Jan 30 Practice - No Glencross. Flames unlikely to make any lineup changes vs Oilers

[ClubFlames]

I want the Wolf in the lineup just so he can destroy Ference.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Those lines are a hot garbage. Hartley is making this team a one trick pony where the other three teams do their best to not get scored on.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Raymond-Jooris-Colborne
Bollig-Stajan-Byron

The puck gets on the sticks of the bolded players and the puck is as good as lost. Those are all 4th line players and should be distributed as such. The offense needs to be distributed better through out the line up. Something more like this.

Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler
Byron-Monahan-Colborne
Raymond-Backlund-Jones
Bollig-Stajan-Bouma

It is very obvious now just how important a player like Granlund is. He's smart, strong defensively and doesn't hurt you in the offensive zone. Not having him in the lineup right now really hurts IMO. He's a very under rated player.

If the Flames really wanted to make a statement this is the line up would be interesting.

Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler
Baertschi-Monahan-Colborne
Wolf-Backlund-Jones
Byron-Stajan-Bouma

I suspect that Wolf would be a really nice fit with Backlund and make life difficult for the opposition on the fore check. Personally I would rather see Granlund with Gaudreau and Hudler and then move Jooris to the 4th line, bumping one of those guys to the pressbox. I tthink that team would skate the opposition into the ice. Against Edmonton that would be so fun to watch.

[GioforPM]

Won't happen tomorrow or soon, but I'd rather move Jooris to the wing and call up a centre - either Granlund or Shore (yeah, waiver, I know). One of Sven or Wolf has to go down in that case.

[TheKurgan]

Originally Posted by New Era

If the Flames really wanted to make a statement this is the line up would be interesting.

Gaudreau-Jooris-Hudler
Baertschi-Monahan-Colborne
Wolf-Backlund-Jones
Byron-Stajan-Bouma

I suspect that Wolf would be a really nice fit with Backlund and make life difficult for the opposition on the fore check. Personally I would rather see Granlund with Gaudreau and Hudler and then move Jooris to the 4th line, bumping one of those guys to the pressbox. I tthink that team would skate the opposition into the ice. Against Edmonton that would be so fun to watch.

Agree 100% New Era. Would even take it a step further and throw Byron under the bus as well. It's time for Hartley to give some of our younger, more offensively talented players a chance.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hall and Nikitin are missing from the Oilers practice. Making tomorrows game that much easier.

Disagree. Keeping Nikitin on the ice virtually guarantees at least 2 goals against. Pair him up with Schultz and that my friend is a win in the bag.

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

I want the Wolf in the lineup just so he can destroy Ference.

Agreed.

[GioforPM]

It's funny - the Flames are 5-2 in their last 7, have clawed their way back into a PO spot from the December slide, and people want to start experimenting now?

[GranteedEV]

Speaking of the Oilers outside of the E=NG thread, I just noticed Anton Lander seems to have turned things around. Over a PPG in the A, and he's got 7 points and a +1 (which is like a +17 on other teams) in 11 games since being called up. That's gotta be pretty encouraging. Flames need to make sure he's on the top of their scouting report.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Speaking of the Oilers outside of the E=NG thread, I just noticed Anton Lander seems to have turned things around. Over a PPG in the A, and he's got 7 points and a +1 (which is like a +17 on other teams) in 11 games since being called up. That's gotta be pretty encouraging. Flames need to make sure he's on the top of their scouting report.

Well, he had 3 points last night against Buffalo. Prior to that he looked like the tweener/career AHLer that he really is.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Speaking of the Oilers outside of the E=NG thread, I just noticed Anton Lander seems to have turned things around. Over a PPG in the A, and he's got 7 points and a +1 (which is like a +17 on other teams) in 11 games since being called up. That's gotta be pretty encouraging. Flames need to make sure he's on the top of their scouting report.

I wouldn't get carried away. Before last night, against a crappy Sabres team, and his 3 points and plus 3, he was -4 on the season and 4 points (all assists) in 11 games. It is a career season though.

[Resolute 14]

Raymond led the team in shots last night, was second to Gio in blocked shots and was one of our best players on the ice in terms of possession stats. He is not likely to be benched.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Raymond led the team in shots last night, was second to Gio in blocked shots and was one of our best players on the ice in terms of possession stats. He is not likely to be benched.

While blowing passes, tripping over blue lines, shooting the puck from the far side with no chance, and weaker than Bambi.

[dammage79]

Please play Wotherspoon. Please please please.

I feel like it's pure stubborness by the coaching staff to not play Wotherspoon.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Looks like Hiller will get his 3rd straight start.

Hiller actually was not to blame on the lost so I am good with Hartley starting him again.

I hope Wotherspoon finally gets in the lineup. I really want to see what he can do. I am hoping Sven and Wolf gets in too sometime before they send them back to Adirondack. The only reason why I think Raymond can still stay in the lineup next game vs Edmonton was because he played his only best game against them early in the season. Other than that, I would rather see Sven replace him.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Nikitin isn't playing? That sucks.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

While blowing passes, tripping over blue lines, shooting the puck from the far side with no chance, and weaker than Bambi.

There wasn't a player on the ice last night who didn't exhibit some or all of that.

Including the captain.

But yes, I understand that we all hate Mason Raymond because he isn't Sven Baertschi. That doesn't mean the coaching staff are going to suffer from the same sense of confirmation bias as the fans when the guy was objectively one of our best players last night.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

While blowing passes, tripping over blue lines, shooting the puck from the far side with no chance, and weaker than Bambi.

He tripped over the blue line once, true, when he was reaching between his feet for a pass that was a little short. He made no more bad passes than any other guys, with no bad consequences. He missed the net on a couple shots, but also hit the net on 4 as well to lead the team (with Backlund). 2 blocks as well (2nd on the team after Gio).

I didn't think it was as good as the previous game, but it wasn't bad. No worse than pretty much any player other than Gaudreau, who got really good at the end, and Brodie (same).

I think some of you watch Raymond, ignore anything good, and then as soon as he misses a pass, say "Aha!" The one PP he was on he cycled the puck really well with the others for 30 seconds. Then he got blocked and the puck went the other way (like happens on 90% of the Flames PPs these days) and everyone was all "see, he sucks".

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Nikitin isn't playing? That sucks.

But Keith Aulie is playing instead. That's good!

[polak]

Why on earth did we call up Wolf and Sven to have them sit when they could be playing in the AHL...

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by polak

Why on earth did we call up Wolf and Sven to have them sit when they could be playing in the AHL...

Kinda looks like the Flames planned a transaction than didn't pan out.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by polak

Why on earth did we call up Wolf and Sven to have them sit when they could be playing in the AHL...

To learn from the regulars by watching and push them in practice.