Oilers and Ducks owned the Flames last year, you can blame bad goaltending all you want, but the Flames were never able to play their game against these two teams.
Guys who are normally "truculent" like Ferland, Tkachuk, Bennett, Bouma, Brouwer (well sometimes) were never "truculent" in games against these teams. Ferland would answer the bell when he was challenged or if a teammate was roughed up (see Thompson on Backlund), but otherwise, he wasn't as aggressive or assertive against these teams as compared to other teams.
What in the world. The Flames arguably pushed the Ducks around in that playoff series. They lost because they couldn't score 5v5 (and Elliott couldn't stop a puck) not because we didn't have Bollig and McGratton in the line-up.
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What in the world. The Flames arguably pushed the Ducks around in that playoff series. They lost because they couldn't score 5v5 (and Elliott couldn't stop a puck) not because we didn't have Bollig and McGratton in the line-up.
What about when Manson beat the hell out of Gio?Or when the Oilers were running over Johnny at the Dome?
Our issue is the refs allowing Perry and company to bend the rules. Call the game by the book and Calgary would embarass them. Calgary has way more skill but is minimized when slashing and goaltender charging is repeatedly allowed.
If they can't slash our best player and break the rules every shift we'll dominate those clowns.
Last edited by MikeRPG; 07-03-2017 at 08:57 AM.
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Our issue is the refs allowing Perry and company to bend the rules. Call the game by the book and Calgary would embarass them. Calgary has way more skill but is minimized when slashing and goaltender charging is repeatedly allowed.
If they can't slash our best player and break the rules every shift we'll dominate those clowns.
This is true, but the one area Calgary lacks in toughness is after the whistle. These two things are probably correlated though, and GG likely is trying to run a tight ship discipline-wise.
But it bugs me to no end watching our guys get shoved or punched after the whistle and just kinda wilt away like little violets every single shift after the whistle. Also, stand up for the G D goalie.
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What in the world. The Flames arguably pushed the Ducks around in that playoff series. They lost because they couldn't score 5v5 (and Elliott couldn't stop a puck) not because we didn't have Bollig and McGratton in the line-up.
Seriously? I didn't see it that way at all. I saw a team that couldn't do anything physically when it got mad. Same thing in that late season game where the Ducks beat the Flames up all over the ice.
Other issues aside team toughness was really lacking last year. It frustrated me beyond belief that Johnny wasn't protected more when facing all the slashing issues.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
Seriously? I didn't see it that way at all. I saw a team that couldn't do anything physically when it got mad. Same thing in that late season game where the Ducks beat the Flames up all over the ice.
Other issues aside team toughness was really lacking last year. It frustrated me beyond belief that Johnny wasn't protected more when facing all the slashing issues.
Supposedly the league is going to clamp down on slashing this year, so that should help Gaudreau. In terms of team toughness, I think some of our perceived lack of toughness was a result of our guys having zero faith in our goalies for large stretches last year. If you are petrified of giving up a PP because you don't trust your goalie you arent going to play anywhere near the edge.
Also, I'm not concerned about Smith being bumped and pushed around. I'm thinking he goes full Hextall on a Ducks player at some point this year.
Supposedly the league is going to clamp down on slashing this year, so that should help Gaudreau. In terms of team toughness, I think some of our perceived lack of toughness was a result of our guys having zero faith in our goalies for large stretches last year. If you are petrified of giving up a PP because you don't trust your goalie you arent going to play anywhere near the edge.
Also, I'm not concerned about Smith being bumped and pushed around. I'm thinking he goes full Hextall on a Ducks player at some point this year.
I wouldn't be sad to see Smith pull a McLennan on Kesler.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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"I'm obviously very familiar with the province of Alberta and my relationship with Glen Gulutzan - we spent time together in the minors (with the Texas Stars)."
Our issue is the refs allowing Perry and company to bend the rules. Call the game by the book and Calgary would embarass them. Calgary has way more skill but is minimized when slashing and goaltender charging is repeatedly allowed.
If they can't slash our best player and break the rules every shift we'll dominate those clowns.
Well, that is not going to change, particularly in the playoffs. GMs and team management has to make the best team based on the existing rules of hockey and how they are enforced, not some sort of idealistic fantasy. Besides, when the Flames encounter a team with better skill, they have to use the same tactics. No sport(with the exception of Golf) calls it by the "book".
The fact that the Flames PP was clicking pretty well probably reigned the Ducks in for the playoffs. Otherwise these guys and clownshoes like Kassian would take a lot of liberties against the Flames.
Gazdik couldn't keep up two years ago and the league is noticably faster today. The Flames are going to miss Engelland because guys that tough who can keep up in today's game are getting hard to find.
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Smith wasn't drafted as high as he was to be an enforcer. Above average skating for a big man and a mean streak -- the hope was he would develop into a middle-six power forward. He hasn't shown a lot of offense in the AHL, though so more realistically he tops out as a bottom-six crash and bang type. Good leadership qualities, quick to defend teammates and defensive awareness will help Smith crack the NHL.
Smith wasn't drafted as high as he was to be an enforcer. Above average skating for a big man and a mean streak -- the hope was he would develop into a middle-six power forward. He hasn't shown a lot of offense in the AHL, though so more realistically he tops out as a bottom-six crash and bang type. Good leadership qualities, quick to defend teammates and defensive awareness will help Smith crack the NHL.
I love your optimism, but I'd be genuinely shocked if Smith ever plays a game in the NHL. He doesn't have a single NHL-level quality outside of his size.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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I love your optimism, but I'd be genuinely shocked if Smith ever plays a game in the NHL. He doesn't have a single NHL-level quality outside of his size.
I'm with you on this one. I want to like Smith, and he impressed me in the Memorial Cup, but frankly I just see a whole lot of meh. The only thing I could see getting him into the NHL is if he develops a Hathaway level of intensity
I love your optimism, but I'd be genuinely shocked if Smith ever plays a game in the NHL. He doesn't have a single NHL-level quality outside of his size.
Take it FWIW, and this doesn't necessarily jive with I think of Smith, but according to prospect-stats, 5v5 among U22 AHLers with 30+ GP last year, Hunter Smith was:
26th of 107 in points per (estimated) hour
2nd of 107 in GF%
9th of 107 in GF% Rel
100th of 107 in Quality of Teammate
88th of 107 in Quality of Competition
*shrug*
To be in the top quartile of four out of five of those stats might mean there is something being overlooked as there are some good prospects on that list.
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Last edited by GranteedEV; 07-03-2017 at 12:19 PM.
I'm a huge fan of this move and I hope Gazdic gets in a few games.
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The Delhi police have announced the formation of a crack team dedicated to nabbing the elusive 'Monkey Man' and offered a reward for his -- or its -- capture.
