Mike Smith - Aggressive puck handling still beneficial?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Love

Liberal usage of the word elite in this post

Twice is “liberal”? I don’t follow when both usages are arguably accurate.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Playoffs? You're talking about playoffs? You kidding me?

The Flames are one point out with more than 40 games left.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Love

Liberal usage of the word elite in this post

Johnny is on pace for 96 points, which is the exact same total that won Iggy the Art Ross.

The 3M line isn't elite now?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The Flames are one point out with more than 40 games left.

Or to put it another way, on pace for 89 points. Yeah there was that one year when Minnesota made the playoffs with 87 points, but odds are that's not going to cut it.

We can absolutely make it, but so far we haven't been playing like a playoff team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Itse

Or to put it another way, on pace for 89 points. Yeah there was that one year when Minnesota made the playoffs with 87 points, but odds are that's not going to cut it.

We can absolutely make it, but so far we haven't been playing like a playoff team.

Any way you choose to evaluate the record the thought that the Flames might make the playoffs should not be met by incredulity. This was my entire point.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

An elite #1 line with a player on pace for nearly 100 points.

A legitimate starting goaltender.

A defense that should be better than it is but still capable.

An elite 2nd line.

A third line that's rounding into form with 40+ games to go.

How many teams with all that aren't in the playoffs?

Well that kind of begs the question as to why they are not sitting in a playoff spot currently, doesn't it?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well that kind of begs the question as to why they are not sitting in a playoff spot currently, doesn't it?

Because it's a long season and the salary cap is $75M. The league is ridiculously competitive.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well that kind of begs the question as to why they are not sitting in a playoff spot currently, doesn't it?

I'd posit that several teams are in the same boat. Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Dallas come to mind.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'd posit that several teams are in the same boat. Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Dallas come to mind.

Well, clearly Pittsburgh is just no damned good at all. I mean, it's not like they've ever won anything with the key players in that lineup. You can't tell me that any good team would be out of a playoff position at this time of the season, nosirree Bob.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Love

He’s got to pick his spots better. A lot of the time he slows the forwards and d down when he goes for a skate to collect the puck. By the time he’s passed it off to a d-man the forwards have stopped skating and are standing still at the blue line.

Good attempt to return the thread to topic.

[Huntingwhale]

Much preferred Smith's puckhandling style vs the Blues. Instead of firing the puck away everytime he had the chance, he simply stopped the dump ins and left them for the D to pick up. He was able to break up a bunch of forechecks, while letting good skating D like Brodie skate it out.

Good adjustment by Smith.

[GranteedEV]

Is it possible that this team would simple be better under a more typical goalie? I haven't felt Smith has been a difference maker since October.

[jayswin]

He's had stretches where he's looked like he's single handedly won games, so I'm really glad we have him. However, Rittich has inspired a lot of confidence as a fan, I'd like to see management up their back up games played plan.

There's nothing with this group that suggests they're open to change based on results, but it would be nice. Let's find out if we have that next starter in the organization.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Well, clearly Pittsburgh is just no damned good at all. I mean, it's not like they've ever won anything with the key players in that lineup. You can't tell me that any good team would be out of a playoff position at this time of the season, nosirree Bob.

That's my point. The Flames are in tough, that's for sure. But so are a bunch of good teams. So I'm not panicking. I don't like it, but there is a lot of room for them to move up.

[Travis Munroe]

When Smith goes out to play the puck, it forces the D to stay on the walls as he is rarely coming out to just drop it off. I have to think a D man feels more comfortable coming back and picking up a stopped puck behind their net and either
A) continuing their momentum and turning it up ice quickly
or
B) using the net as an obstacle and allowing everyone to get into position for the breakout.

When Smith plays it and dishes it to someone on the wall, they are usually faced with immediate pressure and a big reason I believe our first passes are awful, the start of the breakout often dies, etc. Smiths puck playing could be a HUGE asset but it starts with the coaches game plan and if the plan is the same as what it would be with Riddich in net, the team is being let down.

[Enoch Root]

When Smith was stopping everything, all the talk was about how awesome his puck handling was. Now that he has cooled off, this thread exists.

Coincidence?