[PGT] Flames nearly come back, lose 4-3 to Nashville

[mcjmcj]

Last night's game was brutal to watch and exposed the Flames for what they are, a below average hockey team. If you loom at the Flames roster, I would argue that their record is better than can be expected for a team lacking true speed of skill. Outside of the following players, what players have any trade value.

Monahan(mediocre play this year at best)
Gaudreau(slumping, but skiled)
Backlund(overall solid, but not spectacular)
Tkachuk(pest with second line skill)
Bennett(too early to give up on him, but not progressing as hoped)
Frolik(solid)
Brower(playoff performer but looks slow)
Hamilton(best d of late)
Gio(poor year to date, worried that his best years are behind him)
Brodie(top 4 d, but bad year)

The rest of the team are basically clones of each other- grinders, no finish, no speed(Ferland, Bouma, Chiasson, Hathaway, F. Hamilton, Versteeg, and Stajan). We can argue that Stajan have played better than expected, but there are two many untalented forwards on this team. Paul Byron may not have been a great forward, but at least he brought a different element to the team- speed. The league is now about skill and speed, and frankly, this team lacks those elements.

I can't complain about the Flames' record, but this team is terrible to watch from a fan's standpoint. That being said, it could be worse- the Winnipeg Jets are significantly more skilled and have significantly more depth than the Flames but didn't understand that goaltending is the #1 position for a NHL team, and at the very least, the Flames goaltending has been better this year.

[mennoknight]

All I know: I have not enjoyed watching hockey very much at all this year, even when they win. It's boring, bad hockey other than watching Tkachuk be a prick.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by mcjmcj

Last night's game was brutal to watch and exposed the Flames for what they are, a below average hockey team. If you loom at the Flames roster, I would argue that their record is better than can be expected for a team lacking true speed of skill. Outside of the following players, what players have any trade value.

Monahan(mediocre play this year at best)
Gaudreau(slumping, but skiled)
Backlund(overall solid, but not spectacular)
Tkachuk(pest with second line skill)
Bennett(too early to give up on him, but not progressing as hoped)
Frolik(solid)
Brower(playoff performer but looks slow)
Hamilton(best d of late)
Gio(poor year to date, worried that his best years are behind him)
Brodie(top 4 d, but bad year)

The rest of the team are basically clones of each other- grinders, no finish, no speed(Ferland, Bouma, Chiasson, Hathaway, F. Hamilton, Versteeg, and Stajan). We can argue that Stajan have played better than expected, but there are two many untalented forwards on this team. Paul Byron may not have been a great forward, but at least he brought a different element to the team- speed. The league is now about skill and speed, and frankly, this team lacks those elements.

I can't complain about the Flames' record, but this team is terrible to watch from a fan's standpoint. That being said, it could be worse- the Winnipeg Jets are significantly more skilled and have significantly more depth than the Flames but didn't understand that goaltending is the #1 position for a NHL team, and at the very least, the Flames goaltending has been better this year.

I get the impression you need to see the west all star line up to be satisfied?

Line ups are not built of pure skill. We have a great balance and for the record, the flames need to protect Ferland or he is most likely taken in the expansion draft.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Gaudreau is just out of sorts all over the ice right now, he just doesn't seem to be as quick on his skates as last year and for that reason he seems to always be a step behind.

Might be time for young Johnny to start taking diet and conditioning seriously.

[AC]

I've actually had a lot of fun watching the Flames, outside of some frustrating losses.

I'm surprised so many have found the team boring even during wins.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by mennoknight

All I know: I have not enjoyed watching hockey very much at all this year, even when they win. It's boring, bad hockey other than watching Tkachuk be a prick.

100% agree. The whole season has been meh. Even when winning.

If the Flames have become an organization that operates primarily on advanced stats and systems its disappointing. I believe that things like determination, heart, passion have a place in the game. Haven't seen much of that this year and its no wonder our best players have not been up to their best. No one dreams of making it to the NHL to correctly deploy a system.

I really hope some exciting and unapologetically offensive team wins the cup soon, just to shake things up a little.

Also, I don't think the fans are the only ones not having fun. I don't really see a lot of joy in the way the players are playing on the ice either. Its looks like a job to them.

[socalwingfan]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 5m5 minutes ago
More
It looks like a very optional practice for the #Flames this morning. Four skaters and two goalies.

Really after last night's effort - optional skate? And 4 players show up!

[calgaryblood]

I'd love to know who those 4 players are.

My guess would be Ferland, F Hamilton, Hathaway, Frolik

Top guys were probably out late partying and couldn't bother coming and working on their game.

[Gaskal]

Guessing Johnny, Bennett, Freddie, and Kulak as the 4 skaters.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I'd love to know who those 4 players are.

My guess would be Ferland, F Hamilton, Hathaway, Frolik

Top guys were probably out late partying and couldn't bother coming and working on their game.

Come on man give some of these guys a little more credit. Some players are probably nursing minor injuries and a day off is needed. I don't think leadership on this team is bad enough that it's getting this bad.

[GioforPM]

Sometimes after a bad outing, a day off is what's needed. Sutter, I think, practices harsher treatment when winning than losing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by AC

I've actually had a lot of fun watching the Flames, outside of some frustrating losses.

I'm surprised so many have found the team boring even during wins.

Most boring season since Hartley's first season where the most exciting part of the season was the trade deadline. The team was compelling when they were on their winning streak but everything before and after has been pretty boring win or loss. Watching your star players struggle on a nightly basis just isn't fun.

[300 MPH Blues]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I'd love to know who those 4 players are.

My guess would be Ferland, F Hamilton, Hathaway, Frolik

Top guys were probably out late partying and couldn't bother coming and working on their game.

Aaron Vickers ‏@AAVickers

Quiet practice today. Kulak, Bennett, Ferland and F. Hamilton on the ice with the two goalies. #Flames

[stang]

I'd have thought Bennett would be out skating

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by flambers

Sure goaltenders can definitely steal games, however the Flames played a poor game.

He didn't even have to steal it. Just not let in the first and third goal.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Come on man give some of these guys a little more credit. Some players are probably nursing minor injuries and a day off is needed. I don't think leadership on this team is bad enough that it's getting this bad.

I don't need to give them credit, they're out in public and love to party and stay out late. Even before game days.

Yeah I know...some will reply with "all young rich athletes like to party", yes but the way the top guys have showed up this year it's very hard to not think it's effecting their game when they're continually not ready to play.

You'd think they would have learnt from last years healthy scratching but I guess they only learnt how to get better alarm clocks.

I guess we can just keep blaming Gulutzan and ignore the leaders on the team.

[Jbo]

I'm sure this has been stated, but the most frustrating part of last night is that they are not a bad hockey team or below average. They just chose not to play with intensity until the last 5 minutes.

We know the team can play, and have not changed over much from the Flames of 2 years ago. The team that were always in a game, and had all those crazy comebacks.

What has changed is the team's ability to play with intensity for 60 minutes. That is on the coaching staff. It is even more evidenced by the recent win a game, lose a game stretch we are in. The team just looks wildly different from night to night. Consistency in playing a high level, intense game.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I don't need to give them credit, they're out in public and love to party and stay out late. Even before game days.

Yeah I know...some will reply with "all young rich athletes like to party", yes but the way the top guys have showed up this year it's very hard to not think it's effecting their game when they're continually not ready to play.

You'd think they would have learnt from last years healthy scratching but I guess they only learnt how to get better alarm clocks.

I guess we can just keep blaming Gulutzan and ignore the leaders on the team.

Do you have evidence that this is happening or are you just making baseless allegations?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Inferno

He didn't even have to steal it. Just not let in the first and third goal.

The first one was a bad rebound for sure, but I pin that one more on Brodie. Doesn't even try to corral the rebound and loses Neal at the same time. If you let a sniper like that get one off from the hash marks, it's going in.

The third one was the PP goal right? The one that deflected through his five-hole? I felt like he should've had that. I get furious when I see goalies blindly drop into the butterfly only to have a low shot sneak in between the legs. At least get your freaking stickblade on the ice if you're hail marying it, man.

It seems like two of his fortes from the mid-November run, his glove hand and five-hole coverage, have now turned into weaknesses. Let Elliott run with the ball for a bit.

[Robbob]

Johnson has seemed to have lost his mojo lately. It seems for the last little bit he has been letting in a softie here and there. I think the difference between last night and other starts is that he never looked comfortable or able to get back on track and make that one save to keep it a game.

The coach is also right that for whatever reason they seem to stall at home and it takes them a bit to get going. Kind of funny because the fans I find are in the same boat. Both seem to be waiting for something to get going.