Jan 9 Practice: Frolik close to returning; won't play monday, Ferland on top line

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by MBates

In my mind Ferland can and will bring more than that if he keeps building his confidence. I get that these are junior but I think he has more scoring and playmaking talent than many people realize.

http://www.wheatkings.com/video/19635

Not really comparing the two, but Ferland's and Jamis Benn's junior stats were similar.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

@Fan960Willis:

lines at practice:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Bennett-Granlund-Jooris
Colborne/Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

Michael Frolik is practicing with #Flames for first time since injury. He's wearing a no-contact jersey.

It's about goddamn time!

(though it's unlikely Hartley sticks with it long enough to make a difference anyway)

[Samonadreau]

I cant wait till Frolik is back so Hartley has no excuse to try and put Colbourne on the top line.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Granlund and Backlund seem redundant if you have Monahan and Bennett. Stajan locks down the 4th line role but even he could be be replaced by Grant or Arnold soon.

Something is gonna have to give with the centre depth.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Granlund and Backlund seem redundant if you have Monahan and Bennett. Stajan locks down the 4th line role but even he could be be replaced by Grant or Arnold soon.

Something is gonna have to give with the centre depth.

Grant makes both those guys expendable.... 2nd most goals in the AHL and a sick FO%. The guy is all you can ask for in a bottom 6 center.

15G in 22GP

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Grant makes both those guys expendable.... 2nd most goals in the AHL and a sick FO%. The guy is all you can ask for in a bottom 6 center.

15G in 22GP

I still have hopes for Granlund and Arnold, but fans have a strong bias towards a team's draft picks over players who transfer in. I'd personally rather have Grant on the team at the moment, especially based on his showing earlier this year and the A games I've seen.

[tvp2003]

Not putting pressure on him but if they can scrape together some chemistry this could be Ferland's ticket to a permanent top-6 role. Hope they can make it work.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

@Fan960Willis:

lines at practice:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Bennett-Granlund-Jooris
Colborne/Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

Michael Frolik is practicing with #Flames for first time since injury. He's wearing a no-contact jersey.

Call me crazy, but i'd like to see Bennett on the top line.
Bennett-Monahan-Ferland
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Granlund-Jooris
Colborne/Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

That top line isn't generating much lately and other teams focus on it.
Johnny thrives in an underdog roll, so putting him on the second would motivate him, plus he can make lesser players better. Bennett would benefit having a more talented centre. It also make matching up of lines more difficult for opposing teams.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Call me crazy, but i'd like to see Bennett on the top line.
Bennett-Monahan-Ferland
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Granlund-Jooris
Colborne/Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

Really don't agree with Gaudreau being put on a checking line and Bennett still at wing.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Really don't agree with Gaudreau being put on a checking line and Bennett still at wing.

The last thing we need is two 30 point pluggers stifling our best player.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Grant makes both those guys expendable.... 2nd most goals in the AHL and a sick FO%. The guy is all you can ask for in a bottom 6 center.

15G in 22GP

Grant has shown he is one of those guys who puts up strong AHL numbers but can't bring his game to an NHL level. He is a career AHL guy imo.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Call me crazy, but i'd like to see Bennett on the top line.
Bennett-Monahan-Ferland
Gaudreau-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Granlund-Jooris
Colborne/Raymond-Stajan-Bollig

That top line isn't generating much lately and other teams focus on it.
Johnny thrives in an underdog roll, so putting him on the second would motivate him, plus he can make lesser players better. Bennett would benefit having a more talented centre. It also make matching up of lines more difficult for opposing teams.

Switch Granlund with Backlund. Backlund kills offensive plays.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Grant has shown he is one of those guys who puts up strong AHL numbers but can't bring his game to an NHL level. He is a career AHL guy imo.

I thought he looked fantastic in his call up. 4th liner at best but a pretty good one

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I thought he looked fantastic in his call up. 4th liner at best but a pretty good one

He looked good banging bodies around but any time he has been given a shot in the NHL it has translated to no scoring. As a 4th line C I could handle it but Stajan is better. Putting Grant anywhere in the top 9 is not a good idea.

[t0rrent98]

A little ahead of myself but what time do the practices start again for both teams? I went last year but forgot what both went on and off the ice. I'm looking at going to the Florida practice to get Luongo's autograph and possibly Hiller's/Ramo's.

Wasn't able to get Lu's siggy last year as he wasn't on the ice due to him playing in Van the njght before and them having optional skate. Possibly get him to sign a replica mask he wore when he first went to the Canucks and a Florida Key Chain Hat. Might bring my Hiller shirt as well if he's gonna be on the ice.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

A little ahead of myself but what time do the practices start again for both teams? I went last year but forgot what both went on and off the ice. I'm looking at going to the Florida practice to get Luongo's autograph and possibly Hiller's/Ramo's.

Wasn't able to get Lu's siggy last year as he wasn't on the ice due to him playing in Van the njght before and them having optional skate. Possibly get him to sign a replica mask he wore when he first went to the Canucks and a Florida Key Chain Hat. Might bring my Hiller shirt as well if he's gonna be on the ice.

If someone can confirm, but it's usually 10:00-11:00 I think...

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Switch Granlund with Backlund. Backlund kills offensive plays.

Backlund is also way too soft to be playing with Gaudreau. Granlund isn't much better, but at least he isn't afraid of being hit.

I would like for Hartley to just have some patience and actually try to form a second line instead of giving up on combinations after 1 game.

To me, Bennett and Ferland seem like a pretty straight forward line combination. Both players possess enough talent to play in the top 6 and both players are strong in the corner and play a physical game. I have yet to see Hartley try them for any appreciable period of time. Why not give them 10 games to see if they mesh?

There is too much emphasis on the short term goal of making the playoffs this year and not enough emphasis on building a team that is formidable for years to come. Now is the time to be discovering and forming line combinations, not trying to make a temporary second line out of fringe NHL players that will be lucky to be in the league in 5 years (Colborne, Backlund, Granlund if he doesn't start showing more) and then giving up on the line when it doesn't put up a goal in the first game.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Grant has shown he is one of those guys who puts up strong AHL numbers but can't bring his game to an NHL level. He is a career AHL guy imo.

has he ever been given a scoring role in the NHL...nobody scores much on the fourth line

[codynw]

Originally Posted by dino7c

has he ever been given a scoring role in the NHL...nobody scores much on the fourth line

This seems to happen a lot. Guy lights up the AHL, never gets anything more than 4th line minutes in the NHL. Coaches can be very stubborn.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Grant makes both those guys expendable.... 2nd most goals in the AHL and a sick FO%. The guy is all you can ask for in a bottom 6 center.

15G in 22GP

Grant makes Backlund expendable!?! Backlund is 13 months older than Grant and has 300 more NHL games played, how in the world does that make Backlund expendable. I'm not even a Backlund fan but that is crazy talk.

It's fine and dandy that Grant has the 2nd most goals in the A and a good FO%. What do you think Backlund would do if he was sent down there? It would be a man against boys.