2018/2019 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[GioforPM]

The main change needed is for Peters to tell Jankowski that every shift is a PK.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That's really not a lot of time to build up any chemistry. And I doubt they practice as a unit at all.

I don't disagree that splitting up the top line isn't optimal. But I still think Neal hasn't been had consistency in his linemates.

You don’t think they practice at all? Even a little bit? Neal plays plenty of shifts with the top line more so than 90% of other forwards and undeservingly as well. They’re just not a good fit.

Lindholm didn’t much time at all to figure it out with Johnny and Monny. He just went out there and did it. Ferland didn’t seem to need much time either.

Ultimately, I’m not a fan of trying to stick a square peg into a round hole. The the team has something that works and should just go with that. The 1st line is the best we’ve probably seen in a decade. They should actually be playing Lindholm with the top line after PKs too. Who knows how many more goals/points that line could have.

The standings are getting tight at the top and the team can’t afford to pander to veterans like Mike Smith and James Neal at the detriment of the standings. Vegas, San Jose and Anaheim are right on our tails and it’ll only take a small losing streak to potentially put us out of a home playoff position or worse, a wild card position instead.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

You don’t think they practice at all? Even a little bit? Neal plays plenty of shifts with the top line more so than 90% of other forwards and undeservingly as well. They’re just not a good fit.

Lindholm didn’t much time at all to figure it out with Johnny and Monny. He just went out there and did it. Ferland didn’t seem to need much time either.

Ultimately, I’m not a fan of trying to stick a square peg into a round hole. The the team has something that works and should just go with that. The 1st line is the best we’ve probably seen in a decade. They should actually be playing Lindholm with the top line after PKs too. Who knows how many more goals/points that line could have.

The standings are getting tight at the top and the team can’t afford to pander to veterans like Mike Smith and James Neal at the detriment of the standings. Vegas, San Jose and Anaheim are right on our tails and it’ll only take a small losing streak to potentially put us out of a home playoff position or worse, a wild card position instead.

No, I don't think they practice together any meaningful amount. And you completely missed my point, which was not to put Neal on the top line. I'm not going to bother to repeat what I said in the hopes you catch on to it though.

Lindholm on the top line after a PK ignore the fact that he was often just on the ice. It's a smart move.

Putting vets (or any player) in a position to succeed is not pandering. It's coaching.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The main change needed is for Peters to tell Jankowski that every shift is a PK.

Actually, I think the main change needs to be Jankowski on the PP. This guy is out producing every bottom 6 forward by a long shot and he doesn’t get any time on the powerplay nor does he get any ice time with the team’s best players. He basically drives his own line and is doing a damn fine job of it. He’s taken a big step this season.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Phagoof

The flames offense is too top heavy and other teams know it.

No, it really isn’t. The stats don’t bear that out at all.

Not only are the Flames near the top of the league (which means even if other teams “know” they’re too heavy, it isn’t making a difference) but they’re right there with other top teams like Winnipeg, Toronto, Buffalo and Columbus in terms of how many points their top line is producing as a percentage of overall points.

Quite frankly, who cares if teams know our top line is dynamite?

We’re 4th in GF. Our top line is 3rd in GF for any line in the NHL. Usually that’s how these things work (with the notable exception of TB, who are making up for a lower scoring top line with higher scoring other lines.

You’re searching for a problem to match your solution.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No, I don't think they practice together any meaningful amount. And you completely missed my point, which was not to put Neal on the top line. I'm not going to bother to repeat what I said in the hopes you catch on to it though.

Lindholm on the top line after a PK ignore the fact that he was often just on the ice. It's a smart move.

Putting vets (or any player) in a position to succeed is not pandering. It's coaching.

Then what is your point exactly? You’re defending Neal to the point that I can’t understand. Based on every measure I can think of, Neal’s performance doesn’t merit any defense. The team could honestly put league minimum Alan Quine in is his position and there wouldn’t be a difference.

The reason why Neal has also played with so many different linemates is because he hasn’t gained any traction with any one line yet. Don’t you think of he found any tangible success with whatever line that it would stay permanent?

Lastly, it is absolutely pandering. Mike Smith has legitimately cost this team wins and points in the standings because they were playing him as a 1A - 1B. However, thank goodness it looks like that’s ended.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Then what is your point exactly? You’re defending Neal to the point that I can’t understand. Based on every measure I can think of, Neal’s performance doesn’t merit any defense. The team could honestly put league minimum Alan Quine in is his position and there wouldn’t be a difference.

The reason why Neal has also played with so many different linemates is because he hasn’t gained any traction with any one line yet. Don’t you think of he found any tangible success with whatever line that it would stay permanent?

Lastly, it is absolutely pandering. Mike Smith has legitimately cost this team wins and points in the standings because they were playing him as a 1A - 1B. However, thank goodness it looks like that’s ended.

My point is that Neal needs a consistent line combination. That's how you develop chemistry, especially when it suddenly doesn't just click.

Attempts to get Mike Smith going were not pandering - they were trying to get something going that would have benefited the team. What would you do - play Rittich for 100% of all the games?

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Can you not keep this crap in the damn Neal thread already.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

My point is that Neal needs a consistent line combination. That's how you develop chemistry, especially when it suddenly doesn't just click.

Attempts to get Mike Smith going were not pandering - they were trying to get something going that would have benefited the team. What would you do - play Rittich for 100% of all the games?

James Neal just needs to play better, simple as that, regardless of who his linemates are. Half a season of practice time clearly hasn't helped him develop any chemistry either.

He's had a history of playing just fine with all sorts of teams that he's played with in the past. There are legitimately no excuses anyone can offer up for his performance this season. His 0.18 points per game is amongst the worst on the entire team including defensemen. His points per minute is even more dreadful.

It's about putting up or shutting up at this point. The fact that we've seen all kinds of other players getting healthy scratched over Neal is probably the biggest injustice of all. The sheer amount of undeserved ice time he's received cannot be going well with most of the forwards on this team (5th most ice time among forwards).

Rittich doesn't need to play 100% of the games. But the fact that Mike Smith has started more games than Rittich this season is just straight up bewildering. One goaltender is sporting a top 5 sv% in the league, the other is sporting a bottom 5 worst sv% in the league.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

But the fact that Mike Smith has started more games than Rittich this season is just straight up bewildering. One goaltender is sporting a top 5 sv% in the league, the other is sporting a bottom 5 worst sv% in the league.

No it isn’t. One began the season as the starter, and no longer is.

[GioforPM]

Saying Neal could use consistency in his linemates is not saying he shouldn't bear blame for his lack of production nor is it saying he doesn't need to play better. Quite the opposite - it's a suggestion on how cohoes could help him to play better.

As for Smith, he has started once in the last 9 games. Just looking at the overall number of starts is extremely misleading if you want to know who Peters considers the number one goalie. Look at how many times Rittich has started lately, and who Smith drew as his single opponent. The only reason the number of starts is even close is because the team naturally thought Smith would start more at the beginning of the season, plus Smith went on a bit of a roll for six games.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Saying Neal could use consistency in his linemates is not saying he shouldn't bear blame for his lack of production nor is it saying he doesn't need to play better. Quite the opposite - it's a suggestion on how cohoes could help him to play better.

As for Smith, he has started once in the last 9 games. Just looking at the overall number of starts is extremely misleading if you want to know who Peters considers the number one goalie. Look at how many times Rittich has started lately, and who Smith drew as his single opponent. The only reason the number of starts is even close is because the team naturally thought Smith would start more at the beginning of the season, plus Smith went on a bit of a roll for six games.

cohoes??? Co hoes??

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Karl

cohoes??? Co hoes??

Coaches. F my Ipad

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Coaches. F my Ipad

Thought maybe you wanted him to strap on the Kohos

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Thought maybe you wanted him to strap on the Kohos

Maybe retire and go salmon fishing.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe retire and go salmon fishing.

He could probably use more Omega-3.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

No it isn’t. One began the season as the starter, and no longer is.

Yes and I've already acknowledged that it looks like things have changed as of late. But it doesn't change the fact that he has started more games this season than Rittich. Guy was even being used as the team's starter up until he got injured vs the Flyers.

Smith has been awful right from the start of the season and was getting all kinds of questionable starts IMO.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Saying Neal could use consistency in his linemates is not saying he shouldn't bear blame for his lack of production nor is it saying he doesn't need to play better. Quite the opposite - it's a suggestion on how cohoes could help him to play better.

As for Smith, he has started once in the last 9 games. Just looking at the overall number of starts is extremely misleading if you want to know who Peters considers the number one goalie. Look at how many times Rittich has started lately, and who Smith drew as his single opponent. The only reason the number of starts is even close is because the team naturally thought Smith would start more at the beginning of the season, plus Smith went on a bit of a roll for six games.

There's no guarantee that if he played with any one specific line exclusively that it would help at all. I'm going to finish off by saying that the coaching staff needs to play him significantly less minutes because by playing him as a top 6 most used forwards is a slap in the face to every other forward on the team who've out-played, out-performed and executed at a higher clip than he has.

As for Smith, you're forgetting about the injury that took Smith out for a bit there. He was even starting as an undeserved 1A-1B of this team all the way up until his injury. That thread of his dedicated to how terrible he's been wouldn't be almost 600 posts deep if he was just getting mop up duty or the occasional back to back game.

[Enoch Root]

Neal is 6th in TOI per game among forwards. That sounds about right to me. And that is partially due to PP time, which also makes sense. Maybe Bennett should be ahead of him? Who else?

I mean, it's debatable, but it is hardly egregious.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

No, it really isn’t. The stats don’t bear that out at all.

Not only are the Flames near the top of the league (which means even if other teams “know” they’re too heavy, it isn’t making a difference) but they’re right there with other top teams like Winnipeg, Toronto, Buffalo and Columbus in terms of how many points their top line is producing as a percentage of overall points.

Quite frankly, who cares if teams know our top line is dynamite?

We’re 4th in GF. Our top line is 3rd in GF for any line in the NHL. Usually that’s how these things work (with the notable exception of TB, who are making up for a lower scoring top line with higher scoring other lines.

You’re searching for a problem to match your solution.

The stats actually do bear out a lack of depth scoring. When you remove our top 5 scoring players we are near the bottom in goals for. Since we are 4th in total goals for that completely proves his point that there is a major discrepancy.


Outside of our first power play unit we don’t have many players capable of driving offense. Other teams do. That’s a problem