[PGT] Oilers claim 10% of their wins this season tonight vs. a very bad Flames team, 5-2

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Jones, with his 3 even strength goals to start the season, is part of the problem?

Looking past his goals is he part of the problem or solution? He's big, but slow and doesn't use his body worth a damn. I see him as part of the problem. Maybe more of a Stajan problem, but a problem none the less. I'm thinking long term, and Jones won't be here at the end of the season. Make the moves you know have to happen and get on with it already.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

New slogan this year should be:
#OftenQuit

I like #NeverStarted.

[FBI]

Jones increasing his value for trade deadline?

[polak]

This is just the worst. Nothing inspires any confidence about this team. We have played like everyone was predicting we would play like last year. Seriously worst case scenario.

[Da_Chief]

At this pace Hudler/Russell/Jones/Wideman could bring in some late picks at the deadline.

[DazzlinDino]

I think we are missing a guy like Byron who brought tons of speed and helped get other teams on their heels.. He quickly brought the plays straight up the ice with no nonsense. and was relentless on the forecheck. Those kinds of plays help the team get focused in the right way. A few times I have noticed Johnny going for the fancy passes, IMO he should shoot more and catch teams off guard with fancy passes later. We just seem a little too predictable and tend to loose the puck a lot on those fancy plays which hurts especially when there has been a clear shot.

[Patek23]

I think the biggest difference I've noticed in the team is just trying to get too fancy. Often little drop back passes or trying to dipsy doodle through the slot and the play gets killed. I see the intensity, I don't see the results. I think the Flames have to go back to the basics and start getting the puck to the net. I see us getting a lot of offensive zone possession to start things off but if your not generating shots it's easy for things to start winding up back in your own end. A shot right to the chest of the goalie followed by an offensive zone face off is infinitely better than some of the fancy plays I see that result in no shots and a turn over.

Edit- I also expect this to be the early breaking point for the Flames. It is extremely early but after getting beaten badly by the worst team in the league who also happens to be your biggest rival. If they dont come out and shred Washington on Tuesday I would be concerned as it would show a change of attitude in the team. I feel we have too many competitors to allow that too happen here. Our 3 previous losses had the feeling of things not working out and expecting chemistries to build into success. After this loss I think alot of guys are going to be looking at themselves and we should be seeing a few key extra efforts from guys too come out flying next game.

I see alot of posters mentioning a guy like Byron could be an under appreciated fire starter for the team, I fully expect someone to step forward and take the lead in that spot Tuesday. Im embarrased as a fan, I can only imagine the feeling being a player. This will be a big sign of what kind of team we have here coming up.

[Badgers Nose]

They look like a team that didn't answer enough questions in training camp and are still trying to figure the lineup out.

The Goalie mess is on BT. He has to fix that quickly.

Injuries to important players doesn't help.

Year three of a rebuild, last year was a welcome surprise. That 'hail mary' style of play was never going to work two years in a row, so BT to his credit got guys that should help fix it. So far it isn't working. Only the the first line seems to have any chemistry.

I predicted these two losses, and another on Tuesday. It seems obvious to me there is a major problem with this team, other than the goalies I think it can be fixed through coaching and line combinations. What the Flames have right now is not easily fixed. Maybe by November we'll start seeing some progress.

[JohnnyT]

I think a veteran sits next game ala Wideman last year

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by New Era

Looking past his goals is he part of the problem or solution? He's big, but slow and doesn't use his body worth a damn. I see him as part of the problem. Maybe more of a Stajan problem, but a problem none the less. I'm thinking long term, and Jones won't be here at the end of the season. Make the moves you know have to happen and get on with it already.

Guys like Jones, Stajan and Bollig are never going to change their value much. They are known quantities. What you would have got for them last trade deadline is what you would get for them now. They are highly paid Glencrosses. Who wants that?

No one needs them because a kid off the farm even if they are not quite as good will always be better from a contract standpoint.

And someone please tell Bob to stop the staged fights. That is stupid.

[Table 5]

The lack of effort and execution is on the players, but this team honestly just doesn't look prepared. They look like a team that was just thrown together two days ago, the players just stopped smoking, and they haven't even had a chance to practice yet. They simply don't look like a regular season team. The coaching staff has to take some of the responsibility for that.

[Flash Walken]

I think what we are seeing, especially from some players, is their Corsi/advanced stats are starting to catch up with them.

In the case of Wideman/Russell, their on ice results seem to echo their possession numbers from last season. I think Russell especially looks over matched. He isn't as quick as he appeared to be last season, and his passing isn't as crisp. Don't look now, but Russell has more minuses (-5) than shots (4) on the season. I've given Wideman a ton of heat on this board since he arrived, but Russell is the one dragging that pairing down.

Last night's game turned on the lack of finish from Backlund. On the same shift, he missed an open net and then failed to make any kind of play at all on a high percentage 2-1 opportunity. A minute or so later, the puck was in the back of Calgary's net and the Oilers were pumped and used that momentum to roll to victory.

Hudler, Backlund, Russell aren't players that are going to get it done for Calgary if the ultimate goal is winning a Stanley cup. Hopefully this start to the season has cooled down contract talks with Russell and Hudler because signing them based off the season's they had last year would be a huge mistake for this organization.

I won't get into Giordano too much because he's earned a bit more leeway, but the early returns for him aren't good for that contract extension. I hope he turns it around.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JohnnyT

I think a veteran sits next game ala Wideman last year

Unless someone is recalled, no chance. With Bennett listed as day to day there are no other options.

I would guess only change is Ramo will be the starter next game.

[azzarish]

Right now offensively we seem to have very few options. We only have a few plays which seem to work and they always seem to involve Gaudreau. I think the whole team needs to find a way to be more creative and find scoring chances. The other thing is that we're desperately missing Brodie; he's basically a defenseman and a forward on this team.

Also, just stop with this Hiller/Ramo nonsense. Neither are good enough or consistent enough which is why they are rotated all the time to begin with. Stop messing about and give Ortio a long run of games. If you don't have faith in the guy then he shouldn't be there period.

It would just foolish to write this team off because the Flames are always at their best when people write them off. We do need to string together a couple of wins to start with and see where we go from there.

[Flamescat]

(sp)

[Badgers Nose]

The defence is not contributing offence like last year. I would like to see the d pairings shuffled.

Maybe call up Nakladal, he seems to be going well (at least at generating offence).

I agree with the sentiment that contract talks with Hudler and Russell should slow down.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Give top pairing minutes to Russell and Wideman. It's starting to look like Gio needs Brodie with him to actually play his game. Or he's rusty as hell and shouldn't have as many minutes right now.

[Vinny01]

Tough game to watch not a good performance from the boys. The way the season has started the regression boosters are looking right

[adc]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Give top pairing minutes to Russell and Wideman. It's starting to look like Gio needs Brodie with him to actually play his game. Or he's rusty as hell and shouldn't have as many minutes right now.

The way those two have struggled defensively against the secondary guys I am not sure having Wideman out there against top line talent is going to be a solution.

Gio is certainly struggling and not up to the level of play he had last year but he still is a better option than Wideman when facing guys like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Datsyuk etc.

[Badgers Nose]

I'd actually like to see a Kulak-Hamilton top pair (or 2nd maybe is more realistic).