[PGT] Blues 4 Flames 2

[Barnet Flame]

We played well, our guys worked hard - far harder than the Blues. We're getting what they can give and I'll always appreciate that and enjoy it much more than a stacked team half assing it. If we outwork our opponents and grow as a team through the season, I can live with that.

I don't expect us to make the play-offs unless we can bring someone in that has the skill and talent to finish the chances we create through the work the guys are putting in. That will not be easy, but it isn't impossible.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

For real? That is scary. The drop is faster than I expected. Wow!

And last season was a close call.

This season is young, in another 15-20 games we'll have a good idea what's up. If they end up missing by a lot, I sure hope Flames win the draft lottery. We need a star to build around.

Its not that surprising. Huska has them playing a ####ty brand of hockey.

[fotze2]

Always has to be a single thing thats wrong. Blame needs to be laid on someone.

[The Cobra]

Wolf is currently 44/45 goalies with a -3.9 goals saved above average.

Perhaps the decision to start him 3 games in 4 days (with the last one being a day game and travel between each game) was not the way to go.

But Calgary aren't going to win tons of games if Wolf is not their best player.

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by rollie619

I feel like this is a game we'll be circling back at the end of the year as a lost two points.

Circling back?? Thats 2 McKenna points today.. immedately.

[OminousFlames]

The Flames need an actual #1 centre. They haven't had one since Joe Nieuwendyk, which was a long time ago. I am afraid of this mid team barely making the playoffs, only to get stomped by some team, and miss out on a generational player, like they did in 2015. It would be very Flamesy if they did that.
Huska wants to squeeze some more juice out of this rock, while downgrading in back-up goaltending they can't even trust to play in a 2nd of a back-to-back.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Wolf is currently 44/45 goalies with a -3.9 goals saved above average.

Perhaps the decision to start him 3 games in 4 days (with the last one being a day game and travel between each game) was not the way to go.

But Calgary aren't going to win tons of games if Wolf is not their best player.

Yeah you’re right, somehow this is Huska’s fault.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by OminousFlames

The Flames need an actual #1 centre. They haven't had one since Joe Nieuwendyk, which was a long time ago. I am afraid of this mid team barely making the playoffs, only to get stomped by some team, and miss out on a generational player, like they did in 2015. It would be very Flamesy if they did that.
Huska wants to squeeze some more juice out of this rock, while downgrading in back-up goaltending they can't even trust to play in a 2nd of a back-to-back.

What is this complete nonsense you are post big about 2015?

Some posters make it sound like picking 1st is easy. Oilers were so bad they changed the rules.

Do you even watch this team? The flamesy thing they can do is suck this year. They are never the same team 2 years in a row and haven’t been in over a decade.

This is going to be a bad team this year. Wolf with the sophomore slump/big contract pressure and the rest of the team aging with very few difference makers at the appropriate age range.

This team will compete like they did yesterday but will lose a lot more than they win

[DylanScores]

Great effort but it’s going to be a long season.

[Fan69]

Not sure a schedule of 3 in four with 3 season openers, one your own, travel in between with an afternoon game, is a great indicator of where the team is.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Well, most of our games were 16300-17600 last seasons, and for a few seasons now. But the big difference so far is the home opener. That's always been an automatic sellout, so to see that very low is concerning, for sure.

It is a long weekend afternoon game but regardless there hasn't been much to get the fans excited for this season. Off-season moves were weak to non-existent and last years team was pretty mediocre. The first two games were not a good start even when considering the comeback against the Oilers. There will be a lot of small crowds at the Dome this year.

Anecdotally, even the top folks at my company don't want to go to games and are giving away our suite tickets which very rarely happened in previous years. We've had giveaway draws for the Tuesday Vegas game and following Wednesday vs Montreal.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by camm13

It was also a 2pm start on Thanksgiving weekend...

Yup, exactly. It was so insanely stupid. Those numbers aren't good but an afternoon game, on a Saturday, on a long weekend is just dumb.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

We played well, our guys worked hard - far harder than the Blues. We're getting what they can give and I'll always appreciate that and enjoy it much more than a stacked team half assing it. If we outwork our opponents and grow as a team through the season, I can live with that.

I don't expect us to make the play-offs unless we can bring someone in that has the skill and talent to finish the chances we create through the work the guys are putting in. That will not be easy, but it isn't impossible.

Unless that player is Adam Klspka size, plays on all 4 lines, and screens the goalie that player is going to make zero impact. If you brought in Kaprizov and put him in this system he is a 60-70 point player at best.

[flambers]

Flames are going to have to play their backup sooner or later

At the top end Wolf is likely to play 62 games.

20 games with the Backup

[BigThief]

Based on the first two Wrangler games Owen Say could quickly be the call up before Prosvetov

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Can you at least wait until they send Gridin down to complain about it

Guess I shouldn’t assume. But will not be surprised if they do it

[direwolf]

The effort level is certainly there with this team. Unfortunately the lack of finish is a problem. Hopefully they can get that sorted out over these next few games and start converting on their chances a bit more.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by direwolf

The effort level is certainly there with this team. Unfortunately the lack of finish is a problem. Hopefully they can get that sorted out over these next few games and start converting on their chances a bit more.

Here’s my question though. I think I know what the flames are:

- great starting goalie
- no backup goalie
- decent/serviceable defence with a bit of depth
- Four 3rd lines
- anemic power play
- tons of effort
- one guy that can score (Coronato)

How many games do you wait to see where things are at before you start executing plans to address:

- backup goalie
- certain guys paid to score that don’t (sharangovich)
- young guys who need a spot (Gridin, Parekh)
- complete lack of players that can finish
- unbalanced lineup. Too many 3rd line type forwards. (Zary playing 4th line??)
- put Parekh on PP1 that’s where he adds the most value
- Farabee off PP1 for Huberdeau

In my mind they could cobble together a half decent team with a couple of moves and getting Huberdeau/Pospisil back.

- Anderson out for a goal scorer and make room for Parekh
- Huberdeau back in with Kadri so he’s not playing by himself
- Sharangovich launched into the sun to free up a spot for Gridin so he doesn’t get sent down due to waiver implications. Think this one is impossible though.
- Try Cooley and ???? For 4 or 5 starts then look for a vet journeyman backup if it doesn’t work.
- Kirkland probably waived when Pospisil back.

I know it’s early. But Anderson not being traded and a few underperforming vets and a few over performing rookies that need spots have made the roster makeup really messy in my mind. The team needs a couple of trades to rebalance things in my mind.

Does anyone else agree?

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Here’s my question though. I think I know what the flames are:

- great starting goalie
- no backup goalie
- decent/serviceable defence with a bit of depth
- Four 3rd lines
- anemic power play
- tons of effort
- one guy that can score (Coronato)

How many games do you wait to see where things are at before you start executing plans to address:

- backup goalie
- certain guys paid to score that don’t (sharangovich)
- young guys who need a spot (Gridin, Parekh)
- complete lack of players that can finish
- unbalanced lineup. Too many 3rd line type forwards. (Zary playing 4th line??)
- put Parekh on PP1 that’s where he adds the most value
- Farabee off PP1 for Huberdeau

In my mind they could cobble together a half decent team with a couple of moves and getting Huberdeau/Pospisil back.

- Anderson out for a goal scorer and make room for Parekh
- Huberdeau back in with Kadri so he’s not playing by himself
- Sharangovich launched into the sun to free up a spot for Gridin so he doesn’t get sent down due to waiver implications. Think this one is impossible though.
- Try Cooley and ???? For 4 or 5 starts then look for a vet journeyman backup if it doesn’t work.
- Kirkland probably waived when Pospisil back.

I know it’s early. But Anderson not being traded and a few underperforming vets and a few over performing rookies that need spots have made the roster makeup really messy in my mind. The team needs a couple of trades to rebalance things in my mind.

Does anyone else agree?

It's been 3 games in 4 days.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Not sure. It sounds like you want them to make some moves to compete better this year? I'm not in favor of that. Nor am I in favor of selling low on Shark.

For instance I wouldn't want to trade Rasmus out to try to address near-term goal scoring issues. If they can bring in a younger offensive player - great. But if the deal needs to be forward looking not to address the woes of this season.