[GDT] Preseason: Flames vs Canucks 7pm

[Vinny01]

After watching last nights game I could easily see Treliving making sure the line to Jagr or Iggy is still open.

Liked Janko for most of the game. Lomberg was a decent energy guy but I don't think he has a shot.

One player I thought I would notice but didn't was Lazar.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I watched a period and a half, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt:

1) I think Kylington made a case to make the opening night team. He was much more solid than I've seen in the past. Still takes risks, but less glaring mistakes. My only concern is handling NHL size from the opposition. The rest can be figured out at the NHL level.

2) Dube is going to be on the Flames next year. He's young enough that another year in junior is best for him, and he doesn't have that essential skillset of a Monahan or Tkachuk to warrant him making the team as a teenager. But he's going to be a really good middle six winger for a long time. I think he'll eventually be Frolik's replacement.

3) Gillies surprised me with how athletic he can be tonight. The downside is that his rebound control and positioning needed work, but that can be worked on this year in the AHL. He's still got a lot of potential and I think he'll eventually be an NHL goalie. It might only be as a backup, but that's still valuable to have come from within the organization.

4) I thought Lazar looked pretty good tonight. I thought his IQ was actually a step above most of the other players, and there were some shifts where the puck followed him around because of it. He's not dynamic enough to create offense by himself, but he should be a valuable complementary player on a bottom 6 line.

5) Kulak really hurt his chances at that #6 spot tonight. Regardless of playing with Bartkowski which could hurt any player's chances, he was slow and behind the play at times, and did few good things in his own zone. I would like to see him away from Bartkowski to see how much of it was his awful partner and how much of it was him. However, this is the same thing I saw from him last year: He looks really solid for a couple of games, and then looks like a bad AHLer in other games. Consistency from him is needed if he's going to land a spot.

6) Bartkowski was bad and he should feel bad. For a bubble player, he seemed lazy and disinterested. He was much better last year, even though he would still make some mistakes.

7) Tanner Glass put himself in the conversation for a roster spot to begin the year. Now, it's possible that this is the best we'll see from him, and that other players we've pencilled in will pass him, but for now he deserves consideration. Meritocracy and all that.

8) Jankowski was ok tonight. Some nice plays, and some lackadaisical plays. He could use just a little more urgency in his game at times.

9) Valimaki impressed again, but he's so young that some seasoning will polish him up nicely. Like Dube, I could see him making the team next year if he improves on consistency.

10) Andersson was solid, but unspectacular tonight. He read the play well all night and could be on the opening night roster as well, especially considering the play of Kulak and Bartkowski.

The rest didn't do enough to impress me one way or another. Time in the AHL/Junior for the rest of these guys, although Mangiapane had some nice shifts. The rest of the PTOs were virtually invisible.


The 10 I mention above deserve to stick around past the next round of cuts (maybe not Bartkowski), but everyone else can be sent down at this point.

[zukes]

For anyone who is panicking even the slightest bit. The Detroit Lions team that went 0-16 as the only NFL team that has ever gone winless.....went 4-0 in the pre-season. It. Means. Nothing.

[d_phaneuf]

Pre season means absolutely nothing

Less than nothing

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by zukes

For anyone who is panicking even the slightest bit. The Detroit Lions team that went 0-16 as the only NFL team that has ever gone winless.....went 4-0 in the pre-season. It. Means. Nothing.

I don't think anyone is panicking. The reaction from some after the split squad game was ridiculous, but the discussion in this thread has been pretty balanced. I think it is fair to be disappointed in some of the players fighting for jobs—the coaches even said as much.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I watched a period and a half, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt:

1) I think Kylington made a case to make the opening night team. He was much more solid than I've seen in the past. Still takes risks, but less glaring mistakes. My only concern is handling NHL size from the opposition. The rest can be figured out at the NHL level.

2) Dube is going to be on the Flames next year. He's young enough that another year in junior is best for him, and he doesn't have that essential skillset of a Monahan or Tkachuk to warrant him making the team as a teenager. But he's going to be a really good middle six winger for a long time. I think he'll eventually be Frolik's replacement.

3) Gillies surprised me with how athletic he can be tonight. The downside is that his rebound control and positioning needed work, but that can be worked on this year in the AHL. He's still got a lot of potential and I think he'll eventually be an NHL goalie. It might only be as a backup, but that's still valuable to have come from within the organization.

4) I thought Lazar looked pretty good tonight. I thought his IQ was actually a step above most of the other players, and there were some shifts where the puck followed him around because of it. He's not dynamic enough to create offense by himself, but he should be a valuable complementary player on a bottom 6 line.

5) Kulak really hurt his chances at that #6 spot tonight. Regardless of playing with Bartkowski which could hurt any player's chances, he was slow and behind the play at times, and did few good things in his own zone. I would like to see him away from Bartkowski to see how much of it was his awful partner and how much of it was him. However, this is the same thing I saw from him last year: He looks really solid for a couple of games, and then looks like a bad AHLer in other games. Consistency from him is needed if he's going to land a spot.

6) Bartkowski was bad and he should feel bad. For a bubble player, he seemed lazy and disinterested. He was much better last year, even though he would still make some mistakes.

7) Tanner Glass put himself in the conversation for a roster spot to begin the year. Now, it's possible that this is the best we'll see from him, and that other players we've pencilled in will pass him, but for now he deserves consideration. Meritocracy and all that.

8) Jankowski was ok tonight. Some nice plays, and some lackadaisical plays. He could use just a little more urgency in his game at times.

9) Valimaki impressed again, but he's so young that some seasoning will polish him up nicely. Like Dube, I could see him making the team next year if he improves on consistency.

10) Andersson was solid, but unspectacular tonight. He read the play well all night and could be on the opening night roster as well, especially considering the play of Kulak and Bartkowski.

The rest didn't do enough to impress me one way or another. Time in the AHL/Junior for the rest of these guys, although Mangiapane had some nice shifts. The rest of the PTOs were virtually invisible.


The 10 I mention above deserve to stick around past the next round of cuts (maybe not Bartkowski), but everyone else can be sent down at this point.

Lomberg? Nothing he has done so far deserves being cut yet.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Pre season means absolutely nothing

Less than nothing

With the exception of nearly every player on the ice last night with the exception of names like (Backlund, Frolik and Versteeg).

Defense for example had lots of players on the ice who are competiting for the #6 and #7 jobs.

In my mind Kulak is the front runner for the #6 spot.

[_Q_]

I thought Jankowski looked fantastic last night. Same as Anderson, Valimaki and Kylington. I thought Lazar, as well as Frolik, Backlund and Stone were just kind of there. Parsons was decent. Gillies looked horrendous. Always out of position, always having to make a spectacular save and let in a few weak ones.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I thought Jankowski looked fantastic last night. Same as Anderson, Valimaki and Kylington. I thought Lazar, as well as Frolik, Backlund and Stone were just kind of there. Parsons was decent. Gillies looked horrendous. Always out of position, always having to make a spectacular save and let in a few weak ones.

I don't think Gillies was great, but really, only one goal was weak (unless you count the one that was called off). I was hoping to see more of Parsons but I guess they didn't want to change mid period.

I was unhappy that the vets played with too much comfort and not enough pride in their game and/or anger in getting beat by a bunch of scrubs. The Canucks dressed only one good player (two if Virtanen has turned a corner).

Lomberg played like he's worried about being cut - good. Dube played like he's intent on making an impression - good. I wonder if he's maybe going to get a few games at the start of the season to keep him motivated. Glass played well enough to merit a competition with the other guys like him - Hathaway in particular.

Jankowski started very strong but wasn't as effective later. I love that wingspan on him though. Foo was not good - overhandling at times, going to the wrong spot in the play sometimes and unable to fight through to the net sometimes.

Lazar was not good or bad. I want to see him on a wing with a decent centre. I didn't mind Hrvik - he seemed to fit on the line, but he was playing with the two most experienced forwards and they were at half speed and effort so it's hard to judge.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Lomberg? Nothing he has done so far deserves being cut yet.

Fine, but we all know that Lomberg is not likely making this team. He's AHL depth.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Fine, but we all know that Lomberg is not likely making this team. He's AHL depth.

I dunno. His ceiling is limited but I think he has a good package to be a penalty killing 4th line LW who chips in 7-8 goals. Not unlike Lazar, Hathaway, or F. Hamilton except shoots left.

Given that Bouma is gone, we do have a hole there they might not want a skill guy filling.

Also last year he was basically 2C on Stockton, and his injury was probably the biggsst factor in Stockton losing their series. He wasn't an AHL passenger, he drove his line at that level.

I mean he was clearly tiers above Tanner Glass yesterday.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I dunno. His ceiling is limited but I think he has a good package to be a penalty killing 4th line LW who chips in 7-8 goals. Not unlike Lazar, Hathaway, or F. Hamilton except shoots left.

Given that Bouma is gone, we do have a hole there they might not want a skill guy filling.

I will let you continue with this line of thinking for now. See my sig for reference.

Listen, I like Lomberg too, but he has to have that non-stop motor just to stick in the NHL, and even then I'm not sure it's enough. Not unlike Hathaway, who has yet to stick permanently too.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I will let you continue with this line of thinking for now. See my sig for reference.

Listen, I like Lomberg too, but he has to have that non-stop motor just to stick in the NHL, and even then I'm not sure it's enough. Not unlike Hathaway, who has yet to stick permanently too.

I don't diaagree. I just think he, like Jooris and Hathaway before him, will make it to the end of camp cuts and will get a legitimate callup at some point this year.

[Toonage]

Speaking of cuts, do we figure the Flames cut another group today or wait until the weekend, after the Coyotes game?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't diaagree. I just think he, like Jooris and Hathaway before him, will make it to the end of camp cuts and will get a legitimate callup at some point this year.

OK sure, but I think Jankowski currently has a better shot at making the team, as does Lazar. So now we're in the territory of 13th and 14th forward. In that group he has to battle Hathaway, F. Hamilton, and now guys like Glass, Cramarossa, and Gazdic. He's going to have to prove that he can add more to the team than those guys. It's going to be tough for him no matter what.

Edit; saw that you said make the last cuts, not make the team. My point about competition still stands though.

[N-E-B]

I took great pleasure watching Juolevi knowing that the Canucks thought he was a better choice than Tkachuk.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Pre season means absolutely nothing

Less than nothing

The final score means nothing.

But 80% of the roster last night was guys jockeying for one of the few spots with the big club or trying to set themselves up as one of the first call-ups in the event of an early injury. Pre-season games for these guys are basically job interviews. And most of them failed to impress.

[kukkudo]

From watching the game I take Oliver Kylington or Juuso Valimaki as a number 6 over Matt Bartkowski or Brett Kulak

[Bingo]

I think people need to keep in mind the types of games we've seen so far aren't even pre season games.

An opening split squad followed by a NHL ordered exemption on the NHL regulars rule due to the Canucks traveling to China has basically meant three straight games with skeleton rosters.

We see the first preseason game on Friday night.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't diaagree. I just think he, like Jooris and Hathaway before him, will make it to the end of camp cuts and will get a legitimate callup at some point this year.

Agree - guys like Bouma, Jooris, Hathaway and Lomberg (could probably add Glass here as well although he's got more NHL time and showed to be pretty terrible in the long term) are basically interchangable and you should just go with the one who's bringing the most energy and rotate as they breakdown.