Who takes the final spot in the top 9?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

if Milano can get on the score sheet playing next to Kadri or backlund next week he probably gets that $1m contract . Zary or phillips are the most deserving but don't have the leverage of nhl experience that Milano has

I think you are putting way too much stock on if they happen to bang in a goal or not

Its more about how they play on the entire ice surface

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I think you are putting way too much stock on if they happen to bang in a goal or not

Its more about how they play on the entire ice surface

its more that guys like milano and zary have already shown a good game over 200 ft so if either of them can show the ability to produce on top of that then it will bolster their chance to make the squad . not that darryl cares about that, but it probably holds some weight for treliving who is trying to fill a need

[Imported_Aussie]

While Zary has been good, I don't think he's done enough to steal the spot given the other's waiver status.

Ruzicka has last year's play to fall back on, so I think he is at least the 13th forward.

I think Phillips may be worth a look. Milano I don't think has done enough. Whoever gets the spot is must likely keeping it warm for a deadline rental, unless they take the chance and run.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Dube - Kadri - Mangiapane
Coleman - Backlund - Phillips/Ruzicka
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis/Ritchie

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Based on the pre-season action so far, this is what I would project for an opening night lineup:

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Kadri-Dube
Coleman-Backlund-Phillips
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis
Ritchie/Eakin

To me, Eakin has earned a league minimum contract and will be the backup center should anyone go down. As advertised: good defensively, wins faceoffs, not much offense, but doesn't hurt you either...low event player. Ritchie the other extra forward for more muscle/skating on the 4th line.

As of now, I'd pencil in Phillips on that 3rd line and see what he can do once the regular season starts. He's proved himself for a while now in the AHL. Ruzicka just hasn't shown enough consistency (what else is new), and Milano has a very incomplete game to bother with a contract. Milano coasts a lot, and doesn't seem concerned enough with his own end, which I know drives Sutter crazy. Time is running out for Ruzicka to figure out how to bring a consistent effort. The tools are all there, but there's just not enough drive to be an NHLer. Phillips is undersized, but he battles hard, plays defense, and has been good at creating offense when given a chance with the puck. He's done enough to earn a shot, but part of me wonders if the Flames make a trade for another winger as the year goes along. I'm just not convinced that Phillips is the long-term answer, but I could be wrong.

Zary has been very good in these pre-season tilts, but I think he needs at least another year in the AHL to develop his game after an up and down first year. Give him the top line with the Wranglers and let him become the player he should be.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Toffoli is not a top line winger. I know he's the best we have on the right side (really sad statement) but he is not a first line winger and will only make the combination weaker IMO. I would rather see Toffoli and Dube swapped in your line up. What this exercise is uncovering is just how big a hole we have in our lineup and just how weak our forward group is. We have strength in goal, on the blueline, and in the middle but are really bad on the right side. Treliving is going to have to address this through trade IMO, and dangle one of the defensemen. I don't think there is enough scoring in that lineup to get to where the fans think this team should be.

[transplant99]

Im not to worried about goals with this club as any success they have will stem from their collective defensive abilities.

Thats where Milano is failing IMO. In the offensive end he seems to be able to get where he needs to, but the rest of his game is lacking any impact at all. That's an issue on a Sutter led team. Darryl and crew aren't watching what he does with the puck, its all about what he doing away from it. Not so good thus far and last night was no different.


its why Toffoli can almost be pencilled in along Lindholm and Huberdeau. Even when he isn't going offensively, he helps all over the ice in other ways.

Pretty sure Eakins is well ahead of Milano in who might get a contract this year for those very reasons........as well as his face-off acumen.

Disappointing though that another winger hasnt really stepped up, including Phillips.

[Sandman]

The top 2 forwards in terms of TOI last night were Rooney and Eakin. Say what you want about preseason, but Sutter likes Eakin, IMO.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

While Zary has been good, I don't think he's done enough to steal the spot given the other's waiver status.

Ruzicka has last year's play to fall back on, so I think he is at least the 13th forward.

I think Phillips may be worth a look. Milano I don't think has done enough. Whoever gets the spot is must likely keeping it warm for a deadline rental, unless they take the chance and run.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Dube - Kadri - Mangiapane
Coleman - Backlund - Phillips/Ruzicka
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis/Ritchie

I agree . I think waiver status will play a huge role on who makes team at end of pre season . I think eakin has played well enough for a league min 13th forward spot, but if they think they might lose ruzicka on waivers by doing so , they might not think signing eakin is worth it. IMO zary would have had to have a pre season of the ages to get a spot considering his waiver status.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Toffoli is not a top line winger. I know he's the best we have on the right side (really sad statement) but he is not a first line winger and will only make the combination weaker IMO. I would rather see Toffoli and Dube swapped in your line up. What this exercise is uncovering is just how big a hole we have in our lineup and just how weak our forward group is. We have strength in goal, on the blueline, and in the middle but are really bad on the right side. Treliving is going to have to address this through trade IMO, and dangle one of the defensemen. I don't think there is enough scoring in that lineup to get to where the fans think this team should be.

I don't entirely disagree, but I would like to give Toffoli a chance first before we start moving guys around. But I take your point. We are weak on the wings all of a sudden and could use at least one clear upgrade so that everyone can slot down a little more.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Doesn't have to be solved now. Wait until the blueline is healthy, Weegar is signed, and you have a sense of where you are with guys like Mackey. Based on that better understanding of the blueline depth, you may be able to flip a dman for a winger.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Doesn't have to be solved now. Wait until the blueline is healthy, Weegar is signed, and you have a sense of where you are with guys like Mackey. Based on that better understanding of the blueline depth, you may be able to flip a dman for a winger.

Yes. Exactly.

If Mackey has established himself by the time Kylington returns—which seems entirely possible—then a quality defenseman can be moved without cratering the exceptional depth on the blueline.

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[FanIn80]

Mitch McLean… is he a walk on? What are his chances?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Mitch McLean… is he a walk on? What are his chances?

Think he inked a 2 year 2-way deal.

[Flaming Horse]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Toffoli is not a top line winger. I know he's the best we have on the right side (really sad statement) but he is not a first line winger and will only make the combination weaker IMO. I would rather see Toffoli and Dube swapped in your line up. What this exercise is uncovering is just how big a hole we have in our lineup and just how weak our forward group is. We have strength in goal, on the blueline, and in the middle but are really bad on the right side. Treliving is going to have to address this through trade IMO, and dangle one of the defensemen. I don't think there is enough scoring in that lineup to get to where the fans think this team should be.

With this lineup they should be able to score more than enough goals. There definitely is a whole on the right side but with the goaltending and deep defence will more than compensate for that. When this team is successful is when they are checking, playing a fast, up tempo, structured game.This is when they are at there best. Against a team like the greasers they can score enough but it is all about how they forecheck and check. They need to slow the oilers down. Tighter gaps and just take time and space away from them.Better through the neutral zone and the forwards need to do a lot better job on back pressure to help out the d and close the gaps. The goals will come but it is the way they play that will determine winning or losing.

[Flaming Horse]

For me the only way Toffoli is not playing with Huberdeau is if the chemistry is not there. They have invested a lot in Toffoli and it is important for the success of the team he succeeds. He is a pure goal scorer and needs to play with a playmaker to maximize his output and what better player than Huberdeau. If Huberdeau can turn Bennett into a 28 goal scorer and 31 for Duclair,i am optimistic what he can do with Toffoli.

[CalgaryFan1988]

While I agree that Toffoli isn't a top line winger anymore, Dube is still a notch below.

[KPat99]

I think that Phillips has taken the top 9 spot from the PTOs and Ruzicka and his waiver eligibility bumps him ahead of Zary. Put him with Backlund and Coleman and he can be under the wing of a guy that has shepherded in a lot of young players to Calgary successfully with two defensively responsible guys. Also gives that line hopefully a bit more offensive zip and Phillips plays with some real grit and drive for a small guy

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Mitch McLean… is he a walk on? What are his chances?

Seems redundant with Ritchie.

Plus we already have 2 capable 4th line centers in Lewis and Rooney. He will be a good vet on the Wranglers

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flaming Horse

For me the only way Toffoli is not playing with Huberdeau is if the chemistry is not there. They have invested a lot in Toffoli and it is important for the success of the team he succeeds. He is a pure goal scorer and needs to play with a playmaker to maximize his output and what better player than Huberdeau. If Huberdeau can turn Bennett into a 28 goal scorer and 31 for Duclair,i am optimistic what he can do with Toffoli.

Agreed. People also need to set all of this into perspective as well: EVERY team has holes; Calgary's just happens to be on the RW. They are as deep as anyone in goal; as deep as anyone on defense; as deep as anyone at centre, and have solid depth on LW. As big a hole as there is on the right side, some posters are severely exaggerating its impact.

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[boogerz]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Mitch McLean… is he a walk on? What are his chances?

McLain has been averaging <10 mins/game the entire preseason. Even if he had shown more than someone like Duehr (he hasn't), it's probably a safe assumption that he has zero chance of making the big club.