[News] Practice Notes - 11/13 - Page 4 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Erick Estrada · 11-13-2018, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Is this maybe a repercussion of having actual depth finally?

Well Ryan scored 17 goals last season and Neil scored 25 goals. It looks like good depth on paper but the reality is they haven't scored much and guys like Bennett, Jankowski, Backlund, etc also haven't scored so as much as things have changed it's still kind of one line team plus Tkachuk.

Otto-matic · 11-13-2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Is this maybe a repercussion of having actual depth finally?

I wonder if its a case of Peter's being familiar with Lindholm and giving him the 1st line position as well. Not that I'm complaining about it.

Neal needs players who aren't offensive black holes. He was on the 2nd line with Backs/Chucky for what 1 game?

Wolfman · 11-13-2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well Ryan scored 17 goals last season and Neil scored 25 goals. It looks like good depth on paper but the reality is they haven't scored much and guys like Bennett, Jankowski, Backlund, etc also haven't scored so as much as things have changed it's still kind of one line team plus Tkachuk.

I agree, hard to find room for all the guys that have produced in the past but aren't currently. Ryan has been with Peters since Spokane, so Peters trusts him.

Otto-matic · 11-13-2018, 03:14 PM

Also lets not forget Mony carried the mail on his own line back in 13/14. I think he would be capable of anchoring down a pretty deadly 2nd line without Johnny on his wing.

kermitology · 11-13-2018, 03:15 PM

Going to say this again:

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Neal
Tkachuk - Monahan - Czarnik/Dube
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Hathaway - Jankowski - Czarnik/Dube

First line: Lindholm and Gaudreau have incredible chemistry, they're both great at distribution and Neal being the slow follower is in a position to shoot the puck they pass. Basically they replace the shooter that is Monahan with Neal.

Second line: Tkachuk plays hard and is a great distributor. Czarnik and Dube are quick like water bugs and you've got Monahan as the shooter. Let Tkachuk and the other winger go into the corners dig out the puck and feed the slot for Monahan.

Third line: Skate, hit, defend. Bennett's best year was with these two as well - maybe that gets his confidence up.

Fourth line: energy - they've been pretty good the last few games.

GullFoss · 11-13-2018, 03:16 PM

Those practice lines are the lines I've wanted to see all season. Very excited to see Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett.

Stanley · 11-13-2018, 03:33 PM

damnit...I'm going to the game on Thurs. with my Habs fan wife and I was really hoping to see Rittich live

Smith SUCKS at home

I'm fully prepared to expect a goal against in the first 2 and a half minutes...

flamesforcup · 11-13-2018, 03:41 PM

Bennett has shown alot this season but his finish is becoming a concern. Unless this team gets a dangerous second line were going nowhere. Right now Tkachuk is basically our only offensive weapon after the top line and Neal is not being utilized correctly. Its not like Bennett is playing like a bust he is noticible every shift but his finish is attrocious. Give him a stretch with good players for one final chance. Dont keep switching him around. I would do these top 6 lines. Give Bennett 10-15 games with these linemates and lets see if the click. If Bennett and Tkachuk click with Neal we have got something special.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Bennett-Neal

doctajones428 · 11-13-2018, 03:45 PM

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Hathaway - Ryan - Czarnik

Plz

flamesforcup · 11-13-2018, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctajones428

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Hathaway - Ryan - Czarnik

Plz

I really want to see that second line. PLEASE FLAMES.

The Boy Wonder · 11-13-2018, 03:48 PM

Bennett has earned top 6 over neal and frolik to this point in the season.

sure frolik has 5 non EN goals but he has been very up and down in terms of his play.

Neal has been atrocious, he got the first opportunity to move up to teh top 6 and he blew it.

Bennett has been a momentum changer every game and just about every shift, in a positive way and he deserves this chance.

Maybe playing with thachuk will finally give him some silky set-ups where even he or backlund can't miss??

Now its time for Bennett to show that he can score goals. get to the net and get greasy.

Calgary4LIfe · 11-13-2018, 03:56 PM

Peters has his work cut out for him with managing Neal. He has had effective games even when he hasn't scored, but he is simply not getting into the dangerous areas enough or losing coverage in order to get his shot off. Then he goes through periods where he looks apathetic.

Ryan doesn't seem to have much compete in him. It actually surprises me when he wins a puck battle (the one in Chicago really surprised me, and he did an excellent job along the boards on that one). He seems almost hesitant to engage in a battle, he doesn't have much speed, and his passing is simply atrocious. Honestly, I wanted a Stajan upgrade, and I am not sure he is that. Stajan was really good defensively and, at least in his last few seasons, had a really consistent compete level. Beyond faceoffs, I am having a difficult time in figuring out what he is bringing to the Flames. Backlund, Frolik, Bennett, Jankowski, Hathaway, Lindholm - they are all superior options on the PK in my opinion. Don't get me started on Ryan's PP time....

Really want to see Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund and Jankowski as the centres this year. I am 100% ok with another look at Bennett as a center again as well. Outside of faceoffs, I just don't see the point in having Ryan in the line-up. I really like Hathaway on the PK (and have advocated for that most of the season - give the guys on the 4th line reps on the PK to off-load those hard minutes). Hathaway is much more disruptive on the PK - he is faster and is strong on the puck, which helps win board battles or at least waste valuable time along the boards.

I think Smith should start next game and hopefully allow himself to build off the last game. Had he stunk it up against SJ, I would have preferred Rittich. Arguably the most critical player for the Flames this season might be Mike Smith - if he can get back on track, Flames don't need to weaken their depth or trade away futures for yet another stop-gap, and/or hurt their future flexibility with a high dollar/long term contract on a proven starter. Rittich is improving, but I am not sure he is ready to be a starter, and I have really liked Rittich. Maybe he is ready, but being a starter is a whole different animal than being a backup. I anticipate that Peters will run them both more or less like a 1A/1B tandem like Hartley did with Hiller and Ramo.

Nice thing is that the Flames have been winning in spite of goaltending, in spite of a tough schedule, and in spite of a number of guys not rolling. Not only that, they have been flat-out dominant in many games already, and only in a few games have they looked poor (and in those cases, I believe it was lazy plays and poor compete). Every little issue fixed means this team is that much more difficult to play against.

One thing that I haven't seen anyone mention is how much better Gaudreau and Monahan have looked defensively. I remember watching Gaudreau playing under Hartley and thinking: "Wow, he is so Datsyuk-like with his sneaky backchecks stripping the puck off of players." I honestly don't remember seeing that in the last two seasons, but he is doing that again, as well as having immensely improved positioning and commitment in the D zone.

Flames have been a much more consistently good team this year, more enjoyable to watch, and that is all that I can ask as a fan.

SeanCharles · 11-13-2018, 04:47 PM

Bitter sweet...

- Czarnik scratched
- Bennett earns a promotion

If we are going to keep the top line in tact, which I'm not necessarily opposed to, and keep Tkachuk and Backlund together then I would like to see:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Bennett-Backlund-Tkachuk
Dube-Jankowski-Neal
Frolik-Czarnik-Hathaway

I think Peters got it right for the most part but I want to see more of Czarnik, not less. He makes good passes and made some nice plays towards the net that created chances.

The Ryan signing was a mistake IMO.

I don't know why I have more patience for Neal than Ryan, but I do.

Karl · 11-13-2018, 04:50 PM

Austin Czarnik is way better than Derek Ryan.

Jore · 11-13-2018, 05:13 PM

smith plays 2 good periods out of 30 and they start him. rittich gets a shutout and ???

czarnick scratched over hathaway?

terrible

TheScorpion · 11-13-2018, 05:24 PM

Hathaway is really, really terrible and should not be in the lineup over Czarnik OR Ryan

midniteowl · 11-13-2018, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Hathaway is really, really terrible and should not be in the lineup over Czarnik OR Ryan

What?

dissentowner · 11-13-2018, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Hathaway is really, really terrible and should not be in the lineup over Czarnik OR Ryan

I think Hathaway brings jam to our lineup and I am fine with him in the lineup. Ryan should be scratched though, I have no idea how you can argue Ryan brings more than Hathaway. Ryan literally brings nothing so far. Maybe he turns it around but right now he looks like an AHL player. Hell, he looks worse than Lazar did.

H2SO4(aq) · 11-13-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Hathaway is really, really terrible and should not be in the lineup over Czarnik OR Ryan

Hathaway isn’t peluso. What have you been watching? Seriously.

This post just screams “I want to receive ‘thanks’ from the anti-fighter/enforcer crowd”.

trublmaker · 11-13-2018, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley

damnit...I'm going to the game on Thurs. with my Habs fan wife and I was really hoping to see Rittich live

Smith SUCKS at home

I'm fully prepared to expect a goal against in the first 2 and a half minutes...

you think it will take 2 and a half minutes for the first shot on goal??