[PGT] St. Louis 6 - Calgary 4

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Corral

Agreed we are no where near the depths of the young guns era - anyone who suggests otherwise can't possibly have followed this team then.

As for Giordano's leadership being questioned - are you kidding me? When the game was slipping away even just last night - he gets double shifted on the blue line and scores a clutch goal to bring us within one. No way is his leadership in question here.

And as I've stated before - good organizations do not ship out their captain after a rough start like this.

I can't remember the last time I saw a player single handedly submarine their team that badly, since the Bertuzzi era probably.

Giordano lost that game for Calgary with his poor play in all 3 periods.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Its time to start thinking that narrative no longer applies.

That team is playing very well.

I still hate them with every fibre of my being, but make no mistake they are not the team of the last several years.

We'll revisit that in December. Bit premature to be making such declarations given the team we're talking about.

They've started with a better record than this even in years where they finished dead last.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

We'll revisit that in December. Bit premature to be making such declarations given the team we're talking about.

They've started with a better record than this even in years where they finished dead last.

Not basing it on their record.

Im basing it on what i have seen and the complete 180 they have done as far as team defense. The team is just playing a different brand and at a different pace than they were.

Add in McDavid figuring things out quickly at both ends of the ice and some of the other changes they have made....they look much much better than they have in a decade.

I hope they tank hard and heavy....but i just dont see it happening short of injuries taking their toll.

I must go shower now...ugh.

[jayswin]

Yeah, they look like a team that knows how to play hockey. Unfortunately for us they did exactly what we made fun of them for not doing - Getting rid of one dimensional players and getting away from a bunch of soft, high drafted top six guys that can't play defense.

McDavid was always going to be a superstar in the NHL as much as we laughed that he wasn't right out of the gate. Nugent Hopkins is made of glass but has come around to being a fantastic centre, and Draisitl is going to be a very good player as well.

It's funny because for all their bumbling as a franchise and putting in the ball in the wrong hands (see: Taylor Hall) they've actually backdoored their way into having exactly what a contender needs - elite depth down the middle.

Nugent Hopkins has developed into a great centre that could probably be a number one at some point, but instead will be a number two behind McDavid, then Draisitl is coming around as a great player who would probably be number two if not for Nugent-Hopkins.

So when teams look for depth down the middle, the Oilers may be looking at their centre depth as Elite - number 1 - number 2, instead of number 1 - number 2 - number 3.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Rejean31

Funny you would say that. That is exactly what the Flames did in 1981. Captain Brad Marsh to the Flyers for Mel Bridgman.

And yes, what we had there in 1981-82 was a losing record ... and a significant drop from the previous magical first season in Calgary. The team turned the corner when Badger Bob arrived and Lanny was given the C

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

This season has me longing for the old WHA.... That was a lot more fun to watch (not to mention my Jets regularly kicked everyone's butts )

A little Bobby Hull, plus Nilsson and Hedberg (and later Kent Nilsson) will do that for you.