Oct 3 Practice notes. Gilbert rejoins main group

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm surprised Schwindt hasn't been sent down already. The games I've seen him in I forget he's even playing. Not sure what his strength is supposed to be but he's just....there. Not sure what he brings that other players can't. Would rather have Hunt center that 4th line instead.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's old man Stastny at this point. No one really looked good in that role yet. Rooney was probably the best player in that spot so far.

[HighLifeMan]

Being "unnoticeable" as a 4th line center isn't necessarily a bad thing. Schwindt unlike Hunt can actually take and win faceoffs, and has an established history of killing penalties at the pro level.

It really is Schwindt or Rooney's spot to open the year by the looks of things. I think the organization would prefer Zary centering the top line in the AHL - which to me is the correct decision.

[Goriders]

With Lucic leaving you need a guy like Gilbert on the roster to keep the other teams honest.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Every year teams figure it out and every year I wonder how. This year is no exception. How are they going to get under the Cap?

They are over by $213,333 now with a 22 man roster including Pelletier and Kylington. With Pelletier out, the Flames are only at 11 forwards. Have to add at least one and that one should be a center. Rooney is the most expensive and puts the Flames $1.5MM over. Any of the other guys (Schwindt, Zary, Hunt, Klapka, etc) puts the Flames around ~$1MM over. Adding two of the guys in brackets would put them around ~$1.8MM over.

The easy answer is Kylington on LTIR. But, what if he comes back? Pelletier can go on LTIR as well I think, but he is definitely coming back.

Coronato and Pelletier don't have to clear waivers, but I doubt they're going down anyway (don't think Pelletier can while injured). Would Oesterle, Gilbert, Ruzicka clear waivers?

Like I said, the easy answer is Kylington on LTIR. Trade someone of course is another option, but not many teams can take on salary without returning some. I wonder what the plan will be if Kylington regains his health and is able to return.

I know the Flames aren't the only team in this position. Waiver wire could get interesting. Not sure the Flames can show any interest though.

LTIR for sure, and a 21 man roster if Kylington can come back. I could also see a trade before the season starts, shipping off someone like Hanifin/Zadorov/Tanev for a younger D plus picks. There aren't too many destinations with cap space though, so it mostly comes down to DET, NSH, and BUF.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Goriders

With Lucic leaving you need a guy like Gilbert on the roster to keep the other teams honest.

You really don't.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm surprised Schwindt hasn't been sent down already. The games I've seen him in I forget he's even playing. Not sure what his strength is supposed to be but he's just....there. Not sure what he brings that other players can't. Would rather have Hunt center that 4th line instead.

I think part of the reason could just be for optics. For months, management and coaches have been saying that there are roster spots open for rookies. If they hand over the jobs to veterans again without giving them every last minute to prove themselves, it will probably feel like hollow words.

Given how tight the cap is though, Rooney's contract has to be an issue. A few hundred grand is a big deal right now.

[Toonage]

Schwindt is a big kid, RHS, plays C. They're going to give him a lot of rope. Give him those reps as they just don't have a lot of that in the system.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Being "unnoticeable" as a 4th line center isn't necessarily a bad thing. Schwindt unlike Hunt can actually take and win faceoffs, and has an established history of killing penalties at the pro level.

It really is Schwindt or Rooney's spot to open the year by the looks of things. I think the organization would prefer Zary centering the top line in the AHL - which to me is the correct decision.

I agree. The organization is seeing a potential here that most posters on this board aren't. They're still trying to figure out what works best - across the organization and both short-term and long-term. I'd be surprised if Schwindt makes the Flames out of the gate, but the coaches and management might see it differently when considering all of the relevant factors. He might be playing the unnoticeable game that they are asking him to play. At a bare minimum, I've liked his shot when he's got it off.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Every year teams figure it out and every year I wonder how. This year is no exception. How are they going to get under the Cap?

They are over by $213,333 now with a 22 man roster including Pelletier and Kylington. With Pelletier out, the Flames are only at 11 forwards. Have to add at least one and that one should be a center. Rooney is the most expensive and puts the Flames $1.5MM over. Any of the other guys (Schwindt, Zary, Hunt, Klapka, etc) puts the Flames around ~$1MM over. Adding two of the guys in brackets would put them around ~$1.8MM over.

The easy answer is Kylington on LTIR. But, what if he comes back? Pelletier can go on LTIR as well I think, but he is definitely coming back.

Coronato and Pelletier don't have to clear waivers, but I doubt they're going down anyway (don't think Pelletier can while injured). Would Oesterle, Gilbert, Ruzicka clear waivers?

Like I said, the easy answer is Kylington on LTIR. Trade someone of course is another option, but not many teams can take on salary without returning some. I wonder what the plan will be if Kylington regains his health and is able to return.

I know the Flames aren't the only team in this position. Waiver wire could get interesting. Not sure the Flames can show any interest though.

Thay have talked a little about this on the radio, but with the farm team in Calgary they will probably run with six defensemen, and carry the extra players only on the road.

[Canada 02]

I think Hunt hurt his chances yesterday, and Schwindt helped his chances despite both being on the ice for two goals against. The two goals were, directly or indirectly, Hunts fault. Hunt loses a board battle then loses his man who gets the primary assist on the one goal. On the second goal against that line, Hunt turns over the puck at the blueline directly causing the goal.
Schwindt on the other hand wins 6 of 9 faceoffs, and Huska points that out post game

Schwindt is now practicing with the main group, centering the 4th line, and Hunt is an extra in the main group

[D as in David]

Solovyov looks like he's eventually going to make it due to his capabilities in the defensive end. Putting him in the AHL may allow him to build upon his offensive capabilities some more. He does appear to have some offensive awareness.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Schwindt or Rooney?

Need to see a bit of truculence from either one. It won't replace Lucic's, but you need a bit of that on the fourth line. Checking often leads to pushback.

[NewFan]

My lines:

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Coronato
Mangiapane-Backlund-Sharangovich
Dube-Kadri-Coleman
Ruzicka-Schwindt-Duehr

Hanifin-Andersson
Zadorov-Weegar
Solovyov/Gilbert-Tanev

[SeanCharles]

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Ruzicka
Sharangovich-Backlund-Coronato
Mangiapane-Kadri-Dube
Coleman-Rooney-Duehr

Rosie and Lindholm clicked last year. Kadri and Dube seem to click. Backlund and Coronato looked good yesterday.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I think Hunt hurt his chances yesterday, and Schwindt helped his chances despite both being on the ice for two goals against. The two goals were, directly or indirectly, Hunts fault. Hunt loses a board battle then loses his man who gets the primary assist on the one goal. On the second goal against that line, Hunt turns over the puck at the blueline directly causing the goal.
Schwindt on the other hand wins 6 of 9 faceoffs, and Huska points that out post game

Schwindt is now practicing with the main group, centering the 4th line, and Hunt is an extra in the main group

I like this. This is how you get some of the youth in the line-up. The young, but responsible roll player guys with upside need to take bottom line spots.

Dryden Hunt (known quantity with minimal upside) << Cole Schwindt (similar knowns + free call option to the upside as he develops)

[Samonadreau]

Almost looks like Schwindt is a placeholder for someone. But nobody is injured?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Almost looks like Schwindt is a placeholder for someone. But nobody is injured?

Rooney

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Almost looks like Schwindt is a placeholder for someone. But nobody is injured?

Rooney is..

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Almost looks like Schwindt is a placeholder for someone. But nobody is injured?

In my mind it's Zary.

It's going to be interesting to see if he gets cut once again after outperforming other players for a spot like last year's camp simply because of waiver status.

It leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when a kid earns a job when the organizational mandate has been "jobs are open for kids to take" .

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dammage79

In my mind it's Zary.

It's going to be interesting to see if he gets cut once again after outperforming other players for a spot like last year's camp simply because of waiver status.

It leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when a kid earns a job when the organizational mandate has been "jobs are open for kids to take" .

Zary has looked good. And in my mind better than Schwindt.

But this isn't a case of cutting Coronato ... he hasn't stood out to the point where he's forced anyone's hand.

When it's less cut and dried, development and waiver status is a pretty fair decision tree in my opinion.