Notes from Jan 5 Practice: Likely Granlund, Jones out. Backlund & Raymond in vs Wings

[Finger Cookin]

I'm loving the competition for ice time and line placement among the forwards.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Depends on the player getting hurt, of course, but I'd like a look at Poirer and Wotherspoon before the end of the year, and I'd like another look at Sven and Ferland. Seto is a wild card too.

That said. Granlund looks like he's got the team made at this point, just a numbers game. I don't think he's down in the AHL for 10games. If there was another spot on the roster, I bet he'd have been told to find a place to live.

Seto's been injured for quite a while. I'm guessing they get recalled in reverse order. So Granlund, Ferland, Sven. I don't think Poirier is coming up soon.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I would much rather have Jones spot taken by Ferland or Hankowski or even Knight.

Mason Raymond is closely becoming Setogouchish in his contribution... It is like he won the lottery and he can call it a career and still be young and healthy when he walks away in 2 and half more years.

I can't see that Raymond's example and how he plays the game and how Hartley is handling the situation can be a good example for the youngsters on the team. Right now, they like Raymond last year, have to go all out to establish themselves as legit NHLers..... I don't want them to slide when they get their 3 year 9M deal.

AV and the guys in Vancouver caught on the Raymond's style.

Would Raymond be playing better on a 1 year deal worth 1.5??? He definitely would not be any worse.


Jones has actually looked like he was trying and succeeding when he was approaching his last chance before a buy out.

Dude got laid out hard and was off to a pretty good start to the season though he did get 3 of his 7 points with that hatty against Edmonton. Take that into consideration when also thinking that it was that tough hit in the 7th game of the finals that saw him leave on a stretcher and wonder if he would ever play the game again and its kinda easy to see what's actually wrong with Raymond. He said his neck would never truly be the same after taking that hit and I think this injury that he has come back from this year may have exacerbated that brutal neck injury he took in 2011. I hope we see Raymond play to his abilities again but his game has been timid and conservative since coming back in December, I think he needs to start playing with his speed again and the points will come.

[Vulcan]

I'm guessing Jones is banged up, not enough to go on the injured list but enough to effect his game. If he can't play his physical style he's not useful, so he sits.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm guessing Jones is banged up, not enough to go on the injured list but enough to effect his game. If he can't play his physical style he's not useful, so he sits.

Jones is really effective in about 20% of the games he plays. The rest of the time he's obviously nursing injuries & hesitant to get into the areas that he succeeds in.

[Racki]

I was watching Raymond's interview on the team website. He's pretty pissed about the healthy scratches. Good. I'd be surprised if he didn't have a real good game against the Wings.

[AcGold]

My guess with Jones is he's so scared of getting hurt that he doesn't take hits properly. Instead of accepting that he'll get hit and bracing for it he leans away and makes the hit worse taking a harder impact and falling into the boards awkwardly.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Personally I don't think he has the team made... not very good on faceoffs and only so-so otherwise. Seems to have hit a plateau . I like the guy but I think others have more to offer. Sven (If he keeps things up), Ferland and especially Poirier will get the next opportunities depending on position of course.

I respectfully disagree. The only prospects who have outperformed Granlund have been told they are staying up.

No other player in the AHL has come close to playing as well as Granlund.

I agree that he is poor on faceoffs, but he has provided decent (though streaky) offense and steady defense at the center position. And his play is improving. I firmly believe his faceoffs will improve with experience at this level.

I standby my statement that if there was another roster spot, Granlund would be staying up.

[remember2004]

Can't stand Jones, I would rather have Big Ern play.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by jaginla

The little carpet makes it

That's prayer rug!

[sureLoss]

Initial reports out of Jan 6's practice is that the lines are the same as Jan 5. Indicating that Hartley still plans to have Granlund and Jones out against the Wings and Backlund will center Raymond and Byron.

According to Derek Wills the Flames have changed the defensive pairings on the PP unit.

1st unit: Giordano Wideman
2nd unit: Russell Brodie

According to Sportak, Smid had to leave the ice after taking a puck to the neck/face region, was slow to get up and took his time getting to the bench

edit: Smid has returned to the ice

[HUSKER4FLAMES]

Shouldn't there be a move today to make room for Backlund tomorrow if they were waiving someone? Seems likely someone will be sent down instead. Granlund?

[sureLoss]

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
#Flames Mikael Backlund looks good. Skating a lot better than he was earlier this season, when he was clearly trying to play through pain.

[dammage79]

So they send Potter back once Backlund gets back in. Then when Smid gets back the question is which FWD do they send down?

Call me crazy but I think I'd let Byron go. Via trade or waivers. He's had brilliant stretches, plays a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier than he actually is but he's also been one of the more inconsistent players of late anyways.

For my money I'd keep Granlund and Jooris up over Byron. They're both younger and equally as good as Byron has been. And then you can rotate Jooris, Ferland, Poirier, Granlund for the rest of the season. I just see Byron as a blockage to the stream of development right now. And I don't hate him, just think it's better to invest those minutes with other players in the system.

[GioforPM]

Byron plays a lot of PK, so you have to ensure that's covered. I guess Backlund is one obvious choice.

[killer_carlson]

I think Byron can recoup some value in a trade.

[Vulcan]

I'd send Granlund down and sit Byron or Jones depending on their play. Granlund needs the ice time he'll get in GF.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

That's prayer rug!

That's his Aladdin rug because he's going to fly around the rink next game

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Depends on the player getting hurt, of course, but I'd like a look at Poirer and Wotherspoon before the end of the year, and I'd like another look at Sven and Ferland. Seto is a wild card too.

That said. Granlund looks like he's got the team made at this point, just a numbers game. I don't think he's down in the AHL for 10games. If there was another spot on the roster, I bet he'd have been told to find a place to live.

I would keep in mind that as long as Poirier plays 9 NHL games or less his contract will still slide this year.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I would keep in mind that as long as Poirier plays 9 NHL games or less his contract will still slide this year.

I've been told that isn't the case by the team.