[News] Flames scratch Sven...again

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I really wish we had someone else to slot in, can we bring up Max Reinhart or something?

For wingers, I would say order of call-up in Abbotsford right now would be:

1) Ben Hanowski
2) Roman Horak
3) Max Reinhart

Reinhart has been playing better as of late for the Heat, but I still think he'd be killed in the NHL right now. He still needs that development time.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Goals: Hudler-5, Monahan-7, Baertschi-1
Points: Hudler-15, Monahan-11, Baertschi-4
TOI/G: Hudler-19:53, Monahan-15:45, Baertschi-13:44
PP TOI/G: Hudler-4:01, Monahan-2:21, Baertschi-1:18

Sven has been playing on the most consistent, and arguably best, line on the team when he's played. His linemates have been getting results. Why hasn't he? I don't think the minor difference in icetime and PP time explain it entirely.

This is a team focused on results, despite the temptation to write off the season. The team has been up front about this from day one with the fans, so it's safe to presume this is also the case with the players. Hartley even says this when discussing sitting Baertschi and Smith tonight.

While I would prefer a more balanced approach to rolling four lines and icing a more competitive and well-rounded fourth line, Hartley clearly believes that running a shortened bench with an occasional use fourth line is the way to get results. I trust Hartley.

[Nasty]

Im not too concerned ! Stamkos got benched many times in his first season and look at him now. As long as they are benching him for the purpose of watching, analyzing, and learning then Im not concerned at all.

[calumniate]

If he just got the puck deep from time to time in the Chicago game I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be scratched. He seemed to do the October Jarome thing. Go up to the half-boards, stop, and lose possession. Was very glaring

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by RT14

You only have to look as far as his opposite wing to see another "small European guy with creativity" doing all the right things. If Sven were playing like Hudler, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

1. I don't think it's realistic to expect a rookie to be as consistent as a veteran. They should be allowed to make some mistakes and work things through without the hammer coming down.

2. Even Hudler was pretty up and down last season. He disappeared for weeks at a time, and yet I don't recall him ever being scratched.

[Parallex]

Another annoying thing for me is that it's Bouma who get's bumped up... why not put Backlund there and let Bouma center the fourth. Backlund would look way better there then Bouma.

Feaster... make some trades and force your buddy to play more sensical lines pronto. Or at least waive Jackman.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

The difference between Sven and Jackman:

Sven is being developed. He has an upside. Jackman is already developed, and plays a specific role.

Exactly. You can look at this as Jackman in/Sven out (although, in this case, it's Bouma in/Sven out), but that's overly simplistic because they're not interchangeable parts.

Jackman is never going to be more than what he is now, a fourth-line grinder who doesn't really excel in any area of the game. Sven has the potential to be much more than what he has shown so far (and he has shown some signs of brilliance).

If they're having a video session with Sven this afternoon while the rest of the team is back at the hotel having their pregame naps, it's almost unfair to him to throw him onto the ice a few hours later and hope everything sunk in.

This way, they can do the video session, and give him a couple of days to process it. Plus, if in the video session, they show him stuff from Hudler and/or Cammalleri that they want him to emulate, he can focus on watching them play from above. You can't really expect him to watch what Hudler is doing on the ice if he's also on the ice.

It's also possible that the coaches want him to watch Niederreiter, who has been off to a strong start this season for the Wild. They have been compared to each other a lot over the years: both Swiss; both came over to play in Portland; a year apart in the draft, but less than a month apart in age. This year, they're both playing in a similar situation as a left winger playing on a line with a good young centre (Granlund) and a veteran right winger (Pominville) who leads the team in scoring.

Going into the game, Niederreiter has 9 points in 15 games, and has taken 36 shots. Sven has 5 points in 13 games, and has only taken 14 shots. So, it might just be as simple as telling Sven to watch his buddy and see what he's doing right.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by codynw

There are plenty of big players on the Flames roster right now, and all of these guys bring more to the game than just size. Jackman is useless.

Bouma - 6'1
Colborne - 6'5
Galliardi - 6'2
Glencross - 6'1
Jones - 6'2
McGrattan - 6'4
Monahan - 6'2
Stajan - 6'1
Brodie - 6'1
Butler - 6'1
O'Brien - 6'3

Still a small team for an NHL team...add in all the smaller players and they can't compete with the big boys(L.A., S.J. St Louis, Ana, etc...) on a regular basis over an 82 game season. I'm not a huge fan of Jackman but we do need some size, and no 6'1" 200 pounds is not big anymore in the NHL...it's completely average and below average for a Dman.

[killer_carlson]

By the way Hartley went out of his way to compliment them, I am guessing someone is scouting Jackman, Bouma, or McGratton for a potential pickup as well. Jackman is my guess.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Still a small team for an NHL team...add in all the smaller players and they can't compete with the big boys(L.A., S.J. St Louis, Ana, etc...) on a regular basis over an 82 game season. I'm not a huge fan of Jackman but we do need some size, and no 6'1" 200 pounds is not big anymore in the NHL...it's completely average and below average for a Dman.

Maybe they aren't a huge team, but adding a 6'2" Jackman to the lineup doesn't change that, and it also adds a player who doesn't really bring much to the team.

Again, nothing against the guy, I just don't get why Hartley loves him so much.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Nasty

Im not too concerned ! Stamkos got benched many times in his first season and look at him now. As long as they are benching him for the purpose of watching, analyzing, and learning then Im not concerned at all.

Honestly Sven can watch and analyze games on non-game days. if he's not going to play in Calgary, send him to the AHL...

[Table 5]

We do need more size on this team, but I think we need it on the Top 6, not the bottom. Jackman playing 4 minutes doesn't really do anything, especially when he never really uses his size anyway.

But yeah, while I like the combo that Hulder/Sven/Monahan have, the overall size (or lack there of) of that line can be pretty apparent at times. Sven does get pushed around a little more than I like, and would benefit from playing with someone with a bit more size to create some space. I wonder how we would do with Colborne.

[Zarley]

I think it's a good thing that we are holding our young players to a higher standard. It should be good for their long term development.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by jonesy

did Jackman ever receive any negative press or admonishments from the team for his stupid useless unnprovoked butt end?
That is the kind of thing I can see a coach getting really mad about.
Stupid play, selfish play, yet no repurcussion?

You didn't get the e-mail from the team laying out the punishments and admonishments?

weird....

[Hockey_Ninja]

I have a feeling that he's gonna be traded. Also shocked to see that Ashasx hasn't posted about this yet.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Honestly Sven can watch and analyze games on non-game days. if he's not going to play in Calgary, send him to the AHL...

Why? He's played 90% of the games so far, so he is better served in the AHL?

Sven will be just fine. He's a big boy. If we can't have confidence in his ability to be mentally strong and take the lumps once in a while, while working to become a complete player, then I'm not sure why we're so high on him anyways. I don't want a player that gets lazy after a few games and gives up on a few aspects of the game, do any of us really?

He'll be fine, this situation is fine, everything is fine. Though I must say, the reaction is significantly more calm than it was last time.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by strombad

Why? He's played 90% of the games so far, so he is better served in the AHL?

Sven will be just fine. He's a big boy. If we can't have confidence in his ability to be mentally strong and take the lumps once in a while, while working to become a complete player, then I'm not sure why we're so high on him anyways. I don't want a player that gets lazy after a few games and gives up on a few aspects of the game, do any of us really?

He'll be fine, this situation is fine, everything is fine. Though I must say, the reaction is significantly more calm than it was last time.

Because last time everyone thought he was playing really solid. His game in Chicago was kind of a stinker so at least it makes sense this time.

[UKflames]

Why don't they put him on the whipping boy line, sorry the 4th line, with Backlund, those two seemed to have some good chemistry at the end of last year?? Adding Bouma to bring a bit of size to round things out. Far more potential than having Big Ern and Jackman either side of Backs.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Table 5

We do need more size on this team, but I think we need it on the Top 6, not the bottom. Jackman playing 4 minutes doesn't really do anything, especially when he never really uses his size anyway.

But yeah, while I like the combo that Hulder/Sven/Monahan have, the overall size (or lack there of) of that line can be pretty apparent at times. Sven does get pushed around a little more than I like, and would benefit from playing with someone with a bit more size to create some space. I wonder how we would do with Colborne.

Ya, I would agree with that. I haven't really been impressed with Jackman this year but I do understand Hartley wanting size in the line-up. I do think it would be nice to have it up and down the line-up but he doesn't have the personnel to do that right now. If he thinks they are starting to get steamrolled out there, with Jackman or Bouma in he can at least throw out a line with size if he needs to.

[terminator]

Sven is not performing to what we all expected, we all know that. Further he did drop significantly during his draft year, from 7-13 I believe?