What is a realistic way of Improving the Calgary Flames ?

[soulchoice]

I still dont see a reason as to why Freddie Hamilton is on the squad. Give the young guys on the heat a chance to play a game or two. Even if they slot in the lineup every second game is that such a bad thing. For example rotate one of them with Stajan/Lazar sitting out the odd game.

At least one of the younger guys have an upside and can have a taste of the action. Maybe they will grab the reigns and give a reason to stay up. This of which Freddie Hamilton has not shown he is any more than a warm body. He brings nothing to the table besides sitting out, which is what he should be grateful for.

Note, not that the 13th forward will have such an impact to change the Flames fortunes, but at least it gives a young guy a chance to play 40-50 games a year in the show.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Karl

Heh, if only it was that easy. Lazar should not be playing. He's hopeless too.

All of Stajan, Freddie and Lazar are just unplayable.

I know, it's unfortunate that Stajan has regressed, but both he and Brouwer are frankly not playing at an NHL level right now, nor are Hamilton or Lazar. Can't do much about any of them right now in terms of their contracts, but not having them being dead weight is also a benefit. They and the third line have dragged the team down for most of the season. Jankowski has helped the third line immensely, but it still hasn't been getting offensive results despite their improved play.

The Flames could carry a third extra forward and keep Stajan in the press box, but that would mean sending Bartkowski down instead.

Calgary simply needs to do something to shake things up. The kids that have come up, Jankowski, Gillies, and Rittich, have all played well enough in their short time up here. With Stockton having many different prospects playing well, they need to promote more players. Certain prospects are getting to an age where we need to see if they will develop into NHL players as well like Poirier/Klimchuk.

I'd also keep Lazar only due to the fact he's young and still has potential.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The 3rd line needs to get going. In my opinion that's the biggest area that needs to be addressed. I would be interested in what a Brodie+Sam package could get you in the way of a young winger with proven scoring touch.
But there is risk in a deal like that. I think Brodie is more important than we may realize in terms of getting the puck to guys like Johnny in transition. And there is risk that Sam blows up with a change of scenery
But those are the two pieces that I see having value that could net you.a forward that gives you 3 lines that can do something.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I know, it's unfortunate that Stajan has regressed, but both he and Brouwer are frankly not playing at an NHL level right now, nor are Hamilton or Lazar. Can't do much about any of them right now in terms of their contracts, but not having them being dead weight is also a benefit. They and the third line have dragged the team down for most of the season. Jankowski has helped the third line immensely, but it still hasn't been getting offensive results despite their improved play.

The Flames could carry a third extra forward and keep Stajan in the press box, but that would mean sending Bartkowski down instead.

Calgary simply needs to do something to shake things up. The kids that have come up, Jankowski, Gillies, and Rittich, have all played well enough in their short time up here. With Stockton having many different prospects playing well, they need to promote more players. Certain prospects are getting to an age where we need to see if they will develop into NHL players as well like Poirier/Klimchuk.

I'd also keep Lazar only due to the fact he's young and still has potential.

Which is precisely why i think having Freddie Hamilton here is a waste of roster space. He has no upside beyond what he brings now. Give a young guy a chance to play the odd game here and there. Especially with the option of sitting Stajan as well. This bodes well for a young prospect to get in approx 40-50 games a year.

[topfiverecords]

Honestly, why even play the 4th line. Aside from Jagr, everyone else in the top 9 should be able to handle 20 mins of ice time just fine.

If Frolik can play the left side, I'd move Jagr to that line with Backlund. They all have strong possession and play a slower game. Swap Versteeg and Jagr every second shift or Jagr in for offensive zone starts.

I'd put Tkachuk with Bennett and Jankowksi. These players are all supposed to be our future 4-6. Might as well put them together now.

Don't even bother playing Stajan, F. Hamilton, Brouwer, or Lazar. They can draw straws for who dresses to open the bench door and be injury insurance.

Put the D lines in a blender. None of them have been good.
Gio - Hamonic
Kulak - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone

After that, send the whole team and coaches to hockey school.

[madmike]

The team needs better forward depth. The third line is bad and the fourth line is a train wreck.

Lazar is not an NHL player. Same with Hamilton. Stajan is done. The team could waive all three, bring up the top line from the AHL and they’d be better off.

[GranteedEV]

1) Bartkowski --> Sun. Do not pass Gulutzan. Do not collect anything from the emotional bank account.

2) Open up the offense. Our D need to be part of most of our scoring chances as it was under Hartley. You can still play a more structured game while getting contributions from your backend. I would let Gulutzan go and bring in Lindy Ruff. This is the kind of team that plays better defensively with a lead to protect.

3) Cut your losses with Lazar, Hamonic, Brouwer. They didn't work out (as anybody who looked at their underlyings would have predicted), boo hoo. Sunk cost. Waive Lazar/Brouwer. Hope Lazar has an epiphany in the AHL and Brouwer... doesn't report and we can terminate him. Otherwise it is what it is.

4)Call up Mangiapane and Hrivik/Hathaway.

Shake up the forwards full blender. As effective as one line is I am thinking spreading out the offense is doable:

Mangiapane-Monahan-Jagr
Gaudreau-Backlund-Ferland
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Versteeg
Hrivik-Bennett-Frolik / Frolik-Bennett-Hathaway
Hamilton
Stajan

5)Call up Kylington. Have Hamonic split 3rd pair duties with Stone depending on whichever guy wants to play a better gap on a given day. I prefer Stone since he is at least an offensive threat and ever so slightly cheaper.

Giordano-Hamilton
Kulak-Brodie
Kylington-Stone/Hamonic
Hamonic/Stone

6)Keep Net as is

Smith
Rittich

7)Have Bennett take draws on the first PK with Backlund. He has become our best faceoff guy so see if that translates:

Bennett-Backlund
Jankowski-Frolik
Monahan-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Kulak-Stone/Hamonic
Kylington/Hamilton if necessary

8)Take TJ Brodie off the first PP and put Dougie Hamilton there. In fact take Brodie off the PP entirely and have him focus on bringing back the 5on5 beast from the past.

Hamilton
Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg
Ferland

Giordano-Stone/Jankowski
Backlund-Bennett
Tkachuk

9) As for trade, I would put Hamonic and Stone both on the block to see if anyone has a decent middle 6 RW to offer. I like Carl Hagelin personally. Maybe you could even get Paul Byron. A guy in that general mold of speedy two way player.

10) Look to upgrade on Kris Versteeg. Jarome Iginla is an option. But it's gotta be an outright replacement.

[jlh2640]

New coach

[madmike]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

New coach

A new coach won’t fix the bottom 6. Or the fact that Hamonic is at best a bottom pairing guy. The Flames problems are more a personnel issue.

[Snuffleupagus]

Defense is our strength even know it sucks right now, Brodie is my #1 target to let loose if he can help bring in another scoring winger.

If I was Treliving I would be on the phone with either Hextall to get Simmonds or even call Gorton in NY on the services of Hayes.

One more solid forward could change the teams fortunes in my opinion.

Did I mention Brodie is 20% awesome, 40% suckage and 40% meh!?

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by madmike

A new coach won’t fix the bottom 6. Or the fact that Hamonic is at best a bottom pairing guy. The Flames problems are more a personnel issue.

Sad thing is, Janko, Bennett and Jagr all have talent. Lazar too. Coaches are not getting enough out of them.

Hamonic is not playing well, but he is far from a bottom pairing guy. Coaching. Ferland is not a 1st line winger either. Coaching.

[Husky]

Just need more consistency on special teams. No idea why gio and hamilton are not on #1 unit.

[Lanny_McDonald]

New coaching staff first. See how the team responds to someone behind the bench that can make adjustments as needed during a game. If that doesn’t work, trade Brodie and Bennett for a young scoring winger. Finally, bring up a couple of the farm players and fire the 4th line into the sun.

[shogged]

I would shake up the third and fourth lines and try and get some secondary scoring going.

I would also revisit the zone defence system and try and add some flexibility to it. We aren’t seeing the benefits of a normal zone defence like clogged shooting lanes and keeping the puck to the outside. When the puck does go to the boards, we tend to give up the pressure to try and get back into the right defensive position so I’d change that as well.

[Geeoff]

Flames need to shuffle some deck chairs in the bottom 6. It's depressing that the team can't win games if Gaudreau and Monahan don't score 3 points each.

[Aarongavey]

I would trade Lazar for a 6th to recoup a draft pick. Call a press conference and swear off Oil Kings forever and point out that your Griffin Reinhart trade did not involve a first.

I would then announce that Sam Bennett is getting a skating coach as he has to be the slowest elite prospect I have ever seen.

I would try out Klimchuk in the NHL as, hey, what is the worst that could happen to the 4th line, they can't score?

I would flip Bennett and Tkachuk around on the lines, as the 3M line is doing nothing offensively outside the PP.

I would get an NHL coach as well, bringing Darryl back to the scene of the crime would be something I would not be against. He at least would not be a wallflower behind the bench.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Darryl Sutter is not the answer to anything. The game has passed him by and this team is not suited to his style.

[BigRed]

The top line is carrying the team through the first part of the season like the Backlund line did last year. Everything else is off. The third line often looks good from a possession/pursuit POV but don't get much done offensively. They're a de facto 4th line, while the 4th line accomplishes nothing. $4.5 mln for Brouwer's zero goals hurts.

I think Brodie needs to go back with Giordano to sort his game out, and rebuild the D pairs from there.


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[Erick Estrada]

I would also take Frolik off the 2nd line. Offensively he's kind of dragged that line down. The offensive part of his two-way game has abandoned him for whatever reason.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Did I mention Brodie is 20% awesome, 40% suckage and 40% meh!?

I wonder what has caused this change in his game.

I know his wife is fighting an illness (CF?). Could that be the route of the issues with him this season?