Practice notes Dec 28. Hamonic maintenance day.

[jg13]

It almost feels as if the Flames don't want to name a starter to give the media and fans the idea that Rittich is our bonafide #1 even though we all know he is, in hopes to keep Mike Smiths confidence level up or to not hurt his feelings.

Either way it's no secret BSD is the #1. At some point the coaching staff needs to admit it and roll with it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Think about it.

I have. And I can’t think of a good reason to move an NHL defenseman for a draft pick heading into the playoffs. This is not a good idea.


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[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I still get the impression that they view Rittich as a back-up performing admirably to hold the fort for Smith and that Smith is going to get every opportunity to redeem himself.



NHL coaches almost always favour veterans.

Originally Posted by jg13

It almost feels as if the Flames don't want to name a starter to give the media and fans the idea that Rittich is our bonafide #1 even though we all know he is, in hopes to keep Mike Smiths confidence level up or to not hurt his feelings.

Either way it's no secret BSD is the #1. At some point the coaching staff needs to admit it and roll with it.

Admit it to whom? Media? Fans? Why?

I still think the coaches are concerned about ensuring that Rittich and Smith are both in the best environment to succeed. If this means being cagey about meaningless labels like “starting goalie,” then so be it.

What is happening now works. Stick with it.


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[edslunch]

Originally Posted by 868904

Let's see what the lines look like.

If Prout is on the 3rd pair with Kylington, then Hamonic will be sitting.

I wouldn't mind seeing Hamonic sit to rest up and giving Andersson and Kylington more ice. Give them a chance to go up against the super Swede to test themselves, they should relish that opportunity.

I thought they both played pretty well against a real good Winnipeg team. Got hemmed in a few times but so did the top two pairings. It's really exciting to watch these two kids. It's really odd, but they really remind me of MacInnis and Suter. Not saying they are going to be hall of famers, but there are similarities there.

Andersson, the big shot, but lumbering some might say "choppy" skater like MacInnis. Makes up for it with smart heads up plays and positioning.

Kylington, the smallish but puck rushing skater like Suter. Can also shoot the puck too.

I think on any other team, both these guys would be on the PP and racking up points, but because the flames have a strong top 4, both guys are being eased into things. Flames defense could be real scary by the end of the year once both of them have had a full season of NHL experience.

I’m waiting for Kylington to do an end to end rush and score unassisted. HHe’s totally got it in him.

[tkflames]

I suspect that Smith gets Saturday against the weaker opponent and BSD gets the big game against the Sharks on NYE.

I understand wanting to roll BSD, but even if the coaching staff anoints him as the new #1, you still need to get Smitth playing one game per week from a fatigue and readiness standpoint.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I have. And I can’t think of a good reason to move an NHL defenseman for a draft pick heading into the playoffs. This is not a good idea.


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I don’t believe the return on Stone would make it worth trading him. If you could get a 2nd rounder I would do it, but I expect that’s highly unlikely. His worth to the Flames is higher than a late pick. Going into the playoffs with 3 rookie defensemen in the top 7? I wouldn’t mind having him around. Injuries are going to happen too.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don’t believe the return on Stone would make it worth trading him. If you could get a 2nd rounder I would do it, but I expect that’s highly unlikely. His worth to the Flames is higher than a late pick. Going into the playoffs with 3 rookie defensemen in the top 7? I wouldn’t mind having him around. Injuries are going to happen too.

Yeah, nothing like playing Corey Potter in the playoffs as your bottom guy.

Seriously. Corey ####ing Potter...

Valimaki and Kylington both looking great, along with Rasmus coming into his own and Stone getting healthy slowly, means that we should be able to absorb a bottom 4 defence injuring without too much troubles. But trade away Stone and let's say Hamonic misses a week or two - now you're left with Prout instead of Stone. Ugh to that.

Stone gets a lot of flak from the possession monsters on the board, but I like him. He's kind of like a Derek Ryan on D. Meh in the offensive zone outside of the occasional shot finding its mark, but solid in his own zone.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by neo45

In terms of physicality I don’t even think Prout has shoved anybody this year. The one hit he threw in the Edmonton game he took an unnecessary penalty.

Peluso at least almost scored a goal and stood up for a team mate in his 4 minutes of ice time.

I'm not the hockey fighter guy, don't get me wrong. But Kassian was pretty much neutered the second Prout was dressed. He did nothing.

[Freeway]

All due respect to Michael Stone, but nobody's trading anything of value for a $3.5 million seventh defenseman who hasn't played in two(-plus) months... and has a year left on his contract.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I am guessing Hamonic is very questionable for tomorrow:

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames at practice today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Czarnik
Bennett-Jankowski-Neal
Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Prout

I love that 3rd line.

That 2nd line could really use a "dynamic" offensive talent. If we could some acquire someone to bring some offensive flair to that line during 5v5 play...well, that'd be super.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Think about it.

Stone is exactly the type of insurance policies that NHL team's acquire in about 2 months.

Flames are in the top five.

You keep him.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I have. And I can’t think of a good reason to move an NHL defenseman for a draft pick heading into the playoffs. This is not a good idea.


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You fool.

You didn't even think about what you could do with the pick you acquire for Stone! You can trade it for a depth defenseman.

And I just heard a rumour that Michael Stone is available for a draft pick....

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

You fool.

You didn't even think about what you could do with the pick you acquire for Stone! You can trade it for a depth defenseman.

And I just heard a rumour that Michael Stone is available for a draft pick....

If Kevin Costner was our GM he would trade Stone for a 4th rounder and then reacquire him and a backup goalie for that same pick.

[GioforPM]

I don’t get the obsession with some public pronouncement of a number one goalie. Surely whoever Peters picks to start the majority of games is the number one.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Kevin Costner was our GM he would trade Stone for a 4th rounder and then reacquire him and a backup goalie for that same pick.

Fitting, as the situation sounds about as believable as Kevin Costner’s acting.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I suspect that Smith gets Saturday against the weaker opponent and BSD gets the big game against the Sharks on NYE.

I understand wanting to roll BSD, but even if the coaching staff anoints him as the new #1, you still need to get Smitth playing one game per week from a fatigue and readiness standpoint.

i'd be surprised frankly if Smith started versus vancouver... Peters was pretty effusive as was all the guys i watched in interviews about how BSD won that game for them... sitting him next game sends the wrong message imo.

i'd start Rittich versus Vancouver and the Sharks and then play Smith sometime on the road trip... like Detroit or any of the eastern conference teams

[Travis Munroe]

Remember when CP couldn't ship Hamonic out quick enough and Treliving made a huge mistake.... this is just 1 of many reasons I refuse to judge any decision Treliving makes until it is at least a year or so later and the reason we shouldn't be so quick to jump on Neal.

Treliving seems to put as much stock into guys personalities and desire to win as he does skill.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I am guessing Hamonic is very questionable for tomorrow:

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames at practice today:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Czarnik
Bennett-Jankowski-Neal
Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Prout

What a PITA to play against...
Line 1 has shown to be one of the top lines in the NHL and can embarrass you skill wise.
Line 2 has Tkachuk which will piss just about anybody off
Line 3 has Bennett who seems to be improving each week is looking to take your head off any chance he gets.
Line 4 has some serious energy that won't let you regroup and Hathaway is like the poor mans Bennett with better defensive hustle.

[tkflames]

I am still a believer that Neal will be a second half player. Much like the rest of the Vegas team, he had a very slow start to the season. Vegas is rolling now and he has showed some signs of life lately.

I would love to see him find some confidence as a trigger man on the 2nd PP unit. A good run of 10 goals in 25 or so games while scoring some on the PP would make a big difference from a depth perspective.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Fitting, as the situation sounds about as believable as Kevin Costner’s acting.

Amazing accent in Robin Hood.