Jan 21 Practice Notes. Last practice before the All Star break

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Awsome news.

I think, because he has been absent so long, a lot of people forget how really good he was looking when he got injured.

IMO he is, by far, the best of a great bunch of young dmen who play for this club right now. Gio replacement is his ceiling.

Agree.

I think maybe he goes down to the AHL over the break, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't. Practice with the big club to play with the big club. If he's ready, he's ready.

The Flames are a much better hockey club with him in the lineup than out.

[sa226]

Valimaki's pending return has me wondering what happens with Kylington.

Andersson is a fixture in the lineup. No question about that, but I think Kylington has been quite good. He certainly still has holes in his game for sure, but he has come so far. His potential ceiling is tantalizing.

I guess its just a case of the depth chart.

"Thanks for the great work kid. Work on this, this and this. See you next injury."

[_Q_]

Kylington definitley will be the one going down. Not because he's not good, but because everyone else is just better.

[Otto-matic]

Karlsson is dealing with an injury and his All Star spot may be in jeopardy.

Hope Gio is the one getting the replacement call.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Karlsson is dealing with an injury and his All Star spot may be in jeopardy.

Hope Gio is the one getting the replacement call.

At this point I'd rather he have the time off. Maybe he'd turn it down?

[TheIronMaiden]

It'll be interesting to see what 9 days off after tomorrow will do to this team.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It'll be interesting to see what 9 days off after tomorrow will do to this team.

Yeah. I think they're starting to get a bit tired. Peters' system seems to be something of a full court press, given how much of a green light the D get to activate and they're usually covered by a forward back-checking if there's a turnover.

Hopefully they're not gassed by the time the playoffs roll around.

[killer_carlson]

Last year some of the Flames ended up at the same resort as some of the oilers during the break.


And then we were terrible the rest of the season

So I hope they pick a different resort this year

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It'll be interesting to see what 9 days off after tomorrow will do to this team.

It derailed the entire season a year ago.

[Toonage]

Peters has a good handle on this team. They won't fall off like last year.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Peters has a good handle on this team. They won't fall off like last year.

Agreed. I think the break will be good for them.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Peters has a good handle on this team. They won't fall off like last year.

[Toonage]

Uh...creepy, but yeah. Sure. I promise. Just leave my family alone.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Awsome news.

I think, because he has been absent so long, a lot of people forget how really good he was looking when he got injured.

IMO he is, by far, the best of a great bunch of young dmen who play for this club right now. Gio replacement is his ceiling.

Even considering Hanifin? Hanifin's draft+1 and +2 seasons seem to be well ahead of Valimaki's.

[dammage79]

Yeah, the players are buying what the coaches are selling so I too believe the break will be good for them more than bad.

As for Valimaki, no reason to push him back into line up. 3RD pairing hasn't lost any steam in the 27 games he has missed so send him to the farm and let him get back up to speed there. It's inevitable another injury will occur so having Valimaki and Stone in the hopper is a huge thi g. I think they could deal a d man as well but the depth we have on D is also a major asset for this club.

Either way, no big loss if Valimaki owns the AHL for a while.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

It derailed the entire season a year ago.

Last season the margin for error was paper thin. The Flames were winning games predominantly on the strength of excellent goaltending, but more often than not appeared offensively outmatched in games and struggled to match lines.

This year's team is a powerhouse from top to bottom.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Matata

Even considering Hanifin? Hanifin's draft+1 and +2 seasons seem to be well ahead of Valimaki's.

I think Valimaki has a higher ceiling though i believe both will be able to handle top line duties.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Last season the margin for error was paper thin. The Flames were winning games predominantly on the strength of excellent goaltending, but more often than not appeared offensively outmatched in games and struggled to match lines.

This year's team is a powerhouse from top to bottom.

I agree, I'm just remembering the complete fall off they took a year ago, and it went deeper than just goaltending.

This club is completely different though for sure.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Jore

time to dust off this classic:



come back ferly

Johnny looks like someone killed his dog.

[Travis Munroe]

The best case scenario for Ferland and the flames is that the flames trade for him as a rental and he helps us go on a long run. We can't sign him in the off season but his run with the flames has added another year and 1m to whoever he signs with.

I wouldn't want to sign him long term simply due to the money he will be able to demand and my belief that he is close to the back half of his career due to the style he plays. If we can be the reason Edmonton or Vancouver sign him to giant deal it would be a win win for he and us fans!