Notes from Dec 10 Practice - Colborne game time decision. Ramo starts in Buffalo

[BigRed]

Mcgrattan has barely played yet he's still on the roster. Clearly mgmnt thinks he's filling his role just fine.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Mcgrattan has barely played yet he's still on the roster. Clearly mgmnt thinks he's filling his role just fine.

For now.
The thing is he just doesn't have much of a role these days.

The game is changing because there is just too much talent around to waste it on a player who is a one trick pony. The ability to roll 4 lines is the way to go, especially if you have a couple of players who can throw down now and again.

also the league and the refs are clamping down on the players who went around trying to intentionally injure, so the need of an enforcer to keep such players in line is not so much needed.

[crapshoot]

I wonder how bad Engelland has to be for Diaz to move into his spot a bit more often. Diaz is no world beater by any means, but at least he is a tad better at hockey than Engelland. Yeah, yeah I know, toughness blahblahblah.

[DoubleF]

I really think that Grats will finish his career as a Flame. Whether this ends up with Grats retiring and going to NHL office job or a Flames job is yet to be seen. I really don't see him bothering going to anything less than NHL and I doubt other NHL teams would grab him.

Random: Addy mascot based on Grats might be a funny idea.

I barely remember anything plays of Engelland. I remember Diaz playing more than Eggs. Mostly Diaz chasing opposing team forward on some bad play of his though, ha ha.

[gunnner]

What a conundrum. Lets think outside the box. Go with 4 Dman, and roll 5 lines. My Senior Hockey team did it once so I know its legit, although I think we lost.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

I wonder how bad Engelland has to be for Diaz to move into his spot a bit more often. Diaz is no world beater by any means, but at least he is a tad better at hockey than Engelland. Yeah, yeah I know, toughness blahblahblah.

It might just be me but I don't think Engelland has been noticeably worse than Diaz or Smid. Our top 4 are playing out of this world and the rest have been collectively bad

[PeteMoss]

Smid to me looks a step ahead of both Diaz and Engelland... and I don't think Smid is that good so it doesn't shine well on other two. Diaz is a better skater but a spaz with the puck and the little hitch he does before he skates is questionable.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Smid >= Engelland > Diaz.

If you think Diaz is better at hockey than Engelland, you clearly have not been watching Diaz in his limited ice time.

The only time I ever see Engelland in trouble, is when he's hemmed in his own zone with our 4th line supporting him. Engelland is not good at passing, but he can push the puck along the boards well enough. Hartley LOVES playing the 4th line with the bottom pairing, and they are put on the ice against 2nd-3rd lines..

That's the only thing I don't like about Hartley's coaching. He has too much trust in his 4th line (usually I notice these issues when one of Bollig or Mcgrattan are playing).

[heep223]

^agreed. Whenever Bollig is out there with Engelland and Smid it's almost guaranteed that the puck is in our zone.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by neo45

It might just be me but I don't think Engelland has been noticeably worse than Diaz or Smid. Our top 4 are playing out of this world and the rest have been collectively bad

The Flames are so screwed if they have injuries in the top 4. I suspect one reason they haven't promoted Wotherspoon - he's got to better than these three - is they are waiting for injuries. Otherwise they might lose one of the vets in the process and be even worse off (not that it's too like they would claimed on waivers but it's possible).