Which of the Flame Big Three (Training Camp 2009) has best Playoffs?

[Machiavelli]

Phaneuf is the best player, so I choose him.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

How in the world did we manage to F-up and miss the F-ing playoffs with a team that had a defense consisting of:

25 year old Dion Phaneuf
26 year old Jay Bouwmeester
29 year old Robyn Regehr
30 year old Cory Sarich
25 year old Mark Giordano

??

Too much cap hit for that top 4 defense, not enough for forwards?
Brent Sutter?

Unbelievable.

unwillingness to budge on dmen pairings was one of the most annoying things during that period. regehr/phaneuf was a forced pairing that just didn't work, yet the coaching staff was unwilling to budge.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Nobody has opinions on how our old heros will do?

I don't care about any of those guys. Don't see what's special about them. Were people tracking Lydman's career after he left? Or Cory Stillman's?

The only former Flames I've ever followed with even the vaguest interest were the ones from the Cup winning roster.

[ricardodw]

Nice article on Bouwmeester getting ready for the playoffs:

Added teammate Chris Stewart: "He's really added a lot of composure to our [defense] core.

It will be interesting if the Blues players will appreciate him so much when he maintains that composure when someone knocks him off the puck or runs their goalie.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

How in the world did we manage to F-up and miss the F-ing playoffs with a team that had a defense consisting of:

25 year old Dion Phaneuf
26 year old Jay Bouwmeester
29 year old Robyn Regehr
30 year old Cory Sarich
25 year old Mark Giordano

??

Too much cap hit for that top 4 defense, not enough for forwards?
Brent Sutter?

Unbelievable.

Brent Sutter should feel shame for failing with that d-core.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Pretty sure I read here that Voynov is the Kings top d-man. The Doughty pair is clearly the 2nd unit.

Lombardi seems to think that the two young guys are clearly his top two d-men, and if you listen to him he seems to value them both quite equally.

But you’ve got Voynov and Drew playing clearly expanded roles. You know this is the first time in Drew’s case where he’s killing penalties, he’s not being sheltered; he’s playing against top players. His minutes have grown, and the same with Voynov. So you start there, with your top guys, and you watch the evolution of that. Eventually (at the end) the role you envisioned with those two, to be your Sutter-Chelios, Niedermayer-Pronger type-thing, where those are two top guys. But both of them are still very young. So they’ve kind of been accelerated into that role – and overall, I think they’re handling it very well.

Or this article from a Kings fan actually watching the games.

http://holdthepoint.com/2013/03/10/whos-1-defense/

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Lombardi seems to think that the two young guys are clearly his top two d-men, and if you listen to him he seems to value them both quite equally.



Or this article from a Kings fan actually watching the games.

http://holdthepoint.com/2013/03/10/whos-1-defense/

There is a considerable difference in what a GM thinks and what the coach thinks.

It has been Doughty as #1 without a doubt then Scuderi, Regehr and Voynov.


Regehr has been playing exactly like what the Flames desperately need.

[ricardodw]

Last night both Phanuef and Bouwmeester were prominent in the game winning OT goal...... not in a good way

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

There is a considerable difference in what a GM thinks and what the coach thinks.

It has been Doughty as #1 without a doubt then Scuderi, Regehr and Voynov.


Regehr has been playing exactly like what the Flames desperately need.

Yeah, in deciding a defenceman's value to the team, I like to look at TOI first. In last night's game Doughty led with 33:37 with Regehr second at 25:10. Regehr gains ice time by playing with Doughty though so I wouldn't rank him second but he's been playing great. Voynov played 24:21 and I don't know much about him but to my observation in these playoffs, Doughty looks as easily the #1 defenceman, playing against the best competition.

[ah123]

TO media starting to notice Phaneuf's constant mistakes

Phaneuf is 28. He’s been in the league eight seasons, yet continues to make the same mistakes as when he arrived.
The longer Phaneuf stays on the ice, the greater the chance one of those egregious decisions leads to a loss. He played 31:14 on Wednesday – minutes worthy of a No. 1 defenceman – and should not.

The plan should include quietly putting Phaneuf on the trade market no later than the NHL draft at the end of June. Nonis will not hit a home run with a trade, nor should he expect to thanks to Phaneuf’s erratic play.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle11839336/


Do we see a trade at the draft with Phaneuf & Luongo as principals?

[STAMPEDRED]

Originally Posted by ah123

TO media starting to notice Phaneuf's constant mistakes





http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...ticle11839336/


Do we see a trade at the draft with Phaneuf & Luongo as principals?

Wow I would love to see that happen!

[Yoho]

[QUOTE=ah123;4243408]TO media starting to notice Phaneuf's constant mistakes


This is awesome stuff from the article!


"A Leaf comeback against the battle-hardened, superior Bruins is as likely as Phaneuf developing hockey sense. His decision on Wednesday to pinch and go for the big hit cost his team the game and probably the series. Nice of Phaneuf to take the blame, but his body of work is the deeper problem."

[Bertuzzied]

I would take Regehr back here next year if he makes $2.5mil or under.

Our butler soft team needs someone like him.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

I would take Regehr back here next year if he makes $2.5mil or under.

Our butler soft team needs someone like him.

Might cost a bit more after the playoffs Regehr is having,, especially if LA gets through this round.

Willie Mitchell signed a 2 year contract extension for 3.5/year in Feb last year .... before his play in the SC run.

A bit more offense from Mitchell.... but Regehr is tougher and basically covering for both Mitchell and Greene in the King's line-up.

[jlh2640]

Bouw has looked great, Dion has looked like Dion. And Regehr looks mean and nasty like he used too.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Last night both Phanuef and Bouwmeester were prominent in the game winning OT goal...... not in a good way

That goal the kings scored was far from Bouws fault.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah, in deciding a defenceman's value to the team, I like to look at TOI first. In last night's game Doughty led with 33:37 with Regehr second at 25:10. Regehr gains ice time by playing with Doughty though so I wouldn't rank him second but he's been playing great. Voynov played 24:21 and I don't know much about him but to my observation in these playoffs, Doughty looks as easily the #1 defenceman, playing against the best competition.

Doughty and Voynov are definately No 1 and 2, but Regehr is definately playing solid top 4 minutes and a key in LA's run. Unlike what many people (want to) believe, Regehr is not washed up and he wasn't washed up 6 years ago / too slow / too outdated for the new NHL and is still a top 4 defenseman that can play on the top pairing on a Cup contending team.

And Regehr isn't coming back, especially not with this management still in place. He'll get north of $3M, especially with the playoff's he's having.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Bouw has looked great, Dion has looked like Dion. And Regehr looks mean and nasty like he used too.

Where would you put "Bouw" in the rankings of St. L D-men?

I have him ahead of Leopold.... But Bouwmeester has been playing with Pieterangelo who has been outstanding.

Jackman and Polak have been warriors. Has Bouwmeester outplayed Shattenkirk?

Somehow it always comes back that Bouwmeester is eating up a lot of minutes and skates well.

Both Bouwmeester and Pietroangelo have been taking a beating and will have to pick up their energy tonight in LA.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

That goal the kings scored was far from Bouws fault.

How so?

Was it Peitrangelo's fault?

There was 3 on 2 that the Kings made into a 2 on 1 on Bouwmeester (good choice on their part).

Bouw. was in the middle waved his stick at Kopitar and missed leaving Voynov alone in on Elliot. He never challenged either Kopitar or Voynov.... He skated backwards very very well.

Most 3 on 2 s the defense wins.


I wasn't Phanuef's fault on the Bruins goal.. After he ran out of position and blocked 2 of the forwards from getting back.... Riemer still could have stopped it!!

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How so?

Was it Peitrangelo's fault?

There was 3 on 2 that the Kings made into a 2 on 1 on Bouwmeester (good choice on their part).

Bouw. was in the middle waved his stick at Kopitar and missed leaving Voynov alone in on Elliot. He never challenged either Kopitar or Voynov.... He skated backwards very very well.

Most 3 on 2 s the defense wins.


I wasn't Phanuef's fault on the Bruins goal.. After he ran out of position and blocked 2 of the forwards from getting back.... Riemer still could have stopped it!!

Although I agree that Bouw didnt challenge Kopitar enough, Voynov was the trailer and I still put the blame on the forwards for not getting the puck deep on the rush and then lazy backchecking on the counter attack.