[PGT] Flames vs. Oilers. Flames lose 4-2.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

Agreed! In the first few years of the rebuild I would rather be tougher and grittier than to have a top 9 that can't play on the boards...

Stajan is playing with tons of Jam lately but he gets pushed around... Someone should have jumped Benn when he accidentally knocked down Hudler. Regardless if Benn can throw down with the best of them

And this is why Galiardi was also a good trade. He is not likely to be part of the answer long term, but he at least adds some decent size, energy, and a bit of grit while we wait for the kids to develop.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Vedder

Lost all respect for Ference too. For a veteran guy like that to bloody a non-fighter was despicable. The lack of response from both the refs and the Flames was pretty shameful too.

Next time out, somebody needs to feed Ference his teeth.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Next time out, somebody needs to feed Ference his teeth.

Nope, just grab Hall or Nugent Hopkins and start pounding them.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I really liked what the Flames did at the draft keeping all 3 first round picks. Also am very pleased with all 3 selections in the first round. I liked the trades for Galliardi, Russell, Colborne, Knight, Smid. The flames are in year 1 of a long rebuild. The team needs another high end prospect or 2. Ekblad/Reinhart would be huge moving forward. The flames have ample cap space, contract room, and are not locked into any bad contracts right now.

I think the Flames should commit to selling soon and load up on assets. Continue to pursue deals similar to the Smid trade to replace the veterans that are going out for picks. The Flames will have significant cap space, draft picks, and tradeable contracts to make a lot of noise this summer if they play their cards right. Feaster has positioned this team to have near maximum flexibility which is ideal for a rebuilding team.

Having said that I am okay replacing him at anytime with Burke taking over or Burke bringing in Regier

Galliardi, Russell, Colborne, Knight, Smid

IMO

I like Russell and Smid.

Galiardi and Jones are roster fillers that the team needed. Guy that have NHL experience and force the kids to outplay them and take their spots.

Colborne IMO is one of those kids. I am hot/cold on him. His physical attributes are a good addition to the team, and he mostly plays smart.

Russell was a steal, and only a team like the Blues would see him as surplus.

Not sure what to make of Knight. AHL reports seem promising.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by AC

Sounds like we're starting Berra again on Monday.

Scott Cruickshank ‏@CruickshankCH
#Flames starting Berra in Wpg. #nhlpn

I think Ramo should be starting though, you can't force a number one to emerge.

I just can't figure out Bob Hartley decision making lately. I don't have preference on who should start in goal but it is ridiculous that he keeps on starting a goalie who lost the last few games. Why not switch goalie to see if you will have different response from the other player? I am not blaming Berra 100% on those loses but still... why not change goalie?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by AC

Sounds like we're starting Berra again on Monday.

Scott Cruickshank ‏@CruickshankCH
#Flames starting Berra in Wpg. #nhlpn

I think Ramo should be starting though, you can't force a number one to emerge.

I think Malarchuk has a man crush on Berra and full on believes he is the real deal. Actually it's become apparent the coaching staff are giving full sail to Berra and will take the lumps and losses to get him fully prepped for the future. Ramo should be getting starts but theyre going to ride Berra either to success or into the ground. at least thats how it appears as Berra is getting the starts after some bad losses.

[moon]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Russell was a GREAT trade. No matter what way you look at it. Blues fans I've heard from are kicking themselves a bit at that one.

Kikcing themselves about what?

He isn't a better option than Bouw, Pietrangelo, Jackman, Shattenkirk, Polak or Leopold and isn't better than their 7th guy Cole.

He was on waivers and nobody in the league wanted him.

What exactly do they think they should/could have got for him? Or did they want him for their 8th defenseman?

[BlackWallStreet]

I was at the game with my friend who's an oilers fan. Rough night

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Next time out, somebody needs to feed Ference his teeth.

Even Elliot Friedman expected the Flames to answer. He felt that story was not over... but it was.

Modern NHL players are a lot of 'clock punchers' as we like to say in the real world. They would rather sell sugar water to fat kids than risk messing up their pretty faces.

I am no fighter, but if a competitor roughed up my coworker I would do what I could to stop it.

There are some really concerning traits coming out in this team that coaches better fix fast before they grow roots. What happened to Stemp is not the first example. Berra was run a few games ago. Hudler got crushed when he was skating w/o puck against the Stars.

What did the Flames do? Jack and Gratts can't beat up Benn or Ference. Flames don't need to be killing penalties. And Bouma or Smid can't flatten someone with a clean hit when they are playing against lines 3-4.

This team needs more Truculence. It needs a physical player on every line and every d pairing. That's life in the NHL West.

I don't mean a goon, but a solid skilled tough player on every line.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think Malarchuk has a man crush on Berra and full on believes he is the real deal. Actually it's become apparent the coaching staff are giving full sail to Berra and will take the lumps and losses to get him fully prepped for the future. Ramo should be getting starts but theyre going to ride Berra either to success or into the ground. at least thats how it appears as Berra is getting the starts after some bad losses.

Malarchuck said that Berra can be an elite goalie.

If that happens, then Clint is the best goalie couch ever (past/present/future).

[theoforever]

Flames dominated for most of the game. Monahan got a goal.
Berra made some good saves. Interview with McGratten was very good.
We are in the first year of rebuild.

Hartley is not the best coach but it could be worse he could be Eakins.
Somebody should have done something about Ference.
We have to get bigger and tougher to play against.

I'm surprised that people are shocked we lost to them.
Fact is the last few games Oil was starting to play better and Flames sucked in the last 2 contests. My fear is that Oil could pull Avs miracle change, give them another one of Reinhart/Ekblad and they just may.

Again why the Feaster hate?

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Malarchuck said that Berra can be an elite goalie.

If that happens, then Clint is the best goalie couch ever (past/present/future).

And if they ruin his confidence by treating him like a workhorse starter rather than a rookie, they'll look like idiots. Why are they so impatient?

[djsFlames]

Even the Avs are falling back down to earth quickly.

Miracle changes don't happen.

[Caged Great]

Berra has all the tools to be an average or better starter. It's just a matter of him putting all those tools together in a cohesive and fluid manner. What he does need is ice time to try and work through all of this. If he does put things together, he could be a very good goalie.

[pikester]

Originally Posted by saillias

I agree... How did Feaster get let off the hook by Flames fans again? We were all ready to fire him after the O'Reilly incident but as soon as he cried "rebuild" we sorta forgot about his body of work. This team, he built this. These are his guys. Call it a rebuild, I see suck.

I'm not really sticking up for Feaster but I don't quite get this line of thinking either. Calgary is literally only 9 months into the rebuild & it seems like some people are expecting immediate results! No one wants or expects the Flames rebuild to be as long or painfully ineffectual as the Oilers rebuild but you have to realise it could take several years to get all the players/prospects required to declare the end of a successful rebuild.

Players who are not "the right fit", who's contracts expire, or simply prospects who don't pan out will be weeded out as new ones filter in over the course of several seasons until the right mixture is found; it doesn't happen in year 1.

There are more teams who take at least a 4-8 year window to gain traction (ala Minnesota, NYI, St. Louis) than teams who can turn things around in 2-3 years. Feaster is GM who might be able to rebuild this team in that 4-8 year time frame. Mind you there are probably only a couple GM/ ownership groups in North America that could take what the Flames have to work with right now & produce a perennial playoff contender in less than 4 years; Feaster is only capable of so much.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Berra has all the tools to be an average or better starter. It's just a matter of him putting all those tools together in a cohesive and fluid manner. What he does need is ice time to try and work through all of this. If he does put things together, he could be a very good goalie.

Agreed. Coaching staff looks like they feel the same way. One thing that separates Berra from Ramo IMO is the composure Berra has. He really needs to reel in his movement though. which is correctable. He overcompensates a ton on his lateral movement. Case in point that crazy good save on Gagner last night. if he limited his movement he would have made that save with his right leg instead of his left while sliding out of the crease. If he can correct that. I think he is golden.

[Henry Fool]

I think Berra is getting points for just having long legs at this point. That potential can't be forced out by making him absorb loss after loss. If they're not more careful, I can easily see him Karlsson out.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by pikester

I'm not really sticking up for Feaster but I don't quite get this line of thinking either. Calgary is literally only 9 months into the rebuild & it seems like some people are expecting immediate results! No one wants or expects the Flames rebuild to be as long or painfully ineffectual as the Oilers rebuild but you have to realise it could take several years to get all the players/prospects required to declare the end of a successful rebuild.

Players who are not "the right fit", who's contracts expire, or simply prospects who don't pan out will be weeded out as new ones filter in over the course of several seasons until the right mixture is found; it doesn't happen in year 1.

There are more teams who take at least a 4-8 year window to gain traction (ala Minnesota, NYI, St. Louis) than teams who can turn things around in 2-3 years. Feaster is GM who might be able to rebuild this team in that 4-8 year time frame. Mind you there are probably only a couple GM/ ownership groups in North America that could take what the Flames have to work with right now & produce a perennial playoff contender in less than 4 years; Feaster is only capable of so much.

Refer to my post after that... Feaster did not start in Calgary and rebuild right off the bat. He tried to stay competitive, made the team soft and small through trades and signings, and then we bottomed out, and THEN he rebuilt.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by saillias

Refer to my post after that... Feaster did not start in Calgary and rebuild right off the bat. He tried to stay competitive, made the team soft and small through trades and signings, and then we bottomed out, and THEN he rebuilt.

He also said that he wouldn't be the GM to rebuild.

[EYE_Overstand]

Teams that had 3-4 rebuild seasons = STL - LA - CHI - NYI - BOS - MIN - PITTS