Mathew Tkachuk and other key RFA signing watch thread

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Why do you believe he isn’t a play driver?

Because he isn't? It isn't his strength or skill set? Mangiapane isn't a great puck carrier and his zone entries aren't fantastic. Where he excels is finding the soft spots and using his smarts to make plays happen. His best play is the dish to the slot from anywhere near the trapezoid. He is really good at finding soft spots low and predicting where the puck is going to be, finding that puck and then making the quick pass. Those plays come from other players carrying the play and Mangiapane flying under the radar. I think that is Mangiapane's greatest skill - going unnoticed. He's a guy that sneaks up on you makes you pay because you're focused elsewhere. Most of his goals are the "where did that guy come from" variety. When you're able to focus on him, he's easily neutralized. Don't get me wrong, Mangiapane has turned into a very effective player, he just needs the right line mates to let him really shine.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I posted this in the Johnny to Columbus thread and I’ll put it here too. This is from a guy I know from a private hockey group I’ve been in for years on Facebook

A couple of days ago two scouts for the Flames were having a bite to eat at my place of work and they said that Covid restrictions and not having a newer arena with all the perks makes a huge difference on how free agents view coming to Calgary. I then brought up Coleman and they said that the had to overpay by a lot to get him. Also with the arena the one scout said that a lot of the players in today’s game come with certain expectations on how they expect to be treated and not having a newer world class facility actually makes a huge difference. Asked about Chucky and the one scout said that he thinks he’s as good as gone

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Because he isn't? It isn't his strength or skill set? Mangiapane isn't a great puck carrier and his zone entries aren't fantastic. Where he excels is finding the soft spots and using his smarts to make plays happen. His best play is the dish to the slot from anywhere near the trapezoid. He is really good at finding soft spots low and predicting where the puck is going to be, finding that puck and then making the quick pass. Those plays come from other players carrying the play and Mangiapane flying under the radar. I think that is Mangiapane's greatest skill - going unnoticed. He's a guy that sneaks up on you makes you pay because you're focused elsewhere. Most of his goals are the "where did that guy come from" variety. When you're able to focus on him, he's easily neutralized. Don't get me wrong, Mangiapane has turned into a very effective player, he just needs the right line mates to let him really shine.

Yeah, I can agree on the puck carrying. He doesn't look to excel at zone entries (although I haven't looked that up - not sure where people pull those stats from). Puck retrievals strike me as a strength though.

I feel like Mang is pretty good along the boards and his motor is fantastic. I see a pretty high "hockey IQ". He's good on the PK, he's got a shot for the PP (wonder if we see him elevated this year to PP1?), he's strong defensively, and isn't afraid to be around the net. I really like the player and scoring in this league is just something you get paid for and given his per-minute excellence on that front I see a lot of value in him.

The bit that gives me the biggest reason to pause was his agents comments (Last year?) where he said he'd be advising his client to sign a one year deal and then head straight to free agency to evaluate options...that's not exactly a warm and cuddly thought, and just like with Chucky - if you can't get him in on a contract with term that makes sense, I wonder if we haven't seen the last of Mang as a Flame.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I posted this in the Johnny to Columbus thread and I’ll put it here too. This is from a guy I know from a private hockey group I’ve been in for years on Facebook

The Dome isn't a complete dump for the players it just lacks the ability to make bigger $$$(like a larger lower bowl) for the owners and I have my doubts a scout employed by the Flames would say that about Tkachuk.

[Harry Lime]

I wish that calgary had the guts to put in an inverted bowl. It would probably be a draw to work in a unique arena.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

The Dome isn't a complete dump for the players it just lacks the ability to make bigger $$$(like a larger lower bowl) for the owners and I have my doubts a scout employed by the Flames would say that about Tkachuk.

I haven’t been in the locker room lately but isn’t it small compared to others? No extra spots (I recall picks of new players’ spots being just a folding chair).

As much as it shouldn’t be a big deal, those kind of things matter. When we tour prospects around our place stuff like the kitchen or views out the window are a bigger deal than they should be.

[Steve Macfarlane]

Sorry for posting in multiple threads. Enough conversation going on that I didn't want to start a new one but wasn't sure where this commentary should go.

It's all about Tkachuk right now. Or should be.

Now isn't the time to double down and gamble again. Have to lock him up as the face of the franchise, or commit to moving him before it's too late.

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...esson-learned/

[PeteMoss]

Few things to keep in mind regarding tkachuk - he actually came to Canada willingly to play junior hockey in London instead of staying in the US and his family also knows this is a business and is more likely to just take the best offer. His dad got traded more than once and he knows how this ends up going.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Few things to keep in mind regarding tkachuk - he actually came to Canada willingly to play junior hockey in London instead of staying in the US and his family also knows this is a business and is more likely to just take the best offer. His dad got traded more than once and he knows how this ends up going.

His mom is Canadian as well.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Few things to keep in mind regarding tkachuk - he actually came to Canada willingly to play junior hockey in London instead of staying in the US and his family also knows this is a business and is more likely to just take the best offer. His dad got traded more than once and he knows how this ends up going.

His mom is also Canadian?

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

His mom is also Canadian?

From winter peg

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Few things to keep in mind regarding tkachuk - he actually came to Canada willingly to play junior hockey in London instead of staying in the US and his family also knows this is a business and is more likely to just take the best offer. His dad got traded more than once and he knows how this ends up going.

His dad knows also knows when a player has the most leverage, like when you just had a career year that would be difficult to duplicate. It’s a gamble to take a 1 year deal now and risk falling to under 80pts next season or worse yet suffering a serious injury.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Because he isn't? It isn't his strength or skill set? Mangiapane isn't a great puck carrier and his zone entries aren't fantastic. Where he excels is finding the soft spots and using his smarts to make plays happen. His best play is the dish to the slot from anywhere near the trapezoid. He is really good at finding soft spots low and predicting where the puck is going to be, finding that puck and then making the quick pass. Those plays come from other players carrying the play and Mangiapane flying under the radar. I think that is Mangiapane's greatest skill - going unnoticed. He's a guy that sneaks up on you makes you pay because you're focused elsewhere. Most of his goals are the "where did that guy come from" variety. When you're able to focus on him, he's easily neutralized. Don't get me wrong, Mangiapane has turned into a very effective player, he just needs the right line mates to let him really shine.

Your description sounds a lot like Monahan

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Your description sounds a lot like Monahan

Sure, I guess. Similar players except that Monahan is a center and responsible in the middle of the ice and Mangiapane is a wing and responsible for the boards. Neither of them are great carrying the puck into the zone, but both are good at dishing the puck from the soft spots they find. So yeah, I can agree with that assessment.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

The Dome isn't a complete dump for the players it just lacks the ability to make bigger $$$(like a larger lower bowl) for the owners and I have my doubts a scout employed by the Flames would say that about Tkachuk.

Zadorov has done a video tour of the player facilities in the dome for Russian Youtube and it looks like a dark, depressing, and low quality dungeon. Most other arenas in the league are 20-40 years ahead in amenities and luxury.

Imagine your company moving your office into Dunder Mifflin from The Bow.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Zadorov has done a video tour of the player facilities in the dome for Russian Youtube and it looks like a dark, depressing, and low quality dungeon. Most other arenas in the league are 20-40 years ahead in amenities and luxury.

Imagine your company moving your office into Dunder Mifflin from The Bow.

Which is always why the Calgary Flames and not the City of Calgary and its citizens need one. Off topic, but important

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Sure, I guess. Similar players except that Monahan is a center and responsible in the middle of the ice and Mangiapane is a wing and responsible for the boards. Neither of them are great carrying the puck into the zone, but both are good at dishing the puck from the soft spots they find. So yeah, I can agree with that assessment.

Mangiapane is obviously a better skater also.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by manwiches

From winter peg

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

Yeah, I remember someone asked Tkachuk about playing in Calgary and Canada, and he made the point of saying that his mom was from Winnipeg and he has cousins and extended family there, so he also had Western Canadian roots.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, I remember someone asked Tkachuk about playing in Calgary and Canada, and he made the point of saying that his mom was from Winnipeg and he has cousins and extended family there, so he also had Western Canadian roots.

Keith married a Winnipeg girl, good for him. Now, a Calgary girl needs to snap Chucky up.

[rhino]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I posted this in the Johnny to Columbus thread and I’ll put it here too. This is from a guy I know from a private hockey group I’ve been in for years on Facebook

Yea scouts blab inside information to randos at the coffee shop