[PGT] Flames Blank Av's 2-0

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

That's crazy. Even the commentators were commenting how he looks like a gazelle out there with his movement and how fast he gets around.

Concur the comment I made be crazy. It just seemed like he was going towards the net faster, yet in certain situations Gio would make it back into the D zone faster than Hamilton even though the puck was on Hamilton's side of the rink.

Sorry, I wouldn't have heard the commentators. Was at the game.

I blame the dome foam...

[Coach]

Gio could be faster than Hamilton too.

Often, when D are going back for the puck, the far side D will get there quicker because A) He's already covering and thus is behind the strong side guy and B)the strong side guy needs to turn around.

Pretty standard switch for the far guy to make it there first. It's likely that Hamilton wasn't skating as hard for this reason.

[druetetective]

I feel like we should take 1 vet and 1 rookie for the last 2 spots on D.

So one of Nakladal/Wilson and Wotherspoon/Kulak. We need to start grooming 1-2 of our young Dmen to be able to fill in once the Engelland/Russell/Wideman run out. With all the young players we have to resign were going to need at least 1 defenceman on a ELC.

I personally would go with Nakladal/Wotherspoon. Sign Wilson and send him down. I'm much higher on Kulak and think he will be a bottom pairing guy for the Flames for years to come but I think another full year playing 1st pairing mins in the AHL will do wonders for his development.

Then you can rotate Engelland, Wotherspoon and Nakladal in and out of the lineup based on matchups and performance. I know you don't want kids sitting in the pressbox but at this point I think playing even every other game plus NHL practices would be better for spoons development than AHL. If he's not up to the task you send him down and call up Kulak or Morrisson. I just really hope the Flames start grooming one of these kids in the NHL this season.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by druetetective

I feel like we should take 1 vet and 1 rookie for the last 2 spots on D.

So one of Nakladal/Wilson and Wotherspoon/Kulak. We need to start grooming 1-2 of our young Dmen to be able to fill in once the Engelland/Russell/Wideman run out. With all the young players we have to resign were going to need at least 1 defenceman on a ELC.

I personally would go with Nakladal/Wotherspoon. Sign Wilson and send him down. I'm much higher on Kulak and think he will be a bottom pairing guy for the Flames for years to come but I think another full year playing 1st pairing mins in the AHL will do wonders for his development.

Then you can rotate Engelland, Wotherspoon and Nakladal in and out of the lineup based on matchups and performance. I know you don't want kids sitting in the pressbox but at this point I think playing even every other game plus NHL practices would be better for spoons development than AHL. If he's not up to the task you send him down and call up Kulak or Morrisson. I just really hope the Flames start grooming one of these kids in the NHL this season.

I think the grooming will start happening this season, and will be due to the inevitable injury issues (which happens pretty much every season). These kids will start getting more time in the NHL, and it will be up to them to make sure they stay there and force Hartley's hand in playing them more, and force Treliving's hand in making a permanent roster spot. Brodie is out now (and Smid is still not ready to go yet). This is a chance for 2 guys to come in and stay in.

There will be other opportunities as well throughout the season. I wouldn't worry so much about anyone (even forwards) making it on the team straight out of camp. It will always be up to them to force management's hands when they do get that opportunity.

[MillerTime GFG]

Went to the game last night, and managed to miss both goals while waiting for the play to stop getting down to our section. At the end of the game I said to my buddy" oh well, at least we get to watch overtime". What a complete fail. When did that change in the preseason?

I can add to what people have said about Hathaway...I thought he was very noticeable. Lots of energy & hustle. Strikes me as someone who would annoy the heck out of opponents.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

That's crazy. Even the commentators were commenting how he looks like a gazelle out there with his movement and how fast he gets around.

He may be one of those guys who looks slow but moves fast and easily. Being tall helps that.

On the other hand some guys look faster than they are because they are churning the legs so much.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

He may be one of those guys who looks slow but moves fast and easily. Being tall helps that.

On the other hand some guys look faster than they are because they are churning the legs so much.

By DoubleF's own admission he was also churning the dome foam so much.

[Flamesforver11]

Watching Hamilton this pre season has been treat. I honestly think he could end up as a better D than current Gio in 3 years. Thats a Norris winner

[DoubleF]

I guess I'm back for embarrassment...

Was it the foam, or did I actually remember Gaudreau being a little more physical? Not like all out body checking anyone, but pushing guys away/off the puck/shoving them to get them off the game before picking their pocket etc.

I think I recall Granlund doing the same (nudging guys, shoving them etc.) but getting knocked down by bigger guys a lot.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I guess I'm back for embarrassment...

Was it the foam, or did I actually remember Gaudreau being a little more physical? Not like all out body checking anyone, but pushing guys away/off the puck/shoving them to get them off the game before picking their pocket etc.

I think I recall Granlund doing the same (nudging guys, shoving them etc.) but getting knocked down by bigger guys a lot.

Gaudreau is a bit more physical. I bet he gained a few pounds ovwer the summer and wants to try them out.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Except he couldn't. At all. He was the one players who was beyond out-matched after Gio went down and the reason our season didn't end was because our Top line + Wideman were on absolute fire, our goaltenders transformed into Omega Price

Our goaltenders transformed into Price? What games were you watching? There were a lot of reasons that the Flames had a successful playoff push last season, but exceptional goaltending was not one of them.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by heep223

Our goaltenders transformed into Price? What games were you watching? There were a lot of reasons that the Flames had a successful playoff push last season, but exceptional goaltending was not one of them.

Hiller in the VAN series was exceptional. I just don't see why things have to be minimalized all the time.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hiller in the VAN series was exceptional. I just don't see why things have to be minimalized all the time.

Disagree that he was exceptional, much less comparable to Carey Price, who is the sole reason his team wins.

We didn't get exceptional goaltending all year including playoffs, with the exception of the first 10 games of the regular season.

I'm not sure what you mean about things being minimalized all the time.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by heep223

Disagree that he was exceptional, much less comparable to Carey Price, who is the sole reason his team wins.

We didn't get exceptional goaltending all year including playoffs, with the exception of the first 10 games of the regular season.

I'm not sure what you mean about things being minimalized all the time.

I wasn't debating the comparable to Price. That's lunacy. But to deny that Hiller was not exceptional in that VAN series is playing it down. He was a big part of that series win. I also was not debating the regular season. But to say the Flames didn't get exceptional goaltending at any point during the regular season is silly too. All three goalies stole games while standing on their heads throughout the season.

[heep223]

I would say overall that goaltending was average/solid, apart from the first 10. I wouldn't attribute it to the Flames making the playoffs, as the initial poster was saying. Good some games, stole some games, bad some games, lost some games. Overall average.