[News] Practice Notes - 11/13

[Toonage]

^ I also don't think that was the sales pitch. Come to Calgary where you can try to kick start some of our young guys. Neal even said as much when he signed (as did Johnny). He expected to play on 1L.

[ResAlien]

Has lindholm played a single shift at centre since coming here? It seems many are anxious to put him back there when he’s really been a godsend at wing for the top line.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Has lindholm played a single shift at centre since coming here? It seems many are anxious to put him back there when he’s really been a godsend at wing for the top line.

Aside from the first preseason game in China, has Neal played on the top line with Gaudreau and Monahan? I'm wondering if those Lindholm snipes from the right side would otherwise be Neal snipes... especially on the powerplay.

Lindholm provides a much more complete game (as well as RH faceoffs) so I understand why they've kept him there, but I agree that Neal should get another chance on PP1 (even though he struggled badly when they tried it earlier in the season).

[Toonage]

Neal has never started on the top line in the regular season, no.

He got some sporadic looks in the pre-season and was never tried for an extended period once Lindholm clicked immediately.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by flamesfan55

Smith in net makes me want to rage

My fear the other night was that he would play well enough to earn more rope to hang himself.

[bubbsy]

Glad to see Bennett moved up. He really needs to be put in a spot to try to get some offensive confidence. If he still fails to put up any points, the more certain management can be on how to proceed with the young asset.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Love the line up to be honest. Show players that if they bust their ass they are going to move up the line up. Neal floating does not merit playing on the second line.

Give Peters a reason to move you up, if not be a pro and play as hard as you can to contribute. Frolik should be on the third line though i think.

The fact Czarnik is not in the lineup again makes me call b.s. He has looked dangerous almost every shift and better than a lot of guys that are still there including the crappy Derek Ryan who still gets PP time. This guy is going to be our modern day Paul Byron. I don't know, I like the way the team plays under Peters but I am not a fan at all of his usage of our players.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Don't like seeing Ryan playing ahead of Jankowski. Don't actually like Ryan playing ahead of anyone. I just don't see what he does of value out there.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

My fear the other night was that he would play well enough to earn more rope to hang himself.

Huh? Hard to imagine being upset that Smith played well. Smith playing well seems like a good thing to me. I want him to play well. I don't think he always will, but I will always cheer for him to do well, just like I would cheer for any Flame to play well.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Huh? Hard to imagine being upset that Smith played well. Smith playing well seems like a good thing to me. I want him to play well. I don't think he always will, but I will always cheer for him to do well, just like I would cheer for any Flame to play well.

I would love it if he played well all season, but one game doesn't change the fact he has stunk all season so far. If that one game earns him more opportunities to blow, then it's not a good thing overall.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The fact Czarnik is not in the lineup again makes me call b.s. He has looked dangerous almost every shift and better than a lot of guys that are still there including the crappy Derek Ryan who still gets PP time. This guy is going to be our modern day Paul Byron. I don't know, I like the way the team plays under Peters but I am not a fan at all of his usage of our players.

Maybe it's me but I do notice Czarnik when he plays which is more than I can say about some other players like Ryan. I like the job Peters is doing but it does seem like he's one of those guys that like to have a player or two in the dog house.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would love it if he played well all season, but one game doesn't change the fact he has stunk all season so far. If that one game earns him more opportunities to blow, then it's not a good thing overall.

Smith has a looooong way to go to impress me.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Smith has a looooong way to go to impress me.

I don't think Smith has impressed anyone. All the same, it is not an excuse to cheer against him.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's a goal scorer so putting him on a line with two players struggling offensively is basically a recipe for failure. I'm pretty sure Trevling didn't have 3rd line duty in mind when he signed him. Expecting him to excel on a 3rd line is a recipe for misery all around IMO.

Earned not given. You don’t construct the lineup around trying to give Neal the best spot when he’s looked slow and lazy for a lot of the season.

As for all this 3rd line talk, it really shouldn’t be an issue when we’re trying to construct 3 scoring lines. Dube and Jankowski have offensive skill, it’s not like GG playing Bennett with Hathaway on the 3rd line last year.

Neal’s a veteran. He should be able to perfectly understand that he hasn’t earned a role higher in the lineup with his play thus far.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

Don't like seeing Ryan playing ahead of Jankowski. Don't actually like Ryan playing ahead of anyone. I just don't see what he does of value out there.

Huh? Strange comment to make after the coach does move Jankowski ahead of Ryan

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Earned not given.

You think that still exists? Explain Derek Ryan.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Has lindholm played a single shift at centre since coming here? It seems many are anxious to put him back there when he’s really been a godsend at wing for the top line.

Yes, he centred the third line for parts of a game

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Insane? According to Socrates that would be doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

Smith did play very well Sunday. I though Rittich played rather perfectly on Saturday.

If Smith is starting to feel it, then I see no reason not to see how far he can go with it. I know that people are eager to promote Rittich to be the Flames's starter, but I think we are still a long way from that point. The Flames still need Smith to play at least 40 games. So far, Rittich has earned a lot more starts than he received last year, but that's about it.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You think that still exists? Explain Derek Ryan.

Derek Ryan earned his place with the coach over the last couple years in CAR. Just like the coach is very familiar with Lindholm and Hanifin. Those are the 3 players our coach knows best and has gone to war with the longest. And Ryan has been scratched this year.

Frankly the way Janko started the year he failed to earn the spot ahead of Ryan. Both our bottom two centres were struggling and that’s why Lindholm and Dube got looks at centre on the bottom lines as well. Only in the last couple weeks has Janko stepped up and now he’s being rewarded with a promotion.

I don’t see an issue

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You think that still exists? Explain Derek Ryan.

He is not scoring, but I thought Ryan looked very good on the road trip.