Smid thinks he is ready. UPD: Hopes to be cleared for mid October

[FBI]

I didn't mean physical play = meh, I meant he excels at chipping it off the boards, icing the puck, and physical play/fighting.
Overall = meh to me.
I certainly appreciate his physical play but nothing else.

[AcGold]

Physical play is so vague a term it's dismissive. He uses his body to stop the cycle and steal the puck, he also defends our goalie and keeps the opposition honest. Several areas where we are lacking and have been lacking in the past. He played top line minutes and didn't miss a beat, what else should he be doing?

I'd bet money Hartley has him speeding up his breakout passes and working on his offensive contributions too.

[FBI]

>He played top line minutes and didn't miss a beat.

Will agree he filled in admirably but I still am not a fan and will be happy when a young guy supplants him. I very much doubt he will suddenly become a great breakout passer. IMO Brodie very much carried him.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Physical play is so vague a term it's dismissive. He uses his body to stop the cycle and steal the puck, he also defends our goalie and keeps the opposition honest. Several areas where we are lacking and have been lacking in the past. He played top line minutes and didn't miss a beat, what else should he be doing?

I'd bet money Hartley has him speeding up his breakout passes and working on his offensive contributions too.

I think that maybe AC should put together a highlight package of Kipper 2012-13.

He ended up with a save % of .884 and a GA of 3.44. He was basically run into retirement.

There were 2-3 times a game when Kipper was knocked over in the crease and Boumeester, Butler, Smith, Brodie, and even Gio would be looking in the corners or behind the net for a possible loose puck.


When Wideman is your toughest crease clearer you could have a Carey Price in goal and he would start flinching and letting in dirty goals.


Looking at the Flames as a likely playoff team this year how would you play them?
I know I would be trying to force the Flames D to engage physically by crashing the crease. Not as easy to make these great breakout passes when you are battling for space in the crease protecting your goalie.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I have a sneaking feeling that Kenney Morrison might steal the #4 spot in training camp

The chances of that happening are slim to none IMO. He might steal the #7 spot. I'd bet a large sum of money that he has no chance at a top 4 role out of training camp unless we have injuries to every single member of our top 4. It's kind of crazy talk frankly. He hasn't even played an NHL game and you think he can beat out multiple guys who played top 4 on one of the better defences in the NHL last year? Crazy talk.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

The chances of that happening are slim to none IMO. He might steal the #7 spot. I'd bet a large sum of money that he has no chance at a top 4 role out of training camp unless we have injuries to every single member of our top 4. It's kind of crazy talk frankly. He hasn't even played an NHL game and you think he can beat out multiple guys who played top 4 on one of the better defences in the NHL last year? Crazy talk.

Having watched Morrison multiple times in the past few months since the Flames acquired him, he is very very close to being ready for full time NHL action. If he doesn't start with the Flames, he'll likely take a spot by January or be the first callup if injuries strike before hand. Very similar style of D-man as Brodie.

There is a good reason why you would slot him as the #4 and it has nothing to do with Morrison. Keeping Russell and Wideman together. That is a pairing that worked rather effectively together last year. Morrison in that scenario would be the #4, but would be the 6th best defenseman and would be paired with a #1 defenseman (Calgary has 3 of them) allowing there to be balance and sheltering him to an extent. If he does have significant growing pains you could always sub Engelland into the #4 spot instead, but that wouldn't likely even be a problem because he probably wouldn't make the team out of the gate if he does struggle.

If you split Russell and Wideman, that might create more problems as Russell was effective at covering for Wideman and the new partner for Wideman might not be as able to cover his defensive lapses. If you partner Wideman and Engelland, the current 5th and 6th best defenders, that would be terrible due to their lack of combined foot speed. Chemistry does matter. Having 3 left shooters with 3 right shooters is a formation that would be beneficial as well.

[Vulcan]

If you split Russell and Wideman

Oh no, I'm starting to regret getting Hamilton if it's going to cause this kind of problem.

[sureLoss]

Wes Gilbertson @SUNGilbertson
#Flames D Ladislav Smid (neck) has yet to be cleared for contact. Hoping for that clearance in mid-October.

[dammage79]

Poor guy. Getting close but right now it still must feel so far away. No camp means he won't be ready until mid november if he is clear mid October.

[Locke]

I keep forgetting about Smid and thinking our top 7 is set.

I mean, the top 6 is pretty obvious.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Locke

I keep forgetting about Smid and thinking our top 7 is set.



I mean, the top 6 is pretty obvious.

I don't know, I think if Ryan Wilson can stay healthy he may surprise people.

[Locke]

Just got a score update saying that hes been cleared for contact.

[Finger Cookin]

Saw the same notice. It'll be interesting to see if the rest of camp is enough to get him ready for opening night.

[Itse]

He was a bottom pairing player before the injury, so who knowa if he can still be effective enough to earn a spot.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Saw the same notice. It'll be interesting to see if the rest of camp is enough to get him ready for opening night.

Probably not enough time for opening night. I do however think they will give the 7Th/pressbox dman position to him. That way he can practice with the team until he is up to speed. Looks like there is only one d position left until Brodie comes back from injury.

[Poe969]

Smid was slow. He was a beat up version of England but England seemed to have a bit more to his game and was able to elevate his game last year when Gio went down. Management loves England and he seems like he's a good team guy, I'm willing to bet he's #6 on the back end and even ends up playing with Brodie this year. With our D being the way it is, I don't see a place for Smid at all unless the team sustains multiple injuries all at the same time.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Smid is either traded or waived before the season starts. I just don't see him having a spot on this team with the depth it has.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Smid was slow. He was a beat up version of England but England seemed to have a bit more to his game and was able to elevate his game last year when Gio went down. Management loves England and he seems like he's a good team guy, I'm willing to bet he's #6 on the back end and even ends up playing with Brodie this year. With our D being the way it is, I don't see a place for Smid at all unless the team sustains multiple injuries all at the same time.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Smid is either traded or waived before the season starts. I just don't see him having a spot on this team with the depth it has.

Pretty much agree with most of what you posted. However i don't see any team trading for Smid right now. Maybe when/if he gets some games under his belt. I also don't see them waiving him. He just came back from a brutal injury. There is no problem having him in the pressbox. There was no chance the flames were going to have a youngster in the pressbox for long extended periods of time.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

They aren't going to trade or waive him until they see what he can offer once 100% healthy. That would be disrespectful to not even allow him the opportunity to compete for a regular roster spot. If he doesn't measure up, then you can discuss moving him along, but he was a warrior for many years and deserves enough respect to at least put him in game action for a couple weeks to see if he can offer something to the team.

[Poe969]

True, but I don't think him sitting in the press box really helps him at all. It's too bad he can't be send down for a reconditioning stint or something just so he can get some games under his belt and get up to speed. No one really knows how he'll do in an actual game at this point. If they can find a way to not have Smid, I think Willson would make a better #7 guy.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

They aren't going to trade or waive him until they see what he can offer once 100% healthy. That would be disrespectful to not even allow him the opportunity to compete for a regular roster spot. If he doesn't measure up, then you can discuss moving him along, but he was a warrior for many years and deserves enough respect to at least put him in game action for a couple weeks to see if he can offer something to the team.

I kind of agree with this because I think he needs to get up to game speed but I don't think the Flames should have to put him in actual meaningful games to find out but if there's no other way then yes they do have to find out how he plays by getting him in some games. At the same time, I don't think he "deserves" to be given a spot on the team without earning it. I know he was a warrior but at the same time, Raymond was a goal scorer. Right now is what matters. I do thin Smid deserves a chance but I don't think the Flames should have to make any kind of sacrifice to give him that chance and if you have a different player who's playing well, it's not right to sit him in favour of finding out just what Smid can do.

It's complicated to say the least but I'm really glad none of us have the final say. I'm sure BT will find a way to not only make this work, but to make this work out for both Smid and the Flames.