Jones and Horak to Abbotsford; EDIT: And recall Aliu

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by devo22

well, that happens if 8 of your 11 best scorers are listed as centers (LINK) - some guys will have to move to the wing.

Not happy at all with Horak going down again. Also, I would have rather seen Bancks for a cup of tea than Aliu.

Yeah I know they are overstocked with centres but as a guy who's on our radar as a future Flame, his development should take precedence.

Sure Aliu has had a checkered past and his development has been haphazard but nobody seems to bring that up when speaking of Taylor. He couldn't hold down an AHL job until he landed with the Heat in the middle of last season.

As has been said Aliu fills a need or at least hopefully he does. The thing with having an agitator is that after he's stirred things up, someone has to answer the bell. Jackman may see some more work, but I think we need a real heavyweight. This beat them with skill alone isn't working and never has. Don't forget one of the reasons we are in this trouble is because someone ran Kipper. We don't get no respect.

[Royle9]

Any word of if Cervenka is injured?
Or just a bonehead healthy scratch maneuver?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah I know they are overstocked with centres but as a guy who's on our radar as a future Flame, his development should take precedence.

Sure Aliu has had a checkered past and his development has been haphazard but nobody seems to bring that up when speaking of Taylor. He couldn't hold down an AHL job until he landed with the Heat in the middle of last season.

1. He shouldn't be on anyones radar as a future Flame as the Flames need talented guys.

2. It was definitely brought up with Taylor.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Any word of if Cervenka is injured?
Or just a bonehead healthy scratch maneuver?

Someone else mentioned that Cervenka has been away from practice before and still played. Maybe he is still feeling the effects from the blood thinners he was on or is nursing an injury.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Someone else mentioned that Cervenka has been away from practice before and still played. Maybe he is still feeling the effects from the blood thinners he was on or is nursing an injury.

Or simply not in NHL shape and suffering the grinds of a compressed schedule.

[MissTeeks]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=656963

He already had the enthusiasm part down on Friday.
“It feels like it’s happening all over again and it feels like my first game again,” Aliu said. “I wasn’t here for too long last year so it’s super excited, I’m happy to be here and hopefully I can help this team in any way I can"

"That’s going to be my role here, try to bring some energy and some fire to the dressing room,” said Aliu. “This is a really good team in here, there’s a ton of skill and if we can get a little energy and a little spunk in here, it’ll be a really good team.”

And in playing that role in Calgary, Flames coach Bob Hartley predicted Aliu is going to get acquainted with the opposition rather quickly.
“He’s going to make some new friends,” Hartley joked.
But what Aliu is expected to bring to a roster looking for an injection of intensity is no laughing matter.
“It’s playing the game,” Hartley continued. “This game is about being gritty. It’s a physical game. We’re not talking about croquet over here. We’re talking about a game of passion, a game that world class athletes play in and you need a certain size. I think Akim brings that size to us.”
Aliu already knows how to appropriately introduce himself.
“My first job is to be physical and get on the puck and get on the forecheck,” he said.

[Nemisz/Breen]

People keep talking about Aliu being a healthy scratch for most of the season, when in fact he missed most of his time do to ankle surgery. After finally coming back it naturally took awhile to get his game back to normal. He was sat a few times but I'm sure his conditioning was not up to par, and lately he has begun to come on stronger.

Also I'm sure Flames brass got a full review from Ward before bringing him up. I'm hoping he does well and will reserve judgment.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Any word of if Cervenka is injured?
Or just a bonehead healthy scratch maneuver?

I have never heard of a player being a healthy scratch from practice. He either is hurt or needs a maintenance day off.

[Nemisz/Breen]

Didn't he take a puck to the throat in the last game, or at least the neck area ?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Nemisz/Breen

Didn't he take a puck to the throat in the last game, or at least the neck area ?

Yup. Had no more shifts in the second and only one shift in the third after that point.

Likely precautionary and don't want to take any risks after his blood clot issues.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Nemisz/Breen

People keep talking about Aliu being a healthy scratch for most of the season, when in fact he missed most of his time do to ankle surgery. After finally coming back it naturally took awhile to get his game back to normal. He was sat a few times but I'm sure his conditioning was not up to par, and lately he has begun to come on stronger.

Also I'm sure Flames brass got a full review from Ward before bringing him up. I'm hoping he does well and will reserve judgment.

I knew he had an injury and hasn't been scratched the whole season but he still was scratched when healthy both this year and last play-offs.

[Enoch Root]

I think most people agree that the Flames have lacked grit, spark and push-back this year - why there is so much hate for the idea of bringing in a guy to fill that role is incredible.

Who cares that he hasn't had any success in the A? He isn't being brought in as a 2nd liner, he is being brought in for energy. Guys don't work on their energy level in the A, they work on their game. That is what he has been doing and it is irrelevant how that has been going because that is not why he is coming to the show.

Energy guys don't score 20 goals - they provide energy. They don't get that job because they had success in the minors - they get it because they are prepared to do what is asked of them. Based on what he showed last year, and his comments today, I'd say he is prepared to do the job.

And what if he sucks? Who cares? He is only going to play a few minutes a game and the Flames have sucked lately anyway. If they keep sucking, they are on their way to a lottery pick. If he provides a spark and they play with more energy and win some games then great. Win/win as far as I am concerned.

[Enoch Root]

As for sending Horak down, that has nothing to do with Alui. Horak isn't going to play on the 4th line, and if he does, he sure as hell isn't going to provide grit or a spark.

Horak was sent down because Baertschi is ready. Period. Is there anyone who thinks that Horak should play before Baertschi? Should he play and sit Glencross or Cammalleri? Well, thats a different story, but I doubt that's going to happen.

Tanguay - Stajan -Iginla
Baertschi - Cervenka -Hudler
Glencross -Cammalleri - Stempniak

Take your pick on line combos, but where do people think Horak is going to play within that group?

And it isn't like Horak isn't going to be back soon.

Now, if Comeau plays C on the 2nd/3rd line because Cervenka is hurt... that is a different story and I will grab my pitchfork as well. But until then, the vitriol on this thread is ridiculous.

[Enoch Root]

Jones I don't get. I would have thought that the recent stint in the press box would be motivation enough and he should get another chance. I would like to see Jones centering the 4th line. But obviously Hartley prefers Begin (who I don't have a problem with, so whatever I guess).

But the C problem is not going to be solved by Jones being on the 4th line instead of Begin.

Nor is it going to be solved by having Horak in the top 9 - as much as I like him and he has shown that he is an NHL player, he isn't an improvement on anything else we've got (Comeau at C not withstanding).

[MikeMc]

Can someone explain to me why we signed Begin or what role he plays? Pretty please?

4th line is not the core issue, I'm fully aware of this, but can someone tell me the value of Steve Begin?

And can Hartley coach some of our 'veteran stars' please. Put in work or get out of the way. It's 15 games in, time for "show me if you're useless" is over. I'm looking at you Glencross, Cammi and Tanguay.

[BruceCody]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Tanguay-Stajan-Iginla
Baertschi-Cervenka-Hudler
Glencross-Cammalleri-Stempniak

very good lines

[FBI]

I guess begin scored a game winner so that's something.
More than jones/Comeau/jackman etc

[Enoch Root]

I think Aliu showed that the callup was warranted. He did exactly what he was brought in to do - he skated hard, he threw a couple big hits and he provided energy.

I don't know if it was as evident on TV, but in the building, his big hit on Stoner completely re-energized a sleepy building and listless team. Yes, it was probably charging, but even if he had gotten a penalty, it probably would have had the same effect.

Bottom line, Minny came in and lulled the boys to sleep, as expected. Yet they managed to hang in there and get it done. Was that because of Aliu? No. But he helped. He brings something this team desperately needs.

The challenge for the coaching staff is finding out how to get it from him regularly.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Aliu showed that the callup was warranted. He did exactly what he was brought in to do - he skated hard, he threw a couple big hits and he provided energy.

I don't know if it was as evident on TV, but in the building, his big hit on Stoner completely re-energized a sleepy building and listless team. Yes, it was probably charging, but even if he had gotten a penalty, it probably would have had the same effect.

Bottom line, Minny came in and lulled the boys to sleep, as expected. Yet they managed to hang in there and get it done. Was that because of Aliu? No. But he helped. He brings something this team desperately needs.

The challenge for the coaching staff is finding out how to get it from him regularly.

I would definitely give him another game. He did bring some energy to the game. He does however need to be better in his own zone. He looked completley lost in his own end las night. Take it game by game.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think Aliu showed that the callup was warranted. He did exactly what he was brought in to do - he skated hard, he threw a couple big hits and he provided energy.

I don't know if it was as evident on TV, but in the building, his big hit on Stoner completely re-energized a sleepy building and listless team. Yes, it was probably charging, but even if he had gotten a penalty, it probably would have had the same effect.

Bottom line, Minny came in and lulled the boys to sleep, as expected. Yet they managed to hang in there and get it done. Was that because of Aliu? No. But he helped. He brings something this team desperately needs.

The challenge for the coaching staff is finding out how to get it from him regularly.

I wondered if people would put their phones down and stop texting , reading books etc and watch the game and make some noise after that