[PGT] Flames 1 - Blue Jackets 3

[Mr.Coffee]

I don’t really buy or understand why “lots of fans would have this on the calendar”. Why? Who cares? It’s in Columbus.

It’s the one in Calgary that matters because that’s where he’s gonna get the warm reception. I am looking forward to that one. Partially because it’ll be the first time we hear the fans this season. Why would the Columbus fans care about this game? They wouldn’t, and Johnny doesn’t care about anything, so none of that matters. I think he’s going to get deservedly booed into oblivion and it’ll be hilarious. Can’t wait.

[Freddy]

I feel like the Flames veteran heavy roster playing dump & chase hockey against faster/younger opponents is a poor strategy. I also don’t understand why our offence challenged team brought up the top AHL scorer just to park him in favour of another big crash & banger. Time to green light some creative licence and east-west passing. Let the veterans work to their strengths.

[NewFan]

They always play like that when they travel near to Ontario. I guess all east cost family and friends having party the night before or something. They all looked with hangover.

[Goriders]

Markstrom played well. Yet again zero run support and continually hung out to dry.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I feel like the Flames veteran heavy roster playing dump & chase hockey against faster/younger opponents is a poor strategy. I also don’t understand why our offence challenged team brought up the top AHL scorer just to park him in favour of another big crash & banger. Time to green light some creative licence and east-west passing. Let the veterans work to their strengths.

Think if you want that you have to dump the coach.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Buff

When can we start complaining about Huberdeau? He's invisible. He signed a contract that indicates he is the best player on the team but has been anything but that.

Give him time because he needs to adjust? How much time does a so called best player need? He has been terrible and it is not acceptable any more. It's been 24 games and he should have been at the top of his game about a dozen games ago. Sure he has 7 points in his last 7 games but hasn't exactly been the Flames top player doing that.

After getting 115 points last year he deserves a lot of criticism for his play this year. He's well bellow a PPG right now and I'd be very surprised if he reaches 75 points.

Is he waiting for his next contract to kick in before he actually tries to be the best player? The Flames would be in a better position if their supposed best player showed up.

I've lost my patience with him. Maybe you can tell.

I'm 100% in the same place.

He really sucks. It's not even offensively, he is so weak on the boards defensively. Makes at least a few brutal d zone turnovers every game, just lucky they don't end up at the back of the net.

Huberdeau isn't even in the stratosphere as actual stars like gaudreau and tkachuck. I think some panic is absolutely warranted. Don't think he can cut it in a Canadian market, hard coach, defensive responsible team. He is not a elite star whatsoever.

[ComixZone]

We better hope Huberdeau is elite and this is just an adjustment period for player/coach/city…because if he isn’t? That’s 8 years we can effectively just say goodbye to. There’s no coming back from sinking that amount of cap.

I think the problems with the team are a lot larger than just one player though. No one can pass, no one can finish, no one is having a great season…having this much go wrong generally speaks to a larger problem within the team/roster construction/coaching etc.

The cold hard reality of not having elite, homegrown talent generally slaps fans in the face with mediocrity.

[Mr.Coffee]

Huberdeau’s biggest issue, and Kadris starting to look it too, is that they’re just lazy.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

we can make do if he's a 60-80 point player but we absolutely need that from him

can't have a 10.5 mil player be a liability that doesn't produce

he needs to bring a net positive to most games

[Buff]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We better hope Huberdeau is elite and this is just an adjustment period for player/coach/city…because if he isn’t? That’s 8 years we can effectively just say goodbye to. There’s no coming back from sinking that amount of cap.

I think the problems with the team are a lot larger than just one player though. No one can pass, no one can finish, no one is having a great season…having this much go wrong generally speaks to a larger problem within the team/roster construction/coaching etc.

24 games. How many games does a so called elite player need to find his place on a new team? Can someone point out a precedence?

[jg13]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We better hope Huberdeau is elite and this is just an adjustment period for player/coach/city…because if he isn’t? That’s 8 years we can effectively just say goodbye to. There’s no coming back from sinking that amount of cap.

he had 4 years in a row that were over a PPG, and yes the offence isnt there but i saw a stat that showed the 10/28/71 line was second in the league in 5 on 5 goals against during the broadcast.

Again Sutter teaching defence first which was definitely Huberdeaus weak point in Florida.

He has learned / is learning defence at the expense of his ridiculous offence output. It's tough for fans right now but you have to expect both will come eventually the way they did with Gaudreau. Huberdeau is too talented.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Huberdeau’s biggest issue, and Kadris starting to look it too, is that they’re just lazy.

Kadri has looked as good or better than lindholm, over the course of the entire season....

This team is lacking a top line, in spite of tofolli playing pretty damn well in my opinion.

We can talk about Phillips /lucic all we want, but if huberdeau/lindholm arent our offensive drivers on most night 5on5 who gives a ish

[Major Major]

Huberdeau will be fine. Sutter is asking his players to play conservatively while they build defensive habits. First structure, than freedom. That's an exact god damn quote. It's coming too. I remember someone posting a stat when DS came in 2021 that his teams take about 30-35 games before they take flight. This is essentially a new team, and I imagine he's treating it like it is.

We know Sutter segments games and sees the season in phases and that it's all about playoffs. We know he is trying to make Huberdeau a complete player and is likely getting him to really focus on defensive micro habits. The breaks will eventually come off and huby will start to feel a bit more natural. He's a production machine and will be for a long time.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by jg13

he had 4 years in a row that were over a PPG, and yes the offence isnt there but i saw a stat that showed the 10/28/71 line was second in the league in 5 on 5 goals against during the broadcast.

Again Sutter teaching defence first which was definitely Huberdeaus weak point in Florida.

He has learned / is learning defence at the expense of his ridiculous offence output. It's tough for fans right now but you have to expect both will come eventually the way they did with Gaudreau. Huberdeau is too talented.

Also sorry. Toffolis number is 73. Not sure why I posted 71.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Huberdeau’s biggest issue, and Kadris starting to look it too, is that they’re just lazy.

I don’t know if it’s laziness per se. Kadri is a gamer and is highly competitive. I find him to be kind of reckless offensively at times and careless with his details and positioning. He’s not as strong defensively as a Lindholm or Backlund that’s for sure.

Huberdeau’s engagement level has been really high recently too at least compared to the start of the year. I can see that he’s playing hard and trying to make an effort doing the little things, but I don’t know, he’s just struggling to make an impact.

He hardly looks dangerous on any given shift, he kind of rushes plays so nothing is connecting, he’s having a hard time creating his own shot or even getting in position to shoot, so the opposition do not respect that part of his game.

I also wonder if he’s doing enough of the little things, the foundational things that leads to the offense. He’s not winning enough puck battles, he’s not winning enough 50/50’s, is he making the risky play instead of the right play, is he taking the hit to make the play, is he working smart or just hard? I don’t know, it’s probably a combination of everything, but regardless, if it doesn’t amount to more soon, I think another line shuffle is in the cards.

[DeluxeMoustache]

It might be a challenge

Kadri won a cup and got a raise for playing a certain way

But the Flames don’t have the dominant crew including MacKinnon ++, which gave him some luxury

I am sure he will get it

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We better hope Huberdeau is elite and this is just an adjustment period for player/coach/city…because if he isn’t? That’s 8 years we can effectively just say goodbye to. There’s no coming back from sinking that amount of cap.

I think the problems with the team are a lot larger than just one player though. No one can pass, no one can finish, no one is having a great season…having this much go wrong generally speaks to a larger problem within the team/roster construction/coaching etc.

The cold hard reality of not having elite, homegrown talent generally slaps fans in the face with mediocrity.

Almost like everyone signed a new contract?

[Barnet Flame]

I am as guilty as anyone for having a go at Markstrom, but I genuinely felt sad for him last night. First shot a breakaway, followed by that fall behind the net. Then a 2 on 0 which he handled well - a load of other breakaways and 2 on 1s and despite all that, he holds the Jackets to two goals.

That is the stuff that steals your team a win…unless your team goes on to barely register a shot in the first eight minutes of periods two and three.

This was a golden opportunity to build back some confidence and his team shat all over it.

Pathetic.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Huberdeau’s biggest issue, and Kadris starting to look it too, is that they’re just lazy.

Their problem is they don't fit in a slow-paced dump-and-chase, grind-it-out, boring-as-####, brand of hockey. They both thrive in an up-tempo game where it is transition and attack the net with speed. This is a clear case of not using the players to their talent levels. Sutter is making them play a game suited for Lucic-level players, not guys who are creative and use open ice. This is the weakness and why they look like crap. Strap Secretariat to a wagon or plough and he's not going to win many races.

[Rick M.]

I’ve never seen this number of breakaways and odd man rushes against a Sutter coached team before. Baffling.