exactly . they're winning while still figuring it out . why not just let them find chemistry with each other . then you'll be better while not having to touch that amazing second line
Phillips is looking like the player he was last year at the AHL level, put up a great night last night on the road including the game winner. I really think the Flames could do worse than giving Phillips a look in the top 6 before looking to spend assets to bringing in an upgrade to compliment the top 6.
Send Ruzi down to get reps on the first line centre to continue to build that depth organizationally and give a local boy in Phillips a chance to succeed after he’s proven to be an X’s and O’s Player despite his size at every level. The worst that happens is we move on from him but the best case scenario is he catches fire playing in an elevated role with a couple of high end players. He’d become a fan fav pretty quickly and it’s worth a 5 game look while they’re at home… do I think it will happen though?
Phillips is looking like the player he was last year at the AHL level, put up a great night last night on the road including the game winner. I really think the Flames could do worse than giving Phillips a look in the top 6 before looking to spend assets to bringing in an upgrade to compliment the top 6.
Send Ruzi down to get reps on the first line centre to continue to build that depth organizationally and give a local boy in Phillips a chance to succeed after he’s proven to be an X’s and O’s Player despite his size at every level. The worst that happens is we move on from him but the best case scenario is he catches fire playing in an elevated role with a couple of high end players. He’d become a fan fav pretty quickly and it’s worth a 5 game look while they’re at home… do I think it will happen though?
we only wish the Flames were this bold . sadly even astronomical numbers in the A will only land Phillips a short cup of coffee late in the season likely
well then , might as well use him no? ... I would be rotating him and Lewis game by game
Why? 8 out of 10 points. Let him take the practice reps. When he's needed he'll get the call. Making a change for the sake of it with a winning team doesn't seem like a recipe for success.
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Anyone who jumps in to the top six either needs to be a better goal scorer than Toffoli or be well rounded enough to push Dube out. That’s a tall ask. Anyone who steps in to the bottom six needs to be able to check with Backlund and Coleman or be an energy guy on the bottom line. Problem is none of the minor league guys are that yet.
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Haven't read the thread yet, but a really gutsy effort from the boys last night. I thought it really felt like a playoff team, with both teams skating hard, finishing checks, and playing really good defense.
I thought Backlund was the best Flames - absolutely gigantic on the PK, which won them the game in the 3rd.
Was watching at a party, and a lot of people were saying they should be starting Vladar. My argument was that they need to give Markstrom the chance to work through it. And I thought that, not only did he get better as the game went along, but the 3rd was his best period of the year so far. They didn't have the 2nd best goalie tonight.
More good play from Ritchie - is it time to elevate him to Backlund's line and move Lewis down? I would like to see his speed and physicality with Backs and Coleman.
I'd like to see them slide Ruzicka in that 3rd line and move Lewis down to the 4th.
Lewis is good at what he does, but he can't make plays. If you can find someone to play with Backlund and Coleman you've got 3 good lines on paper.
Lewis on the 3rd isn't a long-term solution.
Problem is what that third line does is check top opponent lines. You just seriously can’t put Ruzicka up against McDavid. Guy still is a floater and really doesn’t have the speed to keep up with top opposing forwards. People keep trying to make the third line into some scoring line when it’s not the primary job they’re asked to do. Would I like someone with better offensive skills on that line? Sure but first of all that player had to be rock solid defensively and fast. I think there is a better chance of one of Zary/Phillips/etc pushing Dube down to this role than there is of anyone on the farm stepping in to the third line.
Edit: not saying Lewis is some burner here but he’s I think a faster player than Ruzicka and more importantly plays the primary role well. I don’t trust Ruzicka to check top lines.
Last edited by Kasi; 10-23-2022 at 12:31 PM.
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I'd like to see them slide Ruzicka in that 3rd line and move Lewis down to the 4th.
Lewis is good at what he does, but he can't make plays. If you can find someone to play with Backlund and Coleman you've got 3 good lines on paper.
Lewis on the 3rd isn't a long-term solution.
As much as everyone keeps talking about a top 6 winger I think a winger is missing on the Backlund line and it was evident yesterday.
I don't think Ruzicka is the answer he plays the game at a turtles pace.
That's also why breaking up the Kadri line is ridiculous they are gelling why break them up and destroy our depth? The speed and ability to create havoc is needed.
I think the issue in the top line is Lindholm and the inability for him and Toffoli to get into areas that Huberdeau can pass into. Lindholm skates the puck into traffic and he's losing big draws. He's to good of a player for that to continue. The schedule isn't helping we play so infrequently that any chemistry they show goes stale.
I think the best chance is to have Zary or Pelletier or someone step into the second line and then Dube gets moved down to play with Backlund. Who knows if that would necessitate any shuffling of the top two lines but I think Dube would be the only possibility to be bumped. I think that’s far more realistic than anyone actually just stepping on to the third line as it stands now.
He's to good of a player for that to continue. The schedule isn't helping we play so infrequently that any chemistry they show goes stale.
Infrequently? I just looked at the schedule and it looks like the standard NHL schedule - a game every 2 or 3 days. This week would be the anomaly with only Tuesday and Saturday.
Infrequently? I just looked at the schedule and it looks like the standard NHL schedule - a game every 2 or 3 days. This week would be the anomaly with only Tuesday and Saturday.
But up until then it's been the typical standard.
Maybe it feels like that way. I guess they had to pack games last season because of the covid shut down they played every other day.
The thing is, the adversity and pressure are there and the team has gone 4-1, at this pace the Flames will be 16-4 through 20 games. Plus the coaching staff can now work on making necessary changes/adjustments after seeing the team in regular season games. Team is really in a good place.
That was a big ot win early in the season especially after going down 2-0.
Early days yet but Zary is a tick below a PPG on the farm. I contend he'd be a better fit in Lewis' slot than Lewis.
That's about as far as I would go lobbying for roster changes right now. Because if I'm honest, I'm not seeing a whole lot out of Lewis to keep him in over an up and Comer who appears ready for the show.
Edit: I'll correct myself, I'd also sit Rooney and put Lewis in Rodney's spot. Rooney is a one puck touch grenade of play kills.
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I remember when Andersson was drafted and skating and conditioning were the knocks on him. He is a good example of how those are things that can be improved upon if the player has the work ethic and proper coaching. I wonder how much Danielle Fujita has helped in this regard.
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Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 10-23-2022 at 01:50 PM.
As much as everyone keeps talking about a top 6 winger I think a winger is missing on the Backlund line and it was evident yesterday.
I don't think Ruzicka is the answer he plays the game at a turtles pace.
That's also why breaking up the Kadri line is ridiculous they are gelling why break them up and destroy our depth? The speed and ability to create havoc is needed.
I think the issue in the top line is Lindholm and the inability for him and Toffoli to get into areas that Huberdeau can pass into. Lindholm skates the puck into traffic and he's losing big draws. He's to good of a player for that to continue. The schedule isn't helping we play so infrequently that any chemistry they show goes stale.
100% agreed with the bolded. Backlund is facing the same tough match-ups he's always taken, but his face-off % is the best it's ever been (63%). He's been superb.
Lewis has been a decent stopgap so far, but he really neuters that line's offensive capability. His play also doesn't seem sustainable. How consistently can an elderly Lewis continue to be defensively solid against the Ahos, McDavids, Rantanens, Eichels, etc. of the league as the season progresses?
If Sutter/Treliving can upgrade Lewis with someone that can actually push the pace offensively on that line, maybe it takes some of the mental pressure off the Huberdeau line and helps them get going offensively.
That 3rd line LW spot definitely can't be filled by a rookie or Toffoli with the match-ups they're currently getting.
