Might be a bit of an overstatement for 2 guys with so little NHL mileage, but Lazar showed real energy tonight, and it paid off.
After yet another game where Brouwer looked unengaged and bored, I don't know how Lazar doesn't stick for another game in his place.
Thought Stajan was ok in his limited time. But Jankowski is right there.
I stand behind that statement... None of us know how it will pan out but janko and lazar have more skill than 95% of the 4th liners in the league.
Stajan looked like he always does these days.. Like a slowish below average skill player trying to be an energy guy. Love the guy but I think he's become a tweener. Perfect guy to play 30 and sit in the pressbox though, great in the room and seems he would accept the role.
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Funny, I was talking to my dad at the game about Lazar and Donovan is the exact guy I compared him to.
Good 2-way utility/energy player with an offensive mindset.
Yeah a few parallels for sure. Even the excitable personality a bit - remember Donovan almost killing himself jumping into the boards after goals. Maybe Lazar doesn't quite have Donovan's wheels but he is a bit of a heavier hitter, I am impressed with his ability to throw his weight around.
I can see why the Flames picked him up, he strikes me the kind of complimentary player you win with.
Him using his speed to drive through the Center of the ice was what opened up a ton of space for Gaudreau and Bennett. I actually thought him and Bennett were playing good in the first too but stepped it up with Johnny on that line.
Hope to see a lot more of that from Lazar in the future.
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I always like Curtis Lazar but I won't say he deserves to play a regular spot right now. I am hoping he will be consistently good players every time he plays so he will force GG to play him all the time. Right now he is the 12A/12B forward, alternating with Tanner Glass. Glass plays against much tougher and bigger teams while Lazar plays against speed teams.
Before you disagree with me, I am just being realistic here. Lazar cannot unseat Ferland, Frolik, Jagr and Brouwer on RW. Yes I agree Brouwer has been playing garbage and he definitely plays better in the 4th line. Flames will NEVER bench Brouwer or send him to the minors because he is making too much money. To tell you the truth I can see some of the higher-ups from Flames right now getting ticked off at GG for putting Brouwer on the 4th line. Only way he won't be in the lineup is if he's injured or gets traded.
On LW, Lazar won't take the spot from Gaudreau, Chucky and Versteeg. In the middle, definitely can't take Mony, Backlund, Bennett but maybe can spell relief on Stajan. So I think Lazar will spend time mostly in and out of the lineup. He'll play against speed team, Glass playing vs big, tougher teams. He can also play be in the lineup if Flames have to sit Stajan once in a while. That is if Lazar stays consistent with his plays. If not, he might have problem playing over Freddie Hamilton, whom I still questioned why still in Calgary roster. F. Hamilton is a career AHLer. Maybe once Jagr gets in the lineup F. Hamilton will have to clear waiver for the purpose of getting sent to Stockton.
Lazar keeps the spot with Bennett and Gaudreau, Ferland can move over to LW, Glass can move to the press box. This seems like the logical choice to me right now.
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great to see him take advantage of the opportunity. Given that Stajan and Brouwer are "safe" because of their contracts and experience and Jankowski knocking on the door (or actually kicking it in lol), he needs to do exactly that. The fact that he could skate with Bennett and Gaudreau and not look out of place is reason for optimism.
I always like Curtis Lazar but I won't say he deserves to play a regular spot right now. I am hoping he will be consistently good players every time he plays so he will force GG to play him all the time. Right now he is the 12A/12B forward, alternating with Tanner Glass. Glass plays against much tougher and bigger teams while Lazar plays against speed teams.
Before you disagree with me, I am just being realistic here. Lazar cannot unseat Ferland, Frolik, Jagr and Brouwer on RW. Yes I agree Brouwer has been playing garbage and he definitely plays better in the 4th line. Flames will NEVER bench Brouwer or send him to the minors because he is making too much money. To tell you the truth I can see some of the higher-ups from Flames right now getting ticked off at GG for putting Brouwer on the 4th line. Only way he won't be in the lineup is if he's injured or gets traded.
On LW, Lazar won't take the spot from Gaudreau, Chucky and Versteeg. In the middle, definitely can't take Mony, Backlund, Bennett but maybe can spell relief on Stajan. So I think Lazar will spend time mostly in and out of the lineup. He'll play against speed team, Glass playing vs big, tougher teams. He can also play be in the lineup if Flames have to sit Stajan once in a while. That is if Lazar stays consistent with his plays. If not, he might have problem playing over Freddie Hamilton, whom I still questioned why still in Calgary roster. F. Hamilton is a career AHLer. Maybe once Jagr gets in the lineup F. Hamilton will have to clear waiver for the purpose of getting sent to Stockton.
The right shot versus left shot issue makes it difficult to simply replace Glass unless Stajan moves to left wing and Lazar centres 4th line. Flames really need to move Stajan with retained salary since final year of contract. I think much much more likely than moving Brouwer. We have so many NHL ready centres as it is.
BT likely waiting for a team to offer up a draft pick or a 7th defenseman in return. BT likely to get a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick at trade deadline for Stajan to shore up a playoff bound team's centre position so does not want to lose out on that opportunity by getting less now for sake of making room on roster. Good problem to have, but hard for us to remain patient.
Good news is that Lazar has the right attitude about being a 13th forward most nights and is still seeing good signs of progress!
Remarkable depth in the organization now at almost all positions. RW is really our only gap and Lazar is letting us know it isn't that bad either.
It's beyond imagining that Brouwer isn't served up on a silver platter to any team who wants him for whatever price they want to pay. I'm sure he is. Is there a stinker D man contract out there we could take on in exchange?
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It's beyond imagining that Brouwer isn't served up on a silver platter to any team who wants him for whatever price they want to pay. I'm sure he is. Is there a stinker D man contract out there we could take on in exchange?
I figure Brouwer will get at least 5 more games to figure it out.
If he doesnt, at that point BT will have to buck up and offer up a prospect to move Brouwer. We wont love it, but it really may be necessary to give the team room to compete.
Going to hurt losing 1 of our d prospects, but its where we have the most currency.
I figure Brouwer will get at least 5 more games to figure it out.
If he doesnt, at that point BT will have to buck up and offer up a prospect to move Brouwer. We wont love it, but it really may be necessary to give the team room to compete.
Going to hurt losing 1 of our d prospects, but its where we have the most currency.
With the Flames lack of draft picks, I don't think it's the time to be trading away assets. I'd rather they just retain salary on a trade for futures.
I figure Brouwer will get at least 5 more games to figure it out.
If he doesnt, at that point BT will have to buck up and offer up a prospect to move Brouwer. We wont love it, but it really may be necessary to give the team room to compete.
Going to hurt losing 1 of our d prospects, but its where we have the most currency.
We're not in a rush to move Brouwer, have the cap space and the roster room as well. Injuries will happen at some point and guys from the farm we want up will join the team. If the price is moving a valuable prospect at this point, keep him. His value can only go up and he'll potentially be easier to move in the summer. Only two years left then maybe maybe maybe a small bump back in play.
I figure Brouwer will get at least 5 more games to figure it out.
If he doesnt, at that point BT will have to buck up and offer up a prospect to move Brouwer. We wont love it, but it really may be necessary to give the team room to compete.
Going to hurt losing 1 of our d prospects, but its where we have the most currency.
We don't have a D prospect good enough that'll make someone take on Brouwer's.contract.
I think all the gms that are in the same boat are waiting for the market to open a little. It will take a roster change by another team to get the ball moving, whether that is an injury or sending a rookie down before the 10 game mark.
We're not in a rush to move Brouwer, have the cap space and the roster room as well.
True though he may be in a bigger rush to get out of town as he becomes more obviously an ugly anchor and should be doing time in the press box. His list of teams on his NTC might expand. We'll see.
Tough for him as he's got 3 years left, and probably doesn't want to spend it in a place like Carolina or Colorado. He had his pick last year, and it backfired. Though it's hard to have a ton of sympathy for a guy making $18 mln on his current contract.
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Originally Posted by Temporary_User
I will eat a pubic hair if Giordano ever plays in the NHL again
