April 13 Practice - Bennett on LW. Raymond odd man out?

[FBI]

I'm loving the fact that it looks like Ferland is becoming a mainstay for this team!

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I guarantee that somewhere out there there's an Oiler fan willing to delude himself that if you don't win the cup, it's better to miss the playoffs because all the Flames are doing is lowering their draft position.

I guarantee someone has attempted to use this logic.

I know a few of them.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I guarantee that somewhere out there there's an Oiler fan willing to delude himself that if you don't win the cup, it's better to miss the playoffs because all the Flames are doing is lowering their draft position.

I guarantee someone has attempted to use this logic.

See Lambert, Ryan.
Just an embarrassment.

[Vinny01]

Love that Bennett is possibly getting a look. Putting him on the wing to start makes sense. All Raymond brings is speed but Sam probably has him beat in that regard. Bennett-Backlund-Colborne could be a dangerous scoring line for the Flames

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by FBI

I'm loving the fact that it looks like Ferland is becoming a mainstay for this team!

Ferland is essential to the team while Bouma is out.

I really don't mind the look of those lines. Bennett is in exactly the position I would want him to be. Obviously Shore is a placeholder. Raymond has been ok, but Bennett brings higher intensity. Again, essential while Bouma is out.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

See Lambert, Ryan.
Just an embarrassment.

In basically those exact words. First it was:
"flames are lucky and they suck. You'll see when save % plummets"
Then:
"PDO is unsustainable. Don't be mad fans, you're delusional but it's ok. I'm smarter than you and know how this goes"
Then on Oilers Nation:
"Don't worry, the Flames are boring and basically just spend the whole game collapsed in front of their net. They won't make it.c
Then again on flamesnation.ca:
"If the flames make the playoffs it's a mistake because they don't have any good players yet and need to tank instead"

Always thinks he knows better

[heep223]

Really like Shore's game. Hope he slots in somehow.

[Bunk]

Even if Sam doesn't play hopefully at very least today's practice will serve to light a fire under Raymond's butt.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

In basically those exact words. First it was:
"flames are lucky and they suck. You'll see when save % plummets"
Then:
"PDO is unsustainable. Don't be mad fans, you're delusional but it's ok. I'm smarter than you and know how this goes"
Then on Oilers Nation:
"Don't worry, the Flames are boring and basically just spend the whole game collapsed in front of their net. They won't make it.c
Then again on flamesnation.ca:
"If the flames make the playoffs it's a mistake because they don't have any good players yet and need to tank instead"

Always thinks he knows better

"Sean Monahan played wing last season"
When corrected
"I know, I watch the games"
Leaves twitter in a huff

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I guarantee that somewhere out there there's an Oiler fan willing to delude himself that if you don't win the cup, it's better to miss the playoffs because all the Flames are doing is lowering their draft position.

I guarantee someone has attempted to use this logic.

Last summer I ran into the same attitude around here when it was suggested we pick up Boychuk. I think it was suggested we should be on a five year rebuild and continue to suck for top draft picks. My thinking was and is that we have some very good prospects coming up so that we can accomplish the rest of the rebuild on the fly. Picking up another top defenceman would buy us some time while making us better. For me losing can become a way of life and is hard to break out of.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Last summer I ran into the same attitude around here when I suggested we pick up Boychuk. I think it was suggested we should be on a five year rebuild and continue to suck for top draft picks. My thinking was and is that we have some very good prospects coming up so that we can accomplish the rest of the rebuild on the fly. Picking up another top defenceman would buy us some time while making us better. For me losing can become a way of life and is hard to break out of.

What are you, some kind of simpleton? Craig MacTavish just slapped us across the face with his backhand of infinite wisdom with the revelation that failure is the best and purest method of development.

Craig. MacTavish.

He knows something about winning. Who are you to argue with him? Something about winning...?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Last summer I ran into the same attitude around here when it was suggested we pick up Boychuk.

I still think that attitude is right, though, in that case. The way the rebuild is being done, the young guys are the ones who are being relied on. That's why I was so completely on side with the deadline day strategy of not giving up any futures, picks or assets for help this season or a playoff rental of any kind.

The Flames made the playoffs, but the Flames are still rebuilding. If the team plays well during the rebuild, fantastic; you give the guys a chance and it's up to them to do something with it. But the real goal is to have them playing well five years out, using that experience, be it of success or otherwise (always striving for success, though; this isn't Edmonton). Supplement them with experienced players, but under no circumstance should they be replaced with experienced players.

If the Flames had picked up Chris Stewart and Stafford and guys like Jooris and Granlund were being scratched to make room for them, that's the wrong strategy.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I still think that attitude is right, though, in that case. The way the rebuild is being done, the young guys are the ones who are being relied on. That's why I was so completely on side with the deadline day strategy of not giving up any futures, picks or assets for help this season or a playoff rental of any kind.

The Flames made the playoffs, but the Flames are still rebuilding. If the team plays well during the rebuild, fantastic; you give the guys a chance and it's up to them to do something with it. But the real goal is to have them playing well five years out, using that experience, be it of success or otherwise (always striving for success, though; this isn't Edmonton). Supplement them with experienced players, but under no circumstance should they be replaced with experienced players.

If the Flames had picked up Chris Stewart and Stafford and guys like Jooris and Granlund were being scratched to make room for them, that's the wrong strategy.

Yeah sure, there needs to be a balance on the team while giving rookies their deserved ice time. Timing is important as well when deciding to go for it and although I was jealous of the Wild when we played them and watched Steward play, forward wasn't or isn't where our weakness is.

A vet top 4 defenceman preferably of the large and truculent type would be a different story as we don't seem to have that NHL ready prospect quite yet. IIRC Treliving was trying to get one at the trade deadline but it fell through.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Love that Bennett is possibly getting a look. Putting him on the wing to start makes sense. All Raymond brings is speed but Sam probably has him beat in that regard. Bennett-Backlund-Colborne could be a dangerous scoring line for the Flames

The "BBC" line eh

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

The "BBC" line eh

We can call them Top Gear!

(Too soon, Top Gear fans?)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah sure, there needs to be a balance on the team while giving rookies their deserved ice time. Timing is important as well when deciding to go for it and although I was jealous of the Wild when we played them and watched Steward play, forward wasn't or isn't where our weakness is.

A vet top 4 defenceman preferably of the large and truculent type would be a different story as we don't seem to have that NHL ready prospect quite yet. IIRC Treliving was trying to get one at the trade deadline but it fell through.

Two things:

1. I wasnt really calling you a simpleton. I'm sure you knew that, that was so heavily sarcastic its wight in sarcasm would rival that of Mjolnir.

2. As to the bolded, as well it should. Hes a very conservative customer. This is all gravy, they want to make the best of it but we're still only in year 2 of the rebuild, we were sellers at the deadline and so our cost-ceiling for the addition of a Top 4 Dman was likely very low and as such likely much too low to acquire anyone of real quality.

[CGY12]

Would love to see Bennett put on that line with a guy who's usually pretty defensively responsible in Backlund. The one thing to consider is Raymond is one of the few on the team that has legit playoff experience. Maybe this lights a fire under him and he can slot in else where come game 2 (maybe on the 4th line?).

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Locke

Two things:

1. I wasnt really calling you a simpleton. I'm sure you knew that, that was so heavily sarcastic its wight in sarcasm would rival that of Mjolnir.

2. As to the bolded, as well it should. Hes a very conservative customer. This is all gravy, they want to make the best of it but we're still only in year 2 of the rebuild, we were sellers at the deadline and so our cost-ceiling for the addition of a Top 4 Dman was likely very low and as such likely much too low to acquire anyone of real quality.

Hey no worries, I got a laugh out of your post.

I think giving up a second or two or Baertschi and or another AHL prospect would have made sense depending on who we got. This is where we make a trade where we get a player where the other team is strong, maybe further along in development (if still young) and give up a player(s) where we are strong.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

We can call them Top Gear!

(Too soon, Top Gear fans?)

I like it. If they don't get what they want they'll punch you in the face.

It's crazy with all these injuries: we're going to see huge contributions from Bennett, Ferland, Granlund, Wotherspoon, Shore, Ortio (not to mention Gaudreau & Monahan etc). It's like a CP prospect-watcher's dream.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

But Bollig is playing. Even if Raymond plays 8 minutes a game, have him take the puck, skate it across the blue line and fall down immediately, he's already more useful than Bollig. Raymond is a decent defensive player in terms of puck support and advancing the play in the right direction even if he doesn't create much in terms of chances. At the very least, he's not going to be a liability.