[PGT] Flames 4, Sharks 3!

[Huntingwhale]

- Good solid game for the most part. I was a bit worried when Karlsson almost scored on his 1st shift, but the Flames didn't let the Sharks' newest acquisition intimidate him. Sucks he's in the Pacific, but also happy we'll be able to watch more of him. HOF defencemen don't come around very often in our division.

- The Sharks broadcasters suck, but are they new this season? I could of sworn their broadcast used to be pretty decent as recently as last season. I remember commenting about how good they were. Maybe I have my teams mixed up, but when I heard them start the broadcast the first thing I thought was it's a new tandem and that's why it sucked so much

- Bennett might not put up the goal or point totals his draft position demands. But when you have a player who plays as hard as he does, makes game changing hits and backs it up by fighting, you most definitely have a place on the team for someone like him. He's our most physical forward now that Ferland is gone. Now that the Flames have more offensive depth up front, we don't necessarily need him to be the 1st line forward we needed when we first drafted him. I'd love nothing more then to see him break out and earn a big contract. But we also need bottom 6 forwards who play hard and tough. He has that in spades.

- IMO Valimaki has been the best of all the Flames D prospects this pre-season. Better then Andersson even, who likely has a spot locked up. Calm, cool, poised with the puck. He's the heir to the top pairing D once Gio slows down IMO. I really do think he's earned the last spot over Andersson, but I can understand sending him down to cook for a bit.

- Pretty amazing to see the depth the Flames have for D prospects. Andersson and Kylington both 2nd round picks, that look to be solid top 4 players for years to come. That's some solid scouting, drafting and development by the scouts and coaches. Good job by the organization.

- Lindholm is the perfect compliment to the top line. Can't wait to see the first Elias Freakin' Lindholm thread this season!

[Hot_Flatus]

Valimaki is NHL ready as far as I'm concerned.

Really impressed with his game aside from 1 or 2 plays that he'll likely learn from. Hard to justify sending him down over Andersson, Kulak or Prout at this point when he shows the kind of skating, puck movement and defending potential he did last night.

Hanafin and Lindholm were both very impressive as well. Great skaters that seem to play with passion each and every shift.

[Harry Lime]

Parrondo probably shouldn't have anything named after him. I don't think that's a paradox.

[chummer]

^^Those were their radio broadcasters, Randy Hahn still calls their games on TV.

But yeah, Rusanowsky was cringeworthy.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by red sky

He is a Swede.

And how Swede it is

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by chummer

^^Those were their radio broadcasters, Randy Hahn still calls their games on TV.

But yeah, Rusanowsky was cringeworthy.

Gotcha. Makes sense that I had never heard them before, when I've watched many Sharks' games and never heard those guys before. Their TV broadcasters are no where near as bad, and are actually quite good.

[Hot_Flatus]

You'd have to think some additional cuts are coming down the line in the next hour or two. There were multiple suggestions of the team leaving the majority of the final cuts behind in Cali.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Valimaki is NHL ready as far as I'm concerned.

Really impressed with his game aside from 1 or 2 plays that he'll likely learn from. Hard to justify sending him down over Andersson, Kulak or Prout at this point when he shows the kind of skating, puck movement and defending potential he did last night.

Hanafin and Lindholm were both very impressive as well. Great skaters that seem to play with passion each and every shift.

I don't believe Valimaki has shown enough to burn an ELC year. He was good in a sheltered role, but the only justification for burning a year would be if he's playing top 4 minutes, or legitimately making the team better on the PP or something. Judt shoeing he can hang doesn't mean he has shown to be an impact player.

[---Hatrick---]

I damn near spit my beer out when the announcers said “Johnny takes a dive” after that interference call on Karlsson. In what world is that a dive?!...
That was beyond some Mcdavid fanboy homerism!

[Toonage]

Valimaki looks better than Kulak, and Andersson isn't likely going to make the team on the LHS.

It might just be his spot.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't believe Valimaki has shown enough to burn an ELC year. He was good in a sheltered role, but the only justification for burning a year would be if he's playing top 4 minutes, or legitimately making the team better on the PP or something. Judt shoeing he can hang doesn't mean he has shown to be an impact player.

Sound reasoning for sure.

Only counter point is the window. The Flames are built to win in the next three to five seasons. If Valimaki is a better defenseman next year because of third line minutes this year then the team overall is probably maximizing the roster for that window.

Additionally ... what third pairing options are more likely to be better players on January 1st by playing games in the NHL now? I think they have to consider that too. I get not rushing to trade away depth, you have to chart a smart course, but the Flames could have a real push from the third pairing if one of Andersson or Valimaki are getting their trial under fire done before the new year.

[goflamesgo18]

Valimaki and Andersson have both outplayed Kulak in my opinion and Valimaki has been the better of him, Andersson and Stone.

Kulak should get waived and the bottom rotation should be between Stone and Andersson.

Maybe if Stone realizes his job isnt completely safe it might light a bit of a fire

[Strange Brew]

I think Andersson and Valimaki are both likely to be NHL defensemen. If you're the Flames, and you believe that, you need a plan for how you will integrate them into the NHL roster. Its pretty hard to have two rookies playing NHL minutes every night on the back end.

So does Andersson get NHL time now as he is less likely to benefit from more AHL time. And then Valimaki slides in next year, or maybe end of this year?

Or if you believe Valimaki is the real valuable piece here. do you get him his NHL breaking in now, and maybe wait on Andersson.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Honestly, how many guys did we have over the last couple years that could make that play?

He’s a hell of a lot stronger than I thought, and that finish looked really really promising.

Sharks goaltender thought Johnny was going to shoot! Smart heads up play!

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Anyone missing Hamilton? *crickets* lol

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't believe Valimaki has shown enough to burn an ELC year. He was good in a sheltered role, but the only justification for burning a year would be if he's playing top 4 minutes, or legitimately making the team better on the PP or something. Judt shoeing he can hang doesn't mean he has shown to be an impact player.

If he's better than Kulak, Prout and Andersson (which he has been), he should be on the roster. Talk of burning a year is such a non-factor for this Flames team that needs to start winning games and taking advantage of their star players while they can. Valimaki isn't just hanging, he's been aggressive and is clearly gaining confidence every game he plays.

There has to be a succession plan in place at some point and there's no better opportunity than now to ease Valimaki into full time duty in a third pairing role. I can't recall many rookie D that haven't gone first overall that don't start in a sheltered role.....nothing wrong with that. Even if he were to play all year in the AHL, he wouldn't simply step into a top 4 role out of the gate next year either. That hardly ever happens.

[devo22]

I get the excitement, but the safe play is to let Valimaki ripen a bit in the AHL. Only turns 20 next week, there's no rush. Let him settle and get used to the pro game for a while in Stockton.

But it's going to be interesting for sure. I feel their plan has been to use Prout as the number 7 to eat popcorn and just dress when a bit of toughness is needed. I also think Stone is safe this season. So if that's the case (I might be wrong of course), that pretty much leaves 3 players (Kulak, Andersson and Valimaki) for one spot. Does either Andersson or Stone go the left side? Would that even work?

I don't know, maybe they even go with 8 defensemen. Keeping both Lazar and Hathaway personally doesn't really excite me, maybe they keep only one. I doubt anybody here would mind lol.

[ComixZone]

Valimaki + Stone = 3rd pairing that won't hurt the team

Stone + Andersson = 3rd pairing that won't hurt the team

Kulak + Stone:

[Husky]

Valamaki should be a regular. Kulak the #7d. And andersoon should get 10+ games easily due to injuries throughout the year.

[FBI]

Anyway to watch this game a day later? Rebroadcast anywhere?