[PGT] Canucks 2 - Flames 0. Worst game of the year?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Islanders win too.

[Patrick Bateman]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Didn't expect the start he had at all, nor for him to continue that pace and that kind of offense. But he's in a pretty deep lull right now for the kind of player he's shown he can be. I expected at least a better display of ice IQ than I saw tonight. He was throwing pucks at people's feet. Plays were dying on his stick.

It's forgivable due to his situation. But for a guy raved about most for a strong 200 ft game and smarts, he's not playing to his strengths at all at the moment.

Have full confidence in his future with the team, though. Don't get me wrong.

I think the WJC would've been good for him, just to get the feel of netting a few goals again..

Just remember that he's never played at a level like this before. Even for a guy with the pedigree you listed, the time and space that he is used to is a lot different than he is facing now.

Monahan knows what's he doing... it just seems to me that he is forcing things right now, and is having to make players faster than he is used to. It will come with more time and experience... it will become second nature to a guy with that level of hockey IQ. Compare that to what a guy like Yakupov looks like in year 2 and it's not even close.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by moon

Outside of their top line that team is pretty bad.

Tavares, Vanek and nobody else worth a damn.

Even guys like Okposo, Grabner and Nielsen who have put up points at times in their careers look like the typical somebody has to score on a bad team kind of guys and not really top 6 guys on good teams.

They have some decent muckers like Cziskas and Clutterbuck but way too many secondary guys relied on to be top producers on that team.

that team seems a lot like our team.

[puckluck2]

Cammalleri wants to be traded badly. He's been awful for quite some time. Killing the PP and the scoring chances he's been getting.

[moon]

Originally Posted by AcGold

that team seems a lot like our team.

Which is probably why we are only 3 points different in the standings.

They have a guy like Tavares that we don't and we have more offensive vets (Cammy, Hudler, Stajan) that they don't have but outside that both teams with a lot of bottom 6/bottom pairing guys and some young guys that could develop in a year or two but really need more time/experience to be successful at the NHL level.

Both teams with probably with worse goaltending duo's in the league (maybe bottom 3 since Edmonton likely right there too).

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Another step towards what could be one of the most exciting trade deadlines for Flames fans in quite some time.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Outside of Cammalleri netting us something decent what other major returns are we going to get? Mid round picks for Stajan and Stempniak? Maybe second tier prospects as well. Every one else has zero trade value, so unless Burke actively shops Glencross or Gio there's not much more to be had. I definitely don't see if being as "entertaining" as last years when both Iginla and Bouwmeester were dealt.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman

Just remember that he's never played at a level like this before. Even for a guy with the pedigree you listed, the time and space that he is used to is a lot different than he is facing now.

Monahan knows what's he doing... it just seems to me that he is forcing things right now, and is having to make players faster than he is used to. It will come with more time and experience... it will become second nature to a guy with that level of hockey IQ. Compare that to what a guy like Yakupov looks like in year 2 and it's not even close.

Like I said, I have full confidence in the kid.

Lol. Yakupov would've gone in the second round in last year's draft. Kid is terrible. He plays as much defense as Ovechkin, yet doesn't have half the tools as Ovi offensively.

[Tinordi]

At least those awful jerseys appear to be cursed with losing

[moon]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Outside of Cammalleri netting us something decent what other major returns are we going to get? Mid round picks for Stajan and Stempniak? Maybe second tier prospects as well. Every one else has zero trade value, so unless Burke actively shops Glencross or Gio there's not much more to be had. I definitely don't see if being as "entertaining" as last years when both Iginla and Bouwmeester were dealt.

It won't have the same big name pop but with so many guys and so many more teams in the mix it should be entertaining in terms of the amount of rumours/possibilities out there.

With Iggy and Bouw it was exciting to see the possible pieces coming back but we basically knew the handful of teams it would be. Now we have basically every team within 5 points of the play-offs or in being interested in guys like Stajan, Stemp, Cammy etc.

[Delthefunky]

Well that was a pretty crappy game. More like the team I expected to see this year.

On the bright side, Vancouver looks like crap too. They are shadows of their former selves.

[Muta]

I actually liked Byron's game tonight. Again.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by Muta

I actually liked Byron's game tonight. Again.

Definitely been a pleasant surprise and I've been a critic of his before.

[FBI]

Smith is 100 times better than Breen.

[nik-]

This might have been the worst game of the year if we hadn't just played the worst game of the year two days ago

[Ashasx]

Game highlights on Connected: "a vicious elbow by McGrattan"

Seriously? It is an undeniable fact that it wasn't an elbow.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by FBI

Smith is 100 times better than Breen.

Smith is garbage. At least Breen is younger, although I don't expect much from him long term.

[TheChief]

I like what Hartley is doing this year, this is the first season in what seems like a decade of seasons where you can count on the effort every night.

I enjoy watching it, and if he solidify s the room this year, with all the cash we have next year we can bring in some more talent to get immersed in the philosophy.

Everything is going perfect, IMO.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Smith is garbage. At least Breen is younger, although I don't expect much from him long term.

How has Smith been garbage? He's a utility defenseman who's barely used. What are your expectations?

I actually like Smith. He gets a bad rap on this board for some reason. He was great before his injury; hopefully he can build some confidence and get back to where he was. In the meantime, he's not garbage at all.

[moon]

Originally Posted by TheChief

I like what Hartley is doing this year, this is the first season in what seems like a decade of seasons where you can count on the effort every night.

After the last two games you are really going to say we can count on the effort every night?

[Duke43]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

.... nothing different from previous years. Stempniak hit Lack in the head, and someone nailed the post near the end, without that bad luck things would've been different. No doubt they are still full of tryptophan, but I don't think anything major will happen over these past 2 games.

A few to many players with "board" hands!