[PGT] Canucks 2 - Flames 0. Worst game of the year?

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

To each their own but for my money that was a fataing awful game. The flames were never in it, almost never had the puck, and accomplished nothing. Young guns era bad. Fans went to a restaurant with 5 star prices and got hot dogs and creamed corn.

It probably boils down to whether you think rebuilding is an excuse to be awful. Some do - i think some even enjoy it - and hey it's their time and money so fair enough. You have to appreciate that some don't though.

I don't think anyone is ready to throw a sweater on the ice, but a spade is a spade. On to the next game.

i hear you, i had family that went to the game, and i was cringing for them (especially because they were there with some nuck fans).

The team isn't good, so these types of dominating nights is unfortunately expected.

I know this much, i'm growing more and more willing to accelerate this "rebuild" plan. Sucking for years to hope to be good years from now, and watching this kind of product is just painful, let alone the uncertainty if one is even going to be around by the time the team turns it around.

[moon]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I know this much, i'm growing more and more willing to accelerate this "rebuild" plan. Sucking for years to hope to be good years from now, and watching this kind of product is just painful, let alone the uncertainty if one is even going to be around by the time the team turns it around.

My issue is there is so many veteran players here and not a ton of of under 24 guys on this team.

I am fine with losing and watching the team if it is getting guys like Baertschi, Monahan, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski etc. NHL experience but watching Stempniak, Stajan, Cammy, Galiardi, McGrattan, SOB, Butler, Jones Hudler getting a majority of the minutes and it gets frustrating to take.

I understand they need vets there to stop the kids from getting mentally crushed and it is still early but there are way too many vets on this team, especially guys that bring nothing to the table in spots that could be better suited for younger guys.

[Samiz]

Originally Posted by moon

I am fine with losing and watching the team if it is getting guys like Baertschi, Monahan, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski etc. NHL experience but watching Stempniak, Stajan, Cammy, Galiardi, McGrattan, SOB, Butler, Jones Hudler getting a majority of the minutes and it gets frustrating to take.

Agreed. I think I will enjoy watching the Flames way more after the trade deadline when some of those vets are shipped off, making room for more kids

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by moon

My issue is there is so many veteran players here and not a ton of of under 24 guys on this team.

I am fine with losing and watching the team if it is getting guys like Baertschi, Monahan, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski etc. NHL experience but watching Stempniak, Stajan, Cammy, Galiardi, McGrattan, SOB, Butler, Jones Hudler getting a majority of the minutes and it gets frustrating to take.

I understand they need vets there to stop the kids from getting mentally crushed and it is still early but there are way too many vets on this team, especially guys that bring nothing to the table in spots that could be better suited for younger guys.

if we're going to ride this painful thing out, then i think it's better to have the young guys playing in roles/leagues that maximizes their development. The flames have that luxury given the number of vets on the roster. That being said, i don't think flames should take this path for too much longer.

I would be happy for them to make moves for players hitting their prime thru free agency or even trades, if the right opportunities arise, rather than simply playing more and more rookies and trying to get more and more lottery picks.

maybe my impatience comes from a slightly high cholesterol this recent physical, which leaves me questioning my longevity, and the desire to see the flames being a real contender before i go

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by moon

My issue is there is so many veteran players here and not a ton of of under 24 guys on this team.

I am fine with losing and watching the team if it is getting guys like Baertschi, Monahan, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski etc. NHL experience but watching Stempniak, Stajan, Cammy, Galiardi, McGrattan, SOB, Butler, Jones Hudler getting a majority of the minutes and it gets frustrating to take.

I understand they need vets there to stop the kids from getting mentally crushed and it is still early but there are way too many vets on this team, especially guys that bring nothing to the table in spots that could be better suited for younger guys.

Disagree. A number of the vets have been out at various times in the season and the spots are there for the taking, but nobody has stepped up. Stajan was out for how long and nobody took the opportunity.

Glencross has now been out for a while and nobody's been able to show that they can take the spot and run with it.

Giordano is another one and again, nobody stepped up.

I'm a big Baertschi fan, but even in his case, he was given opportunities, thrown on the ice in key situations in the final minutes of the third period to get the extra goal and if I recall correctly, he screwed the pooch on two separate occasions.

Again, it's part of the growing pains, so it's not a huge deal, but really, the roster holes are there, the opportunities have been given, but the kids need to seize the moment when its there. It hasn't happened, so I'm not sure what you're so upset about.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Disagree. A number of the vets have been out at various times in the season and the spots are there for the taking, but nobody has stepped up. Stajan was out for how long and nobody took the opportunity.

Glencross has now been out for a while and nobody's been able to show that they can take the spot and run with it.

Giordano is another one and again, nobody stepped up.

I'm a big Baertschi fan, but even in his case, he was given opportunities, thrown on the ice in key situations in the final minutes of the third period to get the extra goal and if I recall correctly, he screwed the pooch on two separate occasions.

Again, it's part of the growing pains, so it's not a huge deal, but really, the roster holes are there, the opportunities have been given, but the kids need to seize the moment when its there. It hasn't happened, so I'm not sure what you're so upset about.

You have a point. A lot of these guys aren't ready (Bart) or probably never will be (Breen). Next year though I think will be more interesting.

[Phil Russell]

Originally Posted by moon

My issue is there is so many veteran players here and not a ton of of under 24 guys on this team.

I am fine with losing and watching the team if it is getting guys like Baertschi, Monahan, Reinhart, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski etc. NHL experience but watching Stempniak, Stajan, Cammy, Galiardi, McGrattan, SOB, Butler, Jones Hudler getting a majority of the minutes and it gets frustrating to take.

I understand they need vets there to stop the kids from getting mentally crushed and it is still early but there are way too many vets on this team, especially guys that bring nothing to the table in spots that could be better suited for younger guys.

I hear you. But, it is still early in the rebuild and almost all of those young guys you mention need development time in the AHL. By the end of the year several of those rookies will be in the lineup and by next year a few more will be added and things move forward. Slowly. I am hoping we are at the very lowest point in the rebuild in terms of having to endure the veteran crap lineup. It gets better from here.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Lines from todays practice

Cammelleri - Backlund - Byron
Hudler - Monahan - Stempniak
Bouma - Stajan - Jones
Galiardi - Colborne - McGrattan

Defense same as yesterday

Good, keep Stajan off the top 2 lines, he's been horrible lately. I can't wait until he's off this team, I don't think Burke would be crazy enough to re-sign him. Colborne deserves the 4th line demotion as well. He's been pretty meh outside of the shootout.

[dustyanddaflames]

It's hard for me not to mention that Russell took rather large chunk of minutes his way when both Giordano and Wideman went out. Other than him, it's been pretty grim in terms of players taking time away from vets.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

It's hard for me not to mention that Russell took rather large chunk of minutes his way when both Giordano and Wideman went out. Other than him, it's been pretty grim in terms of players taking time away from vets.

Yeap, however, Byron since being recalled has done a good job of wrestling ice time from the likes of D.Jones and Galiardi.

[moon]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Disagree. A number of the vets have been out at various times in the season and the spots are there for the taking, but nobody has stepped up. Stajan was out for how long and nobody took the opportunity.

Glencross has now been out for a while and nobody's been able to show that they can take the spot and run with it.

Giordano is another one and again, nobody stepped up.

I'm a big Baertschi fan, but even in his case, he was given opportunities, thrown on the ice in key situations in the final minutes of the third period to get the extra goal and if I recall correctly, he screwed the pooch on two separate occasions.

Again, it's part of the growing pains, so it's not a huge deal, but really, the roster holes are there, the opportunities have been given, but the kids need to seize the moment when its there. It hasn't happened, so I'm not sure what you're so upset about.

I think the biggest ones for me is seeing Galiardi and McGrattan still getting time. I understand people think McGrattan helps because of his fighting ability but him and Galiardi bring nothing to the table when the game is on. I think a guy like Reinhart should be up instead of them.

D. Jones is another useless guy and with Stempniak playing bad as well tough to watch both those guys contribute nothing out there.

Breen was terrible so maybe we don't have a young defenseman that can step in for SOB but we won't lose anything if he is out and a inexperienced guy steps in and plays poorly.

I think that guys shouldn't just be thrown in but it appears that some of the young guys are playing well in the AHL so with so many vets adding nothing seeing a few more youngsters would be nice.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by moon

I think the biggest ones for me is seeing Galiardi and McGrattan still getting time. I understand people think McGrattan helps because of his fighting ability but him and Galiardi bring nothing to the table when the game is on. I think a guy like Reinhart should be up instead of them.
.

I disagree with this. McGrattan gets out there and smashes bodies, it's not like he floats around or anything. He provides some excitement. He's there to provide a spark, which I think he is doing his job, it's just that the kindling is soggy and the spark aint catching on most of the time.

[moon]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I disagree with this. McGrattan gets out there and smashes bodies, it's not like he floats around or anything. He provides some excitement. He's there to provide a spark, which I think he is doing his job, it's just that the kindling is soggy and the spark aint catching on most of the time.

I am fine with McGrattan being on the team if we get rid of some of the other deadweight vets, but realisitcally he is a bad, bad hockey player. With him and Galiardi the 4th line is pretty much guaranteed to be trapped in the Flames zone and provide 0 chances for offense.

I would prefer to see him maybe 30-40 games a season rotated with perhaps a MacDermid or other younger guy that can provide grit and toughness with hopefully a little more hockey ability.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by moon

I am fine with McGrattan being on the team if we get rid of some of the other deadweight vets, but realisitcally he is a bad, bad hockey player. With him and Galiardi the 4th line is pretty much guaranteed to be trapped in the Flames zone and provide 0 chances for offense.

I would prefer to see him maybe 30-40 games a season rotated with perhaps a MacDermid or other younger guy that can provide grit and toughness with hopefully a little more hockey ability.

From what I see of McGrattans shifts, is, the line in front of him dumps the puck into the corner, McG jumps the boards and beelines into the offensive corner and smashes the puck handler and then for about half a minute it is his line banging and crashing, until the other team is able to clear it down to our end. McGrattan usually skates down to our end and helps the D get the puck back, and send it back to to the offensive end. He then heads off for a much deserved break for the rest of the period. I like his game.

[FAN]

It still amazes me that some posters here were complimenting Feaster for his work over the summer. There's a reason Feaster got fired. He assembled one of the worst Flames team we have seen in more than a decade. His summer additions, save for drafting Monahan, has done nothing for the Flames in the win column. All it really did was to take away playing time from the kids.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by moon

I think the biggest ones for me is seeing Galiardi and McGrattan still getting time. I understand people think McGrattan helps because of his fighting ability but him and Galiardi bring nothing to the table when the game is on. I think a guy like Reinhart should be up instead of them.

D. Jones is another useless guy and with Stempniak playing bad as well tough to watch both those guys contribute nothing out there.

Breen was terrible so maybe we don't have a young defenseman that can step in for SOB but we won't lose anything if he is out and a inexperienced guy steps in and plays poorly.

I think that guys shouldn't just be thrown in but it appears that some of the young guys are playing well in the AHL so with so many vets adding nothing seeing a few more youngsters would be nice.

The only reason clowns like Galiardi and Jones still have spots at all on this team is the hope they may some how garner enough interest to be unloaded on some other team..... or at least I hope.

[Flamefan1]

Good post by Moon that I completely agree with. I am Tired of watching Jones, Stempniak, Galliardi, and Stajan waste 15 to 20 minutes per night on the ice and manage to score 1 point every 10 games. Please get rid of all of these players and replace with young guys like Reinhart and Ferland when healthy. I don't think team will suffer and fans will have fun.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FAN

It still amazes me that some posters here were complimenting Feaster for his work over the summer. There's a reason Feaster got fired. He assembled one of the worst Flames team we have seen in more than a decade. His summer additions, save for drafting Monahan, has done nothing for the Flames in the win column. All it really did was to take away playing time from the kids.

Russell was a great addition by Feaster. He handled the extra minutes quite well when Gio was out of the lineup.

Getting rid of Tanguay and his sour attitude was a great thing also.

[Caged Great]

The problem is that you have a lot of guys in their first pro season on Abby. Ferland (I know he had a stint there last year), Wotherspoon, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski, Sieloff, and some others are all just rookies. If we were to see them get recalled now to take spots, it would be rushing them and it might stunt their development. The only guy that's really ready down there is Reinhart. You can insert half of the guys above into the lineup in a few weeks once spots are open via trading the UFA's, but for right this minute they are better served being down on the farm.

Next year, most of those guys above will get cycled through as the next batch of guys start their rookie experience in Abby (Gaudreau, Agostino, Arnold, Kulak, Culkin, Gillies maybe, and possibly Poirier as I'm not sure of his eligibility).

It sucks right at this moment, but it's also likely the last time that we have to deal with having so many passenger type veteran forwards on the team.

Just have to be patient and wait a couple weeks.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The problem is that you have a lot of guys in their first pro season on Abby. Ferland (I know he had a stint there last year), Wotherspoon, Granlund, Knight, Hanowski, Sieloff, and some others are all just rookies. If we were to see them get recalled now to take spots, it would be rushing them and it might stunt their development. The only guy that's really ready down there is Reinhart. You can insert half of the guys above into the lineup in a few weeks once spots are open via trading the UFA's, but for right this minute they are better served being down on the farm.

Next year, most of those guys above will get cycled through as the next batch of guys start their rookie experience in Abby (Gaudreau, Agostino, Arnold, Kulak, Culkin, Gillies maybe, and possibly Poirier as I'm not sure of his eligibility).

It sucks right at this moment, but it's also likely the last time that we have to deal with having so many passenger type veteran forwards on the team.

Just have to be patient and wait a couple weeks.

I wouldn't count on that. There will be some opportunity post deadline but heading into next year there will be new veterans in the mix, plus most of those guys are competing for the same 2 or 3 spots - as are Colborne and Bouma and Russell maybe still next year.

Not saying you are wrong because wtf do I know, just that I think status quo or even more veterans seems more likely. I can't see Burke icing an expansion team 2 years in a row.