[PGT] Jan 23: WSH 3 CGY 1

[Bonded]

I know it’s controversial for some people but how Huska plays prospects isn’t just up to him and if he was going directly against management’s wishes then he’d be canned. The Flames always try to get players to commit to both sides of the game as they develop at the start. You can disagree with the approach but guarantee Conroy is on board with how Huska is developing prospects.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Huska has developed Jamie Benn, Shea Weber, Backlund, Rasmus Andersson, Mangiapane, Coronato (who is doing fine), Zary, Kuz (and Huska has nothing to do with him being on waivers).

So Huska developed Weber by being the assistant coach on his junior team?

Is that giving him too much credit?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Really? I noticed him on the backcheck make some good plays a few shifts before the benching . Which Flames do you think played well after the 1st period? Besides Zary.

If you go by hockey stat cards, Gridin scored -0.64 when he was on the ice. Of note Kadri scored -0.70, Huberdeau -1.20, Backlund -1.51, and Coronato -2.33. Kuznetsov; Pahal and Hanley all scored worse than Gridin as well.

So advanced stats say your observations are actually wrong. He didn't play good but neither did anyone but Zary who scored 1.20.

Tired of people crapping on our top prospects.

I don’t see anyone crapping on prospects. I see people offering their observations on how they played
I also can’t help notice you only accept advanced stats when they support your argument.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don’t see anyone crapping on prospects. I see people offering their observations on how they played
I also can’t help notice you only accept advanced stats when they support your argument.

I saw some people taking shots at Reschny yesterday, saying he will top out as a 3rd liner.

I am high on our prospects and hate that we do not seem to be prioritizing them. Look at Pat Steinbergs comments last night, he actually says something similar in that he is baffled how Gridin got benched.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Flames record needed ...

Make playoffs 116 point pace.
To NOT draft top 10, 108 point pace.
To NOT draft top 5, 82 point pace (.500)

I'd say the Flames have eliminated anything worse than a bottom 7 finish at this point.

Yeah, and I would say 6 (NSH is borderline). We are starting to see a bit of separation, as there are 26 teams at +2 or better, with the final 6 teams all at -1 or worse.

Even in the bottom 6, I think we will see some separation, as CHI and WPG are playing better, and are better than their records.

IMO, the bottom group is beginning to form: NYR, STL, CGY and VAN are the 4 teams that A) suck, and B) have embraced the rebuild for this year.

Tier 1: VAN, CGY, NYR, STL
Tier 2: CHI, WPG, NSH, CBJ

and I still think STL is borderline as to whether they are tier 1 or 2

[442scotty]

I was at the game last night and I feel bad for Gridin. What is the guy supposed to do when his linemates do absolutely nothing! His linemates never had the puck and when they did it wasn’t for long. The puck never seemed to be on Gridins side of the ice. Put Gridin with Backlund because at least then he’d be able to get involved in the game.

The Flames (not all of them) seemed to work hard forechecking but it’s like that’s all they know how to do because they either have no offensive skills or they lost them along the way. No one seems to have any chemistry unless they are playing with Backlund.

Whitecloud continues to look good but Bahl seems off when playing with him. Not a good pairing together?

Protas! Wish we had him. The guy is absolutely a beast in real life. He’s hockeys Paul Bunyan lol. All in all it was pretty depressing to watch. I miss the Johnny and Mony show.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I saw some people taking shots at Reschny yesterday, saying he will top out as a 3rd liner.

I am high on our prospects and hate that we do not seem to be prioritizing them. Look at Pat Steinbergs comments last night, he actually says something similar in that he is baffled how Gridin got benched.

I think it’s normal but you are probably a little too excited about prospects and their upside and how they should be handled and who knows what happened on the bench but I’m sure Huska had his reasons. I personally don’t really buy into the idea that scratching or benching a prospect will crush their confidence.

Parekh was looking like he was getting settled in and then got injured. We will see what it’s like when it’s back. I do think you can ignore the people putting a cap on Reschny’s upside already though, they are no fun haha

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I saw some people taking shots at Reschny yesterday, saying he will top out as a 3rd liner.

I am high on our prospects and hate that we do not seem to be prioritizing them. Look at Pat Steinbergs comments last night, he actually says something similar in that he is baffled how Gridin got benched.

No that’s not a fair reflection of what he said. Not surprising that you are once again manufacturing things.
I don’t believe he said he was baffled he was benched

He posed the question and considered it from both sides. This is from the transcript.

“I don't love it. I know that he's a younger player. But I just, for a team that is struggling so hard for offense, and there were a couple of times in that first period where he made things happen.
I mean, to play him two shifts in each of the final 40 minutes, again, that's one that I scratch my head on a little bit.
I see it from both sides. So, if you're a young guy trying to break into the league, you've got to make the most of the shifts that you get. I've noticed him from time to time, but I wouldn't say that he's consistently been a difference maker.
So that's, I guess, taking the coach's side. But taking the player's side, he's used to playing way higher up in the lineup, way more minutes. He's used to being used in more situations with the Calgary Wranglers.
And I think any player, and, Mick, you can agree or disagree, I think you'll agree, any player will tell you that the more you play, the easier the game is to play. And for Matt Vagrid and going from playing, I don't know, 18, 20 minutes a[…]”

From Flames Talk: Postgame: More Scoring Struggles, Jan 24, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas...6440749&r=1464
This material may be protected by copyright.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

No that’s not a fair reflection of what he said. Not surprising that you are once again manufacturing things.
I don’t believe he said he was baffled he was benched

He posed the question and considered it from both sides. This is from the transcript.

“I don't love it. I know that he's a younger player. But I just, for a team that is struggling so hard for offense, and there were a couple of times in that first period where he made things happen.
I mean, to play him two shifts in each of the final 40 minutes, again, that's one that I scratch my head on a little bit.
I see it from both sides. So, if you're a young guy trying to break into the league, you've got to make the most of the shifts that you get. I've noticed him from time to time, but I wouldn't say that he's consistently been a difference maker.
So that's, I guess, taking the coach's side. But taking the player's side, he's used to playing way higher up in the lineup, way more minutes. He's used to being used in more situations with the Calgary Wranglers.
And I think any player, and, Mick, you can agree or disagree, I think you'll agree, any player will tell you that the more you play, the easier the game is to play. And for Matt Vagrid and going from playing, I don't know, 18, 20 minutes a[…]”

From Flames Talk: Postgame: More Scoring Struggles, Jan 24, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas...6440749&r=1464
This material may be protected by copyright.

It sounds like he wants to play him more though, does it not? I guess you can interpret what he said from either side.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I was at the game last night and I feel bad for Gridin. What is the guy supposed to do when his linemates do absolutely nothing! His linemates never had the puck and when they did it wasn’t for long. The puck never seemed to be on Gridins side of the ice. Put Gridin with Backlund because at least then he’d be able to get involved in the game.

It reminds me when Fleury came in the league. They played him with Peplinski and Hunter and criticized him for not passing the puck more LOL.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I watched Gridin a lot last night. He was very unnoticeable. I had to search to find him on the ice most of the time. He wasn't skating, he wasn't putting in a ton of effort, and he wasn't able to do anything with the puck once he got it. He was a little overwhelmed by the size and speed of the Caps. None of that is on Huska. There were a few shifts where his line struggled to get the puck out of the defensive zone. He was puck watching a lot and looked lost as to where he should be in the zone to fulfill his assignment.

These are growing pains. He didn't play well last night, and his minutes dropped as a result. He was on the point to start the powerplay on their first opportunity. I'm at a lost as to what else Huska needs to do in the imaginary worlds that some fans dream up.

I think he had a chance to clear the zone on the first goal. That seems to be a pretty consistent benching of the young guys for Huska.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

It sounds like he wants to play him more though, does it not? I guess you can interpret what he said from either side.

My point is he didn’t say he was baffled he was benched
If you are going to quote someone be accurate

[topfiverecords]

They should just trade Gridin if they're going to waste him like that. He should have been given at least 19 minutes with our best forwards. This team has no chance of having superstars if they're going to ruin them like this. How can you have our best player sitting on the bench for the whole game. I bet he asks for a trade. Guy has to be absolutely fuming.

[Burning Beard]

Sure seems like more huge overreactions. Dallas f###ing Eakins didn't even ruin the Anaheim prospects and he is possibly the worst NHL coach I've seen.

Huska seems to have a plan to communicate with the young kids and that involves having them sit and watch sometimes. There may be different approaches but I think I'd prefer that to letting the prospects do whatever the hell they want and freewheeling all game. That's not development at all.

If it goes on for months with a single player you might have a problem. But if it's just a couple of games? Seems like it's his way of getting through to the players. Might not be the way I'd do it but I'll give him some slack.

[BigFlameDog]

Holy Frik. It’s 100 percent they are coaching Gridin. Someone already said it, he is probably not clicking on what they are teaching right now so it’s sit down and watch a bit.

Same 5 dudes whining about clouds. So past old at this point.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

They should just trade Gridin if they're going to waste him like that. He should have been given at least 19 minutes with our best forwards. This team has no chance of having superstars if they're going to ruin them like this. How can you have our best player sitting on the bench for the whole game. I bet he asks for a trade. Guy has to be absolutely fuming.

Green text?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

So Huska developed Weber by being the assistant coach on his junior team?

Is that giving him too much credit?

Not according to what I’ve read. He was directly involved with Benn and Weber. It’s mentioned a lot how he helped develop them (and others). Plus, if you did a tad more looking you’d see he was head coach in Kelowna with benn as well (also Tyler Myers, Like Schenn, Tyson Barrie, Backlund, Colton Scisson.

And a lot of his minor league players graduated to NHL, including ones who wouldn’t normally be blue chip prospects: Lomberg, Hathaway, Kulak, etc

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Green text?

No damn green text! I'm @$^!&* outraged!! They trade Anderson and then they just go and replace him with another over the hill scrub so that Brzsutivics is sitting in the press box??! Wait until March after they traid Coleman Kadri Lomberg and Cooley. They're just going to take back the other teams spare junk roster players to let them make space and none of our young guys are going to get any playing time it's going to be absolutely true you just watch. This management is so out of touch if they think the youth doesn't need to play to develop!! Parekh is so close to his development being ruined how the hell is he going to play if they're playing Pachal and Hanley. What a big joke this is. These guys are going to want out just like all the others before them that have begged to be traded.

Lol, ya of course it was green text.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Really? I noticed him on the backcheck make some good plays a few shifts before the benching . Which Flames do you think played well after the 1st period? Besides Zary.

If you go by hockey stat cards, Gridin scored -0.64 when he was on the ice. Of note Kadri scored -0.70, Huberdeau -1.20, Backlund -1.51, and Coronato -2.33. Kuznetsov; Pahal and Hanley all scored worse than Gridin as well.

So advanced stats say your observations are actually wrong. He didn't play good but neither did anyone but Zary who scored 1.20.

Tired of people crapping on our top prospects.

I don’t know what stats you are looking at but Kadri and Huberdeau had plus 50% Corsi (Kadri was +60% actually) and Gridin was 41.7%. 5 on 5 Gridin was 36.4%.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

No that’s not a fair reflection of what he said. Not surprising that you are once again manufacturing things.
I don’t believe he said he was baffled he was benched

He posed the question and considered it from both sides. This is from the transcript.

“I don't love it. I know that he's a younger player. But I just, for a team that is struggling so hard for offense, and there were a couple of times in that first period where he made things happen.
I mean, to play him two shifts in each of the final 40 minutes, again, that's one that I scratch my head on a little bit.
I see it from both sides. So, if you're a young guy trying to break into the league, you've got to make the most of the shifts that you get. I've noticed him from time to time, but I wouldn't say that he's consistently been a difference maker.
So that's, I guess, taking the coach's side. But taking the player's side, he's used to playing way higher up in the lineup, way more minutes. He's used to being used in more situations with the Calgary Wranglers.
And I think any player, and, Mick, you can agree or disagree, I think you'll agree, any player will tell you that the more you play, the easier the game is to play. And for Matt Vagrid and going from playing, I don't know, 18, 20 minutes a[…]”

From Flames Talk: Postgame: More Scoring Struggles, Jan 24, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas...6440749&r=1464
This material may be protected by copyright.

This quote is actually Wills