[PGT] Flames lose to Vancouver

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Can you outline a plan for a re-build that is a "sure thing".
Curious what that looks like.

All I am saying is we really don’t know if it’s good shape yet

But yeah if you are talking about pipeline then yes it’s the organization strength at the moment

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bingo

He's talking pipeline.

The Flames system leans strongly to defensemen at this point.

Ok got it
I agreed then

[Badgers Nose]

They had a crappy game (mostly Wolf, but skaters had a lot of missed chances) where the score flattered the opposition.

Seems a stretch to condemn the rebuild already.

For a few guys, like Sharkbit and Farabee, I am attaching last season to this one. But it is still early and they can turn it around. But they are minor support players that won't star in this next window, so even there I don't really care too much about them and most fans probably shouldn't either.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

This is 100% the approach I'm taking and a great way to put it.
I can't bother to be stressed about what happens this year at all including because we have our own pick. Last year it sucked because of that element.

This team is fun to watch, win or lose. They play for each other, get sensational goaltending, have some exciting young players and don't get pushed around (the pure message-sending punishment they were giving Vancouver when it was 5-1 tells me they're not going to take a beating on the score sheet lightly). And Conroy will probably make a few more trades this year, which are always enjoyable.

If the effort drops off because they stop winning, I might feel differently, but I think guys like Weegar and Backlund will keep pushing the team to win regardless of the standings.

Lots of potential. Lots of fun.

[troutman]

I like Klapka.

Prove me wrong.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I HATE losing, and I especially hate losing against rivals - Oilers and Canucks - the most. On top of this, I hate losing to Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg (Ottawa is ok, but I prefer to beat Ottawa too). This season, please beat Vegas every game - not only do we all dislike them, but it helps the value of that pick!

Anyway, I am entering this season as I did last season - love the wins, hate the losses, but the losses are slightly easier to accept after the fact as you take them with a spoonful of sugar. I expect a high draft pick this in the 2026 draft. Rasmus can give his opinion on people like me who don't play hockey, so we are irrelevant all he wants. People can say that I am 'pissing on this team' all they want too. Even if I squint really damn hard, I don't see a contending team. I see a bubble team if everything works out.

The Flames played on those margins all season long last year. Will they continue to have that same effort level this year? I have definitely seen alternating Jekyll and Hyde years with better rosters, so excuse me if I am not convinced at this point - and haven't seen much to convince me thus far either. Doesn't mean I dislike the team, or I am not a fan. Underdogs sometimes win. There are definite Cinderella teams that make it far in the playoffs - why not the Flames, right? I will definitely relish it if it happens for the Flames this year.

I am not cheering for losses. I accept them easier the next day knowing that it is probably the best thing for this team in the long run. I wasn't happy last night though... not that I am happy today either. I just accept it more today.

I find good things in every game. Last night, I liked:

• The emotion of this team - how they fight for one another.
• Gridin looks really good. Yes, advanced metrics didn't necessarily support it, but there was a tonne of talent and hockey sense on display from this kid.
• Bean looks good on the eye test - I have noticed him making some smart plays consistently out there, and has been moving the puck well
• Zary worries me as he seems like he is always getting hit dangerously, but he is playing well
• Klapka has been good. A couple of bad penalties against the Oilers, but he has been mostly good, and has been a decent playmaker too.
• Wolf is looking good. Sure, he looked more human last night, but it was hardly a terrible game really.

Hopefully we will see the Parekh show tomorrow night. I will expect a few egregious turnovers and some poor decision making on the backend a few times, and this is going to happen for the next couple of seasons probably. That's ok. He is young, and defence is a very difficult position to play - he will get there in this organization, I have no doubt. I will just enjoy the good things that he does well, and accept the poor things for now, just like I am doing for the entire team this season.


Two games in and there is already too much hostility. This is a rebuilding team, with lots of youth, and some really aging vets. Just enjoy hockey again, since it has been way too long since we have seen Flames Hockey. Win or lose, this team is fun to watch, and has many interesting story lines to follow.

[GioforPM]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

This is 100% the approach I'm taking and a great way to put it.
I can't bother to be stressed about what happens this year at all including because we have our own pick. Last year it sucked because of that element.

Wouldn't be the worst thing if they have a down season and players like Gridin, Parekh, and Brzustewicz get a lot of action as if they are truly the future you have to get them playing in the NHL.

[Inferno]

Win or lose I just want to see progress from the young players. I don't worry about drafting players they may not even get to draft anyway if they have a bad year.

The only reason I was annoyed last night with the loss was because it was the Canucks.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

This team is fun to watch, win or lose. They play for each other, get sensational goaltending, have some exciting young players and don't get pushed around (the pure message-sending punishment they were giving Vancouver when it was 5-1 tells me they're not going to take a beating on the score sheet lightly). And Conroy will probably make a few more trades this year, which are always enjoyable.

If the effort drops off because they stop winning, I might feel differently, but I think guys like Weegar and Backlund will keep pushing the team to win regardless of the standings.

Lots of potential. Lots of fun.

Ehhh

To me this team is okay to watch but their offense is anemic. There's not lot of goals and the ones they do score usually arent pretty.


I really miss watching Gaudreau and Iginla.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Agreed but the team also still needs long-term top line wingers.
They have some candidates for that, including Coronato and Gridin but I see both more as 2nd liners more than likely, at least on a top notch team.

Goaltending is in good shape
D is in good shape long-term.

The forwards need work. If you get a top line winger this draft, that's an important box to check.

I do agree with this, but for me I think there is a huge disconnect from one poster to the next on what equals a 1st line player or 2nd line player. I find it hard to label players just that as 1 poster to the next opinion on what that means is different.

I also believe chemistry and superstars elevate players. MacKinnon is as good as it gets, but even he had a career high 99 points in 82 games pre Cale Makar. Post Cale Makar, his PPG says he is a 110-140 every year. Seems like 120 is about average.

This team has 0 players that are so good they make everyone around them better. We would be a ton better if we landed a superstar no matter the position other than in goal. Parekh could have that impact, it would be nice to add 1 forward of that kind of calibre. I think if we added someone like that, moving forward the need to add more is nicer to have than a need. Some of the existing players definitely would look more like 1st liners with a true PP dman and an elite offensive star forward.

[HighLifeMan]

Why exactly has Bahl-Andersson been a paring that has been locked in for two years - especially with the season Andersson is coming off of?

It's awfully strange to me that a pairing that has been consistently outscored has not been tinkered with one time.

Put Bahl with Weegar

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by flame4life

It is game 2 .. breathe everyone. There is NO TEAM that is firing on all cylinders at game 2, so the hyperbolic over reactions are comical as always on here. For the better part of two games, Flames have looked good. There were a ton of bad bounces in tonight's game that happen over an 82 game schedule. There is no other team that had to open back to back on home openers with crazy travel, and add an afternoon game on game 3. That is some wicked scheduling and we all know it takes a couple of weeks of real games to get to where you are comfortable in saying the mistakes and habits are what need to be corrected.

If any of you think that Cooley would have been the savior in last nights game, I suggest you see a doctor. I can comfortably say it would likely have been an 8-1 score with him in there. There is a reason the coaches, management, and others made the decision to play Wolf on back to back, and likely three in a row come Saturday. A couple weeks of Proz in the AHL and I fully expect them to be reversed or management bringing in a capable backup goaltender.

Take a deep breath people. I was hoping for a 2-1 record through three games, and we are still on track for that and we are on the cusp of seeing Parekh start. No, he is not going to be the savior, but it is exciting to get him in the mix since Gridin has done great to start the season in his minutes. Both will have ups and downs, but it is exciting at the youth movement that is being infused. And, what a great two day stretch for Parekh to watch the games. He saw how the team made adjustments, battled hard and got the points needed against Edmonton. He saw the lucky bounces, the missed opportunities, and things we could do better in the game last night. Now he gets to go out and do it.

I'm in total agreement with your overall post but Montreal's schedule had them playing two away games back-to-back to begin, along with cross-border travel.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by troutman

Game could have gone either way and then they ran out of gas.

In hindsight, they should have played their backup team.

[AC]

Just caught up watching the game as I missed it last night.

The Flames were much better than they were vs Edmonton IMO and outplayed Vancouver early. Bad luck with the first goal against but the Flames had plenty of good chances that somehow didn't go in. The team is going to be offensively challenged this season no doubt, but we were very unlucky not to have the lead heading into the 3rd.

The 2nd goal broke the game open, but on a 2nd night of a back-to-back that was the moment that determined the game. Not disappointed by the effort at all.


Huberdeau, Pospisil, and Parekh will all make a significant difference. Kirkland, Lomberg, and Hanley/Bean are the obvious choices. I hope they keep Gridin in even when healthy.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by AC

Just caught up watching the game as I missed it last night.

The Flames were much better than they were vs Edmonton IMO and outplayed Vancouver early. Bad luck with the first goal against but the Flames had plenty of good chances that somehow didn't go in. The team is going to be offensively challenged this season no doubt, but we were very unlucky not to have the lead heading into the 3rd.

The 2nd goal broke the game open, but on a 2nd night of a back-to-back that was the moment that determined the game. Not disappointed by the effort at all.


Huberdeau, Pospisil, and Parekh will all make a significant difference. Kirkland, Lomberg, and Hanley/Bean are the obvious choices. I hope they keep Gridin in even when healthy.

Don't forget there's no more Gridin once Huberdeau and Pospisil are back.

(Unless they make room for him by trading away a forward vet.)

[DropIt]

Calgarypuck after 2 games is comical. It's a long season, try not to use up all your bitching a whining the first week

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames only have 8 back to backs left
schedule to start is brutal but overall its pretty good if you survive the first month

That's interesting and I agree. Now, what record would you consider surviving? 12 games in the first month with 5 at home and 7 on the road for 24 possible points. Flames have 2 if 4 possible so far. Would 12 points be good?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Don't forget there's no more Gridin once Huberdeau and Pospisil are back.

(Unless they make room for him by trading away a forward vet.)

Or they deploy the 4th line in a way that makes way more sense for how this roster is constructed.

Lomberg is 13th forward, Kirkland should be in the AHL.

Huberdeau - Kadri - Coronato
Gridin - Frost - Sharangovich
Zary - Backlund - Coleman
Farabee - Pospisil - Klapka
Lomberg

That actually feels like how this team should be deployed in an ideal state the wingers could flip around, and maybe Honzek and Gridin eventually flip between AHL and NHL or maybe you open a spot for Kerins somewhere

But those 13 forwards+ Kerins + Honzek + Suniev + Stromgren seem to be the best forwards in this org right now and should be deployed that way. Honestly guys like Kirkland or Hunt are career journeman that have no place on this team. They aren't part of the future, and they aren't good enough to be blocking a younger player with more upside now.

[Lewis_D]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Calgarypuck after 2 games is comical. It's a long season, try not to use up all your bitching a whining the first week

Oh don't you worry, we haven't even hit the good part. Wait until this team actually starts to tank, and then the first people to complain will be team tank.