[GDT] Coyotes at Flames on TSN! - 7 pm MDT

[Stay Golden]

wrong thread n/m

[troutman]

Phoenix - I hate them. They are so boring. They went to a 1-4 forecheck in the first goddamn period.

This mutt is yawning, not howling:

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

For an enforcer, Jackman sure can't fight well.

He's not an enforcer, he's a 4th line grinder

[EYE_Overstand]

Originally Posted by troutman

Phoenix - I hate them. They are so boring. They went to a 1-4 forecheck in the first goddamn period.

This mutt is yawning, not howling:

Lol

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He's not an enforcer, he's a 4th line grinder

It's a pretty easy mistake to make, I always think the exact same thing and then remember "oh right, that's not exactly his 'job'".
He's still pretty poor at it.

[calumniate]

At least we got Mike Smith riled up in a preseason game. Just have to work on Shane Doan now

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by troutman

Phoenix - I hate them. They are so boring. They went to a 1-4 forecheck in the first goddamn period.

This mutt is yawning, not howling:

if every team in the league played hockey with that chicken bleep strategy the game would become unwatchable and only hardcore fans would remain. Fringe fans would pass on going to games or flipping it on the TV.
What Tippett has his team play at this level, it is sickening.

[Enoch Root]

Just amazed by the people ragging on Baertschi.

He was given 13 minutes, playing with bottom 6 type line-mates - it is almost impossible to generate much offense in that scenario. And yet he has. He has been setting up lots of plays but his line-mates haven't been able to finish.

And from what I have seen of him (throughout the pre-season), there has been plenty of effort.

One thing that concerns me though, is that I am not sure that Hartley likes or trusts him. He gives him little ice-time, meh line-mates, and short shifts. He almost never gets PP time ad rarely gets those key shifts in the offensive zone.

Nonetheless, he will be fine.

[Enoch Root]

Some other thoughts on the game.

Thought Brodie was the best player on the ice. His poise is amazing. To the poster that thought he couldn't handle the cycle in his own zone, I strongly disagree.

Was worried that a year off might derail Bouma. Nope. He is better than he was before the injury. He is an NHLer now, no question.

Tried to see good things from Street last night, but he simply doesn't have enough speed to be effective against NHL defensemen. He is an AHLer.

The Coyotes are mind-numbingly boring to watch. I really had a hard time remaining interested and trying to focus on the game.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by New Era

What I'm concerned about is the fans adopting the Iginla Syndrome with him, where he doesn't have to show up for the first six or eight weeks of the season and the fans are okay with that just because of the hype built up around him. He hasn't played a full season yet and people are making excuses for his lack of intensity. He's supposed to become this dominant player, well I'd to see some of that at some point, even at a development camp.

Originally Posted by New Era

I don't think so. I want to see a game where people come away raving that Baertschi was dominant or a threat every time he was on the ice. I don't want to hear about glimpses. Reminds me way too much of the last few years where we waited for our star to show up and had to keep our hopes up based on glimpses of him looking like the player we hoped he would be.

Originally Posted by New Era

Think that may have been a result of the pressure Feaster and company are feeling about the future? Or maybe based on expectations Burke set or explained when he was brought in? I think they want the future face of the franchise to be an example on and off the ice, like Iginla.

Your complaints about Baertschi are all about YOUR EXPECTATIONS for him.

How about you just let him become the player he is instead of you deciding in advance what you want him to be?

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I guess as long as Hartley keeps to Burke's game plan (bigger, faster, ?younger? players) he will get to keep his job.

With all the excitement of training camp and preseaon games and the focus on player cuts, I almost forgot that with the Flames having a new boss, everyone below Burke are essentially auditioning for their jobs right now too.

That plan you were talking about was not Brian Burke's plan. Jay Feaster been talking about it before Burke even got hired. I just can't stand it when people are giving Burke credit for something that he didn't do.

[SuperMatt18]

Baertschi is only 20 years old. Expecting him to be a dominating player shift in, shift out at this point is foolish.

He was a kid who had a weak pre-season and mostly due to his effort. There were flashes that you could see he was really turning it on and he was great in those situations.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Baertschi is only 20 years old. Expecting him to be a dominating player shift in, shift out at this point is foolish.

He was a kid who had a weak pre-season and mostly due to his effort. There were flashes that you could see he was really turning it on and he was great in those situations.

On top of that, Baertschi has 1st line potential, but by no means is he EXPECTED to reach that potential. He's far from a lock to reach it. There's going to be a lot of ups and downs, but he's got the natural talent to do it.

I think people need to be prepared that Sven may never dominate games, and if he does, that is likely 3 or 4 years away. If he sticks with the club and puts up some modest numbers this year, then that is a HUGE victory and a great step in his development.

Also, how do we project his beard developing?

[sa226]

Sven is an NHLer for sure. But his play without the puck needs a lot of improvement.

If he played with a highly skilled puck possession centre, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

But as a youngen he needs to earn everything he gets, he can't just have it handed to him. I think that is what he is going through right now. Hopefully long term it is better for him.

He almost seems to be mirroring Backlunds development path. Up and down, up and down. Rather than bursting onto the scene like we all hoped he would.

He 100% should be on the team. But I think this season is going to be another one filled with trials and tribulations for Sven.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Just when the Wild got better players and were probably going to be a much more exciting team to watch, they leave and get replaced by the Coyotes - and Tippet with his extension. Damn good results-oriented coach, but devastatingly boring to watch.

I will be cheering for that team to get an infusion of talent and spend up towards the cap so that they can be an exciting team to watch, even if it means losing to them at times. I just can't watch them much... I literally fell asleep and missed about half of the second period.