Yeah I definitely thought both PTOs had a real shot at making this team when they were initially signed but after seeing their performance throughout camp and with the signing of the new gigantic Czhecia player I think they're both out of luck most likely.
That was a really solid game for the Flames. Outside of a blip in the second period they controlled it pretty easily.
Rough night for the PTOs, both took penalties (Eakin took two). Milano was simply not good enough for a guy who doesn't have a contract. I really expected more razzle dazzle from the guy based on reputation, but I don't think he won an offensive 1 on 1 all game. Even when kept the puck he wasn't gaining any territory or passing it to open players.
Eakin was pretty good in the first period I thought, but he made a bunch of poor plays as the game went on and when he got a great chance in the slot he put a pretty disappointing effort on goal.
I was even pulling for Mackey to get that spot, but it's going to be tough to turn away Stone. Leading the team in points as a PTO D man and holding his own defensively is pretty impressive.
Rooney had his strongest game of the preseason and that line was really effective. Thought he struggled with the puck in the first but then he set up a goal and made some strong plays as the game went on. I'm curious to see if he gets a spot on the PK. He was a mixed bag on the PK tonight as he made a great play to pin the puck in the offensive zone and got a good chance with Backlund, but he also allowed the cross ice pass to go through on the goal against. I know he played on the PK in NYR, so he's definitely an option, but I wonder if he will take icetime away from Backlund, Coleman, Lindholm, Lewis, Mangiapane, or Dube?
Ruzicka is kind of sad to watch. He's working, but he doesn't enter into the battles with intensity and it seems like he is on the losing end of most of them. He has a size advantage but loses out to smaller players who are giving more. It was really too bad that his nice tip went crossbar and out. That might have been a turning point for him. In my book he hasn't done enough to make the team.
Mackey had one of his weaker games of the preseason. He wasn't bad, but I thought he made more mistakes tonight than in other games. A positive is that he almost never gets beat on plays when he is defending, his mistakes tended to be when he had the puck tonight.
That was a very promising game. The Flames still had a handful of top players out and they looked a lot better than the Kraken.
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My opinion. The PTOs should be noticeably better than the farm team players to make the team. They probably aren’t going to get better. The young guys will.
Stone seems to have done this. I think he should be in the starting 6. He looked great at the end of the season.
The other 2 are questionable. I bet Eakin has a better shot than Milano.
I was at the game and kept a close eye on the new guys.
Eakin- started off great (as did the whole team). I know some are worried about the 4th line, but honestly some combination of Lewis/Lucic/Ruziska/Eakin/Ritchie should be fine at causing havoc and bringing some energy. Not sure Eakin did enough (especially with the Pittsburgh guy coming in), but I wouldn't hate it if he was signed.
Milano - struggled mightily. He will be lucky if he signs a two-way somewhere. Shouldn't be here.
Rooney - Tale of 2 games. I thought he was awful in the first half. Plays died on his stick, and even worse, coughed up the puck numerous times in our own zone. Redeemed himself in the second half with stronger play and a good forecheck. Backlund and Coleman were excellent which helps, although still shaking off some rust, it seems to me.
Weegar - Basically what Hanafin should be/could be. Very smooth, quietly breaks up plays and moves the puck. Made a couple of gaffs but made up for it.
Kadri - Really impressed with his skill. Faster than I thought he was and is a top line guy we can slot on the second line. Definitely falls into the category of "hate him, but would love him on my team". Tkachuk-like, in that respect.
I think it will take a while for the team to gel, but honestly, the Huberdeau/Gaudreau Kadri/Tkachuk trade off is pretty close to a wash. Add in Weegar, and the Flames absolutely could be better than last year.
(Disclaimer: Mostly based on an inconsequential pre-season game against a ####ty opponent. I was just excited to be back in the Dome.)
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From HFBoard oiler fan, in analyzing MacT's management:
O.K. there has been a lot of talk on whether or not MacTavish has actually done a good job for us, most fans on this board are very basic in their analysis and I feel would change their opinion entirely if the team was successful.
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I was at the game and kept a close eye on the new guys.
Eakin- started off great (as did the whole team). I know some are worried about the 4th line, but honestly some combination of Lewis/Lucic/Ruziska/Eakin/Ritchie should be fine at causing havoc and bringing some energy. Not sure Eakin did enough (especially with the Pittsburgh guy coming in), but I wouldn't hate it if he was signed.
Milano - struggled mightily. He will be lucky if he signs a two-way somewhere. Shouldn't be here.
Rooney - Tale of 2 games. I thought he was awful in the first half. Plays died on his stick, and even worse, coughed up the puck numerous times in our own zone. Redeemed himself in the second half with stronger play and a good forecheck. Backlund and Coleman were excellent which helps, although still shaking off some rust, it seems to me.
Weegar - Basically what Hanafin should be/could be. Very smooth, quietly breaks up plays and moves the puck. Made a couple of gaffs but made up for it. Kadri - Really impressed with his skill. Faster than I thought he was and is a top line guy we can slot on the second line. Definitely falls into the category of "hate him, but would love him on my team". Tkachuk-like, in that respect.
I think it will take a while for the team to gel, but honestly, the Huberdeau/Gaudreau Kadri/Tkachuk trade off is pretty close to a wash. Add in Weegar, and the Flames absolutely could be better than last year.
(Disclaimer: Mostly based on an inconsequential pre-season game against a ####ty opponent. I was just excited to be back in the Dome.)
Darryl said he needs to get up to game condition lol.
Darryl said he needs to get up to game condition lol.
I heard that as well. Maybe Kadri didn't bring it every single shift (maybe), but his talent was really something. If he can get better? Look out.
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From HFBoard oiler fan, in analyzing MacT's management:
O.K. there has been a lot of talk on whether or not MacTavish has actually done a good job for us, most fans on this board are very basic in their analysis and I feel would change their opinion entirely if the team was successful.
I was at the game and kept a close eye on the new guys.
Eakin- started off great (as did the whole team). I know some are worried about the 4th line, but honestly some combination of Lewis/Lucic/Ruziska/Eakin/Ritchie should be fine at causing havoc and bringing some energy. Not sure Eakin did enough (especially with the Pittsburgh guy coming in), but I wouldn't hate it if he was signed.
Milano - struggled mightily. He will be lucky if he signs a two-way somewhere. Shouldn't be here.
Rooney - Tale of 2 games. I thought he was awful in the first half. Plays died on his stick, and even worse, coughed up the puck numerous times in our own zone. Redeemed himself in the second half with stronger play and a good forecheck. Backlund and Coleman were excellent which helps, although still shaking off some rust, it seems to me.
Weegar - Basically what Hanafin should be/could be. Very smooth, quietly breaks up plays and moves the puck. Made a couple of gaffs but made up for it.
Kadri - Really impressed with his skill. Faster than I thought he was and is a top line guy we can slot on the second line. Definitely falls into the category of "hate him, but would love him on my team". Tkachuk-like, in that respect.
I think it will take a while for the team to gel, but honestly, the Huberdeau/Gaudreau Kadri/Tkachuk trade off is pretty close to a wash. Add in Weegar, and the Flames absolutely could be better than last year.
(Disclaimer: Mostly based on an inconsequential pre-season game against a ####ty opponent. I was just excited to be back in the Dome.)
That gets me excited about weegar.
Maybe the final D pairings shake out as
Weegar-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Zadorov-Hanifin
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"May those who accept their fate find happiness. May those who defy it find glory."
