Time for a call-up from the Wranglers!

[Sandman]

Zary is the one that looks most like an NHLer IMO, right from the start of rookie camp. I would love to see him with the big team. I think Jones will one day be an everyday NHLer as well, but he's most likely a third-liner, which won't help our offense as much. I think he would look great with Backs and Coleman, though.

[Sandman]

Phillips is 9th in AHL scoring, with 17 points in 14 games. Zary is quickly catching up to him, as he's tied for 13th with 16 points in 14 games.

Pelletier is tied for 20th, with 15 points in 14 games.

[Goriders]

I bet after the road trip another young gun gets a call up if Dube and Mangiapane can’t get themselves going. With how well Ruzicka is doing what do you have to lose. I’d bet it’s Zary.

If they need to remove someone I’d pick Rooney

[Toonage]

If Ritchie is out for any time they'll slot Rooney back in, so get ready for the Wrangler call up to be a 4L guy

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What exactly do Lewis, Ritchie and Lucic bring to the lineup? How much have they contributed to winning? Lewis almost cost us the game vs LA and cost us vs Tampa with poor puck management. Sutter won't say anything because they won a championship in 2011 and 2012. If Phillips, Ruzicka etc made that mistake they are stapled to the bench. I would rather those guys make those mistakes and get a chance to learn from it.

Watching Lucic and Lewis plod around in the top 6 is disgusting.

The team needs a injection of some speed and youth, and teams that win cups usually have a team with homegrown talent which Lewis, Ritchie, Lucic and Rooney are not.

This disgust with fourth line NHLers is getting to be a little much.

Trevor Lewis is 2nd in xGF% this year, essentially playing over his head. Getting it done.

Ritchie is 8th in xGF% (great for a 4th liner) and 3rd for all forwards in five on five points/60.

They are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing.

Lucic is struggling offensively, but plays a role.

The issue was always the missing top nine forward and having to dress four bottom three forwards nightly, not the fact that fourth line players exist at all.

Ruzicka's emergence has closed that loop and now the Flames seem to be built with nine top nine forwards, a clear fourth line, and Rooney pushed off the roster.

Amazing to see fourth line players doing exactly what they're employed for getting hammered. Feels like a blind spot to me.

[TheScorpion]

Lewis and Ritchie have largely been fine. Lucic has really, really struggled.

[Naitix]

They should definitely recall Phillips and Pelletier before Zary, I would argue all 3 of them could be successful in the NHL this year but there is no point rushing Zary into the lineup. His game heavily relies on confidence and skilled plays, last season was tough for him, I think it would be way more beneficial to spend the year in the AHL and dominate. Plus, we have to try Phillips this year or we will lose him next year, and I think Pelletier deserves the first call up over Zary. Pelletier had a better season than Zary by far last year and lately is playing just as good as Zary has been, I think it makes more sense to recall him first.

Pelletier started the year off slow, just as I predicted after seeing him in camp, but he has 11 points in the last 6 games. He is currently playing the game that got him slotted into the top 9 in the off season, not at all what he showed in camp. People on this forum are biased just because they have seen these prospects play in camp but have not seen any Wranglers games lately

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Phillips is 9th in AHL scoring, with 17 points in 14 games. Zary is quickly catching up to him, as he's tied for 13th with 16 points in 14 games.

Pelletier is tied for 20th, with 15 points in 14 games.

are there any other teams with 3 guys in the top 20, or 3 guys over a point per game?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

are there any other teams with 3 guys in the top 20, or 3 guys over a point per game?

nope, much less three actual prospects -- most of the guys in the top 20 are in that 27-32 range

[Enoch Root]

So I thought I would take a quick look at the list of top 20 scorers in the AHL (24 with ties) and some interesting things jumped out.

The 2 youngest players on the list (and the only 2 under 22): Zary and Pelletier
Phillips is 7th youngest (only 7 guys under 25, including these 3). And 14 of the 24 are 26 or older
Avg height: 5'10.4"
Avg Wgt: 182.7
That makes Zary above avg and Pelletier average. There are a few guys Phillips' size.

The Flames are not the only team that thinks size matters.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So I thought I would take a quick look at the list of top 20 scorers in the AHL (24 with ties) and some interesting things jumped out...

...There are a few guys Phillips' size.

Are you saying there are players Phillips's size in the AHL top 20? That's astonishing, since I have always thought that he is an extreme outlier in terms of his size for a professional hockey player.


Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[TheScorpion]

There are a few guys Gaudreau's size in the NHL. Phillips is one inch shorter and five pounds lighter than Gaudreau.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Are you saying there are players Phillips's size in the AHL top 20? That's astonishing, since I have always thought that he is an extreme outlier in terms of his size for a professional hockey player.


Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

Phillips is listed at 5'8" (might be a stretch). Of theose 24:

5'6": 1
5'7": 1
5'8": 1 (Phillips)
5'9": 5
5'10": 7 (including Pelletier)

[Backstop]

Our current iteration of the Flames can struggle at times with their speed, scoring and transition game. Phillips and Pelletier consistently demonstrate these abilities on the farm team. The positive returns from the Ruzicka call up does merit the question, should we give Phillips and Pelletier a shot before we spend assets bringing someone in?

[Kipper_3434]

Wolf with another 2 wins this weekend. 8-2-1 on the season, 2.39 GAA .922 s%. After a bad first couple games he's been lights out. Will be interesting to see if he earns any games this season. If Markstrom remains below average, I wonder if they might turn to him over Vladar, who's been gathering rust riding the pine.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Wolf with another 2 wins this weekend. 8-2-1 on the season, 2.39 GAA .922 s%. After a bad first couple games he's been lights out. Will be interesting to see if he earns any games this season. If Markstrom remains below average, I wonder if they might turn to him over Vladar, who's been gathering rust riding the pine.

No need to wonder it's not happening this season

Unless there is an injury or meaningless games Wolf is not playing in the NHL this season

[TheScorpion]

Or if Markstrom is still playing at this level by Christmas. His save percentage is not even mediocre ... it's likely unsustainable, but right now, his results have been atrocious.

If this somehow continues, they'll have no choice but to make a change if they want to win anything.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Or if Markstrom is still playing at this level by Christmas. His save percentage is not even mediocre ... it's likely unsustainable, but right now, his results have been atrocious.

If this somehow continues, they'll have no choice but to make a change if they want to win anything.

So what are you suggesting? Who are they sending down in this scenario?

Without injury it's just not happening

[Sandman]

IMO, Markstrom is looking better and better, and more confident as the season rolls along. The team has had a lot of turnover at key positions, and they need time to get it together, but as they go-so will Marky. I'm not worried about him.

[TheScorpion]

If Markstrom is still at an .880 level at Christmas, they may as well run three goaltenders. They won't — we saw how it went last time — but at a certain point complacency isn't an option anymore for a team with these aspirations.