[PGT] Montreal 0 Calgary 1

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I also want to see Zary back at centre. Conroy says he wants young players to play important minutes this season and down the stretch. I want to see that as well. I don’t like seeing Zary sit on the bench for most of the 3rd periods since he came back from injury. I’m hoping it’s just Huska trying to ease him back. Before his injury, Zary was given more and more opportunity and he was running with it as a centre. I’d like to see that resume. I would like to try forward lines based on these pairings of centre-winger:

Kadri-Huberdeau
Zary-Coronato
Backlund-Coleman
Frost-Posposil

Mix in the other players (Farabee, Sharangovich, Lomberg, Rooney and Klapka) in whichever way that seems to work. Farabee has looked good with Backlund and Coleman the last couple games but I’d be up for him with Zary/Coronato as well. Would like to also bring Klapka back up and put him with any of these pairings. I think he can be a really effective depth player if deployed with some skilled forwards. Would love him with Frost-Posposil. Start using Lomberg and Rooney as players that come in and out of the lineup rather than as regulars.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Sharangovich
Farabee-Zary-Coronato
Posposil-Frost-Klapka
Lomberg/Rooney-Backlund-Coleman

Sharangovich has struggled all year but he and Huberdeau did well together in the last half of last season. Zary and Coronato might spark some offence and can share the load on faceoffs. I’m sure there are weaknesses in these line setups but I think something needs to be tried to get some more scoring. It’s really tough to continue on with so few goals for. Let’s try something different to see if it’s a better mix for offence. These are line combinations that have not been tried yet and I think they have the potential to spark some more scoring - at least from players that I think have more scoring to give.

Zary isn’t a center in this league. He is realistically a middle 6 winger and we keep trying to shoe horn him to center because we have none. Zary is brutal in the dot, far worse this year than the sample size last year. Zary is going to need to pick it up to be a significant factor on this team. The fan base highly overrates Zary here.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

🙄

I’m just saying that he should be playing centre. They can slot the centres however.

If they play him as a centre with Kerins, for example, I’d consider it at WORST a second third line.

Maybe something like:

10 91 17
27 16 76
6 47 70
86 11 20

Two “third lines”..and they can move wingers around.

I’ve shared my view on this a couple of weeks ago, and it hasn’t changed. Zary should be playing center, I agree. Backlund should be 4C. Ridiculous that Zary has been playing the wing on the 4th line. We’ve done this song and dance before. Turned out very good for Florida.

[Dion]

Since the 4 Nations Cup break, Wolf has beaten the 3 other Calder trophy candidates head to head.

[Goriders]

Vcr and Utah games will be massive now. Win those and I think we knock them both out.

I figure 11 and 8 gets the Flames in. Maybe 10 and 9 with the above wins.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by devo22

offense needs to get going at some point. In the last six, we scored more than a single goal just twice (6-3 in Philly and the 3-2 OT loss v Dallas) ... that's not a recipe for success. I freaking love Wolf, but you can't rely on a rookie goalie to steal game after game for you. Offense needs to help him out.

They have let in 17 in 8 games since the break. Even Sutter would be happy. That is the way they have to play to get points. Trying to get 4 goals a game with this roster isn’t going to work.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by butterfly

They have let in 17 in 8 games since the break. Even Sutter would be happy. That is the way they have to play to get points. Trying to get 4 goals a game with this roster isn’t going to work.

No, he wouldn't be.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by devo22

offense needs to get going at some point. In the last six, we scored more than a single goal just twice (6-3 in Philly and the 3-2 OT loss v Dallas) ... that's not a recipe for success. I freaking love Wolf, but you can't rely on a rookie goalie to steal game after game for you. Offense needs to help him out.

Who knows. Maybe we’ll be the first team to win the cup with a goal scored average below 2.00

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by butterfly

They have let in 17 in 8 games since the break. Even Sutter would be happy. That is the way they have to play to get points. Trying to get 4 goals a game with this roster isn’t going to work.

Maybe if they widened the opponents net by 2 feet.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I hate players playing through nagging injuries.

We have a solid farm team with players who are chomping at the bit to get a look.

Just sit and heal up properly.

I'm pretty sure they've thought of this.

Variance to the next player available.
Will Backlund get more hurt playing?

I don't think Rooney would be in the lineup if they felt they had a ready made fill in for a top nine center role churning away in the AHL.

[BurningSteel]

Originally Posted by Dion

Since the 4 Nations Cup break, Wolf has beaten the 3 other Calder trophy candidates head to head.

Hopefully no one notices. I don't want Wolfie on Team USA next year.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by 420since1974

I just do not get the desire to play Connor Zary at center EXCEPT for the current lack of centers on the Flame's NHL roster.
Zary took just 109 FOs last season and won just 44% of them.
This season, he has taken 227 FOs and has averaged an embarrassing 36.6 win %.
Sorry, but I think that Connor is much better suited as a creative Middle 6 LW that can both dish off to his teammates and still be a threat to score. I love his skating; he is not the fastest in the league by far, but very deceptive in tight.
I would bet that he averages out as a 50 point winger during his career.
He is the type of player that is necessary to almost every team in the league, but certainly not anyone you want to pay more than $5 or $6M a season for.

When they make the final call for Zary ... center or winger ... it won't be based on face off win percentage.

It will be down low reads in the triangle, his ability to get up the ice on the break out, and his ability to drive play into the offensive zone.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by BurningSteel

Hopefully no one notices. I don't want Wolfie on Team USA next year.

USA is stacked in net regardless.

Hellebuyck
Oettenger
Swayman
Wolf

Also have Demko floating around who can be good when healthy.

Crazy how many good US born goalies there are.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by BurningSteel

Hopefully no one notices. I don't want Wolfie on Team USA next year.

Why not? Good learning experience for him to be 3rd goalie on the USA team.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Bingo

When they make the final call for Zary ... center or winger ... it won't be based on face off win percentage.

It will be down low reads in the triangle, his ability to get up the ice on the break out, and his ability to drive play into the offensive zone.

All of which he was seeming to do well at for the month+ he was playing centre before his injury. I don’t remember the exact stat but before his injury he was leading the flames in scoring chances generated when he was the primary puck carrier entering the offensive zone. That is typically the role of the centre on a line.

I wonder sometimes if Conroy gets a little frustrated with how Huska deploys the roster players that he gives him. Conroy consistently says that he wants the young players to play important roles on the team this year but Huska’s default is to give the young guys very short leashes.

We saw this with Klapka who had a dominant game after Iginla spoke with him. He played up in the lineup that game and was an absolute force. It took less than a period of the following game for Klapka to be back to the 4th line and I think he got 1-2 shifts in the 3rd period. Conroy keeps calling Klapka up and Huska seems to give Klapka token games with limited minutes. I could see it being Huska is not a fan of Klapka but he knows Conroy doesn’t want young players to sit in the press box for long periods.

Last night was another good example. Zary and Coronato were trading spots on the 4th line and 1st line based on if Huska saw a bad shift or two for the 1st line. I thought Huberdeau has struggled much more than either Zary or Coronato lately but he was not part of that rotation to the 4th line. Same thing with Sharangovich who was getting significant minutes at the end of the Dallas game including overtime while Zary sat on the bench and Coronato got like 30 seconds in overtime.

I imagine Conroy is happy with the team’s hard work and the defensive play they have all bought into under Huska but I could see him wanting Huska to not give so much preference to the vets in every situation. To be clear, most coaches in the NHL have little patience with young players. Short leashes are the go to method for teaching them to play the “right way”. It can lead to players developing a better defensive game but it can also erode their confidence and make them nervous to make a skilled play. Seemed like Zary was having a good night and was demoted back to the 4th line after he tried the between the legs shot.

Just don’t want to see what happened to Bennett happen again. Bouncing Zary around the line up is ok to get him back speed but I don’t want this to continue for much longer.

[FBI]

I also thought Zary was demoted after the between the legs shot.. Big effin deal, he tried some creativity..

[mogg]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm pretty sure they've thought of this.

Variance to the next player available.
Will Backlund get more hurt playing?

I don't think Rooney would be in the lineup if they felt they had a ready made fill in for a top nine center role churning away in the AHL.

They do have another top nine centre- Zary. But they don’t have another centre who can take on Backlund’s responsibilities. Isn’t Rooney in the lineup because they don’t have another 4C option?

[mogg]

Originally Posted by FBI

I also thought Zary was demoted after the between the legs shot.. Big effin deal, he tried some creativity..

I think he’s been slotted on the fourth line for a couple games now. My guess is with ten middle-six forwards (yes I know that sounds weird), and with the coach apparently wanting Pospisil with Frost and Sharky, Zary is the odd man out. Plus this allows him to ease his way back in after a long absence. Just a guess though.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by mogg

They do have another top nine centre- Zary. But they don’t have another centre who can take on Backlund’s responsibilities. Isn’t Rooney in the lineup because they don’t have another 4C option?

I think they should try using Frost in that role. He makes solid defensive plays, has good speed, is strong on pucks and great hands.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Keep in mind those other goalies have way better defense cores as well.

The Flames have Weegar, Anderrson and Bahl. The other defenders might be the 7th or 8th on the depth chart on most teams.

I'm telling you, this is one of the most impressive goalie seasons ever, all things considered.

Yes, you are telling us - over and over and over again.

That doesn't make your hyperbole any more accurate, but your commitment to the cause is certainly impressive.

Have the goalies been great? Absolutely. But the way fans completely ignore how committed the team is to defensive paly, is just baffling. People see what they want to see, and since the Flames aren't scoring, the team and the coach must be terrible at all things. However, a big reason why they are 32nd offensively, is their complete team commitment to defense.

Goaltending, team defense, and work ethic. Those are the 3 things driving this team.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes, you are telling us - over and over and over again.

That doesn't make your hyperbole any more accurate, but your commitment to the cause is certainly impressive.

Have the goalies been great? Absolutely. But the way fans completely ignore how committed the team is to defensive paly, is just baffling. People see what they want to see, and since the Flames aren't scoring, the team and the coach must be terrible at all things. However, a big reason why they are 32nd offensively, is their complete team commitment to defense.

Goaltending, team defense, and work ethic. Those are the 3 things driving this team.

But- style points!!..

I like how we're gaining a Wild-like reputation on the ATLs.