[PGT] Season Finale: Flames Win, 3-1

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Watched most of the game but I am of the opinion we need to take our time with Wolf. Absolutely nothing wrong with another year in the AHL and seeing how he performs and giving him the ability to be shielded from some of the upcoming mess and changes.

You don't need to throw in a kid to the fire, let him ripen up right and under the close eye of the big club.

There is everything wrong with it.

It rewards seniority over merit
It wastes the prime year of a Flames goalie so that we can play a post-apex goalie instead.
It delays Wolf's development. NHL shots are a different level from AHL shots, and the only way to learn to face them consistently is to have faced them consistently already.
It doesn't account for the reality that goalies have up years and down years. If Wolf has a down year in the AHL next year, the Flames might just end up making him play in the AHL the year after. And if either of those years is an up-year? You just wasted an up-year of a talented goalie by playing him in the wrong league.

Hell, there's a real possibility that the Flames wasted a prime up-year from Wolf THIS year, and that might have been the difference between playoffs (and maybe even a run) and the excruciating season we actually watched... all for what? To reward Markstrom's seniority.

[midniteowl]

I love Zadorov!

[Inferno]

lol, what a sad highlight package from Sportsnet.

They mentioned Coronato and Wolf making their debuts yet only showed highlights of them in warmup and only showed the last two goals. No chances by Coronato or saves by Wolf.

[Mr.Coffee]

If I’m Wolf and I’m being told to go to the AHL next season I am demanding a trade. 100%. And sure as #### not re-signing, that’s for sure. I’d be pissed.

[Badmotorfinger]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Nah. He needs no more seasoning. Bring him up and work him in. Don’t have to anoint him or anything. But he can be given more and more che will bounce back to ahances.

I feel the same. Wolf's proven everything he can at the AHL level -- he will definitely win a second AHL goalie of the year and possibly MVP of the league this year.

Trade Vladar and go into the season with Marky as the starter...he will bounce back to a certain degree and can't be worse than this year. Wolf can ease in as backup, with a character vet to mentor him. If Wolf outperforms Marky, great, we have a 1A/1B tandem where you go with the hot hand.

[midniteowl]

[KootenayFlamesFan]

What a strange season. What could have been...................

[Draug]

Originally Posted by FBI

Lucic Lewis and ritchie out

Pelletier, Coronato, Duehr in

Is already a HUGE difference.
Play the young guys next year whoever the coach is.

Quoted because it is so true!!! You need 3 or 4 young kids in the line-up to bring that enthusiasm and "don't know better" attitude. You also need a couple players at the end of contracts who are playing for their huge payday contract.

I expect Sutter to be back. I'd say almost certainly. I think he can still coach a winning team in this league if he simply lightens up a tiny bit, cuts the kids some slack to learn and grow, and sets the lineup so that the offensive stars can be creative and put up points, rather than trying to have offensive superstars grind out every single game.

It is becoming a 4-3 league, not a 3-2 league, and Sutter has to adjust. I fear he may be too stubborn, but I still hope!

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Badmotorfinger

I feel the same. Wolf's proven everything he can at the AHL level -- he will definitely win a second AHL goalie of the year and possibly MVP of the league this year.

Trade Vladar and go into the season with Marky as the starter...he will bounce back to a certain degree and can't be worse than this year. Wolf can ease in as backup, with a character vet to mentor him. If Wolf outperforms Marky, great, we have a 1A/1B tandem where you go with the hot hand.

Granted that Sutter willing to play Wolf more than he played Vladar.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by home_sweet_dome

100% disagree with this take. This is now a young man's league and when a guy's ready you play him. Wolf has played over 100 games in the AHL and dominated that league.

Absolutely NO reason for him to be back there next year and you're not throwing him in the fire by putting him where he belongs in the NHL.

In a cap league it's also key to get value from young players on cheaper contracts and this old skool thinking of letting kids over-ripen in the minors is 1 of many flaws with the current Flames organization.

If anything he should have been up earlier this year when the big club couldn't buy a save from Markstrom and Vladar. Could very well be prepping for the playoffs in that scenario!

Yup he’s already done his overripening. Time to play the young guys, absolutely Wolf included. Todays game was the first time I was excited to see shots against since Kipper I think.

[agulati]

Happy that they played the Big Bad Wolf by Duck Sauce at the game tonight

[Lanny'sDaMan]

One last time this season:




Go Flames Go!!!

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

If I’m Wolf and I’m being told to go to the AHL next season I am demanding a trade. 100%. And sure as #### not re-signing, that’s for sure. I’d be pissed.

So exactly how it has played out with Phillips .... I hope the Flames have learned their lesson the first time around!

[tvp2003]

The most tumultuous off-season in recent memory followed by one of the most frustrating seasons in recent memory. See you next year you filthy animals!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

If I’m Wolf and I’m being told to go to the AHL next season I am demanding a trade. 100%. And sure as #### not re-signing, that’s for sure. I’d be pissed.

I want him to stay up next year. But for the sake of argument, what if his camp is terrible? Same for the other rookies. There’s still an argument to keep them and see what they can do over time, but surely we are not just handing out positions?

Now, if they trade Vladar in the off season, it’s obvious what will happen. But there’s a pretty good chance they wait and trade Vladar during camp when Wolf looks good and other teams’ backups don’t.

[GioforPM]

Dunno if anyone mentioned: 3 stars were Zadorov, Wolf and Coronato.

Saw Rasmus pick up the puck for Wolf after the game (I’m assuming it wasn’t for Z because his would have been picked up earlier).

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

One last time this season:



Go Flames Go!!!

Here's to my golf game!

[SuperMatt18]

Really 24-25 points every 20 games is whay you need in a season.

Game 1-20:
9-8-3
21 Points
.525
51.7% xGF
8.16 SH%
.887 SV%

Game 21-40
10-6-4
24 Points
55.2% xGF
9.6 SH%
.905 SV%

Game 41-60
8-7-5
21 Points
57.5% xGF
9.0 SH%
.867 SV%

Game 61-82
11-6-5
27 points
56.8%
8.4% Shooting
.898 SV%

Started slow as the team found chemistry in the first 20. Had a decent stretch in the second 20. Goaltending killed them in the third quarter of the season. Actually closed the season pretty strong with a 100 point pace over the final 22 games.

In the end its that third quarter of the season that killed them. Dominated a lot of those games but got .867 save percentage.

[Flamescuprun2018]

The thing that struck me the most about Wolf was the efficiency of his game.

His movements are precise and very quick.

He is always in position. Which makes the saves less dramatic.

Really looking forward to see how he can handle the top tier of NHL shooters next year even if he platoons in and out of lineup for the season. He is certain to get 10-20 games minimum and lessen the load on an aging Markstrom.

A really nice way to end a most frustrating season!

Go Wranglers! I will be in the stands for as many games as I can. Wolf, Pelts, Duehr and company is worth the modest price of admission.

Hope Sportsnet 960 is smart enough to cover the Wranglers playoffs.

[Savvy27]

That was really fun. I'm happy for the players and staff that the season ended with a bit of fun and positivity. The season sucked for sure but there was enough misery and I prefer people everyone leave on a positive note and looking forward to playing in the building next season and doing better.

Coronato: I really liked his game. Thought he showed great instincts and I was surprised by how many puck battles he won. May have led the team in scoring chances too. He's closer than I expected to be honest. Hopefully he has a great summer and kicks down the door in training camp.

Wolf: others have mentioned his movement, which is almost mesmerizing. I want to point out his rebound control. After that first goal I thought he was incredible and holding on to pucks or directing them away from the slot. We're hyped but I think that he is still being underrated as a prospect. Nobody should anoint him as a starter for next year, but I think he will be pushing Markstrom for starts and that is a really exciting prospect. Hopefully the next Rinne/Saros tandem.

Pelletier: absolutely love his game. Forces turnovers constantly, his hands are sublime, makes great passes, and does everything you could ask. I know his production fell off but he's a really good player and I'm pumped to see him come back next season.

Zadorov: are you kidding!? A hat-trick??? Awesome stuff and honestly he was great outside of the goals too.

Great to cheer along with you guys. Have an awesome off-season and hopefully we get to watch a Calder Cup Championship, a Canadian gold at the World's (I'm going to Latvia to watch some!), and some excitement out of the draft!