Practice Notes Nov 20

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Goriders

i'd stick the worst of the strugglers on one line and limit their ice time.

In my mind that's Pospisil, Sharongivich and Coleman

Backlund, Zary, Coronato, Huberdeau when he shows up, Kadri and Kuzmenko are still generating offense.

Kuzmenko needs a triggerman. He’s been setting guys up continuously who fire it into the upper deck.

A poor group of shooting forwards. The 4th line and our D score all of our goals. Or goal depending on the game.

It's Huberdeau when he plays aggressive and takes risks instead of playing passive.

You can almost see the internal battle with him at times, even just last night.

There was a shift in the third where if he really pushed on the d-man I think he could have generated a turnover because he kind of had the d-man flat footed in the 1-2-2 forecheck, but you could see him kind of hesitate and back off from not wanting to be beat.

But then in OT he made a play where he was really aggressive (led to the Sharangovich chance) and I was like "Woah that's a play we haven't seen much from him to actually pressure the d-man like that" but it was a really risky play too that was a bit lucky to not go the other way.

Part of how this team is being coached right is clearly for the forwards to play a safe game. They are taking very few risks, they are generally really doing a good job of covering for one another, and paying attention to detail defensively. The system seems to want d-men to take more risks though and forwards to play a bit more passively.

But I do think for guys like Huberdeau, Kuzmenko, Pospisil, and maybe even Kadri to an extent it does not come naturally to them at all.

It's getting results so far but I do wonder how sustainable it is long term because at some point you need to take a little bit of risk to generate offense.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's Huberdeau when he plays aggressive and takes risks instead of playing passive.

You can almost see the internal battle with him at times, even just last night.

There was a shift in the third where if he really pushed on the d-man I think he could have generated a turnover because he kind of had the d-man flat footed in the 1-2-2 forecheck, but you could see him kind of hesitate and back off from not wanting to be beat.

But then in OT he made a play where he was really aggressive (led to the Sharangovich chance) and I was like "Woah that's a play we haven't seen much from him to actually pressure the d-man like that" but it was a really risky play too that was a bit lucky to not go the other way.

Part of how this team is being coached right is clearly for the forwards to play a safe game. They are taking very few risks, they are generally really doing a good job of covering for one another, and paying attention to detail defensively. The system seems to want d-men to take more risks though and forwards to play a bit more passively.

But I do think for guys like Huberdeau, Kuzmenko, Pospisil, and maybe even Kadri to an extent it does not come naturally to them at all.

It's getting results so far but I do wonder how sustainable it is long term because at some point you need to take a little bit of risk to generate offense.

I thought he made a couple nice plays, one which almost created a goal for Zary.

With defence going deep a fair bit, Huberdeau does seems to be pretty in tune with covering the point, which also takes him out of the offensive play a bit.

[the-rasta-masta]

To me Sharangovich hasn't looked bad. He is carrying the puck with speed thorugh the neutral zone and I almost think he looks quicker than last year. Just hasn't had any puck luck, not much opportunity to get his shot off. Not worried about him in the slightest.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

I think Zary and Pospisil are best together.

Kadri might as well be on the 4th line by himself since he doesnt use his linemates ever.

So I'd try,

Pospisil-Zary-Coronado
Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman
Sharangovich-Kirkland-Kuzmenko
Lomberg-Kadri-Klapka

Seriously looks good to me.

Please no to Backlund and Coleman with Huberdeau.. We tried that and it's terrible.

I'd like to see Huberdeau - Zary - Coronato. Zary can carry the puck, can score and and Coronato can shoot. But Coleman is defensively responsible too and can forcheck so that may work well.

But as SuperMatt said above I'd rather leave Huberdeau with Zary and Sharangovich for a bit longer. Sharangovich missed camp, he'll bounce back soon I'd imagine.

Move Pospisil with Backlund & Coleman.

But I wouldn't mind seeing.

Huberdeau - Zary -Coronato

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's Huberdeau when he plays aggressive and takes risks instead of playing passive.

You can almost see the internal battle with him at times, even just last night.

There was a shift in the third where if he really pushed on the d-man I think he could have generated a turnover because he kind of had the d-man flat footed in the 1-2-2 forecheck, but you could see him kind of hesitate and back off from not wanting to be beat.

But then in OT he made a play where he was really aggressive (led to the Sharangovich chance) and I was like "Woah that's a play we haven't seen much from him to actually pressure the d-man like that" but it was a really risky play too that was a bit lucky to not go the other way.

Part of how this team is being coached right is clearly for the forwards to play a safe game. They are taking very few risks, they are generally really doing a good job of covering for one another, and paying attention to detail defensively. The system seems to want d-men to take more risks though and forwards to play a bit more passively.

But I do think for guys like Huberdeau, Kuzmenko, Pospisil, and maybe even Kadri to an extent it does not come naturally to them at all.

It's getting results so far but I do wonder how sustainable it is long term because at some point you need to take a little bit of risk to generate offense.

It wouldn't surprise me if the Flames were coached to take more risks in OT against out-of-conference opponents.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

Please no to Backlund and Coleman with Huberdeau.. We tried that and it's terrible.

I'd like to see Huberdeau - Zary - Coronato. Zary can carry the puck, can score and and Coronato can shoot. But Coleman is defensively responsible too and can forcheck so that may work well.

But as SuperMatt said above I'd rather leave Huberdeau with Zary and Sharangovich for a bit longer. Sharangovich missed camp, he'll bounce back soon I'd imagine.

Move Pospisil with Backlund & Coleman.

But I wouldn't mind seeing.

Huberdeau - Zary -Coronato

Maybe Coleman's presence will see Huberdeau take more chances, since he doesn't have to cover defensively like he was for younger linemates.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It's Huberdeau when he plays aggressive and takes risks instead of playing passive.

You can almost see the internal battle with him at times, even just last night.

There was a shift in the third where if he really pushed on the d-man I think he could have generated a turnover because he kind of had the d-man flat footed in the 1-2-2 forecheck, but you could see him kind of hesitate and back off from not wanting to be beat.

But then in OT he made a play where he was really aggressive (led to the Sharangovich chance) and I was like "Woah that's a play we haven't seen much from him to actually pressure the d-man like that" but it was a really risky play too that was a bit lucky to not go the other way.

Part of how this team is being coached right is clearly for the forwards to play a safe game. They are taking very few risks, they are generally really doing a good job of covering for one another, and paying attention to detail defensively. The system seems to want d-men to take more risks though and forwards to play a bit more passively.

But I do think for guys like Huberdeau, Kuzmenko, Pospisil, and maybe even Kadri to an extent it does not come naturally to them at all.

It's getting results so far but I do wonder how sustainable it is long term because at some point you need to take a little bit of risk to generate offense.

I also think Huberdeau doesn’t show up every night. Like you said. When he’s physical and engaged he’s a good player. Last night I didn’t even know he was playing.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I wasn't blaming Huska - he's just trying different things to get them going. If he leaves the lines untouched, and the forwards struggle, he's criticized for that too. It's a no win situation for him. The bottom line is that the forwards have to get going. And they will.

It’s more a Conroy problem. You provided the coach with forwards who couldn’t score a goal to save their lives.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I also think Huberdeau doesn’t show up every night. Like you said. When he’s physical and engaged he’s a good player. Last night I didn’t even know he was playing.

100% he can be more engaged game to game but I think some of that relates to being safe too.

What I find though is he's more noticeable in a positive way when he's aggressive from shift to shift...but it's also when he tends to make more glaring mistakes or giveaways because he's also trying to do more.

I find the games where he's more invisible are the games where he's playing so overly safe (always high man in offensive zone, shorter shifts, covering d-man on their pinches) are games where he's less noticeable in both positive and negative ways.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

20th in HDCF/60, and 13th in SCF/60. So roughly middle of the pack in terms of chance generation, but last in SH%.

Perfect description of the Flames. Get it all the way there then shoot it in the goalies chest or over the glass.

If any of them could finish we’d be in first place in the Pacific. Probably fairly easily. Top 5 in the league.

You found the goalie conman. Your defense is also rounding into form with Bahl, Pachal and now Miromanov. You’re not finishing last. Get someone who can score a goal.