[News] Flames recall D Ilya Solovyov

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Willi Plett

Solovyov has been the most consistent and NHL ready looking d-man on the Wranglers. I’ve thought he deserved a call up. I think he can perform as well or better than our d-men that have been rotating in and out. He is younger and with room to grow and improve.

He should steady the back end compared to Barrie for sure but doesn’t have Barrie’s big shot from the blue line. My eye test said Barrie was giving up more than he was creating in offense. Overall should be an improvement.

I can’t clearly say anyone else on the farm looks consistently ready.

Not Kuznetsov?

I saw he was boasting a +20.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

A year - 2 years, preferably

More importantly, what was their utilization? Who were they matched up against? How did the Flames play over that span? Etc.

17 games isn't enough I agree.

But within a season you have to make decisions based on what's working and see where it goes.

Weegar isn't getting the easy matchups. He's not getting the Andersson workload but he's getting solid 2nd pairing duty.

Someone said Weegar on the right side by be the tide that floats all boats, and that's certainly possible.

But don't make this all about the stats ... I have seen Bean looking more composed with the puck and being more involved in play driving plays in the past week and a half. You go to the numbers and that's supported.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bingo

17 games isn't enough I agree.

But within a season you have to make decisions based on what's working and see where it goes.

Weegar isn't getting the easy matchups. He's not getting the Andersson workload but he's getting solid 2nd pairing duty.

Someone said Weegar on the right side by be the tide that floats all boats, and that's certainly possible.

But don't make this all about the stats ... I have seen Bean looking more composed with the puck and being more involved in play driving plays in the past week and a half. You go to the numbers and that's supported.

They are actually equal in ice time.

[YyjFlames]

Hanley hasn't been bad, but the issue with him is he's not been good when forced to play on the penalty kill. He gets out positioned and out-muscled in front of the net.

That's a strength that Bahl showed, and it looks like they're hoping that Solovyov can provide the same.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

They are actually equal in ice time.

Not in opposition

Andersson plays 34% of his minutes against elite competition.
Weegar plays 27% of his minutes against elite competition.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not in opposition

Andersson plays 34% of his minutes against elite competition.
Weegar plays 27% of his minutes against elite competition.

Ah ok, I don't have access to competition breakdowns. Thanks!

Must be why Andersson and Bahl are getting dummied most nights.

[Just a guy]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not in opposition

Andersson plays 34% of his minutes against elite competition.
Weegar plays 27% of his minutes against elite competition.

The math guy in me wonders how much the top lines play (assume it is ~35% of TOI). If that is the case wouldn't you expect to play 35% against them organically?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Just a guy

The math guy in me wonders how much the top lines play (assume it is ~35% of TOI). If that is the case wouldn't you expect to play 35% against them organically?

Data summary shows less than that ...

5035 minutes played by Calgary defenseman 5 on 5

5035 / 53 games / 2 dmen on the ice equals 47.5 minutes (that adds up)

Opposition splits ...

Elite 26%
Middle 40%
Lesser 34%

Flames Dmen % against elite

Bahl 36%
Andersson 34%
Miromanov 29%
Weegar 27%
Hanley 19%
Barrie 19%
Bean 17%
Pachal 16%

Pachal and whoever he plays with has been sheltered this year.

Hanley, Barrie and Bean have all seen time in the top four.

[FBI]

Solo was pretty hilarious in his interview

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Just a guy

The math guy in me wonders how much the top lines play (assume it is ~35% of TOI). If that is the case wouldn't you expect to play 35% against them organically?

No. To use the same numbers (for simplicity and clarity), let's say the opposing top line plays 35% of the time, and the defensive pairing in question also plays 35% of the time, they could theoretically play 100% of their time against the top line. And they can play anywhere from 100% down to 0%, depending on how the coach is running the matchups.

But there is also a second side to this equation, which doesn't get discussed or considered enough: it isn't just a question of who they are getting matched up against, it also matters which forward line they are playing with. If you're the best defensive pair in the league, but you're out on the ice with the fourth line, who is struggling, your numbers are probably going to suck.

I've said it 100 times on here - situation matters. For small sample sizes of stats, situation is EVERYTHING.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

Barrie is also always out of position.
But that’s probably because he’s too slow.

Miromanov is probably always out of position because he’s a converted winger who should never have been converted. He keeps forgetting where he’s supposed to be.

I think they have cycled bean, barrie, hanley, miromanov and pachal through the bottom 4. In my opinion Hanley and Pachal are the best. Bean would be a serviceable 7th and they should replace barrie/miromanov with one of their wrangler dmen.

So after the break when I’m assuming Bahl is back

Bahl Andersson
Weegar Hanley
Solovyov Pachal
Bean

I’d put miromanov and Barrie on waivers and send them down. I’d rotate bean and Solovyov based on performance. Try Kuznetsov if Solovyov is struggling.

Barrie would probably add more value mentoring guys in the AHL. But I think he’s too much of a detrement on the big club at this point. Miromanov just isn’t very good. I’m betting the Wrangler dmen are as good or better. Might as well start their introduction.

Solovyov
Kuznetsov
Poirier
Crushnikov
Ect

[Willi Plett]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Not Kuznetsov?

I saw he was boasting a +20.

Kuznetsov is solid for the Wranglers for sure. He doesn’t seem to have progressed much since last season. He is not overly physical and not overly fast. Best description is steady with good positioning.

It seems when players reach a certain point in the A, it becomes difficult to determine how they will look on the big club. I don’t see him improving our defense but he could be replacement level on the bottom pairing if there were injuries.

Solovyov is different. Very good skater, good vision, great puck movement, mostly good positioning. He has gotten better each season and has continued to progress. Still makes some position/read mistakes, but could fill into the bottom pairing and even move up to #4 with injuries.

We definitely need to see how he looks with the big club again and see if he can push further. He has improved since camp.

[Willi Plett]

Grushnikov hasn’t looked that good since camp with the big club. Haven’t seen as much of the physical side and gets caught out of position.

The adrenaline rush of a call up could have him show up as the guy I saw in preseason but aside from that, if he played like I see at the A level, he would be a downgrade on Miromanov. In saying that, it is notable that players on moving up often perform above what they show in the AHL. #motivation

[Willi Plett]

Poirier has progressed. Last season and at the beginning of this season he didn’t look good defensively and probably wouldn’t drive nearly enough offense consistently to make up for that at the NHL level.

That has begun or has changed. He is improving every time I see him. Better defensively, better positioning, and skating also improving.

Looking forward to seeing how he looks in camp next year!

[Willi Plett]

Miromanov. Unfortunate for him that he has had mistakes and gaffes. I didn’t know he converted from a winger and he is 27.

I say unfortunate because this wasn’t support be a year of pushing for playoffs. We should have been able to play him a ton more minutes without worry that a mistake would be the difference in a game and playoff race.

He hasn’t made the most of the opportunity but I think it is also difficult when you then end up in and out of the line up. Has the tools and we won’t know if with more minutes and consistent starts if he could have gained the experience to avoid the positioning and read errors.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

What have you liked about him? Honest question.

I thought he had a really bad start, and then wasn’t so good for the next few months, but has been fitting in nicely lately. He’s moving the puck well, and managing to stay above the puck, despite not being the fastest guy out there. There are mistakes here and there, but I think he’s been solid.

[DuckSauce]

Originally Posted by Willi Plett

Poirier has progressed. Last season and at the beginning of this season he didn’t look good defensively and probably wouldn’t drive nearly enough offense consistently to make up for that at the NHL level.

That has begun or has changed. He is improving every time I see him. Better defensively, better positioning, and skating also improving.

Looking forward to seeing how he looks in camp next year!

I love hearing this - he has been one of my fav (long shot/dark horse) prospects to follow and would be so pumped if he could put it all together. It does seem like his runway is getting close to the end with the depth of blue line prospects (although most of the offensive style D prospects are RD)and not being waiver exempt next year.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not in opposition

Andersson plays 34% of his minutes against elite competition.
Weegar plays 27% of his minutes against elite competition.

That feels pretty close to me...especially if you normalize that Andersson has had the preferred partner and more stable partner.