Practice notes Oct 16

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
No Mikael Backlund at practice this afternoon.

Blocked a shot in the third period of last night’s game. Left but returned late in the game. #Flames

https://twitter.com/user/status/1184528871917604865


Ryan Dittrick @ryandittrick
Funny moment to start #Flames practice. Rittich tried to score on the empty net again, put it about a foot wide. Then Talbot gave it a go, hit it dead centre. Rittich threw his stick in disgust. ��

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ryan Dittrick @ryandittrick
Funny moment to start #Flames practice. Rittich tried to score on the empty net again, put it about a foot wide. Then Talbot gave it a go, hit it dead centre. Rittich threw his stick in disgust. ��

Did Talbot then also throw his stick to see how much farther he could do so than Rittich? That would have been even funnier.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
No Mikael Backlund at practice this afternoon.

Blocked a shot in the third period of last night’s game. Left but returned late in the game. #Flames

I am guessing that Backlund will miss time. That block with his foot looked bad.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am guessing that Backlund will miss time. That block with his foot looked bad.

That's my feeling too.

Foot injuries are tricky in that sometimes with the boot on the foot will feel okay after the immediate pain, but then once the boot comes off the swelling goes up and the pain becomes more of an issue.

[Erick Estrada]

His foot may have swelled up after the game but I doubt there's anything damage given they let him back in the game. Whether he misses time or not is likely a matter of pain tolerance.

[Toonage]

Curious to hear the lines from today. Totally up in the air if Backlund misses time or not but I'm curious to see if they moved Lindholm into his spot and more curious to know who lines up with Gaudreau & Monahan if that was the case.

Edit - And Steinberg reports its Jankowski up there so I don't think this is long term.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1184534929226588162

[Erick Estrada]

Yeah I would think if it was long term that maybe Ryan would have got 2nd line duty.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah I would think if it was long term that maybe Ryan would have got 2nd line duty.

I don't know that I agree.

The Flames seem to love Ryan in that 3 spot as they know what they have him in him. Jankowski I bet has been petitioning for icetime and this will be his opportunity to prove it with Quine or Dube coming in for that 4th line spot.

I think you'll probably see Lindholm and Ryan get some shifts there as well to manage jankowski's situational minutes, but it's probably his spot to play himself off of at this point if Backlund is out for any length of time.

Worst case scenario is it doesn't work and you move Ryan up, but Tkachuk and Frolik should be able to squeeze as much potential out of Janko as he's got, and maybe he gets the Hodgson treatment and is moved later in the season with higher value than he's got now.

[Wastedyouth]

Flames have no cap room for a single call up. So what we have is what we have if Backlund is out.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I don't know that I agree.

The Flames seem to love Ryan in that 3 spot as they know what they have him in him. Jankowski I bet has been petitioning for icetime and this will be his opportunity to prove it with Quine or Dube coming in for that 4th line spot.

I think you'll probably see Lindholm and Ryan get some shifts there as well to manage jankowski's situational minutes, but it's probably his spot to play himself off of at this point if Backlund is out for any length of time.

Worst case scenario is it doesn't work and you move Ryan up, but Tkachuk and Frolik should be able to squeeze as much potential out of Janko as he's got, and maybe he gets the Hodgson treatment and is moved later in the season with higher value than he's got now.

Maybe but I don't like the idea of Jankowski being put in a position where he has to do heavy lifting in the top 6. Maybe a promotion boosts his confidence and his needle finally moves off idle? Time will tell I suppose when we get news regarding tomorrow's practice.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Flames have no cap room for a single call up. So what we have is what we have if Backlund is out.

That is not true. The Flames have not used any LTIR yet, and if necessary, could draw from that to call up a League-minimum player. I suspect that what this means is if they do decide to recall a player it will not happen until tomorrow in an effort to maximize every dollar of LTIR.

[MissTeeks]

[DeluxeMoustache]

Makes sense. I think Jankowski is a placeholder for practice

He has struggled with the puck too much to be trusted top 6

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That is not true. The Flames have not used any LTIR yet, and if necessary, could draw from that to call up a League-minimum player. I suspect that what this means is if they do decide to recall a player it will not happen until tomorrow in an effort to maximize every dollar of LTIR.

They want to stay as far away from their LTIR as they can right now. It is a fix number throughout the year and doesn't prorate like salary.

They will want to save it for as long as possible, so I do not see them calling anyone up unless absolutely required to fill the minimum roster.

[Wastedyouth]

theres an article on the athletic that explains why they dont want to dig into it.

Ill try to find it.

[agulati]

I hope Backlund plays. Our centre depth looks bad with him out.

[FanIn80]

If Backlund misses extended time, I want to see

Gaudreau Monahan Tkachuk
Mangiapane Lindholm Someone (I really wish Bennett would step up)

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am guessing that Backlund will miss time. That block with his foot looked bad.

Meh, hope it isnt broken but returning to a game is always a positive sign

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

If Backlund misses extended time, I want to see

Gaudreau Monahan Tkachuk
Mangiapane Lindholm Someone (I really wish Bennett would step up)

I've been waiting/hoping for pairs to be set...

Gaudreau Monahan _______
Tkachuk Lindholm ________
______ Backlund Frolik
Lucic Jankowski Reider
Czarnik

And then sub in Bennett, Mangiapane and Ryan wherever they fit best.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Meh, hope it isnt broken but returning to a game is always a positive sign

Sometimes they’ll just freeze an injury like that so they can finish the game. Then they take a look at it the next day to see what’s up.

Remember, Peter Forsberg unknowingly ruptured his spleen late in the second period during Game 7 against the Kings but still finished the game. He missed the final two rounds of the playoffs (they won the Cup) plus the entire following regular season, but he finished the game he got injured in.