[Rumour] Friedman: Flames and Hanifin have made progress on contract extension

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

This has been a problem with Flames fans mentality for years..

You can't bring in a certain player and expect him to completely change his game, after playing a certain way basically his whole career, and maintain the same level of success.

We need to play players to their strengths if we expect them to contribute at the same levels they have prior.

I can understand getting an offensive player to play in a checking role to build his overall game but expecting him to contribute at the same level isn't overly fair to the player.

Same goes with expecting Huberdeau to play primarily a dump and chase, cycle the puck down low game and expect the same results he got when his line would carry the puck in and make quick plays off the rush.

Maybe if we had a player to play him with that was elite at making plays off the boards - like Tkachuk has shown in the past - he could have stronger offensive numbers.

The puzzling part about it all is Conroy said they wanted to play a more modern offensive system but the results have not been there as of yet.

They are more boring to watch than ever before. They have no identity and can't get anything going at 5v5 or on the PP.

100% this. Where is the "give guys freedom to be creative on offense" that was talked about? Even in Huska's post game, he talked about getting the puck behind the other team and acknowledging it as boring hockey and it works. Well, we've pretty much been doing it all season and it hasn't worked.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

That’s funny…because I don’t think Conroy offers much hope at all…

He offers me hope because I am confident he is not going to be trading away futures. Whether the Flames rebuild or not (inevitable at this point, IMO), I would prefer a GM who has done a lot of scouting and worked very closely with the scouting staff. That's where my hope starts and ends.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

100% this. Where is the "give guys freedom to be creative on offense" that was talked about? Even in Huska's post game, he talked about getting the puck behind the other team and acknowledging it as boring hockey and it works. Well, we've pretty much been doing it all season and it hasn't worked.

Is there a more shining hallmark of Calgary Flames hockey than workboots, lunchboxes and dumping the puck into the corners?

[FanIn80]

I don't know what kind of hope people are looking for from Conroy this soon into his tenure. Not even Sam Pollock would be able to do anything with this mess.

(Other than just cutting his losses and dumping anything he could.)

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

This has been a problem with Flames fans mentality for years..

You can't bring in a certain player and expect him to completely change his game, after playing a certain way basically his whole career, and maintain the same level of success.

We need to play players to their strengths if we expect them to contribute at the same levels they have prior.

I can understand getting an offensive player to play in a checking role to build his overall game but expecting him to contribute at the same level isn't overly fair to the player.

Same goes with expecting Huberdeau to play primarily a dump and chase, cycle the puck down low game and expect the same results he got when his line would carry the puck in and make quick plays off the rush.

Maybe if we had a player to play him with that was elite at making plays off the boards - like Tkachuk has shown in the past - he could have stronger offensive numbers.

The puzzling part about it all is Conroy said they wanted to play a more modern offensive system but the results have not been there as of yet.

They are more boring to watch than ever before. They have no identity and can't get anything going at 5v5 or on the PP.

Actually, the problem was all management’s mentality on this one, not ours. They built an entire roster of players who played with competitiveness and who could check. Then they trade for a guy who doesn’t have an ounce of that game in him.

That’s why they’ve played Huberdeau with just about everyone in the line up with no luck and zero chemistry. Just look at Lindholm as an example, very competitive, lots of character, tough to play against and checks as well as anyone on the team, he was everything that management loves in a player. But zero chemistry with Huberdeau who plays the exact opposite clashing style.

So it’s not so much that they we should expect him to change, it’s that he basically has to since the rest of the roster isn’t really built to play his style of game. I mean he’s getting paid $10+ million, figure it out. Even guys like Matthews and Marner or even a guy like Monahan have all started to try to evolve their games to an extent, so why shouldn’t Huberdeau make an attempt?

If you want Huberdeau to play to his strength, then you’re asking the entire organization to change up their methodology, the entire roster, coach and system. It’s a big change to cater entirely to Huberdeau whereas conversely, it’s easier just to ask him to make the effort.

Also, nobody is asking anyone to dump & chase. That’s all in everybody’s head, coach’s want players to make plays, they want they to be game breakers, but you have to dump & chase because that’s the way the opposition defends you. They want you to dump it and chase it, but that doesn’t mean the play dies there, you still have to forecheck and win the puck battles. That’s 100% on Huberdeau, this should be an expectation for all players and even Johnny and Matthew eventually got with the program.

Lastly, they are playing a modern system, everyone plays this style to varying degrees and their powerplay utilizes the modern 1-3-1 just like everybody else. But you need the right type of skill and talent to break down defensive structures, to create threats that can pull defenders from their station and open up high percentage passing and shooting lanes.

They can bring in all the new coaches and new hockey minds they want and I don’t think anything will change, unless they bring back Matthew Tkachuk who was probably the team’s ultimate PP driver. That guy knew just when to attack, when to crowd the net, when to screen, when to tip or when to dish off. He kept defenses constantly on guard and constantly guessing. Who else on this team can mimic that right now? Nobody.


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[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

100% this. Where is the "give guys freedom to be creative on offense" that was talked about? Even in Huska's post game, he talked about getting the puck behind the other team and acknowledging it as boring hockey and it works. Well, we've pretty much been doing it all season and it hasn't worked.

But this is the way all teams have to play especially in the playoffs. The coaching staff aren’t asking these guys to do this exclusively though, they certainly allowed Gaudreau and Tkachuk the freedom to make plays on the rush.

But I ask you, who on this team has the same ability as Johnny to deke through opponents one on one, to back up defenders, to cut through the middle of the ice, to bend the pace of the rush to his will and etc. Nobody, everyone on this team is so easy to strip pucks off of and when they do try to be cute and make plays, they just turn pucks over and get ripped by the fanbase. These guys just don’t have it.

They can play effectively one way and that’s the way Huska is saying. Backlund’s line is very effective playing this style and it’s why their regular season success always translates over to the playoffs as well.


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[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I don’t think Huberdeau could play any faster, he’s already having trouble playing at the current pace which was a big criticism Darryl offered him last year.

I’ve said this before and will continue to say it, Huberdeau needs to find a way to evolve his game. If he’s not going to produce in transition, then he needs to check for his chances like the other lines are expected to. That’s how this team was built, it’s how they’re coached and it doesn’t appear things will be changing any time soon. So it’s up to him now to put on the work boots, start playing with more pace, go out and make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen.

That’s why he looks invisible right now. He has no other avenues to fall back on when his bread and butter has been taken away. It’s not all that different from when Gaudreau had his struggles back in 2020, but his game evolved in 21-22 and he was able to find other ways to produce when opponents took away his bread and butter, that was a big evolution to his game. Throw in the defensive component to his game and his line basically became an unstoppable force.

I know it was a meme and people made fun of Johnny for it but could Huberdeau incorporate the button hook like Johnny used to, to create time and space. If the team can’t enter with speed on the transition it’s one way to open up passing lanes. He has a much bigger body as well. Not the same player but I think he does need to get a little creative and mix his zone entries up. Not saying all button hooks either but just something to buy time and space.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I know it was a meme and people made fun of Johnny for it but could Huberdeau incorporate the button hook like Johnny used to, to create time and space. If the team can’t enter with speed on the transition it’s one way to open up passing lanes. He has a much bigger body as well. Not the same player but I think he does need to get a little creative and mix his zone entries up. Not saying all button hooks either but just something to buy time and space.

Personally, I didn’t mind Gaudeau’s button hooks. I know it lead to the occasional turnover, but I’m gonna put my trust in the elite NHL hockey player’s decision making over us couch potatoes watching on TV.

In terms of Huberdeau’s button hooks, I have seen him pull it off a few times and it’s actually pretty effective. He usually finds the trailer or a teammate cutting to the net. So I’d definitely like to see more of his button hooks.

But therein lies the problem right now. He and his line are a having a real hard time finding opportunities to make plays on the rush. The opposition are also doing a great job of pressuring Huberdeau, cutting off his passing options and rushing him to make poor decisions leading to bad turnovers.

Feel like at some point, if he wants to evolve his game, he’s either gonna have to learn how to take a hit to make a play or drop deeper in the zone and make a play to find his centerman so they can turn up the ice as a 5 man unit. If Huberdeau’s strength is finding the trailer, then he’ll need the trailer in the play in order for him to actually be a factor.

[Flamesfan05]

Not sure why making Huberdeau to adapt to Blake Coleman type of game

Shouldn’t that be the other way around?

After all, Huberdeau is probably the only legit talent on the team

And he sucks badly right now with whatever they are trying

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Not sure why making Huberdeau to adapt to Blake Coleman type of game

Shouldn’t that be the other way around?

After all, Huberdeau is probably the only legit talent on the team

And he sucks badly right now with whatever they are trying

It's also not just Huberdeau - the entire team can't produce at even strength in this system.

It's a bad system, just like it was last season. The change to zone defence is clearly a work in progress, but more importantly the offence is exactly the same. It's bad.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It's also not just Huberdeau - the entire team can't produce at even strength in this system.

It's a bad system, just like it was last season. The change to zone defence is clearly a work in progress, but more importantly the offence is exactly the same. It's bad.

Yup, I can get behind the defensive breakdowns but the offensive system is the same and terrible

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Not sure why making Huberdeau to adapt to Blake Coleman type of game

Shouldn’t that be the other way around?

After all, Huberdeau is probably the only legit talent on the team

And he sucks badly right now with whatever they are trying

Huberdeau really doesn’t have a choice right now. The team’s makeup and build was to be a certain way and it’s up to him to adapt. If $60 million worth of roster and coaching staff needs to change in order to accommodate their $10 million player, then this team has an even bigger issue at hand.

Plus, this is the modern NHL style! Everyone plays this style, Tampa plays this style, Toronto plays this style, Vegas plays this style, Gaudreau and Tkachuk played this style, anyone who wants to go deep into the playoffs plays this way and getting your superstars to play the right way, sets the right culture.

I suspect that’s why the room and culture appear to be fractured and Zadorov alluded to it. He said last year Sutter was a right fit for the previous core, but not the new core. Then just last week, he goes on record calling out the new guys for not liking the new coach.

In the end though, I don’t expect him to adapt. He is what he is, a one trick pony who can’t play playoff style hockey, only specific types of regular season hockey. Plus, he’s still got another $83M coming, where’s the motivation to change? No one is yelling in his ear anymore either.

That’s why I put the onus on management for making the trade in the first place. They didn’t know their team and just assumed he would work. It’s obvious they didn’t learn anything from all those failed UFAs in past years. Now the organization has to kowtow to him going forward because he’s still got 99% of his max term contract remaining.

[dino7c]

I like Zadorov and always have but he is also playing like absolute ####, he needs to figure it out too

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Personally, I didn’t mind Gaudeau’s button hooks. I know it lead to the occasional turnover, but I’m gonna put my trust in the elite NHL hockey player’s decision making over us couch potatoes watching on TV.

In terms of Huberdeau’s button hooks, I have seen him pull it off a few times and it’s actually pretty effective. He usually finds the trailer or a teammate cutting to the net. So I’d definitely like to see more of his button hooks.

But therein lies the problem right now. He and his line are a having a real hard time finding opportunities to make plays on the rush. The opposition are also doing a great job of pressuring Huberdeau, cutting off his passing options and rushing him to make poor decisions leading to bad turnovers.

Feel like at some point, if he wants to evolve his game, he’s either gonna have to learn how to take a hit to make a play or drop deeper in the zone and make a play to find his centerman so they can turn up the ice as a 5 man unit. If Huberdeau’s strength is finding the trailer, then he’ll need the trailer in the play in order for him to actually be a factor.

The problem with Gaudreaus was that they became too predictable (and also looked like he was avoiding trying to make an outside play and/or contact). He went away from doing it all the time and had his most successful season. partly because Tkachuk was getting more attention as well.

But that means Gaudreau evolved his game a bit. Huberdeau could as well. He could use a linemate to draw some attention though. Backlund with Huberdeau was successful because Backlund like having the puck more, and defenders had to go to him.

So maybe a Hubderau-Kadri-Lindholm would work. Kadri could draw some attenion down the middle.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It's also not just Huberdeau - the entire team can't produce at even strength in this system.

It's a bad system, just like it was last season. The change to zone defence is clearly a work in progress, but more importantly the offence is exactly the same. It's bad.

It’s the same system Tkachuk, Gaudreau and even Toffoli worked with. The system isn’t bad, it’s just some players aren’t built to play this kind of hockey. Fans always complain that their teams are easy to play against and that they’re not built for playoff hockey.

So management built a team that could play playoff style hockey and hired a no nonsense playoff style coach who everyone turned against. Now we want to go backwards and play a style that’s unsuitable for playoff hockey spearheaded by a guy whose points drop precipitously once the calendar flips over? Florida sure as heck didn’t miss that guy when they cruised to the Stanley Cup finals last season.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The problem with Gaudreaus was that they became too predictable (and also looked like he was avoiding trying to make an outside play and/or contact). He went away from doing it all the time and had his most successful season. partly because Tkachuk was getting more attention as well.

But that means Gaudreau evolved his game a bit. Huberdeau could as well. He could use a linemate to draw some attention though. Backlund with Huberdeau was successful because Backlund like having the puck more, and defenders had to go to him.

So maybe a Hubderau-Kadri-Lindholm would work. Kadri could draw some attenion down the middle.

I actually like what I’ve seen from that line in the spurts that we’ve seen from them. But with a thinner line up this season, that would leave the 3rd and 4th lines with serious holes and deficiencies. But I guess at this point, who cares. Season already feels like it’s teetering off the cliff 9 games in.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The problem with Gaudreaus was that they became too predictable (and also looked like he was avoiding trying to make an outside play and/or contact). He went away from doing it all the time and had his most successful season. partly because Tkachuk was getting more attention as well.

But that means Gaudreau evolved his game a bit. Huberdeau could as well. He could use a linemate to draw some attention though. Backlund with Huberdeau was successful because Backlund like having the puck more, and defenders had to go to him.

So maybe a Hubderau-Kadri-Lindholm would work. Kadri could draw some attenion down the middle.

Lindholm is a C and is a better one overall than Kadri

The org views him as a C and broke up 13-23-28 which was one of the best lines in the league

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I don't know what kind of hope people are looking for from Conroy this soon into his tenure. Not even Sam Pollock would be able to do anything with this mess.

(Other than just cutting his losses and dumping anything he could.)

Sam Pollack would keep Markstrom until next year just in case he had to trade him to the Panthers for a 2027 1st and a 2027 2nd while eating half the salary to ensure the Panthers are not a lottery team and the Flames can keep their top 5 pick next year. Maybe take Bob off their hands for a 2026 1st if he waived his NTC to come to Calgary.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Lindholm to CBJ for Sillinger+1st+player to offset caps just makes too much sense.
CBJ needs to get Johnny going, and Lindholm and him have established chemistry.

Do it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Lindholm is a C and is a better one overall than Kadri

The org views him as a C and broke up 13-23-28 which was one of the best lines in the league

Oh, I know - but I know Lindholm can play RW and I have no idea whether Kadri can.

It may turn out Huberdeau plays best with Backlund. It's not like he needs an elite C. The mix just has to work - he did well with Bennett who is better in Fla but not a 1C on anyone's team.