Will Flames make the playoffs?

[Strange Brew]

Huberdeau's 5 on 5 production was non existent before the line with Kadri and Lucic was created.

It's still really bad but there was an uptick.

He needs to figure it out, it's not his linemates.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Huberdeau's 5 on 5 production was non existent before the line with Kadri and Lucic was created.

It's still really bad but there was an uptick.

He needs to figure it out, it's not his linemates.

It can't be both?...come on now

Nobody is scoring tons of points on a line with Lucic

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Huberdeau's 5 on 5 production was non existent before the line with Kadri and Lucic was created.

It's still really bad but there was an uptick.

He needs to figure it out, it's not his linemates.

You want him to light it up with Milan Lucic and a coach who wants him to be the next Kris Draper?

He didn't suddenly start to suck he's produced with different coaches and linemates. It's probably the first time he's had to line up with a star like Lucic.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You want him to light it up with Milan Lucic and a coach who wants him to be the next Kris Draper?

He didn't suddenly start to suck he's produced with different coaches and linemates. It's probably the first time he's had to line up with a star like Lucic.

It's not about him sucking and he's played with plenty of garbage players before. You can shuffle his linemates as much as you want but he's clearly not able to adjust his game to this system.

[Samonadreau]

Need some wins here.

[Tsawwassen]

A bit of optimism here, the Flames are only 10 points back of the Stars for 1st place in the western conf. and have 3 games in hand on them.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

A bit of optimism here, the Flames are only 10 points back of the Stars for 1st place in the western conf. and have 3 games in hand on them.

They have 1 game in hand on Dallas.

They also have 1 game in hand on each of LA and Edmonton.

Seattle has 1 game in hand on the Flames. Minnesota and the Avs each have 2 games in hand on the Flames.

Best case scenario in which the Flames win their game in hand and the other teams all lose their games in hand puts the Flames in eighth place and narrowly holding the last wildcard spot over the Avs.

Worst case, if the Flames were to lose their game in hand and the competition win their games in hand, the Flames would be 4 points out of a wildcard spot and in 10th place, narrowly behind Nashville. They would be tied with St. Louis on points but ahead of them in the RW tiebreaker.

It's a close race for those playoff spots.

[calgarygeologist]

February looks like it will be a tough month and could sink the Flames. They haven't looked especially good on the road and they start and finish the month with respect and trips which include some top teams. Biggest thing for me right now is to see if they can win on Monday and Thursday against easy teams and maybe get a point from Seattle on Friday.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

It can't be both?...come on now

Nobody is scoring tons of points on a line with Lucic

It’s on him first and foremost. He was producing even less before playing with Lucic and he hasn’t been producing on the PP.

I get tired of excuses and scapegoats.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You want him to light it up with Milan Lucic and a coach who wants him to be the next Kris Draper?

He didn't suddenly start to suck he's produced with different coaches and linemates. It's probably the first time he's had to line up with a star like Lucic.

And you want him to be the next Kent Nilsson. Before Lucic he was on what, a 40 point pace? Obviously Lucic is not the answer, but maybe Huberdeau can help himself a little.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

It’s on him first and foremost. He was producing even less before playing with Lucic and he hasn’t been producing on the PP.

I get tired of excuses and scapegoats.

Hadn't he picked it up and was producing at a point per game pace for a while, before the Lucic move? And was playing better, along with the increased points? And then it continued for a few games with Lucic, but inevitably, his production has slowed back down.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Lucic is great for board battle/puck retrieval, but he’s missing all of the other aspects that Huberdeau and Kadri need for that line. I don’t think Lucic is responsible for Hubey playing better. If anything, he’s hurting what his production may actually have been for those past 14 games.

I actually think Kadri and Huberdeau need what Lucic brings more so than just an ordinary skilled guy. I remember this duo together earlier in the season and they did not impress which is why they were split up pretty quickly.

It’s not just his board and retrieval that helps his line greatly, he helps feed their transition game with the subtle plays in the defensive zone. He has great net front presence and screen the opposition goalie and open up space when he drives to the net. He forechecks well and can extends zone time allowing his linemates more opportunities to create. He wins a lot of 50/50’s which is something skilled guys usually lack.

I also think his ability to do more of dirty work has allowed Kadri to play more of a skilled game as well. He doesn’t have to be the guy trying to be physical and win board battles, instead he and Huberdeau can focus more on making plays and getting open then having to be the ones fighting for loose pucks. I believe this is why Tkachuk and Gaudreau worked so well together, because Tkachuk did a lot of the same things Lucic does which freed Gaudeau’s offensive game and yes, I’m aware there’s of the talent disparity between the 2 power forwards.

But I’m not even saying Lucic is the ideal linemate for Huberdeau going forward, what I am saying and have said before, is he’s currently the best option for Huberdeau and their performance together has shown that. If the team finds an upgrade that’ll work better, then by all means, replace Lucic.

[Vinny01]

A win today sets them up to go into the break on a pretty strong run with 2 bottom feeders and the fluke Kraken. Hopefully they can get some momentum going their way. A slide feels like they have no chance but a run puts them squarely in the mix

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Guy is out to lunch with his takes on Gaudreau and Huberdeau.

He also called the Gaudreau Lindholm Tkachuk line the best checking line in the game of hockey he has seen. Lol.

Also predicted 100 points for Johnny and a huge drop off for Huberdeau.

It's like Lebron James he just knew.

Buddy, this isn’t just my take. His former coach Darryl Sutter said much the same calling Johnny Gaudreau the best checker on the team.

https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey...r-best-checker

So to go on top of that, you’ve got Elias Lindholm who in my personal opinion was and is still the best checker on the team. Tkachuk is also outstanding in the checking department as well.

I don’t even know why you continue to dwell on my opinion of that subject. Maybe you’re one of those people who think I’m referring to body checking as “checking,” because I’m not and maybe that’s why you’re confused.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Hadn't he picked it up and was producing at a point per game pace for a while, before the Lucic move? And was playing better, along with the increased points? And then it continued for a few games with Lucic, but inevitably, his production has slowed back down.

Without Lucic:

19 points in 29 games, mostly PP points.


With Lucic:

12 points in 14 games, mostly 5 on 5.


All things considered, It’s not even close.

[JohnnyB]

Hard not to see a line that finished a combined +183 on the season with a center who came second in votes for the Selke as anything but a good checking line. They really were an outstanding combo, especially in the second half. Those three combined with Markstrom and Tanev was the best chance the Flames have had at a cup run in a long time. Too bad it all fell apart in the second round.

[Manhattanboy]

That second round. Ugh. Win that and who knows what would have happened.

[Brick]

The best is yet to come.

[dino7c]

Big win, win the next two now

[442scotty]

If they played as hard as they did today a lot more often they would easily make the playoffs. Who are they because I was shocked by the effort they put in today