[GDT] Flames @ Canucks, 8 pm, CBC

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Backlund has the same amount of points as a 19 year old kid, exactly. Actually he has not had the harder matchups, Hartley has mostly played 1st vs 1st line or 3rd vs first line. It is time for people to stop defending a player people at one time hoped would become a good two way C. It isn't happening. I watch every game even if it was pvr'ed and the eye test does not lie. He kills offensive plays, he hurts the PP every time he is out there on it. Before this season I would agree he was very good at shadowing top players or used in a defensive role but this season he has been terrible. Why would I have bias against him when I have been always supportive of the guy since day one? Just because he is a Calgary Flame does not mean he gets a free pass from me like it seems to be for other fans. I see absolutely nothing he currently brings to this roster right now. Can't win faceoffs, can't backcheck well, turns over pucks, can't do anything in the offensive zone. What does he bring?

Do you have to have a hate-on for at least one player at all times? I didn't think anything could come close to your irrational rage at Regehr, but this is coming close.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

If i was Nakladal i would go play somewhere else next year. This is ridiculous.

I don't know about ridiculous. Nakladal doesn't deserve to play ahead of any of the 6 guys ahead of him. What would be ridiculous is sitting defensemen that have been playing well in the NHL for a rookie who hasn't played a game yet. Don't you think? Unless that rookie is the next Ekblad or something.

He'll probably get a chance at some point due to injury or trade or bad play but I don't know why posters think young players should be handed roles they haven't earned yet. Show some patience! Injury or trade, likely to happen within the next month.

You make room for players like Gaudreau and Bennett. Players of lesser ilk you make them force their way onto the lineup. That is pretty typical.

We're a lot more likely to see youngsters in more prominent roles after the trade deadline. I know a lot of people want it to happen immediately but you're just gonna have to wait a few weeks probably.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don't know about ridiculous. Nakladal doesn't deserve to play ahead of any of the 6 guys ahead of him. What would be ridiculous is sitting defensemen that have been playing well in the NHL for a rookie who hasn't played a game yet. Don't you think? Unless that rookie is the next Ekblad or something.

He'll probably get a chance at some point due to injury or trade or bad play but I don't know why posters think young players should be handed roles they haven't earned yet. Show some patience! Injury or trade, likely to happen within the next month.

You make room for players like Gaudreau and Bennett. Players of lesser ilk you make them force their way onto the lineup. That is pretty typical.

We're a lot more likely to see youngsters in more prominent roles after the trade deadline. I know a lot of people want it to happen immediately but you're just gonna have to wait a few weeks probably.

You need to get that chance to be deserving of a spot, but Hartley is so stuck with 'his guys' that he doesn't allow any room for youngsters to prove themselves. Wotherspoon hasn't gotten any chances. Kulak barely has.

Now, with all of our defensive liabilities, Hartley should be looking for any possible solutions. Instead, he's chugging along towards mediocrity.

[shotinthebacklund]

These threads have become venomous. Stop focusing so heavily on the aspects that irritate you and games will still be enjoyable. I want them to win as much as anyone but common.

[GioforPM]

I doubt anyone who's whining about Nakladl not starting has seen any prcpactices to determine his readiness. Would starting a guy who's had maybe two or three skates with the team since being called up not be setting him up to fail? Hartley will start him when he's ready. Just like with Wolf last year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Do you have to have a hate-on for at least one player at all times? I didn't think anything could come close to your irrational rage at Regehr, but this is coming close.

Oh yay, this poster. And here I thought you fell off the planet but alas you are back to troll me again. Lovely. I can't wait for your next dose of written diarrhea.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by shotinthebacklund

These threads have become venomous. Stop focusing so heavily on the aspects that irritate you and games will still be enjoyable. I want them to win as much as anyone but common.

But then what will we focus on?

[direwolf]

Just win. That's all I ask.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don't know about ridiculous. Nakladal doesn't deserve to play ahead of any of the 6 guys ahead of him. What would be ridiculous is sitting defensemen that have been playing well in the NHL for a rookie who hasn't played a game yet. Don't you think? Unless that rookie is the next Ekblad or something.

He'll probably get a chance at some point due to injury or trade or bad play but I don't know why posters think young players should be handed roles they haven't earned yet. Show some patience! Injury or trade, likely to happen within the next month.

You make room for players like Gaudreau and Bennett. Players of lesser ilk you make them force their way onto the lineup. That is pretty typical.

We're a lot more likely to see youngsters in more prominent roles after the trade deadline. I know a lot of people want it to happen immediately but you're just gonna have to wait a few weeks probably.

Difference between Nakladal and a 'youngster' is he is ufa this summer and has been hands down the best D in stockton. With the team out of the race and without one of ther normal top 6 six guys its the perfect time to see what hes got and get a good sample size, not just a game or two.

Im not really sure what else he could do to force himself in the lineup. Hartley seems set on starting the guys the feels will give them the best chance at winning and thats his prerogotive but im sure when they signed Nakladal for 1 year they knew they had 1 year to figure out if he was nhl calibre.

Plus i just want to see the guy already.

[btimbit]

Yeah I think you have to start playing Nakladal soon. Lets at least see what we've got before potentially losing him

[Strange Brew]

All this talk about Nakladal has reminded me just how healthy the Flames have been this year. Aside from the fact it makes the current year results even more disappointing, it shows how little we have gotten to see any call-ups. It's getting harder to be excited about watching the games.

[heep223]

Get a grip everybody. Lighten up a bit and enjoying watching your favourite team play.

GFG

[jg13]

Over or Under on colborne circling the net 10 times tonight.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I need a girlfriend because this forcing myself to watch Flames games alone is becoming depressing. None of my friends like the team and I end up just sad with an empty beer cursing Wideman, Colborne or Russell.

Well the biggest issue you have is that your beer is empty. Seasons like this one you need a full one with one on deck.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Difference between Nakladal and a 'youngster' is he is ufa this summer and has been hands down the best D in stockton. With the team out of the race and without one of ther normal top 6 six guys its the perfect time to see what hes got and get a good sample size, not just a game or two.

Im not really sure what else he could do to force himself in the lineup. Hartley seems set on starting the guys the feels will give them the best chance at winning and thats his prerogotive but im sure when they signed Nakladal for 1 year they knew they had 1 year to figure out if he was nhl calibre.

Plus i just want to see the guy already.

Does Russell deserve to sit? Does Smid deserve to sit? Does Engelland deserve to sit? I'm not even going to ask about Brodie, Gio and Hamilton. If the answer is no, then you don't put Nakladal in until you are forced to due to injury/trade. IMO you answer no three times there and therefore Nakladal sits.

What does he have to do to force himself into the lineup? Wait for a trade/injury and then when he does get his chance, play really well. Same as every other normal player.

Until Hartley gets a mandate to play young players and more spots are opened up due to trade and a few more recalls are made, until that happens he's going to dress his best lineup just line any sane coach would do. It's unrealistic to expect anything else. So we don't need to bemoan Nakladal not playing, it should be expected that he wouldn't dress ahead of the six veterans we have right now.

[Soliak]

I honestly don't care too much about winning. Sure it would be good to flog the Canucks, but we aren't going to make the playoffs this year. Some progress by the players would be good to see.

My ideal finish to the season:

Johnny gets > 80 pts and goes PPG
Monny warms up and gets ~25 goals and 60 pts
Bennett continues to progress
Flames draft top 3 and pick Laine

Would be good.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Does Russell deserve to sit? Does Smid deserve to sit? Does Engelland deserve to sit?

...

IMO you answer no three times there and therefore Nakladal sits.

Why does Nakladal 'deserve' to sit? Fear of the unknown, does not mean arbitrarily rewarding the known.

Right now with Wideman out our 2nd PP needs a right handed shot defenseman, and Engelland won't cut it in that role. It's worth a shot to improve the special teams performance alone. This team being T30th place isn't any one individual's fault but obviously they're not a roster as a whole that "deserves' anything.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Why does Nakladal 'deserve' to sit?

Because he's 7th on the depth chart. You aren't going to dress him ahead of our six veterans unless they're banged up, playing bad, you trade one, or one gets injured. Why would he deserve to dress ahead of any of Gio, Brodie, Hamilton, Russell, Engelland, or Smid? He wouldn't unless the coach has a specific mandate from management to give call-ups a look-see. We aren't at that point of the season yet, that may happen post-deadline.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He wouldn't IMO unless the coach has a specific mandate from management to give call-ups a look-see. We aren't at that point of the season yet, that may happen post-deadline.

That's 3 weeks away. The Flames are pretty much out of it now (imo) they will be a forgone conclusion by the 29th at the rate it's going.

I understand the argument that Nakladal hasn't 'earned' anything yet, but at some point you need to know what you're working with if you any inclination of bringing him back next season (if he'd even want to re-sign with the Flames again). If they do, throw the guy a bone and give him a shot. You could always dress 7 d-men and scratch a forward like Colborne who is wasted space this season. Give Nakladal a few minutes here and there and see what you have.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

That's 3 weeks away. The Flames are pretty much out of it now (imo) they will be a forgone conclusion by the 29th at the rate it's going.

I understand the argument that Nakladal hasn't 'earned' anything yet, but at some point you need to know what you're working with if you any inclination of bringing him back next season (if he'd even want to re-sign with the Flames again). If they do, throw the guy a bone and give him a shot. You could always dress 7 d-men and scratch a forward like Colborne who is wasted space this season. Give Nakladal a few minutes here and there and see what you have.

What's the rush? He's very likely to get some time in before the end of the season due to injury/suspensions/trades.

Scratching veteran defensemen for minor leaguers is a tanking move that no respectable coach is going to do unless his manager tells him its okay. Not sure you guys are really looking at this from Hartley's perspective. Hartley is a professional and he's going to dress the best lineup he can in order to win NHL games. That's his job, win NHL games. He's going to try to do his job. In what world does scratching Russell, Smid or Engelland for a minor league defenseman give us a better chance to win? Hartley can't do that type of move until he's told to, or until he's forced to put Nakladal in the lineup due to other circumstances (injury, trade, etc.)

I understand you guys are impatient and want to see minor leaguers to see what we've got (me too) but Hartley as a professional non-tanking coach is not going to scratch an NHL veteran in order to play a minor leaguer unless the veteran is playing bad or banged up. That's just not realistic to expect him to do that. He's a professional coach, he's going to dress his best players. Nakladal has done nothing yet to show he's a better NHL defenseman than Russell, Smid or Engelland. Until he does we don't need to bemoan it when he doesn't play.