Notes from Dec 30 practice - Raymond likely scratched against the Oilers

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

for a guy with so much speed i thought he may thrive in the way this team plays. However, he's just too soft and unwilling to use his speed to disrupt plays on the forecheck or to challenge a defender with his speed. plays have also just died on his stick far too many times.

hopefully he uses the time as a scratch wisely and comes back hungry.

Needs to get back to playing his game. You could see it last night, too many Hudler, JG button hooks, quick stops inside the blue line when carrying the puck in.

He's a fast north / south player, not visionary east west playmaker type like Hudler and JG. Needs to remember what makes him successful and that's using his speed to get to the net with or without the puck. Hopefully sitting in the box will remind him, and he'll stop trying to imitate the things some of our currently more successful players are doing.

[SuperMatt18]

The other guy that could maybe see some time in the pressbox is Byron. Don't think he has been great lately either.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The other guy that could maybe see some time in the pressbox is Byron. Don't think he has been great lately either.

I agree. Don't think he's necessarily been bad but doesn't seem like he's giving 110% anymore. When he's not being an Energizer Bunny, as Hartley puts it, he really doesn't add much

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Raymond>Bollig

Raymond>Ramo

[Locke]

Raymond really needs some time to get his game together. He has been a shadow of his former self.

[1991 Canadian]

I'm a bit surprised by this. I thought Raymond was alright last night. Mind you, he's been invisible for the other games he's been back so this is a fair decision.

[Murph]

Two Backlund questions now that he is medically cleared:

1. How long can the Flames keep him on IR if he is practicing with main group?

2. Any word on how much conditioning he will get before he plays?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Locke

Raymond really needs some time to get his game together. He has been a shadow of his former self.

I agree but is the press box really the place to do it? He's had 16 or so games to watch from the side lines. He needs to play and get his confidence back. Maybe playing on the 4th line is exactly where he needs to be right now... less pressure but still playing.

Do we really need Bollig in the upcoming Oilers game?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I agree but is the press box really the place to do it? He's had 16 or so games to watch from the side lines. He needs to play and get his confidence back. Maybe playing on the 4th line is exactly where he needs to be right now... less pressure but still playing.

Do we really need Bollig in the upcoming Oilers game?

There's a possibility McGrattan could play if the Oilers decide to dress Gazdic.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I agree but is the press box really the place to do it? He's had 16 or so games to watch from the side lines. He needs to play and get his confidence back. Maybe playing on the 4th line is exactly where he needs to be right now... less pressure but still playing.

Do we really need Bollig in the upcoming Oilers game?

Maybe not, but neither is games we NEED to win.

After a big losing streak we've got to patch together some wins, and the Oilers arent a team we can afford to take lightly.

Every team in the league takes two points off of the Oilers and we cannot afford to leave any points on the table just to keep pace.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Murph

Two Backlund questions now that he is medically cleared:

1. How long can the Flames keep him on IR if he is practicing with main group?

2. Any word on how much conditioning he will get before he plays?

He's not medically cleared to play, he's simply cleared for contact in practice. They're not the same thing.

[sureLoss]

Hiller confirmed starter for tomorrow

[Split98]

Is Potter still with the team, or was he sent down again?

Really wish they gave him (ANYONE) a shot on that terrible 3rd pairing.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Split98

Is Potter still with the team, or was he sent down again?

Really wish they gave him (ANYONE) a shot on that terrible 3rd pairing.

Potter is still with the team. Smid, while cleared for practice, has been given time off to be with his wife and newborn (and premature) twins.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I agree but is the press box really the place to do it? He's had 16 or so games to watch from the side lines. He needs to play and get his confidence back. Maybe playing on the 4th line is exactly where he needs to be right now... less pressure but still playing.

Do we really need Bollig in the upcoming Oilers game?

always earned never given.
Bolling has done nothing to warrant sitting ahead of Raymond. Being scratched has proven effective this season, maybe it's just what he needs to get him to play with a little more desperation and grit.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Potter is still with the team. Smid, while cleared for practice, has been given time off to be with his wife and newborn (and premature) twins.

Thank you.

Hopefully Engelland or Diaz has a spot in the box soon.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by Split98

Is Potter still with the team, or was he sent down again?

Really wish they gave him (ANYONE) a shot on that terrible 3rd pairing.

Whilst I'm not saying they have been good by any stretch, the last ES goal against that pairing when they were on the ice was the 1st by LA at the Staples Centre and I think we can all say that was on Hiller.

In fact, I'm struggling to remember the last time that pair(be it Smid, Engelland or Diaz, or any combination of the 3) was the result of a goal against us. Yes I know they are playing barely 10 minutes a night against the weakest opposition, but the fact is, they haven't been that bad for a while now I don't think.

I've noticed Diaz far more in the last 4-5 games, joining the rush, not getting caught with the puck, limiting his turnovers. Engelland also seems more comfortable recently as well. Like I said, I know they are getting low, sheltered minutes, but when they've been on the ice of late, they haven't cost us. Which for a very limited trio of players is all you can ask for I think.

[browna]

Zero problem with the third pair. Have been pretty solid and not given up many goals this past stretch, and that's all you can ask.

These are 5th and 6th defenseman for this team, but well traveled vets who can and proven before that they fill a role. As such, they do need ice time and do need to play a certain amount of time per game and on a game to game basis to be/look comfortable.

Looks like the coaching staff has found the sweet spot as far as time on ice goes, and keeping them together over this stretch of games, as they have since Smid's absence, has stopped some of the clumsiness and rustiness seen before.

[sureLoss]

Hartley says Backlund is close, but refused to give a timeline on return.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Split98

Thank you.

Hopefully Engelland or Diaz has a spot in the box soon.

Really? The last couple of games they've actually been pretty solid. Granted that's not hard to do against Edmonton, but against the Kings they didn't make any glaring mistakes. Diaz in particular was pretty solid in clearing the puck out of the zone, I thought it was possibly his best game of the season. He's come a long way from treating the puck like a live grenade earlier in the year