[News] Flames cut 17 players. 33 players left UPD: 4 more PTOS released. 29 players left

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Except he had one named Tanner Glass for sixteen games last season.

I think you missed what I'm saying.

He has them around so I can only assume the players suggest it makes a difference to them. He doesn't seem the old fashioned type otherwise.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by VilleN

It’s not that big of an issue. Swap out Prout for Stone and I highly doubt you’d notice. Except if a Lucic type is taking liberties. If it makes some of the players feel more comfortable then I don’t have much of a problem with it.

I think anyone that thinks Prout = Stone would change their tune quickly into the regular season.

[868904]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Nah, it's an outdated way of thinking that is all but extinct in today's hockey league. It's all fine and good if the players like it but at the end of the day the Flames lost 11 of the 16 games that Tanner Glass played last season. I don't care if the players "appreciate" anything as long as they win, and guys like Tanner Glass do just about zero to help a good hockey team win. See anybody like that on the Lightning?

Guys who are entirely useless with the gloves on have nothing to do with success in today's NHL, regardless of how the players feel. I might not fully understand what you consider to be "hockey culture" but I do understand that it's outdated.

It’s not just about appreciation it’s about comfort. It’s about giving Gaudreau the freedom to do what he wants, to play his game, to slash back at a someone who takes a run at him or talk trash to them because he knows someone has his back. You know, the anti Brouwer (see “oh we do it too”).

Speaking of the Lightning, how’d they do in the playoffs last year? They got beat down by a bigger tougher Capitals team with Tom Wilson playing a significant role. Also, how many Stanley Cups have these great Lightning teams won in this new NHL?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I've seen people say that Stone has "proven" he can step into a top 4 role and not look out of place but this is false. All he really proved was that he has a great slap shot and had perfect timing in terms of being traded right before a Brian Elliott hot streak (as did Matt Bartkowski). If Stone is in our top four for any extended period, the results will probably never work out so nicely again.

You don't agree and that's fine, but it's not false.

Stone has stepped up. I agree it's not an ideal situation but the league is full of 5-7 dmen that simply can't take on more ice time in any situation. Stone isn't one of them.

Add in the fact that he's a solid physical defenseman that seals forwards well, blocks shots and stays out of huge trouble and you have a decent safety valve.

Stone doesn't drive any offence so his shot attempts for are always on the light side, killing his splits. But if you isolate his attempts against and specifically high danger attempts against he moves up the list. Last year Stone was 3rd on the team in high danger attempts against per 60 minutes, ahead of Brodie, Hamonic and Kulak. Sure he has less quality of opponent, but then he's a third pairing guy so that's natural.

Having said all that I'm good with moving on ... they'll need to make space at some point. But I don't think it's out of the realm of solid asset management to see how things go in October and November before making that decision.

[Geeoff]

I don't really follow the advanced stats but Stone doesn't ever look like he's playing poorly to me. At least, it isn't like Matt Bartkowski where you put him in the lineup and there are multiple notable disasters in every game.

But maybe it's more of a death by 1000 cuts that I hadn't picked up on. Hmmmm

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

No chance they would want Lazar back

I thought this too, but their depth is terrible. And Lazar might be worth a 7th or be a sweetener to take stone.

Perfect fit for sens - young and cheap.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't really follow the advanced stats but Stone doesn't ever look like he's playing poorly to me. At least, it isn't like Matt Bartkowski where you put him in the lineup and there are multiple notable disasters in every game.

But maybe it's more of a death by 1000 cuts that I hadn't picked up on. Hmmmm

He's a little like Calgary's Kris Russell.

When he's on the ice they spend too much time in their own zone, but he does keep the dangerous stuff to a minimum.

It's prevent defense.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think anyone that thinks Prout = Stone would change their tune quickly into the regular season.

Fair enough, and you may be right. I didn't necessarily mean that Prout=Stone, I think Stone is a superior player - but for the odd game where you need some muscle, swapping Prout for Stone is unlikely to tip the scales.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

He's a little like Calgary's Kris Russell.

When he's on the ice they spend too much time in their own zone, but he does keep the dangerous stuff to a minimum.

It's prevent defense.

Yeah, but that prevent defense and spending so much time in his own zone leads to Stone taking too many penalties. That creates PP opportunities for the opposition, which instantly increases all of those high danger chances for 2 minutes. And yet Stone isn't on the ice for any of those, but he caused them to happen.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by gamesaver

When I was playing in goal, I hated friendly games, because my team was never really trying hard in our own zone and in front of me. Nobody wanted to get injured, especially if the real season was about to start in week or two. Forwards where not blocking shots. Defensemen were not covering bodies or making space so I could see the shot. Lazy skating, risky passes, odd man rushes. Its simply different. And its really hard to go out there and give 100% effort if noone in front of you is willing to do the same in terms of playing defence. You let in 2 or 3 which were really hard to stop and you get pissed even more. It can get really frustrating and you can see many goalies struggling throught the league at this point. What was the score of DET vs CHI match last night? 8-6? Classic preseason game. Howard let in 6. Do you think wings fans are calling for his head because of it?

Jimmy Howard vs. Rittich or Gilles is complete apples and oranges. Howard is a long-established goalie who played 60 games last year and put up a "okay for a struggling team" sv% of .910. And for what it's worth, the organization brought in Jonathan Bernier to make sure he had a reliable second goalie.

I'm not just judging Rittich and Gilles based on their preseason play alone - the fact is both were abject failures when asked to step in and play significant minutes once Mike Smith went down last year. Given their poor play last year, I still maintain that one of Rittich and Gilles needed to come into camp and really win that backup position with a strong showing. Granted there's still time for one or both to do that, but so far neither one has.

Smith is yet another year older and had given no indication that he's passed his proneness for injuries, so we can't just stick our heads in the sand and pretend like there's not a very good chance that Calgary's backup goalie will have to step in and play significant time again. The flames cannot put themselves in a position going into the season where they award the backup position to the least bad of the two guys that happen to be in the organization, and hope that one of them turns it around when it matters. If neither Rittich or Gilles have won the backup position with solid play, IMO the flames owe it to the rest of the team to solidify that spot with a guy like McElhinney.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Yeah, but that prevent defense and spending so much time in his own zone leads to Stone taking too many penalties. That creates PP opportunities for the opposition, which instantly increases all of those high danger chances for 2 minutes. And yet Stone isn't on the ice for any of those, but he caused them to happen.

Im curious where this narrative comes from.

Stone played every game last season and accumulated all of 28 PIM.

For a guy that plays almost 17 minutes a game, that total is quite low particularly for a Dman.