[GDT] Flames @ Canadiens, 5 pm, SN

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

You must be joking.

Was Jarome Iginla a B- every year because of his slow starts?

Gio was coming off a significant injury, had a new defence partner, and was re-adjusting to the fast pace of the NHL. Now, he's on track to become the first Flames defenseman with 20 goals in the last 10 years.

He has 10 points in his last 8 games. He's one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

Iginla wasn't a B- every year but he definitely wasn't an A every year. Some years he was a C.

B- is a good grade don't know what you think a B- is.

Gio has been great defensively and offensively for half a season, average to terrible defensively for half a season. That doesn't equal a A- in my books.

His start to the season was one of the major contributing factors to the Flamrs struggles, my memory isn't so short that I can only remember the last 30 games.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Iginla wasn't a B- every year but he definitely wasn't an A every year. Some years he was a C.

B- is a good grade don't know what you think a B- is.

Gio has been great defensively and offensively for half a season, average to terrible defensively for half a season. That doesn't equal a A- in my books.

His start to the season was one of the major contributing factors to the Flamrs struggles, my memory isn't so short that I can only remember the last 30 games.

Iginla was never a C, unless you are talking about his sophomore year

[looooob]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Going to this battle of Titans.
More pumped than I should be for this.
I'm wearing Flames, girlfriend in Nords gear and little one in her Price jersey, so we're set.
Go Flames!

We'll be there too!

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Iginla was never a C

Sorry, gotta stop you there

Jarome was ALWAYS the C!

[calgaryblood]

If by always you mean most of the time then yeah.

[The Fonz]

This is a really important loss tonight. May as well lose out all of our road games, and compete in the home games.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

This is a really important loss tonight. May as well lose out all of our road games

[fire_starter]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

This is a really important loss tonight. May as well lose out all of our road games, and compete in the home games.

No way. I want the Flames to win this game for Backstrom. The guy deserves it and it would be such a feel good story if he made a comeback.

[WhiteTiger]

Go Flames go!

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by fire_starter

No way. I want the Flames to win this game for Backstrom. The guy deserves it and it would be such a feel good story if he made a comeback.

Most definitely. It'll be a super cool and extremely meaningful press-clipping to show whatever team drafts in the top 3 when the Flames play them next season.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

Thanks. I like the extra read with the grades. You'll need to do a recap when you finish.
I realize grades are tempered by position and expectation but still way to generous to Engelland imo.

That's fine, you can think that, but from my vantage point Engelland was the only defenseman actually playing defense consistently from game to game in that first 20 games or so. Also, he's even on the plus/minus, which is incredible considering his offensive abilities and the overall team plus/minus (-26). I think that he's performed better than I would have hoped for heading into this season, and he deserves credit for being a regular contributor while only occasionally hurting his team.

Again, I think Engelland gets crapped on because compared to our other defensemen, he's really on the low end for skill, so he looks comparatively bad. He played his heart out this year, and doesn't get enough respect.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

Most definitely. It'll be a super cool and extremely meaningful press-clipping to show whatever team drafts in the top 3 when the Flames play them next season.

These kind of posts are insufferable.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

These kind of posts are insufferable.

Watching the Flames play hockey through October/November/January/February was insufferable.

But yeah, moral victories for goalies that won't be on the team next year are something to be excited about. I get it.

[Otto29]

Frankly I'm excited to see Backstrom play. Its a really great story

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

Watching the Flames play hockey through October/November/January/February was insufferable.

But yeah, moral victories for goalies that won't be on the team next year are something to be excited about. I get it.

It's more about you crapping on Backstrom trying to salvage his career. He's still a person, and he wasn't even given another chance in Minnesota, despite 10+ years of giving them excellent goaltending. I found that whole thing pretty disrespectful to a veteran of his calibre, and even if he can't hack it like he used to, he deserved a chance to at least start 1 game.

So yeah, we're giving him that opportunity because we have nothing to lose at this point in the season. You might just get your wish and he'll be terrible, and the Flames would get the coveted Matthews points. OR, just maybe he'll have a great game, he'll earn another contract somewhere next year, and it will look good on the Flames as an organization to follow through on what they committed to when they traded for him. Hell, maybe he plays well and the Flames STILL lose, and then you'll get what you want, and Backstrom will get what he wants.

Your sarcastic tone that decries the idea of a guy seizing a rare opportunity to get another chance to prove he belongs in the NHL is a little selfish and unbecoming. If you were honestly to get upset at Backstrom doing well here, I don't think I could respect that position.

[saillias]

I would never lose respect for a team making a business decision. The Flames have done it with Raymond and Setoguchi and O'Brien and we were all grateful when it happened. No room for the sentiment of 1 player to come before the needs of the entire org.

[dash_pinched]

It might not matter who the Flames play between the pipes, the Habs are terrible these days.

[DynastyEra]

Very much looking forward to Backstrom getting a start. It helps the young guys realize what they have, and what they're fighting for - seeing a guy like Backstrom trying to re-kindle something. These careers can end in a blink of an eye.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's more about you crapping on Backstrom trying to salvage his career. He's still a person, and he wasn't even given another chance in Minnesota, despite 10+ years of giving them excellent goaltending. I found that whole thing pretty disrespectful to a veteran of his calibre, and even if he can't hack it like he used to, he deserved a chance to at least start 1 game.

So yeah, we're giving him that opportunity because we have nothing to lose at this point in the season. You might just get your wish and he'll be terrible, and the Flames would get the coveted Matthews points. OR, just maybe he'll have a great game, he'll earn another contract somewhere next year, and it will look good on the Flames as an organization to follow through on what they committed to when they traded for him. Hell, maybe he plays well and the Flames STILL lose, and then you'll get what you want, and Backstrom will get what he wants.

Your sarcastic tone that decries the idea of a guy seizing a rare opportunity to get another chance to prove he belongs in the NHL is a little selfish and unbecoming. If you were honestly to get upset at Backstrom doing well here, I don't think I could respect that position.

Fair enough. I appreciate where you are coming from. It's true, I was being rude. But as you noted, the Wild sat Backstrom for over a year for whatever reason. I hope Backstrom gets whatever he's searching for tonight. Maybe he'll stand on his head. Good on him. Doesn't change the fact, that he's going to be remembered as a Wild player when he finally hangs 'em up and I don't really care for the Wild. The only good thing about the Wild is that they don't play the Flames so much anymore.

I'm going to the Bell Centre tonight and I'm going to be cheering for the Flames, so I guess by proxy, I'll be cheering Backstrom.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I would wager a bet to say that no matter the roster spots available if goalies weren't taking up 3 spots they would have brought a D up after Wideman injury.

Also you will have to forgive my ignorance and explain how there is 2 and not 1 roster spot available? 3g+6d+13f= 22 roster spots. I could be missing something though.

Because teams are limited to 4 call ups after the trade deadline, the Flames have been playing at the bare minimum of 12 forwards and 6 defensemen. The Flames have burned 2 call ups with Ortio and Nakladal. Any other player that's been called up has been on an emergency basis and has to be returned as soon as the Flames have a roster player healthy.

As for the roster spot issue, there currently is no limit to the amount of players the Flames can carry right now, so having 3 goalies has no effect on the amount of defense we have. The issue is flying a guy from Stockton to Montreal.