see Huberdeau on a new line. I really want to see Huberdeau with Toffoli again, because Lindholm - Toffoli have really cooled off. Huberdeau - Dube - Toffoli, or Huberdeau - Kadri - Toffoli are lines I'm interested in seeing. Pelletier/Dube/Ruzicka - Lindholm - Huberdeau can also work.

The bottom line is that the Flames scored 1 or less goals in 4 of the last 6 games. They need to find a way to generate more offense. Either from chemistry with a new line combination, or by finding a way to make the PP more dangerous.

[saillias]

Sutter's deployment is too unorthodox to get upset about Dube being on the 4th line. That line will get similar minutes as everyone else.

[D as in David]

I like Lucic and what he has brought to the organization during his time with the Flames. I have a dislike for Sutter for overplaying him and making me think negatively about Lucic and his play. He should be sat out judiciously.

[Ferarri]

Originally Posted by saillias

Sutter's deployment is too unorthodox to get upset about Dube being on the 4th line. That line will get similar minutes as everyone else.

It's not like Huberdeau does much anyways. Giving him an extra 5 minutes a night will likely have zero impact as we've seen all season. It's not the same shortening your bench like last year when we had the likes of Johnny and Tkachuk. That said Lucic should not be in the lineup.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

The issue is that the #12 forward chews up icetime of the guys that you suggest are the ones we should be kept up at night about.

So, it matters actually. It's less to do with him performing or not as it is with the opportunity cost of dead icetime (or highly improbable lost production time).

It's not irrelevant. Every minute of icetime for star players matters, actually.

Well the fourth line is going to get 8-10 minutes on any team. In Calgary it get move into the 11 minute mark for sure, but we're talking about a minute.

Lucic vs the alternative is the differential which I'm suggesting is pretty small in the grand scheme of things.

But I'm not even arguing, I think he's lost a step, and since the team is long off the run where it was working (better lately) I'm happy to have him come out of the lineup.

Just can't imagine it being the thing I complain about every single day.

[boogerz]

Sutter should be trying:

Ritchie - Dube - Huberdeau


Dube is pretty similar to Duclair and maybe Ritchie can get close to replicating Bennett

[Enoch Root]

I generally don't lose much sleep over the 12th forward either, but he is -8 over the last 17 games. 1G and a +1 against ARI, and -9 with no points in the other 16 games.

So the team is starting every game, down half a goal. That is not something that we can just say, well, it's the 4th line and 12th forward, no big deal. It has gotten to the point where it IS a big deal.

And the killer is that there is a very good replacement eating popcorn, in Duehr.

IMO, this issue has degraded to the point where it does warrant conversation.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I generally don't lose much sleep over the 12th forward either, but he is -8 over the last 17 games. 1G and a +1 against ARI, and -9 with no points in the other 16 games.

So the team is starting every game, down half a goal. That is not something that we can just say, well, it's the 4th line and 12th forward, no big deal. It has gotten to the point where it IS a big deal.

And the killer is that there is a very good replacement eating popcorn, in Duehr.

IMO, this issue has degraded to the point where it does warrant conversation.

Absolutely ... as I said I don't even disagree with the idea that he should come out.

Said in another topic that it really isn't starting to feel like Sutter is trying to stick it someone.

Fans (social media complaints on roster)
Treliving (playing whoever Treliving says he shouldn't)
Owners (not sure)

[Enoch Root]

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

and when Coronato arrives:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Coronato
Pelletier - Kadri - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Ritchie - Dube - Duehr

Ritchie-Dube-Duehr would be terrorizing as a 4th line.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Absolutely ... as I said I don't even disagree with the idea that he should come out.

Said in another topic that it really isn't starting to feel like Sutter is trying to stick it someone.

Fans (social media complaints on roster)
Treliving (playing whoever Treliving says he shouldn't)
Owners (not sure)

I feel the same way - I don't want to believe that, but I am starting to, regardless.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I feel annoyed every time I see Lucic on the ice.
So I get that.
I don't think it's a big reason for why the team is underachieving but it is annoying. Lewis I get - he plays a role. I have no quibble with him.
So I get both sides. Those that are annoyed with Lucic's ice-time and those that don't see it as a big deal.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I feel annoyed every time I see Lucic on the ice.
So I get that.
I don't think it's a big reason for why the team is underachieving but it is annoying. Lewis I get - he plays a role. I have no quibble with him.
So I get both sides. Those that are annoyed with Lucic's ice-time and those that don't see it as a big deal.

I'm not so sure. I would lean towards Walker D being given his spot would probably result in 6 or 7 more goals over the season. With all the 1 goal games that would likely give the team more points.

[UnitedFlames]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Pelletier
Dube - Kadri - Toffoli
Mang - Backlund - Coleman
Ritchie - Lewis - Duehr

It ain't that hard

YES - play Huberdeau on LW. Have the Flames even tried that once this year? I can't recall.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

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

and when Coronato arrives:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Coronato
Pelletier - Kadri - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Ritchie - Dube - Duehr

Ritchie-Dube-Duehr would be terrorizing as a 4th line.

I think they'd be terrorizing in a good way in the offensive end but in a bad way in their own (not that the 4th is great in their own zone now, but at least Lewis is pretty reliable there). I think for an old guy Lewis skates well enough to play with Dube and Duehr on a regular basis. I actually think his wheels are better than Toffoli and Huberdeau's. He has made a few nice offesnive plays this year, except they often end up dying on Lucic's stick.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

haha I just don't understand how Ritchie gets picked up and automatically gets the top 6 spot

230lb big boi

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1633958339368591365

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I generally don't lose much sleep over the 12th forward either, but he is -8 over the last 17 games. 1G and a +1 against ARI, and -9 with no points in the other 16 games.

So the team is starting every game, down half a goal. That is not something that we can just say, well, it's the 4th line and 12th forward, no big deal. It has gotten to the point where it IS a big deal.

And the killer is that there is a very good replacement eating popcorn, in Duehr.

IMO, this issue has degraded to the point where it does warrant conversation.

What kind of blackmail is lucic holding over the management/coaching staff

He has no business being in the line up over duehr and ruzicka on a regular basis

Half of the wranglers would provide more of a net positive in his spot than he has

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Major Major

It might be punishment. It might actually be a progression for Dube to get him some centre reps. It might be as simple as not changing anything when the team is on its longest winning streak in months.

Or they want to improve the 4th line.