[GDT] Preseason: Flames @ Jets. 6pm MT

[Redrum]

Can't see Kerins going down at this point. Maybe Morton, though he shouldn't.

[Sec214]

I’d love to see Miro and Bean get waived. Our stop gaps are no longer required. If you lose them sure but I think we have the depth to sustain the loss of either or both. The pipeline has to open somewhere…

Yan and Solo up.

Grush can continue to cook but boy oh boy is he poised and steady at the wheel. I think his late start in the preseason was because they wanted to see how he played against better competition.

Kirkland is losing his job, depending when the flames send him I think he clears. The reduced foot speed is noticeable sadly, could just need the minutes in the A and called up later in the year due to injuries.

Kerins has absolutely pushed, has chemistry with Klapka - I think he breaks through.

Goalie battle is over.

[cam_calderon]

I can't see whose position Kerins will take. Like the guy but even if he's lost on waivers, I doubt he really pops elsewhere.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Outside of his patented stare down I somehow feel like we won't miss Rasmus all that much.

A lot of D are making cases right now (not named Bean or Miromanov).

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

I can't see whose position Kerins will take. Like the guy but even if he's lost on waivers, I doubt he really pops elsewhere.

He could very well not be able to keep it up at the NHL. I just see no reason not to let him have that shot. The team isn't very good right now, and there's really no reason to hold back a young, still quickly improving replacement player over an old declining replacement player.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Redrum

He could very well not be able to keep it up at the NHL. I just see no reason not to let him have that shot. The team isn't very good right now, and there's really no reason to hold back a young, still quickly improving replacement player over an old declining replacement player.

I agree playoffs isn't the goal this season but if you play Kerins as the 4C, you neuter his offensive game to a large degree and he's not really a great defensive centre.

Kadri is the 1C, Frost 2C. The only way you put Kerins in a position to really succeed at NHL level is by demoting Backlund. And that seems far-fetched.

[Svartsengi]

I want to give Kerins a good opportunity in NHL this year. Flames really need to move out a winger in the top nine. If he has some chemistry with Klapka it may be ok to have him on 4th line temporarily as long as he gets some power play time.

[dino7c]

I think some posters are reading too much into exhibition games especially with so-so lineups. Good for Kerins but these are the biggest games of his life right now, lets not just claim he is better than Backlund because he is doing well against other tweeners and vets going through the motions. Backlund is also the teams best shut down center they are not aiming for the same spot.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Flipping Kerins for a future pick would be preferable to losing him for nothing via waivers.

I really hope we keep Kerins up. He is 23 and can continue to improve.

We can waive one of the aging vets or trade them for a future pick instead. Let's keep the young players.

Farabee? Easily replaceable.
Kirkland? Cya.
Coleman? Someone will take him for a pick.
Lomberg? I like him, but meh.

We need to give more opportunities to the younger players with potential. Free up some space taken up by easily replaceable vets.

[Goriders]

I hope they make more cuts after the wpg game. There aren’t many young forwards making a case outside of Kerins.

It will be interesting to see how the defense side of things plays out though. I really hope they give young guys a shot rather than Bean and Miromanov.

Goalie battle is over I’m guessing.

Time to start warming up the vets for the reg season.

Pospisil is not having the greatest preseason

[Royle9]

Cooley had such a hot start last year, and kept it going for a few months.
Really went off the rails the last half of the season.

He looks nothing like an NHL goalie, I’d argue not even an AHL starter this year… and I feel bad for him because his attitude towards learning and getting better seems to be there.
But on the other hand if he’s up with the big club, I guess we could cement ourselves a top pick.

[Southside]

Perhaps with the uninspiring backup battle the Flames will be closely monitoring the waiver wire for a backup?

[Badgers Nose]

I get serious Noodles vibes from Sergeev. Long term I think he’ll back up Wolf but yeah, he is not ready yet.

[Toonage]

Prosvetov didn’t get out of his contract in Russia just to have a shot at being an AHL goalie. Barring a horrific pre season it was always going to be his job. Given his preseason has been fine if unspectacular it’s his.

[GullFoss]

To my eyes, Grush was the best defenseman on the ice. Great outlet passing, strong defensive play, plays the body hard. He looks ready and clearly has a high ceiling for his playing style.

I'm surprised he's not in serious conversation to make the team out camp. There's zero reason to let him cook because the guys in front of him are older and have less upside.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

To my eyes, Grush was the best defenseman on the ice. Great outlet passing, strong defensive play, plays the body hard. He looks ready and clearly has a high ceiling for his playing style.

I'm surprised he's not in serious conversation to make the team out camp. There's zero reason to let him cook because the guys in front of him are older and have less upside.

Until last night the general sentiment here was how terrible he was and confusion over why he wasn’t already cut from camp.

In general it’s probably a good idea to avoid putting too much stock in individual bits and pieces of training camp.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Until last night the general sentiment here was how terrible he was and confusion over why he wasn’t already cut from camp.

In general it’s probably a good idea to avoid putting too much stock in individual bits and pieces of training camp.

Yeah no kidding.

How many young players get written off on this site for a blip in the development plan?

No straight lines.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Sec214

I’d love to see Miro and Bean get waived. Our stop gaps are no longer required. If you lose them sure but I think we have the depth to sustain the loss of either or both. The pipeline has to open somewhere…

Yan and Solo up.

Grush can continue to cook but boy oh boy is he poised and steady at the wheel. I think his late start in the preseason was because they wanted to see how he played against better competition.

Kirkland is losing his job, depending when the flames send him I think he clears. The reduced foot speed is noticeable sadly, could just need the minutes in the A and called up later in the year due to injuries.

Kerins has absolutely pushed, has chemistry with Klapka - I think he breaks through.

Goalie battle is over.

Looking at the roster and how training camp has shaped up I don't think Conroy and crew have too many hard decisions to make. Unless they're emotionally attached to some players waiving Bean, Miromanov and Kirkland is a no brainer. Joel Hanley as well. Plenty of talk about Kerins needing to play up the roster as well, but if he's better than Farabee, play with there.

Also full props to Kerins, this is a guy that's never impressed me too much. He seemed utterly lost at times but the Flames were patient. Couldn't stick in the AHL as a 20 year old, slowly found his game as a 21 year old, and really formed into a good player at 22. There is no way you send him down at this point, and it's not even a waiver discussion, he's been good he should be with the big club.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by flambers

Backlund is 3rd line center for at least 1 if not 2 more years.

Kerins can't play 4th line, he is not a energy type of a guy, nor is he great at face offs (i.e. same thing with Zary)

I would think that line is "Lomberg, Kirkland and Klapka"

On every good team I’ve seen for the last 15 years, they talk about how the fourth line isn’t your typical fourth line and can actually play.

Rory Kerins is a hockey player - if he is the fourth best centre at the NHL level this franchise has, he should be the #4C.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

To my eyes, Grush was the best defenseman on the ice. Great outlet passing, strong defensive play, plays the body hard. He looks ready and clearly has a high ceiling for his playing style.

I'm surprised he's not in serious conversation to make the team out camp. There's zero reason to let him cook because the guys in front of him are older and have less upside.

I agree with you. Surprised he has had such a limited look in training camp.