[PGT] Anemic offense, Flames lose 2-1

[bigpete]

This whole series has been very concerning. It's playing out very similarly to last year's embarrassment, except for the Flames being better on special teams. Being down 3 -2 is actually flattering and they deserve to be eliminated already.

At least last year in retrospect the Avs were on the cusp of becoming a really strong elite team. They were coming into the playoffs on an incredible hot streak and have shown this season they are a legit contender.

Fast forward to this year and the Flames are being absolutely demolished by the Stars. This despite the Stars being a fairly old team and having to play their backup most of the series. The same Stars who were on a serious cold streak dating back to March and the Round Robin.

I hope the Flames can turn it around to force and then win a game 7, but I just cant see it happening considering how much they have been dominated so far. I'm usually a glass half full type of person but I have to admit I am losing faith quickly.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Use the following scoring and see who’s the worst !

1 pt for making playoffs
2 for winning first round
4 for 2nd round win
8 for 3rd round win
16 for cup win

Curious where we rank ! It will be loooow

I would do it but I am drunk from game

I did something like this after losing to the Avs last year and we were amongst the bottom 5 franchises over the past 30 years, maybe bottom 3 IIRC.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by troutman

I don’t want Hall anywhere near this team.

Yeah, that would suck so bad. Lol, this fan base and it's disdain for imperfection in top line skilled players. Literally no one is lining up to play here and we're handing out our shortlist for top players to get a contract or trade offer from us every off season.

[jayswin]

But luckily we can skip over point producers with warts and just sign middle to bottom six free agents for $1-2mil less to produce sweet **** all.

[AC]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, that would suck so bad. Lol, this fan base and it's disdain for imperfection in top line skilled players. Literally no one is lining up to play here and we're handing out our shortlist for top players to get a contract or trade offer from us every off season.

Yup, I don't think Hall solves this team's problems... But he might be the only top UFA that would sign with Calgary in recent history or anytime in the future for that matter.

Add to that Gaudreau's likely departure as another #1LW and it's a slam dunk asset management wise.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I can honestly say a young Theoren Fleury would have made Johnny look like he was on the wrong planet. If Theo was on that ice today the team would have been flying... emotionally! Too many players on this team playing casual hockey.

I don’t think that’s fair. Gaudreau cares. He’s frustrated because he can’t do what he used to on the ice because of a combination of teams figuring out his game, losing a bit of quickness (he’s not 22 anymore), and having less time and space in playoff hockey.

What is on him, though, is an unwillingness to adapt his game. He strikes me as a very instinctive, stubborn player. And so far in his career he’s been able to get away with that attitude. No longer, though.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I’m kind of checked out. Not even mad. Even if they can somehow win the next two games does anyone seriously think they’ll beat Vegas or Colorado next round?

No, except it would be nice to win a playoff series more than once every eon.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by AC

Yup, I don't think Hall solves this team's problems... But he might be the only top UFA that would sign with Calgary in recent history or anytime in the future for that matter.

Add to that Gaudreau's likely departure as another #1LW and it's a slam dunk asset management wise.

Yep, that our fan base's major flaw. We fail to realize that builds lead to contention through any combination of a) good initial draft selection b) late bloomers c) diamonds in the rough c) good trades both major and minor d) good free agent signings e) excellent player development at minor league and NHL level d) elite coaching

We look at every possible FA signing and trade proposal or potential coaching upgrade in a ridiculous bubble and go "Well this won't win us a Cup so why would we do it?!!". Like ****.

[jayswin]

And if there's one thing that seems quite clear over the years it's that when you don't attack at the elite free agent pool and instead go for the second tier, you're mostly left with a 30-50% as good player for $1-$2mil discount. That is poor allocation.

Now is that often forced on us because players typically don't choose to sign here? Yes. But is the solution to continually buyout ****ty third/fourth line FA signings that you hoped would be the magic top 6 help? No.

Either pass on FA or in the case of ONE good FA that is rumoured to be okay with playing here...sign that ****ing guy if he'll play here.

[CGY12]

Sean Monahan is not a 1st line centre on any team that wants to win a cup or go deep in the playoffs. Down 1 for almost the entire 3rd period he has 0 shots on goal, his skating is average he can't create his own space to even get a shot on net.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by AC

Yup, I don't think Hall solves this team's problems... But he might be the only top UFA that would sign with Calgary in recent history or anytime in the future for that matter.

Add to that Gaudreau's likely departure as another #1LW and it's a slam dunk asset management wise.

We desperately need to start making smart moves from an asset perspective. This would be such a slam dunk.

I’m generally pretty bummed though. The team is (potentially) finished on Thursday and they’re walking off into the off-season with no momentum. The core players fell apart at the most crucial part of the year yet again - so while we may have some nice young support pieces in play, the top-end of this roster both up-front and on the back-end...and in net, is in complete disarray.

I’ve been in camp Monahan forever, and still like the player - but this series hammers it home. He’s not good enough to be a #1 centre, nor do he and Backlund deliver enough to be thought of as a formidable 1A/1B duo. We’re (likely) losing Brodie to free agency (...goodbye asset) right alongside Hamonic (...so long asset), and Giordano’s play in the 19/20 season and these playoffs really tell the tale of Father Time catching up with the guy. Rittich has yet again been slapped as “not the guy”, and his play faltered to such a degree that he’s not much more than a 1B guy where the 1A needs to be elite if we’re going to have any true success.

I think this year has shown that:

- we don’t have a #1 centre that we can win with
- our best offensive forward is nothing more than a power play specialist and an absolute liability at even strength
- we don’t have a #1 defenceman
- we are (potentially) losing our #2 defenceman for nothing
- we don’t have a #1 goalie going forward (and I personally don’t think a Talbot/Rittich tandem is anywhere near good enough)
- we don’t have a head coach

When you add all these issues up is it really shocking that this team fails the way it does? We can be critical of this player or that player but at the end of the day the roster just isn’t anywhere near good enough and the holes we have are pretty damn difficult to address any way but through drafting high in the 1st round. Tree has unfortunately managed this team right back to where he found us with no clear path for improvement.

This season really hammered home the fact this organization has some pretty deep issues. They’re still just marching forward with the whole “just get in and anything can happen” mantra. Sure “anything can happen”, when you’ve built your team the right way. This team’s structure is flawed and it was pretty clear that they didn’t have it this year, and instead of being proactive they shuffled some more deck chairs and spent more futures on pieces that didn’t move the needle.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We desperately need to start making smart moves from an asset perspective. This would be such a slam dunk.

I’m generally pretty bummed though. The team is (potentially) finished on Thursday and they’re walking off into the off-season with no momentum. The core players fell apart at the most crucial part of the year yet again - so while we may have some nice young support pieces in play, the top-end of this roster both up-front and on the back-end...and in net, is in complete disarray.

I’ve been in camp Monahan forever, and still like the player - but this series hammers it home. He’s not good enough to be a #1 centre, nor do he and Backlund deliver enough to be thought of as a formidable 1A/1B duo. We’re (likely) losing Brodie to free agency (...goodbye asset) right alongside Hamonic (...so long asset), and Giordano’s play in the 19/20 season and these playoffs really tell the tale of Father Time catching up with the guy. Rittich has yet again been slapped as “not the guy”, and his play faltered to such a degree that he’s not much more than a 1B guy where the 1A needs to be elite if we’re going to have any true success.

I think this year has shown that:

- we don’t have a #1 centre that we can win with
- our best offensive forward is nothing more than a power play specialist and an absolute liability at even strength
- we don’t have a #1 defenceman
- we are (potentially) losing our #2 defenceman for nothing
- we don’t have a #1 goalie going forward (and I personally don’t think a Talbot/Rittich tandem is anywhere near good enough)
- we don’t have a head coach

When you add all these issues up is it really shocking that this team fails the way it does? We can be critical of this player or that player but at the end of the day the roster just isn’t anywhere near good enough and the holes we have are pretty damn difficult to address any way but through drafting high in the 1st round. Tree has unfortunately managed this team right back to where he found us with no clear path for improvement.

It's a mess. Team is not built properly and it really seems like the main core pieces have peaked and aren't good enough to lead the team to the promise land.

[Vinny01]

I think signing Hall with cap space and trading Johnny for futures somewhat patches over giving up a ton of futures for Hamonic which proved to be a disastrous trade. Recoup some high end prospects and maintain the talent level of the current team which is vital to keeping Tkachuk beyond this bridge deal.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It's a mess. Team is not built properly and it really seems like the main core pieces have peaked and aren't good enough to lead the team to the promise land.

They’re at a pretty important juncture.

The core pieces that aren’t working here should be sold for high quality futures...but I’m fully expecting either nothing to happen because they’ll turn a blind eye to the flaws yet again while using the adversity they faced this year as an excuse, or for the pieces that are moved to be moved for “win now” pieces that won’t help correct the structural flaws in this line-up.

Tree has been on an ungodly cold streak ever since the trade with Carolina. That deal was the last time he made a move that improved this team and it was over two calendar years ago. He has to nail this off-season and start building a path forward for this team that has been stuck in the mud for quite some time.

[Dion]

I still believe!

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Buff

I'd love to see Monahan and Lindholm play without Gaudreau.

Lindholm looked more effective without Gaudreau and I wonder if the top line is relying too much on Gaudreau to carry the puck and make the play.

This. Lindholm doesn't just magically stop being the teams leading goal scorer. He's not soft, something just seems off. And honestly I don't see the whole "hes the worst of the three" point of view. He is the only one of the 3 that plays in all situations.

Its kind of amazing how fast posters here can turn against players. And let's not neglect the point that Lindholm instantly turned it around when he switched line today. Played faster, harder and created more offense than he did most of this series.

I honestly think the Johnny must have the puck at all times playbook is needlessly alive and well.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

They’re at a pretty important juncture.

The core pieces that aren’t working here should be sold for high quality futures...but I’m fully expecting either nothing to happen because they’re turn a blind eye to the flaws yet again, or for the pieces that are moved to be moved for “win now” pieces that won’t help correct the structural flaws in this line-up.

Tree has been on an ungodly cold streak ever since the trade with Carolina. That deal was the last time he made a move that improved this team and it was over two calendar years ago. He has to nail this off-season and start building a path forward for this team that has been stuck in the mud for quite some time.

He has to get another legit top 6 C at a minimum or burn this sucker down. But yeah, the goaltending is still a huge question mark, and our #1 Dman is about to turn 37 while showing signs of falling off a cliff.

I'm like you though, I don't think a full rebuild will be allowed even if it's needed.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

If my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle.

Wow - that was one of my dad's favourite sayings!! He's long gone, but some of those things just stick with a guy.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

He has to get another legit top 6 C at a minimum or burn this sucker down. But yeah, the goaltending is still a huge question mark, and our #1 Dman is about to turn 37 while showing signs of falling off a cliff.

I'm like you though, I don't think a full rebuild will be allowed even if it's needed.

Which ultimately means yay - more mediocrity!

There’s a chance Tree could have the perfect summer.

Trade Johnny for a bounty. Sign Hall. Sign Lehner. Sign Laviolette.

It could happen...maybe?

[dammage79]

I swear to the nine gods, Nolan Patrick is the one we want in a Gaudreau deal. Big RHS number 1 center and 21years old. You do your due diligence of course with the doctors and whatnot but you get that player if you can. Just like Lindholm when that came up.

Sign Hall, add Patrick and thats a pretty substantial change to your core.