Training Camp - Sept 20

[Zevo]

If Johnny starts in the NHL, he won't be playing against the top two lines. Hartley will most likely ease him in against lesser competition, ie the bottom two lines. I wouldn't mind him starting with Bouma and Bollig, or Ferland but doubt he starts on the big club.

Fleury played some of his first season on the fourth lines. Not a bad idea really as he is surrounded by beef and playing against lesser competition until he gets used to the speed of the game. Slowly move him up if his play warrants it.

[tempz]

Best prospects for me today were Agostino and Arnold. Agostino was winning puck battles all over the place. He is very strong on the puck. Arnold was quietly impressive, winning face offs and being smart in both zones. He played a bunch on a line with Raymond and Hudler, and didn't look out of place.

[keenan87]

I really hope Ferland makes the team

[Tyler]

Agostino played really well today.

Wolf was quiet except for a huge hit on Seiloff. Lots of jawing going on. I like Wolf. He's a poor skater though.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

w

There are few players in the league that kind find success playing on a line with McGrattan.

Gaudreau cannot play in the bottom 6, so there's no point in lining up with those kinds of players. His college linemates were better hockey players.

Everyone knows he can score and make plays. The biggest unknown is whether he can survive in the league at his size so it makes sense to see how he handles playing with the big boys.

It would be easy to put him on a line where he can rack up some goals and let the media and fans hype him up, but would it help his development?

[Demetric]

how has Knight looked?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

Everyone knows he can score and make plays. The biggest unknown is whether he can survive in the league at his size so it makes sense to see how he handles playing with the big boys.

It would be easy to put him on a line where he can rack up some goals and let the media and fans hype him up, but would it help his development?

That doesn't make sense to me.

You can't see if he's ready to play with men unless you put him in a position to be tested. That means playing with real hockey players that can make real hockey plays (and ultimately, control the puck).

If he's playing with McGrattan, the other team will have the puck in the offensive zone the majority of the time. That means Gaudreau doesn't have the puck. That means he can't be hit. He can't make plays under pressure because there are no plays to be made.

It is not conducive to put him in a roll that he will not be playing (nor is it a role he can play in the first place).

[kehatch]

If Gaudreau is cut without a chance with more offensive players there will be something to complain about.

The pool format dilutes the talent a fair bit. They have seen Gaudreau a bunch in the young stars and in development camp and they want to see what they have in some of the other players. Plus, they probably have McGrattan shadowing him during the early phases as guys like Yonkman are out there trying to make the radar by crushing someone.

[Ring of Fire]

Was at the scrimmages today. Tried to capture the lines and some highlights/impressions. No Backlund, Bennett, Poirier, Wotherspoon, Potter (all skated early except Backlund).

Team Black
Glencross-Stajan-Jones
Baertschi-Granlund-Jooris
Wolf-Magee-Hathaway
Colborne-_______-Hanowski

Russell-Engelland
Gedig-Ramage
Culkin-Diaz

Ortio
Carr

Team White
Raymond-Monahan-Hudler
Ferland-______- Carroll
Agostino-Elson-Fram
Bouma-Arnold-Byron

Smid-Wideman
Cundari-Yonkman
Kulak-Sieloff

Carr
Thiessen

Team Red
Gaudreau-Reinhart-Setoguchi
Bollig-Knight-McGrattan
Klimchuk-Tousignant-Smith
VanBrabant

Giordano-Brodie
Stevenson-Acolatse
Kanzig-Brookbank

Hiller
McDonald

Game 1 - Black vs White (2-2)
Goals (Black):
1. Magee from Ramage (rebound)
2. Jones (rebound scrum goal)

Goals (White):
1.Agostino from Monahan
2.Byron

Game Highlights (Black):
Wolf- weird skater, physical, nasty to play against, hit on Sieloff led to scrum, hit goalpost, but disappeared for stretches
Colborne- strong on board play/puck control
Culkin-smart decision making
Diaz-good puck control, poise
Engelland- better than expected foot speed, physical
Granlund - steady again, but not much offence

Lowlights (Black):
Baertschi - looks bigger, stronger, flashes of skill with soft passes but generally non factor
Hanowski- unnoticeable
Jones - unnoticeable (other than garbage goal)
Ramage - struggled when pace pushed, can see why he showed offence in ECHL and rookie tournament, but struggled in AHL last year
Not much offence from any black player

Highlights (White):
Raymond-very fast, soft hands
Raymond/Hudler-good chemistry
Monahan-looked stronger, faster, and wanted to control play more
Bouma-very physical
Kulak- passing and poise
Sieloff - physical and comfortable with pace
Yonkman -very physical, vocal - should at least get AHL contract
Ferland/Carroll - looked good

Lowlights (White):
Arnold
Lots of hustle from Agostino, Elson but not NHL calliper skill
Fram on forward, didn't look good

Game 2 (4-0 white)

Goals (White):
1.Carroll?
2.Carroll/Ferland/Elson line (far end garbage goal couldn't tell who jammed it in)
3.Agostino from Elson- nice 2 on 1 passing play ending with one timer
Hudler one timer pp from Monahan

Highlights (Red):
Gaudreau-dodged huge hit from Yonkman, got better as game went on, created offense every shift, batted one out of the air on goal
VanBrabant-looks ready to battle for an NHL spot
Giordano and Brodie - head and shoulders above the rest of the d-men
Brookbank - looks like the front runner for the 7th dman spot (although we haven't seen Potter yet); physical and simple plays, good passer, basically what you want in a 7th dman
Knight-proving he could play a 4th line C role

Lowlights (Red):
Stevenson, Acolatse pairing - not very good
Reinhart-didn't show much to push for a spot
Setoguchi- expected more offence
Bollig - didn't show much

Highlights (White):
Raymond/Hudler-good chemistry again
Bouma- very physical again
Kulak-very good again, crisp passes
Sieloff- good puck control and flashes of offence on pp
Ferland/Carroll- looked good again, creating offence around the net, tough on boards
Byron - usual energizer bunny self, fast, physical. Cleanly beat Gaudreau in foot race for puck
Cundari- very physical, couple good point shots
Agostino, Elson - good chemistry and hustle (still won't be pushing for NHL spots this year)
Arnold - better than first game

Lowlights (White):
Fram - probably the next cut, didn't look good and already is playing out of position

Carr/Thiessen both look about equal. I'd expect Carr gets an AHL deal.

[mile]

It isn't so much about which linemates Gaudreau is playing with as much as it is who he is playing against. They're not looking for points and scoring - we all know he can score, they're just seeing how well he matches up against bigger players. It's undeniable he'll have to face against these types of players while trying to keep up with the speed of the NHL.

If Gaudreau is cut, it won't be because he didn't score on a line with McGrattan.

[JJolg]

Agreed, we know how much emphasis the coach's have on play without the puck and i think that more than anything is what we need to find out how Johnny will fair. His offense will come but will he be able to keep up with the play in the defensive zone.

I thought i was excited for these scrimmages to start but now i'm almost in disbelief that there is actual games tomorrow.

[AcGold]

I am by Winsport:

-are the Flames there today?
-is it worth stopping by?
-does it cost money?

Thanks

[4oh3]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I am by Winsport:

-are the Flames there today?
-is it worth stopping by?
-does it cost money?

Thanks

-yes but they started at 10am
-probably not at this hour
-no

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I am by Winsport:

-are the Flames there today?
-is it worth stopping by?
-does it cost money?

Thanks

Camp activities for today are done. So don't go today. Hopefully others can answer your question re: cost. I believe the practices and scrimmages are open to the public, so you shouldn't have to worry about forking out unless you want to eat arena food -- or possibly for parking.

[djsFlames]

Everything is free. You just walk right in and take a seat, or go to rink level and high five the players as they go to the benches. There is nothing to it, just make sure you're there between 10 and 12 if you make a trip, otherwise you won't see anything, well just Rob Kerr and some figure skaters.

[josef]

Originally Posted by AC

AC battling hard in front almost scores while falling down. Another good shift by AC with Mono and Ferland.

that excatly what i was expecting from you!!

[MissTeeks]

“@AAVickers: Bennett updated his status today. Will skate with the day-to-day crew again tomorrow. Hopes to join the main group after that. #Flames”

“@AAVickers: 6-foot-6, 253-pound Nolan Yonkman just missed 5-foot-9, 160-pound Johnny Gaudreau with a big hit today. "He’s a slippery guy," Yonkman said.”

“@AAVickers: #Flames GM couldn't go into specifics, but "We’ll have some of the more headline guys here at home” for the split-squad game vs. EDM.”

“@AAVickers: Treliving on camp so far: "The list of guys that I’ve been happy with is a lot longer than the other list, so that’s a good thing.” #Flames”

[MissTeeks]

“@KristenOdlandCH: No Sam Bennett (groin) for the #Flames tomorrow during the team's first preseason game vs. the Edmonton #Oilers. #NHL”

“@KristenOdlandCH: Although there is no Bennett, Treliving said the #Flames lineup will have star power: “We want to make sure our fans are seeing our guys..."”

“@KristenOdlandCH: Treliving: "We’ll have some of the more headline guys here.””

“@KristenOdlandCH: The #Flames official split squad game rosters will be released tomorrow AM. That said, a few guys leaked to the media where they were going.”

“@KristenOdlandCH: Johnny Gaudreau, for example, is staying in Calgary for tomorrow's game.”

[JohnnyT]

Even though preseason games don't matter, especially split squad games, I really hope the boys win both of the games tomorrow evening

[bluck]

Will the game be broadcasted tomorrow on SN? or Streamed?