[PGT] Flames 2 - Sens 3 (OT)

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Great callout of the officiating by Huska in his postgame

So.....what did he say?

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, we're destined for a mushy middle finish. if we get that this year and next we could basically kiss a successful rebuild goodbye. But hey, it's important to be competitive all the time, right?

Thats a pretty weird dig on management right there. Did you think this team would be this competitive this year the way it's constructed? I sure didn't.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

Thats a pretty weird dig on management right there. Did you think this team would be this competitive this year the way it's constructed? I sure didn't.

Management? I like Conroy, I think he's doing the right things. I'm just stating that when the Flames head into a rebuild and need some high draft picks and end up finishing 11-16th AND forfeit that draft pick to Montreal, I will simply respond to that circumstance with "yep, that's the Flames, that's what happens with my favorite team, that's just how it is".

[jayswin]

And yes, not be controversial but I feel if we don't get a top 5 - 8 pick in the next two seasons and then start to head OUT of a rebuild due to a decent team and strong goaltender that we will absolutely struggle to become a contender in this league and will likely need to rebuild again later to get those critical core pieces. I KNOW that opinion is annoying here and refuted with "YEAH SO WHAT WE JUST SELL EVERYONE AND TANK AND BECOME BUFFALLLLLOOOOOO?????!!!!" But I stand by it, honestly. We need elite players somehow and this season seems out of reach to go that route. But if we can't pick top 5 or even top 10 during a rebuild? Then **** are we up **** creek.

I mean hell, we're sitting on one last goldmine in Andersson for futures for this rebuild and even HE is being touted as someone we keep around long term when his last productive years would come when we're not competitive . It's insane to me, but we all have different perspectives.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Management? I like Conroy, I think he's doing the right things. I'm just stating that when the Flames head into a rebuild and need some high draft picks and end up finishing 11-16th AND forfeit that draft pick to Montreal, I will simply respond to that circumstance with "yep, that's the Flames, that's what happens with my favorite team, that's just how it is".

Alright, I'm on board with that. I basically responded to the last sentence in your post, because I don't think anyone in management or elsewhere felt any particular importance for the team to be competitive this year. As you say, it's just the way it goes with this team. When the team looks terrific on paper, they fail, when they looks like a band of misfits, they shine.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ not really

Sure there are top picks among scoring leaders

But just quickly round and slot, a few players that are outside top 8 picks and seem ok

Kaprizov - 5 / 135
Kucherov - 2/58
Necas - 1/12
Kyle Connor 1 /17

[Roof-Daddy]

This season is similar to 2014/15 so far. At least there isn't a McDingleberry to miss out on this year I guess.

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

So bottom 10 is much more obtainable (.429) than bottom 5 (0.336) but with how they are playing ending at either of those might be unlikely.

As long as Connie keeps paying the refs to help out the other team, we got a shot!

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I’d like to see the league take a look at the sucker punch

If the game moves too fast for the refs, they can at least try to get some things right

Department of player safety has reviewed less egregious offenses

Lucic got 2 games for dropping Sherwood in Nashville a few years ago in a punch after the whistle. Precedent is there, just have to see where the wheel lands.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by jayswin

And yes, not be controversial but I feel if we don't get a top 5 - 8 pick in the next two seasons and then start to head OUT of a rebuild due to a decent team and strong goaltender that we will absolutely struggle to become a contender in this league and will likely need to rebuild again later to get those critical core pieces. I KNOW that opinion is annoying here and refuted with "YEAH SO WHAT WE JUST SELL EVERYONE AND TANK AND BECOME BUFFALLLLLOOOOOO?????!!!!" But I stand by it, honestly. We need elite players somehow and this season seems out of reach to go that route. But if we can't pick top 5 or even top 10 during a rebuild? Then **** are we up **** creek.

I mean hell, we're sitting on one last goldmine in Andersson for futures for this rebuild and even HE is being touted as someone we keep around long term when his last productive years would come when we're not competitive . It's insane to me, but we all have different perspectives.

The problem is it's not like they didn't try.

They traded Toffoli, Markstrom, Hanifin, Lindholm, Tanev, Zadorov, and others in the last 18 months. They are the 2nd lowest cap team in the league and they went into this season with:

- 2 proven NHL centers, and no real top line center
- A mishmash of wingers
- 2 NHL top 4 dmen, and 6 other guys nobody was certain were more than bottom pairing guys
- A rookie goalie and a mediocre career backup coming off of hip surgery

And they've outperformed that. I get there are more pieces people want to move (Andersson, Kadri, Coleman) but you do have to be a bit strategic in how you move those guys because you can't move them all overnight and they also have trade protection so you don't want to just force it if they want to be here.

The real problem they are going to have is Wolf might just be too good already and you can't really change that.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Man, on a side note, how good has Huberdeau been lately? I true first line winger, dangerous every game. I don't know his stats recently but he seem like he's putting up a decent amount of points and more importantly he's in on tons of plays.

I've always truly felt that he needs 1 high volume shooter whos legitimately dangerous and can read off of John's sneaky plays to turn it around.

You go back and watch his final year in Florida and the highlights and he's doing nothing really that different. However he's getting tons of assists because the passes he is making are being read by the players and they are capatalizing.

3 things you'll notice:

1. His confidence is sky high, he's taking the zone with his head up and he's looking at all avenues and making the sneaky good pass

2. The players are aware that John is looking to pass more than shoot, so they pickup on his reads and play off his strengths

3. He's playing way more east/west than north/south and Calgary has never utilized an east/west system. This is the biggest change I see between Florida and Calgary and something he's had to change in his game. I feel like were very close to having him be great and north/south now.

I notice a lot of the time, John looks to make that sneaky good pass but the line mates are just not ready.

[Ped]

Huberdeau has 11 points in his last 9 games, and 8 of those points are even-strength.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, we're destined for a mushy middle finish. if we get that this year and next we could basically kiss a successful rebuild goodbye. But hey, it's important to be competitive all the time, right?

I'm not there yet.

The Flames picked up 11 points in the first 6 games, and have earned 26 points in the last 33.

That's a .394 win percentage and a pace for the bottom ten that's been established since mid October.

The points they've earned, they've earned. And hacking out sections to make a point is poor form.

But when it's the first 6 games, and then everything else it's less selective and this isn't a winning team for the majority of the season.

I'm not writing off bottom ten yet.

[Strange Brew]

I’m not sure the team is magically better next year either. Most of the best players on this team are on the wrong side of 30 and are either going to be gone or declining. If you’re really pining for a super high draft pick, this isn’t the only year that can happen.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Ped

Huberdeau has 11 points in his last 9 games, and 8 of those points are even-strength.

Trade!

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by browna

Huberdeau sporting a cut on side of his lip in post game. Ripped on the refs.

Still it's Huberdeau's fault for not flailing away at his face like Tkachuk. You have to give the Refs something to work with.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Still it's Huberdeau's fault for not flailing away at his face like Tkachuk. You have to give the Refs something to work with.

Lying on his back, with no stick, and missing a glove wasn't dramatic enough for you?

(I think you were kidding)

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I've always truly felt that he needs 1 high volume shooter whos legitimately dangerous and can read off of John's sneaky plays to turn it around.

You go back and watch his final year in Florida and the highlights and he's doing nothing really that different. However he's getting tons of assists because the passes he is making are being read by the players and they are capatalizing.

3 things you'll notice:

1. His confidence is sky high, he's taking the zone with his head up and he's looking at all avenues and making the sneaky good pass

2. The players are aware that John is looking to pass more than shoot, so they pickup on his reads and play off his strengths

3. He's playing way more east/west than north/south and Calgary has never utilized an east/west system. This is the biggest change I see between Florida and Calgary and something he's had to change in his game. I feel like were very close to having him be great and north/south now.

I notice a lot of the time, John looks to make that sneaky good pass but the line mates are just not ready.

It's primarily this. As a passer and playmaker, you need to move east/west to open up lanes and break down the D. That's how guys get open, and how you open up lanes for passing. But he is being asked to stay in his lane, and play north/south, which is fine for a team to do, but for him, that makes it MUCH easier for the defense to cut off his lanes. Which is why so many of his passes are intercepted.

The Flames acquired a race car, and are frustrated with its lack of towing capacity.

Having said all that, he is starting to adapt to the system, and do more within it. None the less, we are completely misusing his skill set.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, we're destined for a mushy middle finish. if we get that this year and next we could basically kiss a successful rebuild goodbye. But hey, it's important to be competitive all the time, right?

Do you want them stop trying?
Hell man just enjoy the ride. There's a lot of positive stories this season.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by jayswin

And yes, not be controversial but I feel if we don't get a top 5 - 8 pick in the next two seasons and then start to head OUT of a rebuild due to a decent team and strong goaltender that we will absolutely struggle to become a contender in this league and will likely need to rebuild again later to get those critical core pieces. I KNOW that opinion is annoying here and refuted with "YEAH SO WHAT WE JUST SELL EVERYONE AND TANK AND BECOME BUFFALLLLLOOOOOO?????!!!!" But I stand by it, honestly. We need elite players somehow and this season seems out of reach to go that route. But if we can't pick top 5 or even top 10 during a rebuild? Then **** are we up **** creek.

I mean hell, we're sitting on one last goldmine in Andersson for futures for this rebuild and even HE is being touted as someone we keep around long term when his last productive years would come when we're not competitive . It's insane to me, but we all have different perspectives.

Andersson isn't going to tell the world he can't sign Andersson because he doesn't want to be here. And now is not the time to trade him - there just aren't enough teams with cap space.

There are 3 primary points where it will be best to trade him:
1. In advance of this year's deadline
2. The off-season
3. Next deadline (not ideal)

My view is #2 may be the best and where you get the most value.