[PGT] Flames lose to Mammoth 3-1

[Shazam]

Team is just one huge UFA/trade away from making the playoffs.

[Toonage]

The Gridin benching was a bit puzzling. One bad game, and on a line that was poor overall, but I also get that you don't want Zary sitting at 4C for that long and need to get him going too.

I also understand Parekh getting 3rd pair minutes on the road, but having Pachal struggle on his off side to accommodate this doesn't make a ton of sense.

I like Huska, I've been fairly positive of him when speaking about the Flames but this season there have been more than a few head scratchers.

The team was tired, no doubt. They got a 2nd wind in the 3rd period and nearly got it tied. But the next 3 or 4 games are going to be just as tough. And like Huska said post game yesterday, you can miss the playoffs in October. And thats where they're headed.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think trying to find the positive spin on things is a good thing.
So yes I will keep it up. Thank you.

Delusion is not a good thing. Someone who is delusional would think so, however, so that makes sense.

[Shazam]

Is only game. Why you heff to be mad?

[Bingo]

Andersson tanking his trade value again ... sigh

https://twitter.com/user/status/1978677459970121856

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Delusion is not a good thing. Someone who is delusional would think so, however, so that makes sense.

Can we give it a rest?

You don't like the guy ... we get it. But we don't need to all be witness to a misguided personal vendetta that comes off as strange.

And that's to everyone ... enough with the waiting in the weeds to attack posters you dislike. Keep it on topic.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Tends to happen when you're constantly playing games on obscenely short rest. And missing one of your best players the entire time.

The schedule gets a lot easier after this month. Hang in there.

Does being tired make you miss open nets?

Even Bahl said it’s not a good excuse in a post game interview. The Flames have zero scoring ability. It’s worse than last year somehow.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Hey everyone, this team is bad enough that we don't need to make it worse by sniping at each other. It's gonna be a long year if people aren't allowed to post how they feel about this very bad team. Let everyone have their say.

[Igottago]

Still early in the season obviously, but the signs are it'll be a tough year. The team/organization needs to take its medicine at some point, it was inevitable. There is no way around bottoming out at some point. They were never going to skirt around the edges of a rebuild, bring in some mid players who would pop and somehow become superstars. Its a low probability strategy.
As far as years to be bad, this is a good one to do it.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Hey everyone, this team is bad enough that we don't need to make it worse by sniping at each other. It's gonna be a long year if people aren't allowed to post how they feel about this very bad team. Let everyone have their say.

Both ways.

There is plenty going wrong to talk about (some bad contracts, tough start)

There is plenty going right to talk about (solid drafting, better prospect pool, have their own pick)

[Goriders]

Silver lining is I’m betting Conman is not going to get as much resistance towards potential trades to move vets out of town.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Hey everyone, this team is bad enough that we don't need to make it worse by sniping at each other. It's gonna be a long year if people aren't allowed to post how they feel about this very bad team. Let everyone have their say.

Originally Posted by Bingo

Both ways.

There is plenty going wrong to talk about (some bad contracts, tough start)

There is plenty going right to talk about (solid drafting, better prospect pool, have their own pick)

[Jiri Hrdina]

There is rightly a lot of focus on McKenna at the top of the draft, for good reason. I see him at the level of a Mackinnon type, though as a winger. So perhaps the better comparisons are Kucherov or Kane. Big piece.

But I think the top end of the draft has additional strength. The challenge is for the most part it is very weak at center. Maybe someone emerges through the season, but not sure.

But Stenberg, Verhoeff (D), Lawrence (the one center in this group), Bjorck, Roobroeck are all REALLY exciting prospects.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Results are bad, but it's not all bad.

xGF - 9.35
xGA - 9.21
GF - 6
GA - 14

PDO - 93.6

Flames seem to be playing behind their skis (is that a thing?).

All of those numbers are from MoneyPuck who, based on their formula, has the Flames ranked 15th. Numbers suggest a turnaround.

Cooley was great last night. A lot of pressure on him. Good on him for handling it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Another thing to watch. I think the Sens chose to give up their 2026 1st right? As of now they are 3rd last in terms of point percentage.
Early days yes, but oof, that's not a fun position for the Sens or their fans.

What I'm not sure about is how it impacts the lottery odds. Do their balls just come out?

[Flamesfan05]

Team losing a lot is not a bad thing. They need a top pick desperately.
Need a leader on the offense.
A new Iginla or Johnny.

Other than that, hope Wolf, ,Coronata and the prospects continue to develop.

I don’t really care too much for the rest of the roster, they are all replaceable or won’t be there when the team is ready to compete

[Huntingwhale]

Tough game but we need high draft picks. You win some you luge some.

[Royle9]

I think most of us knew this team was going to struggle this year, and for the most part people seemed like they were okay with that so long as we had entertaining hockey.

Well... we're 5 games in now 1-4 with a -9 goal differential.
Goalies have been "ok"
Lots of passengers out there
Lots of uninspired hockey to be watched
Enjoy watching the young guys, but we benched the youngest guys for 3 of 5 games now.

I see no reason to panic, if we're not going to be lights out unstoppable I'd much rather avoid mushy middle play we're all accustomed to watch.
I just wish we'd leave the young kids alone and let them play, they're clearly not the problem and this is a season to learn and grow.

I feel like if this keeps up this could be the year to unload a number of veterans looking for that one last shot at a cup:
Andersson
Kadri
Coleman

Then there's another tier of players who don't seem to contribute much at all, and not just for a few games, these guys have been invisible for what seems like forever:

Sharongovich
Farabee
Miromanov

I know its early, but watching these games has been pretty abysmal.
Yes, sadly I do think Huberdeau coming back adds in an element we're desperately missing, but I don't think hes going to be the savior and rumor has it will likely send Gridin back to the AHL.

1. Zayne needs to be put on PP1 immediately, this is what he's good at. Our PP has been awful and he's averaged only 2 minutes on the PP2 group who get terrible zone time if any at all.
2. Zayne needs a stable d-partner, give him Bahl (long term) or Weegar for now and let the kid focus on offence. We need to put him in a position to succeed not saddle him with rotating guys who have had poor showings thus far. Heck I'd be okay bringing up Kuznetsov and playing the 2 of them together for a while.
3. Gridin back in the lineup, he looked good the first few games and then we started switching up lines.. just let the kid play, find him a passer like Frost or Huberdeau and see what happens, but give it more than a game before you start changing the lines again.
4. Zary needs off the 4th line, again he's the one guy with any sort of zone entry capability and offensive instincts yet we've saddled him on the 4th line for half the games.
5. Miromanov experiment is over, send him on the mars mission with Dave Cameron and dont look back.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think trying to find the positive spin on things is a good thing.
So yes I will keep it up. Thank you.

Actually... Thank YOU!

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Another thing to watch. I think the Sens chose to give up their 2026 1st right? As of now they are 3rd last in terms of point percentage.
Early days yes, but oof, that's not a fun position for the Sens or their fans.

What I'm not sure about is how it impacts the lottery odds. Do their balls just come out?

We all know if they finish low the NHL is just giving them their pick back!