Who takes a step back and a step forward this year?

[FlamesAddiction]

Step back might not be fair, but I don't think that Ferland can live up to some of the expectations based on his playoff round against Vancouver.

I expect over the course of a full season, he will be a fringe 4th liner. You just can't go balls to the walls like that for a full season.

Gaudreau and Bennett also look like they have added some muscles so I expect to see steps forward for both.

Jones, Hulder, Byron and Russell are all playing for UFA contracts.

[Bourque's Twin]

Step Forward:
Ferland - His confidence is high from the playoffs, his health is good, and his experience playing in huge games is there. I think he will solidify himself as a top 9 forward.
Granlund - I think he makes the team and sticks. He's small but plays a great 2-way game.
Gaudreau - Last year he was only a rookie and look what he did. I think he's among the top 10 for points this season. His PP points will be huge.

Step Back:
Backlund - I think he will be used mostly in defensive situations, so his point totals won't be good. I think the playoffs exemplified this. He will still be an important part of the team.
Bouma - Same as Backlund.
Wotherspoon - I can't see him cracking the lineup with Nakladal, Smid, and Hamilton in the mix. I think his time's up.
Shore - Same as Wotherspoon. I can't see him even beating guys like Byron and Jooris.

[GioforPM]

Step forward:
Ferland - from the regular season (not from the Vancouver series)
Johnny G - especially in possession
Colborne - as a good middle line player
Raymond - where else can he go?
Jones - if he can stay healthy
Brodie - even better than last year

Step Back
Hudler - hard to see him maintaining that pace
Bouma - ditto
Bollig - I see him becoming a scratch and losing a regular spot to up and comers

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

RGI strikes again.

Frolik's increased offensive production in Winnipeg couldn't have anything to do with his increased ice time, could it?

In Chicago:
2011–12 — 12:52 ATOI, 19.1 SPG
2012–13 — 12:31 ATOI, 18.1 SPG

In Winnipeg:
2013–14 — 16:40 ATOI, 22.1 SPG
2014–15 — 17:30 ATOI, 24.2 SPG

Frolik is not going to be limited to <13:00 ATOI in Calgary.

If Frolik gets as much ice time as he did in Winnipeg who only had a 3 line rotation and several injuries to their top 6 then the Flames are in serious trouble.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

If Frolik gets as much ice time as he did in Winnipeg who only had a 3 line rotation and several injuries to their top 6 then the Flames are in serious trouble.

Because the top 6 in Hartley's lineup don't get the bulk of the ice time?

I get the sense you don't like Frolik much.

[SuperMatt18]

I hope that Frolik plays awesome just so Ricardo will stop stating how bad Frolik will be, and how terrible the signing is.

[ScorchyScorch]

Hard to say about anyone, though I am quite certain Wideman regresses a bit. The most nagging hunch I have for this season is that Gaudreau racks up more points than any of the something specials and is top 10 OA. Others have predicted this, I wholeheartedly agree. He looks poised for a PPG type season, espcially given that was the pace he was producing at for the latter half of last season and he only looks stronger and faster.

[Enoch Root]

His average time in Chi was 12.41

His average time in Wpg was 17.05

The mid-point of that is 14.53

I would take the over on 14.53 for him this season

[MissTeeks]

Frolik is his new Lee Stempniak. Yay for us.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

His average time in Chi was 12.41

His average time in Wpg was 17.05

The mid-point of that is 14.53

I would take the over on 14.53 for him this season

14:48 was his average ice-time per game in Florida in 2009 when he scored 21 goals and 45 points in 79 games.

When given the opportunity, he can produce. The bonus is that he doesn't need to produce points in order to contribute.

His shooting percentages were also abnormally low in Chicago.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Frolik is his new Lee Stempniak. Yay for us.

I didn't see any CP people wanting the Flames to sign Stempniak as a UFA for less than half he was clearly worth 4 months earlier.

Seems like for a lot of people on CP Stempniak went from a top-6 team leader to crap the moment he got traded to Pittsburgh.

I might being unduly harsh on Frolik as his signing made it extremely likely that the Flame clock is ticking on Hudler.


PS... You left out that Raymond was my least favorite Flame from the first day that he signed his unbelievable UFA contract.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

I didn't see any CP people wanting the Flames to sign Stempniak as a UFA for less than half he was clearly worth 4 months earlier.

Seems like for a lot of people on CP Stempniak went from a top-6 team leader to crap the moment he got traded to Pittsburgh.

I might being unduly harsh on Frolik as his signing made it extremely likely that the Flame clock is ticking on Hudler.


PS... You left out that Raymond was my least favorite Flame from the first day that he signed his unbelievable UFA contract.

When Hudler was signed you figured he was too small and soft. Now you're worried about protecting his next contract?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I hope that Frolik plays awesome just so Ricardo will stop stating how bad Frolik will be, and how terrible the signing is.

Chances are very high that this is exactly what will happen, given ricardodw's stellar track record of evaluation and projection.

[CroFlames]

Besides the OP, no one has selected Mony to take a step back. I am glad for this. He is the #1. Bennett will not be #1 next year, just like Mony was not #1 in his first year, despite being more skilled than Backs. In my opinion, the #1 center job is the hardest to learn, followed closely by top d-man positions. Bennett despite his skill and desire has much to learn from Mony, Backs and the other C's. The first thing people think of when they talk about Mony is maturity - and that's the reason he was able to become #1 so quickly.

I think Raymond will definitely take a step back. After his upstart first 1/3 season, his confidence fell off and he never recovered. I think he's nearing his end in Cgy, possibly the NHL.

The safe money is to bet Wideman scores less, but I think Hartley will throw him on the PP a lot with Gio. I think Wideman comes close to his totals from last year. My guess is that Hamilton will be #2 PP unit with Brodie or Russell.

[D as in David]

Frolik's RGI > Hudler's RGI

[Huntingwhale]

Sportsnet broadcast team (Hrudey, etc) takes a step forward.
Flames A/V team takes a massive step back

[Finger Cookin]

Lots of mostly sensible reasoning in this thread.

I wish I had some reasoning or something to base this on - but I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about Colborne. I'm concerned about his wrists. I'm encouraged by what I've heard so far about his offseason and camp, but it's going to take a while before that feeling goes away.

So much went right last year, I'd be happy if a lot of the players who excelled last year can even take lateral steps.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When Hudler was signed you figured he was too small and soft. Now you're worried about protecting his next contract?

How the heck do you know what Ricardodw said about Hudler, 2 years before your join date?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When Hudler was signed you figured he was too small and soft. Now you're worried about protecting his next contract?

from the Hudler signing thread this is how I viewed the Hudler signing:

Another Small soft , but skilled forward..... Cammalleri, Tanguay and Hudler.... all in the top 6 and smurfs. Add Baertschi and Stajan and it makes you wonder what Feaster was thinking when he signed Stempniak.

Butler, Bouw, Smith, and Brodie on defense.

Not going win any in the alleys.

Has to be trade coming.

There can'be anyone who would not want Prust on this roster instead of Stempniak.

Completely accurate assessment of Hudler as a soft, small but skilled forward. No question that he was in the Flames top-6 I don't think it was an accident or coincidence that Hudler had his career year once the other small soft guys were shipped out.


Exactly what you want is that your soft small guys are off the charts in the skilled department.... Brodie, Gaudreau and Hudler fit that bill.....

Frolik has not shown the top level skill that justifies his non-contact style of play.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Frolik's RGI > Hudler's RGI

Not by a whole heck of a lot.

but Hudler's skill >>>>>>>>>>>> Frolik's skill.

If Frolik turns out to somehow become as skilled as Hudler then it is indeed a great signing.