[News] Flames recall Dryden Hunt

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Every coach in the league, now or ever, prefers a 4th line of low-event plugs to a 4th line that has a little bit of offence, but less than any other team's top three lines, and will get caved if it ever has to play against anyone but the opponent's 4th line.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/m...e-combinations

I am sure there are more, but I can just defeat what you said by posting the lineup we faced last night. Were you watching?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

The third option is letting young guys play big minutes in the NHL. That's the one we should be doing. If we're going to lose anyway, why not be riskier to let the rookies make mistakes and learn in the big leagues?

Because you can only have 23 men on the roster at one time. Which veterans are you going to put on waivers to put those rookies in the lineup?

[Monahammer]

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/t...e-combinations

The leafs have max domi and jarnkrok playing 4th line. Wouldn't say that's safe low event plugs.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/a...e-combinations

Anaheim has one of their top prospects (colangelo) on the 4th line with Ryan Poehling (younger but may qualify as low event- i guess. Definitely not a plug on the order of any player on our 4th line though.)

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/l...e-combinations

Turcotte and Perry skate on the kings 4th line.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Because you can only have 23 men on the roster at one time. Which veterans are you going to put on waivers to put those rookies in the lineup?

I mean, ideally management wouldn't have been so blind to this and traded bodies out in the summer. But, since you asked you easily waive Lomberg, Kirkland, maybe Sharangovich.

In this case though you just need to call up Kerins.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Because you can only have 23 men on the roster at one time. Which veterans are you going to put on waivers to put those rookies in the lineup?

Any of them. They mostly all are bad to terrible.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Huska is no good.

There, I said it.

Isn't that good that he's no good? The coach to be no good so the team is no good and then the deadline trades are good and the draft is good and the rebuild is great?

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Isn't that good that he's no good? The coach to be no good so the team is no good and then the deadline trades are good and the draft is good and the rebuild is great?

It is good that we are losing, yes. But it would also be nice to play the young players more and give them some experience. Rather than going back to the well.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Every coach in the league, now or ever, prefers a 4th line of low-event plugs to a 4th line that has a little bit of offence, but less than any other team's top three lines, and will get caved if it ever has to play against anyone but the opponent's 4th line.

I actually think there are some coaches...St.Louis in Montreal being one, Rod the Bod being another, Lane Lambert in Seattle, Rick Tocchet in Philly that are challenging that a little bit.

I'd argue Jon Cooper who is probably my favourite coach in the NHL has never shied away from incorporating youngsters into the Lightning's 4th line either, and it's worked out for them. Tampa Bay in general tends to be a team that does a good job of incorporating their own young draft picks into the roster instead of signing veterans.

Guys like Cirelli, Goncalves, Joseph, Paquette, Colton, Raddysh, etc were initially integrated into their lineup on the 4th line and playing like 10 minutes a game at 5v5 and would often then work their way up the lineup.

Even this year their 4th line has had 23 year old Jack Finley, 25 year old Curtis Douglas (making his NHL debut), Connor Geekie and 23 year old Dominic James rotating in and out.

Tampa Bay really seems to do the 100-150 AHL game thing - then they try to get you NHL time if they think you're a player, if not they will move on from you. And aren't afraid to move the guys who don't need waivers up and down between the NHL and Farm team to get them some NHL looks but send them back down if they think they need more ice, with the Wranglers in Calgary this should be even easier for the Flames.

Tampa Bay is probably the best development team in the league...maybe we should emulate them.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

The third option is letting young guys play big minutes in the NHL. That's the one we should be doing. If we're going to lose anyway, why not be riskier to let the rookies make mistakes and learn in the big leagues?

I don't know. How has that been working for the Buffalos of this league? San Jose is the only team behind the Flames in the West right now, despite having Celebrini, Smith, Misa and so on. Edmonton was on a dark path too until they lucked into McDavid.

I get the sentiment, but I'm not sure young guys will benefit all that much from playing on a team that's bottoming out.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Any of them. They mostly all are bad to terrible.

OK, then how do you make the salary floor?

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I mean, ideally management wouldn't have been so blind to this and traded bodies out in the summer. But, since you asked you easily waive Lomberg, Kirkland, maybe Sharangovich.

In this case though you just need to call up Kerins.

It's not really a bind, Conroy and Huska would happily sit any player to allow for skill or positive contributions. They gave Kerins a long long look, but the truth is, Kerins can't win a puck battle in pre season let alone a regular NHL game.

Veterans blocking players is a myth, the truth is the Flames best prospects aren't ready yet. With exception to BRZ. but D isn't really the problem.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It's not really a bind, Conroy and Huska would happily sit any player to allow for skill or positive contributions. They gave Kerins a long long look, but the truth is, Kerins can't win a puck battle in pre season let alone a regular NHL game.

Veterans blocking players is a myth, the truth is the Flames best prospects aren't ready yet. With exception to BRZ. but D isn't really the problem.

Out of thanks, so thanks.

[TheIronMaiden]

It's just crazy to me that people hammer and hammer that they want the team to tank, and lo a behold the team is a bottom feeder destined for a top 5 pick, and people are complaining about who the coach has playing on the 4th line? Did you watch pre season, did anyone stand out as a difference maker who isn't getting NHL time? I would love the Flames to ice a 4th line of high energy never say die prospects, just like I'd love a toilet made from solid gold. But that's not in the cards baby.

[iggyloob12]

I don't expect Hunt to play, so meh.

[Goriders]

Why do they do what they do?

Hunt is a servicable 4th liner. But we’re out of the playoffs. Try out some young guys that have a chance of scoring a goal.

Kerins? Gridin?

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It's not really a bind, Conroy and Huska would happily sit any player to allow for skill or positive contributions. They gave Kerins a long long look, but the truth is, Kerins can't win a puck battle in pre season let alone a regular NHL game.

Veterans blocking players is a myth, the truth is the Flames best prospects aren't ready yet. With exception to BRZ. but D isn't really the problem.

You could be right. But Hunt probably isn’t developing any further. The younger guys probably will. So give them a chance to get some NHL games in.

[Geeoff]

I think in general, the AHL is a better developmental league than the NHL, that's what the AHL is there for. Gridin could play in the NHL but others I dunno. Any trade we make for Andersson or Coleman or whoever, we'll possibly end up taking back vets for salary purposes too.

[Svartsengi]

I would rather play Hunt over Sharangovich. He tries at least.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It's just crazy to me that people hammer and hammer that they want the team to tank, and lo a behold the team is a bottom feeder destined for a top 5 pick, and people are complaining about who the coach has playing on the 4th line? Did you watch pre season, did anyone stand out as a difference maker who isn't getting NHL time? I would love the Flames to ice a tea of high energy never say die prospects, just like I'd love a toilet made from solid gold. But that's not in the cards baby.

I think some people are underestimating still what "tanking" and "bottoming out" really means. It sounds easy enough, but those seasons are NOT fun. And if people hate it right now, wait until we trade Andersson and those 23 minutes a night go to someone else on the roster.

I'm all for it, the Flames absolutely need this. But it's going to be ugly and I don't think the whole fanbase is ready for how it looks on a day-to-day basis.

[Calgary4LIfe]

This is the logical choice by every metric IMO.


1) He leads the Wrangler in points, tied for 1st in goals
2) He has always been trusted by every coach he plays with because he is strong defensively - Flames have been weak there too
3) Flames need to reward these solid vets from time to time - they help create a very good environment and culture on the Wranglers for the prospects to develop


Sure, Gridin would have been the better choice in a few ways, but I actually think he should just have a good run down on the Wranglers for a while rather than being yo-yoed between the clubs. Kerins needs waivers, so that's a tough one to try and put back away without being claimed - ditto for Morton, but Morton hasn't been putting up the points.


This is logical and perfectly ok with me. At some point this season, the Flames will throw in the towel I believe, and then hopefully we will see Conroy shipping out a couple of bodies on forward, and we can see a revolving door of prospects who are not waiver eligible get some time, as well as Kerins and/or Morton get a long look (can't send them back down).


Hunt is a good two-way player and coaches always love him. This is what the Flames need, and it is good to see guys like this get rewarded too. Keeps everyone hungry.