March 20 Practice - Ramo starts against BJs

[GioforPM]

Sean (born in '94) Monahan: "What's the Red Army"?

[TapeToTape]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Same with Bennett ... maybe it makes sense for him to go back to the OHL next year again ... but defiantly should explore making room for these guys.

I would say it makes no sense for Bennett to go back to the OHL. Room will be made for him.

[heep223]

It's funny how many posters think Byron is the most overrated player on the team while others think he is the most underrated. Which probably means he's neither.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

It's funny how many posters think Byron is the most overrated player on the team while others think he is the most underrated. Which probably means he's neither.

That's very astute, not only because that's what I think and therefore the correct opinion.



I do think if Byron could ever score he'd be a $5M player.

[BlueCharlton]

Byron is awesome. He is a fast skater, plays bigger then he is, and his work ethic might be the biggest factor for me. We need guys like him to force other players to step up their game.

Is he an essential piece to our team's success? Not like Giordano. But he is definitely a factor.

No one has really had to "step up" for Byron. When I am watching the game I don't ever see a play and think "man if only Byron was playing". With Gio out and Engelland playing on the first line, there are many moments where you wish Gio was there instead, and that being said Engelland is still doing a fantastic job considering what he was before Gio got hurt.

Would I like Byron back? Yes. Do we need him back? No.

[MissTeeks]

Aaron Portzline‏@Aportzline2h2 hours ago

This is the 21st time #CBJ have played Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver as part of same road trip. They have never won all three games.

[cannon7]

I like Byron a lot on the fourth line. Think if we don't need size I put him in on RW instead of Bolig.

What I don't understand is why the Flames aren't trying to find a secondary scoring option. Bouma has cooled off offensively, maybe move him down to the third line and put someone like Poirier in his place? Not sure why we have Poirier sitting in the press box, is it just the call-up limit?

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Poirier-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Shore-Colbornee
Ferland-Joories-Byron

Yes, you read that right, Raymond and Stjaan in the press box. Put Granlund in on the fourth line if anyone isn't firing on all cylinders.

I know why Hartley is being so conservative down the stretch, the margin is razor thin. I just can't help but wonder if we're hurting ourselves playing underperforming vets vs. hungry rookies.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

No player is more overated by CP than Paul Byron. Raymond was pretty good last night, rather have Raymond as long as he's putting in the effort on the 3rd line because there's at least a hope he might start scoring some goals, and I'd rather play Bollig and Ferland right now on the 4th line because they are both playing well and can obviously provide something physically that Byron can't.

Raymond starts to cost us in our own end, swap him out for Byron, or if one of Bollig or Ferland play badly, put him on the 4th line, but until then leave him out. I get the whole logic behind saying the Flames have been fine without Gio to etc.... that is used to deflate the argument that says we've been fine with out Byron, but we really have been fine without Byron.

So many QOTDs on the forum lately! I've obviously had trouble keeping up with all the results...

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I like Byron a lot on the fourth line. Think if we don't need size I put him in on RW instead of Bolig.

What I don't understand is why the Flames aren't trying to find a secondary scoring option. Bouma has cooled off offensively, maybe move him down to the third line and put someone like Poirier in his place? Not sure why we have Poirier sitting in the press box, is it just the call-up limit?

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Poirier-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Shore-Colbornee
Ferland-Joories-Byron

Yes, you read that right, Raymond and Stjaan in the press box. Put Granlund in on the fourth line if anyone isn't firing on all cylinders.

I know why Hartley is being so conservative down the stretch, the margin is razor thin. I just can't help but wonder if we're hurting ourselves playing underperforming vets vs. hungry rookies.

Poirier hasn't shown he is ready for second line duties. IMO he's struggled a bit at the NHL level and has yet to really find his groove. His 4:48 in his last game was not a good sign that Hartley is pleased with his play. Jooris on the 4th line has not worked well - Stajan's been way better. In fact, overall, your 4th line is not good defensively outside of maybe Byron.


Hartley isn't going conservative - he's playing to win. In a PO fight, the vets get you through.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The Flames haven't missed a beat without Byron for the last 14 games -- and 10 of those same games have been without Giordano.

They have missed a beat, even if they've been strong.

Anaheim@CGY 3rd period with a 2-1 lead and they lose 6-3.
Minnesota@CGY OT was a mess. I bet with Byron in they win.
@Islanders no momentum. Byron might have changed that.
@Boston OT was a mess. I bet with Byron it doesn't go to the Schlemko Shootout
@Ottawa OT was ineffective. I bet with Byron we win OT
@Colorado we struggled getting some momentum. Maybe Byron changes that.

Our record in those six games is 1-3-2 and I don't think I'm being a homer saying Byron makes that record a winning one. He's an impact player.

[GioforPM]

EV - Wait - you've cherry picked a few losses, ignored the wins (other than saying Boston would have been an easier win) and said the difference was Paul Byron?

Why didn't they win against LA or Pittsburgh in the last few games he played? How did they let Boston get out to that lead in his last game with him in the game?

I like Byron a lot, but it's a bit of a leap to say a 3rd/4th line winger turns over half of those losses you listed into wins.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

They have missed a beat, even if they've been strong.

No, they haven't. .571 points percentage vs. .588 with Byron. Better goal differential, better PK. As I previously pointed out.

Gio might have made enough impact to flip the results on half of those six games. Not Byron.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

] Raymond was pretty good last night

Really? I thought he was terrible, plays just died on his stick.

[CsInMyBlood]

Bob Hartley certainly knows what Byron means to this team.

Sad that many of you just don't or refuse to see it.

Byron WILL be in the lineup when he is ready to go, I have no doubts.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Bob Hartley certainly knows what Byron means to this team.

Sad that many of you just don't or refuse to see it.

Byron WILL be in the lineup when he is ready to go, I have no doubts.

Agreed, I think all this overrated and underrated talk is pretty much answered by the fact that, when he's healthy, Byron is in the lineup (over Raymond, Bollig, Ferland, Shore, Jooris at times) ... and when he plays, he plays some key minutes like OT. Thats pretty much our answer right there.

[foshizzle11]

making a run to the playoffs means you need bodies that are healthy and he is a capable NHLer. He makes our 4th line better, maybe even our 3rd line if Raymond gets slotted on the 4th line.

I don't think Raymond is terrible, he is on the 3rd line. I like his speed and his experience, he hasn't been that bad lately. Is he visually better? What are his advanced stats?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

EV - Wait - you've cherry picked a few losses, ignored the wins (other than saying Boston would have been an easier win) and said the difference was Paul Byron?

I did cherry pick those games because they were games that I felt "man, it would be nice if we had Byron(and of course Gio, but that's true even in most wins) right now at this moment".

I like Byron a lot, but it's a bit of a leap to say a 3rd/4th line winger turns over half of those losses you listed into wins.

Come crunch time and OT, Byron's regularily been more of a 2nd liner for us.

[sureLoss]

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
Young lady at #Flames practice had a sign asking players to be her grad date. Monahan: “I probably should, but I think Johnny will for me.”