[GDT] Preseason: Flames vs Canucks 7pm

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wonder what the mood would be like around here after a pre-season win.

Do you really have to ask? Pre-season, regular season, post season the mood will always be better after a win. That said these games don't count and the rosters don't represent in any way what will start the season so no reason to overreact. I personally don't care about them winning or losing games like this where it's composed mostly of players that won't be on the opening roster but I hope Gulutzan learned from last season that the last few games have some meaning as they require somewhat set opening night lines to get the chemistry going and effort level higher. Last season he was still jugging lines right to the end while the team coasted with those listless 4-0 games vs the Jets, Canucks and it led to a team that looked disjointed and rusty right out of the gates.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by getbak

It would be nice to find out.

Heck no. I want the team hungry on opening night. Nothing but losses until we line up at centre ice in Edmonton on October 4th!

[Bonecrushing Hits]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

I hope the criticism of GG being too poor of a motivator isn't something that comes up again early on (despite having a pretty solid system that this team can play well within). But more specifically I guess I'm saying I really hope these players don't need an ass kicking every off day to get up for the real games.

Many of the key vets claimed they were chomping at the bit to get going and see potential in this team. Let's see the actions back up the talk.

I may just puke if they come out against Edmonton and mail it in after a bad goal or call like last season. They'd better want to stick it to that team on day one as badly as the fans do, or I'm not sure I want them on our team.

I hope you are right. My one doubt about Gulutzan is that he doesn't bring enough fire and brimstone when needed. A little Sutter in him wouldn't hurt. I'm not saying go full Keenan but he seems to have "pick em' up when they're down" down but I think he needs to work on when the team needs an old school kick in the pants.

[Samonadreau]

I know these games are meaningless, but I want to win dammit!

[Strange Brew]

Wake me up when the season starts.

[jg13]

Didn't we go like 7-0 in pre season a few years ago and won like 1 of our first 8 games of the regular season?

Wouldn't read much into the result of the game and look more towards the positives.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bonecrushing Hits

I hope you are right. My one doubt about Gulutzan is that he doesn't bring enough fire and brimstone when needed. A little Sutter in him wouldn't hurt. I'm not saying go full Keenan but he seems to have "pick em' up when they're down" down but I think he needs to work on when the team needs an old school kick in the pants.

To be fair, only one of those three coaches is currently employed, and not due to lack of openings. The fire and brimstone/kick in the pants coaching philosophy seems to be dying off for good reason (it’s not that effective). Coaches who once coached that way time and time again talk about how they have to change their mentality.

It seems to be less a method proven to be more effective than the alternative, and more of a macho fantasy about sport.

[Angelino]

Has Calgary signed Jagr yet or what?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Bonecrushing Hits

I hope you are right. My one doubt about Gulutzan is that he doesn't bring enough fire and brimstone when needed. A little Sutter in him wouldn't hurt. I'm not saying go full Keenan but he seems to have "pick em' up when they're down" down but I think he needs to work on when the team needs an old school kick in the pants.

I guess we will see tomorrow. General sense from the little bit I heard on the radio is that the coach wasn't happy. This was a prime game to make a statement and stand out and players stood out in a negative way.

Dube, I thought had a strong game. Jankowski came back to the pack a bit, but his saving grace is that he scored.if he continues to capitalize on his chances he will stick around. I know a lot of people are saying Valamaki was solid but I thought he sruggled today.

Overall it was a team that scored early and then stopped competing.

[calgaryblood]

Really don't understand what Lazar brings to the table.

Can't see him making this team. He has to clear waivers so do they just sit him out?

[killer_carlson]

Lazar is fast.

I'll give him a pass tonight given who his wingers were. He needs to bury the breakaway though.

I thought Stone struggled.

4th line was good.

Kylington looks like a child out there. He can't weigh that much. I think he needs another 20 pounds to survive an NHL season, but he can fly.

I thought our 3rd pairing of Kulak and Bart were very weak.

I liked Andersson, Kylington and Valimaki

We got worked in the faceoff circle all game. If Janko is going to be on the roster, he should be on the wing.

[calgaryblood]

A lot of players are fast but just don't think Lazar has the IQ to be an impact player in this league. I'd rather have a player like Lomberg if he's just going to be an energy guy and obviously Hathaway.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Bonecrushing Hits

I hope you are right. My one doubt about Gulutzan is that he doesn't bring enough fire and brimstone when needed. A little Sutter in him wouldn't hurt. I'm not saying go full Keenan but he seems to have "pick em' up when they're down" down but I think he needs to work on when the team needs an old school kick in the pants.

I've seen him stop players in practice right in the middle of a drill because he didn't like the intensity, or there was sloppiness/ bad execution-so he could yell and swear at them. Then he made them start all over again.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wonder what the mood would be like around here after a pre-season win.

Probably planning the parade route. Lots of fans overreact to wins/losses in general.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I wonder what the mood would be like around here after a pre-season win.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I know these games are meaningless, but I want to win dammit!

I atleast want to see a good effort from a bunch of guys trying to get a spot on the team. They had it in the first and then after that it was just in spurts and mostly by one player at a time.

[Dion]

Gillies great glove save..

[Savvy27]

I didn't see either of the split-squad games, so it was good to be able to see some of the young guys in action. Overall, a pretty disappointing game considering the weak Canucks line up and giving up the lead.

Gillies: some spectacular saves but overall I don't think it was a great night for him. I doubt that he put himself into the back up conversation. That behind the back save was incredible though, and a few of his pad saves in close were great. Hopefully he has a great year in the AHL and comes back to challenge next season for a spot.

Kulak: other than the great play he made on a defensive 3 on 1, his game actually made me a little bit concerned about the third pairing. I thought he struggled for a lot of the game and I doubt he can be happy with what he brought tonight.

Kylington: I thought he played pretty well actually. He took a few hits to make plays, showed his speed well, made some good passes. He wasn't perfect but I thought he looked a lot closer than he did last year.

Lomberg: just awesome. I love his game and think that his speed and tenacity really give him a shot to be an energy guy.

Hrvik: bigger than I thought he would be and he really showed off some good hands at one point early in the game. Overall he wasn't great, but I thought Backlund and Frolik were playing at about 60%. I'd like to see him in some of the later exhibition games.

Jankowski: I liked his game for the most part. He's pretty effective at using his absurd reach to keep the puck away from defenders and make plays. Really nice finish off a great pass from Versteeg.

Foo: definitely not the night he needed to show the coaches that he has to be on the team, but I thought there were some positives. He's got the speed to compete in the league and as the game went on he seemed to be trying to get more creative. At this rate though he'll be playing in Stockton (which is okay... he looks like he needs some pro seasoning).

Dube: I think he's got pretty much everything except for size. Looks like an excellent prospect. Picked up a couple more assists tonight.

Lazar: not really sure what his skillset is supposed to be after watching him since joining the Flames. None of his tools really stand out to me and I think that is a pretty big problem. There are other young players in the organization that can do what he is doing, but they can score or get under the opposition's skin or jet past people. I'm sure he'll get a few more games and hopefully he will show more as the exhibition season moves along.

Andersson: thought he was pretty good (as I usually do). He'd be my pick for the 6th D. His hockey sense is the best of the young guys as far as I can tell and I don't think that there is a big gap between any of them overall physically.

That's about it. Here's hoping they can win the next one and get some positive momentum going. Still some good performances but wins are always better.

[dying4acup]

This pre-season so far has shown me:
-the door creeping open for Valimaki to make the team
-why every team inevitably gets rid of bartkowski
-Janko is an NHLer, and a better one than we think
-Dube is an NHLer,just not this year
-Foo needs AHL time
-there is room for Jagr, but it's not the end of the world if we don't sign him.
-1 more pre-season game with mostly kids, then it's time to cut anybody not seriously in consideration to make the team, Dube included
-Gillies is still a good prospect, but still needs a year

[Resolute 14]

A number of players showed last night they were more interested in making Gulutzan's decisions easy than they were in proving they belong in the NHL. Especially given the crap lineup Vancouver sent out. Especially those defencemen and all their lazy passes up the middle. Today's video session will not be pleasant, I think.