Practice Notes - February 3, 2020

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I guess you don't understand the net front role and why having a player screen the goalie and go for tips and rebounds is important eh?

Only Tkachuk and Lucic are capable of it. That's why he's out there. Mangiapane and Dube cannot play that role.

Maybe Buddy as well, but true. It’s not like PP2 gets a lot of time either. Maybe 1/4 of the minutes at best.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I guess you don't understand the net front role and why having a player screen the goalie and go for tips and rebounds is important eh?

Only Tkachuk and Lucic are capable of it. That's why he's out there. Mangiapane and Dube cannot play that role.

Puck retrieval, vision and soft hands are more important for your low post player than being able to just stand in front of the net.

This isn’t the 70’s anymore. The role that Lucic plays on the PP, and the level at which he performs it, is probably the most replaceable thing he does.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I guess you don't understand the net front role and why having a player screen the goalie and go for tips and rebounds is important eh?

Only Tkachuk and Lucic are capable of it. That's why he's out there. Mangiapane and Dube cannot play that role.

As I said in one of my previous posts, I recall one specific play Saturday when Lucic was screening the goalie and when the shot was coming in he got out of the way. To me that's ridiculous.

The no fighting thing, okay. I don't expect him to just grab somebody ala Kassian and go nuts. But he's gotta be physical, go to the net, screen the goalie and make life miserable for both the goalie and the d-men. If he's going to bail on screens too then he's really not bringing much in games like the BOA.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

As I said in one of my previous posts, I recall one specific play Saturday when Lucic was screening the goalie and when the shot was coming in he got out of the way. To me that's ridiculous.

The no fighting thing, okay. I don't expect him to just grab somebody ala Kassian and go nuts. But he's gotta be physical, go to the net, screen the goalie and make life miserable for both the goalie and the d-men. If he's going to bail on screens too then he's really not bringing much in games like the BOA.

I saw one play where instead of shooting at Smith he shot it harmlessly away from the net. At the time I thought it was a weird play. Read where he said something about having gotten a suspension earlier in the season (I think it was the SN article), and about how the game has changed...!! Sounds like excuses to me. He pulled a "James Neal" and didn't bother to show up.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by browna

Have no problem with Lucic's answer, because it's true. No one on the Oilers wanted a piece of him before the whistle or after the whistle and he is Ina different weight class then most Oilers anyway.

Others think he should be roaming around looking for a goon hit.The refs were extra communicative about nothing in scrums, and outside of Gagner's spear towards Talbot there was not much post whistle even so far as pushing in either game.

And, it doesn't work that way anymore. For all the crying for blood of Tkachuk's, no Oilers did anything, not even Kasssian, when they shared the ice with him after all the hits that same game. If Gios hit on McDavid was even 10% as serious to the players as it is to the idiot fans and press made it out to be, Gio would've had a busy night the rest of that night and on Saturday. But he didn't..and Lucic is supposed to conger up some fake beef with some Oiler, and goon them to get attention? And that would make Flames fans happy?

I hate the Oilers as much as anyone on this board, and to see them lay 8 on us is horrific. Wasting time and analysis on why Lucic didn't randomly try and fight unwilling parties during his 12 minutes on the ice, while giving a pass to the terrible goaltending by Rittich, the invisible 1st and 3rd line, and a fire drill of defense that night, makes the fanbase look as petty, unitelligent and unaware as the Oilers fans who filter all their knowledge through what their press tells them.

Looking for a 'goon hit'..... the guy had Nurse lined up (was a D, pretty sure it was Nurse), with what would have been a clean check and let up... remember a second one where he did the exact same thing. Looks and reaks of someone who didnt want to mix it up with his old buddies. Why does he have to conjur fake beef or goon it up to finish his checks? In the most physical season series we've seen in decades. If anything answer me that.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe Buddy as well, but true. It’s not like PP2 gets a lot of time either. Maybe 1/4 of the minutes at best.

And the Flames usually get like 2 powerplays a game

[3rd liner]

Lucic: ‘the game has changed’. Since last season Looch? When you hunted Joseph from TB for a hit on your Oiler teammate Russell? Followed Joseph all shift, flattened him and dished out a punch or two- the guy wanted nothing to do with him. You had no problem doing it then. Not saying he needed to go that far- show some goddamn emotion and presence. I can live with a horrible game against our rivals- top line, goalies, but not lack of toughness from our 6 million a year enforcer.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by 3rd liner

I can live with a horrible game against our rivals- top line, goalies, but not lack of toughness from our 6 million a year enforcer.

Well, we ARE only paying him $5.25 mln of that ... maybe the $750K per year the Oilers are still paying him earns them a pass.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by 3rd liner

Lucic: ‘the game has changed’. Since last season Looch? When you hunted Joseph from TB for a hit on your Oiler teammate Russell? Followed Joseph all shift, flattened him and dished out a punch or two- the guy wanted nothing to do with him. You had no problem doing it then. Not saying he needed to go that far- show some goddamn emotion and presence. I can live with a horrible game against our rivals- top line, goalies, but not lack of toughness from our 6 million a year enforcer.

since he got suspended and lost money

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM



I agree on Lucic. I wondered above if Rinaldo’s little display in the previous game, combined with Parros being there, made the Flames sit him. He’d probably have done something suspension worthy. But it wasn’t a game to throw Dube into, IMO. He’s game, but still a kid.

I don't see why it would be an issue. I mean, Kassian went in the media for over a week stating how he is going to pound Tkachuk and seek retribution. They even fought that next game, and there were no consequences. Rinaldo also played the rest of the game (over a period), and he didn't do anything crazy, nor did he say anything crazy in the media. I wouldn't think that Ward was scared to play Rinaldo.


I think it had a lot more to do with wanting Dube back in the line-up, and Ward thinking that the 'Battle of Alberta' wouldn't be so much a battle after the Kassian-Tkachuk fight happened and was done with. Having last change also probably made Ward feel more comfortable in not having to dress Rinaldo.


I thought it was a mistake to not dress him. I think in hindsight, it was a mistake. Rinaldo may or may not have fought, but he is a difficult player to play against.


As for Lucic - I am not mad because he didn't grab a player and start pummelling him. I thought what Kassian did was extremely selfish and incredibly 'cheap'. I don't want a player that does that on this team.


What I am upset about when it comes to Lucic was that he played easy on them. When the game was out of hand, it seemed he wasn't interested in playing hard any longer, or sending any messages, or making life uncomfortable for the Oilers. I expected him to stir #### up in the crease after whistles. Some pushing/shoving, facewashes. Challenge players and let them know he wants to fight. Make life uncomfortable for Koskinen (at least at that point when the game was essentially over and Smith was already ejected).


Lucic did none of those things near the end. To his credit, he did get a bit rough a few times during the game. It wasn't like he didn't do anything. He did do 'something' at some points, but not nearly enough. He is the 'nuclear bomb' deterrent on the Flames. I don't want him to horse-collar someone and ragdoll them, as much as I fricken hate the Oilers. I do, however, want him to be nasty. Muck it up. Make the Oilers - especially guys like Nurse, Kassian and Khaira - actually fear you. Get under their skin. Force the Oilers to react to him.


He just didn't try. Didn't bother. Didn't show that emotion in what should be the most emotional game of the year given the recent history and the unflattering and embarrassing score. He had a chance to salvage SOME pride for the team and set the tone for the next one, even though it is in April. He just chose not to do any of those things, and it didn't feel right to see, especially when others DID do those things on his team.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Lucic has nothing to offer in most games.

A blowout loss to a bitter rival who is kicking the #### out of you is his once a year chance to show up for his team and team mates.

It’s not about the other team, the rules, or even fighting. Matter. Or don’t. He chose don’t.

On the bright side only 1 expansion draft and 3 more years after this one.

[iamca]

Nobody seems to care enough on most nights and that is disturbing to say the least, especially considering this is a cap team.

No faith in the players or coaching staff at this stage of the season.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by iamca

Nobody seems to care enough on most nights and that is disturbing to say the least, especially considering this is a cap team.

No faith in the players or coaching staff at this stage of the season.

90% of the league are cap teams

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He's paid to fight? I think some of you are under the mistaken impression that he's a goon. He's not. He's a lumbering power forward who excels at puck protection, board play and driving the net and screening the goalie.

He most certainly is not an Oliwa, a McGrattan, a Godard, etc, etc.

Do I wish he creamed some more Oilers with some hard checks? Of course. Do I expect him to be fighting all the time? Nope.

I think some people don't seem to understand Lucic's role in the league.

Monahan and Talbot fought. Tkachuk twice. Do you think they're paid to fight?

They're not, but they cared enough to get involved and do it anyways.

[FBI]

Lucic’s response reminds me of Brouwer’s which I HATED.
Come on man. Show us something next game.

[Toonage]

A little positivity to start your day

(Albeit positivity behind a paywall)

Some fun and perhaps surprising stats in here.

https://theathletic.com/1579653/2020...-the-playoffs/

Coles Notes: "the Flames appear poised to lock in their playoff berth over the back-half of the season."

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Coles Notes: "the Flames appear poised to lock in their playoff berth over the back-half of the season."

Never thought I would see the words "poise" AND "Flames" in the same sentence...

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

In Lucic’s defence, I did see him work his way into scrums in the 3rd, and then noticed how quickly all the Oilers peeled out of there.

Would have been nice to see him just grab Gagner and start throwing some shots at him though. I don’t know if he was on the ice against him or not, but it would have been nice for sure.

I guess, also in his defence, it’s not like anyone was hitting him or anything either. Like Tkachuk hammered Dickbagian pretty good twice before Zacho snapped and went further into caveman mode than normal. It’s not like anyone was doing that to Looch though. He kind of has a point. If no one engages him at all, then it’s way worse for him to just randomly grab someone and start beating on them.

The anger should be “how come our best player was forced to fight your goon, but not a single player on your team is willing to fight ours?” How come that isn’t in the media? Where’s the pressure on Kassian to fight someone in his weight class?

Edit: The one thing that pisses me off the most is that our Coach somehow decided that Dube would be more useful in that game than Rinaldo - the one guy that would have absolutely pounded someone 100%.

From what I saw Nurse was willing. I don't think Lucic was.

And who cares if any one was willing? When his other skills have diminished, he has to know it's his job to send a message. His team is down 7-3, why not take a couple shots at someone? take a double minor for roughing someone up. Do something to show both your team and the other team you have their back.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

According to ShiftChart, Lucic and Kassian were only on the ice together at the 44-45 minute mark and the 47-48 minute mark.
Interestingly enough, Kassian was put on 5 times immediately after Lucic left.
Lucic had most of his shifts from 42-48 minute mark, being on the ice 4 times for about 3 or so minutes.

Do we not have last change? Sounds like that was more up to the coach.

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Jankowski has scored in the last two games he has been in the lineup. Given they are his only two goals of the season and he subsequently got scratched I am not sure what lesson he learned in the press box.

Again, with the coach.

Not playing Rinaldo for this game, again a misstep by the coach.

And finally continuing to feed Hanifin ice time after miserable mistake after mistake. Coaches decision.


Hmmm......whats the common denominator here?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by MrMike

And finally continuing to feed Hanifin ice time after miserable mistake after mistake. Coaches decision.

That's what pissed me off the most about Ward on Saturday. After atleast the third goal Hanifin's ice time should have dropped significantly. I gave up after 4-1 but to hear he got the most ice time is ridiculous. That's just horrible coaching.