Treliving needs to start feeling the heat

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I was being a bit facetious, though if our offence and pp is completely dependent on Gaudreau and Monahan, then I think secondary scoring has to be a core fault with this group. As such, perhaps we need to consider upgrading the 2nd line C position rather than giving the one we have a hefty raise.

How do you upgrade the 2nd line centre position from Backlund? He is literally one of the best 2Cs in the league.

Trade for Malkin?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

When did I say this?

But Backlund has been as consistent as any 2nd line center in the league, drives possession better than any 2nd line center in the league, his line put up multiple goals last night in a losing effort - I think you are looking at the wrong players for fault.

If the argument is that teams are only as good as their best player, then we may as well blow it up now because as good as Gaudreau can be, he's not McDavid.

That's ALWAYS the case...how is that some sort of revelation to anyone?

And McDavid can be as great as he wants, but he still needs others around him to be at their best as well, which that club hasn't had til recently. Interestingly, all of a sudden they are winning when that happened.

The Flames best players were just that for a stretch in the last 5 weeks...a stretch that saw the club winning much more than losing. Interesting once again eh? As soon as they went cold? Losing more than winning. The corelation is no coincidence.

All season long this club has, and will, be as good as the core group plays...at least for the most part. There will be games here and there where they will steal one without the top players scoring just as there will be games where they will lose even though the top guys are all over the scoresheet.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Most teams win or lose on the backs of their top guys. I'm not saying they can ONLY win if those guys are performing, but over a stretch of games, a teams ability to pick up points will largely be based on how their best players are performing.

The best teams get balanced offense, especially in the playoffs.

[Ashasx]

The major problems with this team are special teams (aka coaching) and depth that can't contribute more than they give up. This much is blatantly obvious to me. Additionally, it seems like the defence has been unable to jump in and make plays for the majority of the season.

We don't have players making $10 million+ per season and we shouldn't have the expectation that players making half of what McDavid is making should be able to carry their team to success. Every piece is important, but they are being held back individually with poor coaching and poor linemates (particularly the 4th line and bottom D pairing).

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by zamler

The best teams get balanced offense, especially in the playoffs.

Not sure this is true at all.

Look at last years Pens.

Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel and Kessell carried that club.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not sure this is true at all.

Look at last years Pens.

Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel and Kessell carried that club.

Malkin and Kessel are not 1st line players. Depth is the a big reason the Pens won 2 Cups in a row, yes Crosby stirs the drink and puts the team over the top but without depth even having Crosby is not enough.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by zamler

Malkin and Kessel are not 1st line players. Depth is the a big reason the Pens won 2 Cups in a row, yes Crosby stirs the drink and puts the team over the top but without depth even having Crosby is not enough.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

He means they don't play on their first line.

[MikePatton]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

Think zamler means on paper they're not on the top line

[ClubFlames]

Got it.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

On the Pens they are not 1st line players. That's the point, secondary threats.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by zamler

On the Pens they are not 1st line players. That's the point, secondary threats.

They are still among the Pens BEST players...which is what all this is about.

To say otherwise....well.

Look at it this way...who were the top 4 TOI guys that aren't on defense?

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How do you upgrade the 2nd line centre position from Backlund? He is literally one of the best 2Cs in the league.

Trade for Malkin?

In my opinion, he is absolutely not. He's a top tier 3rd line C. If Backlund is you 2nd line C that is required to provide solid secondary scoring, then the team is likely a lower tier offensive team.

Your joke example is exactly the point. Cup winning teams have true secondary scoring. Pens had Crosby, Malkin, Kessel. The flames simply don't have high level offensive skill beyond Gaudreau/Monahan. The hope is that Bennett/Jankowski traject to solid secondary scoring contributors.

If the flames let Backlund walk, I'd be willing to bet the flames use Brodie or Hamilton to bring in a higher scoring potential alternative for the 2nd line C role.

[Ashasx]

The only thing dumber than not re-signing Backlund would be letting him walk.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The only thing dumber than not re-signing Backlund would be letting him walk.

Heading into January and still no Backlund extension. Going to be interesting come trade deadline day especially if this team is still outside the playoffs looking in.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The only thing dumber than not re-signing Backlund would be letting him walk.

Impossible to make such a statement without stating the terms.

Backlund at elite 3rd line C money is smart. Signing him to solid 2nd line C money when he's already peaked offensively (only 1 real year of generating solid second line point levels) and his output should assumed to be less every year going forward, seems like the dumber move.

It's funny how we all complain about the mediocreness that the flames have embodied for decades, yet we easily fall in love with our own players who contribute to the mediocracy.

[Ashasx]

I'm not going through this again. Under no measure is Backlund anything short of a very good 2nd line center.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I'm not going through this again. Under no measure is Backlund anything short of a very good 2nd line center.

Well, under 1 measure: point production, he is ranked in the low 50s amongst other centers. So by that measure, he is actually not a great 2nd line center.

[IgiTang]

How much heat should BT be feeling currently?

It’s not like he’s sitting around, feet up, smoking cigars and basking in the greatness that he has created.. He’s probably turning over every rock to see if there’s a deal to be made to improve this team, like all GM’s.

Of course he feels the pressure of trading away first rounders to improve this team without the results. I’m sure he’s feeling some pressure from that, if not by upper management, surely himself.

So... what should he be doing other than what he is? You can bet the thought of a coaching change has taken place. You can bet every player on the roster has been evaluated in terms of trade-ability. You can also bet that he is aware of how many pints this years version of the Flames need to squeeze out of the remaining games and that has him thinking as well and is aware that if they miss the playoffs, he’s sacrificed some major assets to do so..

How much more heat does he need to take right now? Should he be making himself available to CP so we can yell at him?

[PeteMoss]

Re: Gaudreau/Monahan - they are struggling. Monahan was shooting a bit last night but there for a few week he was passing up shots he would normally take which may mean an injury or loss of confidence.

I do think they need to be quicker on the draw to demote Ferland off the line though. He seems to need a kick in the pants every few weeks. Short term swaps with Jagr or Hathaway just wake them up a bit wouldn't hurt.