[PGT] Flames beat Pens! End Losing Streak!

[GeoRock]

Guys, I'm out of country.. awesome to see a win!! I saw Lazar in the Flames instagram feed for the game warmup, did he play? If so how did he look?

[Geeoff]

I've not heard any rumors of Kylington having attitude issues. I feel like Kylington is one of those players, like Matt Barzal, who dropped in the draft because he was on the radar for so long, so scouts began to nitpick his game. He's looking like a 1st round talent we got in the 2nd round.

I think he's being used just fine and is playing well in the minutes he is given. *shrug*

[GranteedEV]

I actually agree that Kylington has been underutilized. I'm not saying he should be in our top 4 but I have watched enough of him both in the NHL and AHL to know that him never being on the PK reeks of him not being evaluated for what he is right now. The fact that Kylington didn't get any special teams minutes in preseason really struck a red flag with me that the organization is not really interested in seeing what he can do because they still see him as the player he was at age 17.

To me the reason for this is straightforward - Ryan Huska has coached Kylington every year Kylington has been in the league and by being so close to the player during his developmental years in a mens league, is unable to step back and look at how far he has come. We had no problem giving Valimaki PK minutes even when he was making some egreggious errors yet Kylington has yet to spend a minute on the PK. Andersson hasn't been an especially good PKer either, yet sees time there even to the extent of costing us the Washington game.

It's absurd to say Kylington has character flaws but absolutely valid to identify that there is a constant double standard with him regardless of actual performance. It really isn't avout Giordano and Hanifin being ahead of him but rather that he is getting kid gloves that neither Valimaki or Andersson are getting - even though he's been no worse than either and in ways more steady.

[imeubu]

This is hearsay and anecdotal. It’s worthless. George Johnson wrote a feature on Kylington a couple weeks ago, and it paints a picture of a very well grounded young man and an organisation which values him immensely.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/fans/flam...priceoffreedom
If you have not already read it, you should. There is nothing else to see here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Textcritic;6994576]He is 21-year-old rookie defenseman and he is playing for the #2 team in the entire League. Your expectations are too high.


Actually it was that article that got me commenting originally. I saw that as someone trying to introduce balance into what was at that point (is) an unbalanced "book" on Oliver. That he is at heart a great kid.

I was because of the article that I got motivated to start stirring the pot a bit in chat rooms. I truly think this young man is that "special" and that all efforts to point this out and rally behind him should be made by Calgary Fans.

I've got the Rogers NHL Live and can review every shift he has had... and I have. If you want to see "super talent" do just that. Just follow him and watch him off the puck. He is unbelievable, head on a swivel, seeing 5 seconds ahead, even under multi-player press, keeping two offensive players in his sight and reacting just in time to prevent what no other Flame on the ice was seeing. Then with the puck... wow! Even the color/play-by-play from the visiting teams are commenting... but not the Flames broadcast team.

It's almost like here in Calgary we see him completely differently.

Obvious to me (what do I know) at least that he is being coached/managed as "high risk". He is hearing... "be careful out there" and not feeling like he is free to "go for it and show us what you've got".

[Geeoff]

I gotta say, it's nice to have players on our bottom pairing that have the potential to be future top 4 defensemen instead of players on our bottom pairing that have the potential to be out of the league next year

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by imeubu

Or not.

Or not what? I don't understand what you are talking about.

Did you read Johnson's piece?

Originally Posted by George Johnson

the silky-skilled defenceman truly does understand the abundance of his blessings: A sizeable, close-knit family back home. An upwardly trending career in the National Hockey League for an organization which values his abilities. Good salary. First-class travel. All the perks of being a professional athlete.

"You look at the way we all live," he says, scanning the room, "and … no complaints. None at all."

Originally Posted by imeubu

If everyone agrees no one is making waves. I've watched good talent get mismanaged a lot... there is never anything so good that mismanagement can't screw it up every time.

But that does not mean that every talented prospect who his easing his way into the NHL is being "mismanaged." I see absolutely nothing askew with how the Flames have handled Kylington. Quite to the contrary: they had him already playing professional games in North America as an 18-year-old in his draft + 1 season.

As for "rumors" I'm saying for sure... no question... there have been many "observations" made over the past couple of years. To me that may very well signal there are real "concerns" (strong personality, cockiness, coach-ability, character and work ethic). faAll very common for younger players, none of which should be facilitated the NHL level. That's a given.

I am honestly confused by all of this. What "observations"? What should not be "facilitated"? What is "given"?

Kent Nielson for example was someone who had enormous talent and off-setting issues.

How is this relevant?

It's obvious Kylington is "young" and it is obvious that "the organization is taking it's time".

I've waited for while now and have not seen anyone comment.

Comment about what? What exactly are you expecting here?

What I do not agree with specifically is that he has been given "plenty of opportunity". That is precisely my point. He is an ideal player for special teams. I'm saying that I personally am convinced he has more skill (not even close) than others who are getting all that ice time as well as being extra shifted.

But this is your opinion about a player that you watch on television or at a distance from a seat in an arena. There are manifold reasons for why a 21-year-old first year NHL defenseman is being sheltered and limited in his usage. You will need a hell of a lot more than your own impressions to convince anyone of "mismanagement."

So my question is (rhetorical I'm not necessarily arguing here) WTH? My spidy-senses tell me it is most likely a "fit" issue about things other than on-ice talent.

The answer to your question is "this is pretty normal."

You're not Spiderman. I suggest what you are sensing is more likely to stem from something you ate.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by imeubu

What I do not agree with specifically is that he has been given "plenty of opportunity". That is precisely my point. He is an ideal player for special teams. I'm saying that I personally am convinced he has more skill (not even close) than others who are getting all that ice time as well as being extra shifted.

Are you saying that you're better at player development than Peters and the Flames organization?

Originally Posted by imeubu

So my question is (rhetorical I'm not necessarily arguing here) WTH? My spidy-senses tell me it is most likely a "fit" issue about things other than on-ice talent.

Maybe you were bitten by a spider. Maybe even a radioactive one. But I don't think that imbues any special powers on the victim. Best get it checked.

Honestly, you're all over the place with wild assumptions and guessing. You started with the premise that Kylington should be getting more opportunities and then made up a crazy story to reach that conclusion.

[Geeoff]

The Flames already have T.J. Brodie "going for it and showing what's he's got." I think it might be difficult to have 2 defensemen on the team playing that way?

[oldschoolcalgary]

Count me as confused...

kid is a 21 year old playing arguably the hardest position - defenseman, in the toughest league in the world.

Kylington is being eased into the world of being in the NHL...nothing worse than throwing a kid to the wolves and having him implode.

you can have all the talent in the world and not succeed in the NHL without any personal issues.

[imeubu]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think you’re substantially overstating Kylington’s talent (even though it is good he isn’t Nik Lidstrom or anything) and therefore interpreting his usage as some other issue at play when in fact, he kinda isn’t really as good as you think he is- especially defensively where he makes the odd mistake.

Thank you. Your opinion (in my opinion) is precisely what I think most people think. It is why I wrote.

I'm saying precisely that it is not only incorrect but that it is so egregiously incorrect (of course I could be wrong about this ) that I had to write... if only so I can be re-directed in my thinking.

I would not have written had I thought there was only a "slight difference" in what is reality and what is common perception.

I'm saying (now find myself over-stating) exactly this: "Kylington is extra special and has the kind of enormous potential (skill wise only at this point and albeit absent physical size/strength comparisons, injury, coachability etc....) we don't see very often.

[oldschoolcalgary]

weird... dbl post

[oldschoolcalgary]

triple post...sorry

[Red]

I think you guys are getting punked.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GeoRock

Guys, I'm out of country.. awesome to see a win!! I saw Lazar in the Flames instagram feed for the game warmup, did he play? If so how did he look?

He didn’t play.

[imeubu]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think you’re substantially overstating Kylington’s talent (even though it is good he isn’t Nik Lidstrom or anything) and therefore interpreting his usage as some other issue at play when in fact, he kinda isn’t really as good as you think he is- especially defensively where he makes the odd mistake.

Thank you. Your opinion (in my opinion) is precisely what I think most people think. It is why I wrote.

I'm saying that IMO that "most people in Calgary" are incorrect about this... and that IMO so egregiously incorrect (of course I could be wrong about this ) that I needed to write... if only so I can be re-directed in my thinking.

I'm saying that I don't think I am overrating him and that I'm amazed at how obviously out of step I am with all you other experts out there.

[Textcritic]

Why is everyone posting duplicate (triplicate) posts in this thread?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Strange. It’s not like the Kylington hasn’t been given good ice time. Peters gave Kylington over 12 minutes vs Pitt, that seems pretty good for a bottom pairing D.

Maybe he could be used more but he’s not in the top 4. Sometimes you have to wait your turn. Meantime, playing consistently with the opportunity given won’t go by unnoticed.

Noting seems amiss.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why is everyone posting duplicate (triplicate) posts in this thread?

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by imeubu

Thank you. Your opinion (in my opinion) is precisely what I think most people think. It is why I wrote.

I'm saying that IMO that "most people in Calgary" are incorrect about this... and that IMO so egregiously incorrect (of course I could be wrong about this ) that I needed to write... if only so I can be re-directed in my thinking.

I'm saying that I don't think I am overrating him and that I'm amazed at how obviously out of step I am with all you other experts out there.

It's not other fans you need to convince, though, so I worry you're misdirecting your efforts. I suggest an email to william.peters@flames.com outlining your ideas. Don't forget to mention the bat signal you received.

[3thirty]

Some agents use twitter, some use message boards?