__________________
"This has been TheScorpion's shtick for years. All these hot takes, clickbait nonsense just to feed his social media algorithms." –Tuco
Yeaah... I'm pretty sure that is exactly why this thread was made... Wouldn't make much sense if it came after a bad game.
Well it could as Lucic hasnt been the problem on this team for what seems like 15 games now. Reider? I'm still pretty meh on him. Okay placeholder until Bennets back though
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to dammage79 For This Useful Post:
I've been a big Lucic fan since his first year in Boston (minus his Edmonton years), so I'm really happy and excited to see him getting some recognition in a Flames uniform. I was hoping we'd sign him when he went FA.
As for Reider, I'm with dammage-I'm pretty meh when it comes to him, but he's playing pretty good right now.
I really like what Lucic is bringing into the bottom six. He leads the team in hits. I think a lot of people really underestimate the physical sacrifice it takes to play that kind of game.
Rieder, on the other hand, is pretty meh. I see the Flames ideal bottom six as some kind of combination of these 6 players:
Ryan, Lucic, Bennett, Czarnik, Dube, and Mangiapane.
All six of these guys (well maybe Czarnik is somewhat debatable) are clearly of a higher class than the other options. Backlund and Frolik will also go up and down the lineup as players get hot. Players like Rieder are of NHL calibre and when the Flames are short-handed can definitely fill in as depth, especially on the PK. However, they aren't ideal, and the Flames can't lean on them to provide consistent play.
I really like what Lucic is bringing into the bottom six. He leads the team in hits. I think a lot of people really underestimate the physical sacrifice it takes to play that kind of game.
Rieder, on the other hand, is pretty meh. I see the Flames ideal bottom six as some kind of combination of these 6 players:
Ryan, Lucic, Bennett, Czarnik, Dube, and Mangiapane.
All six of these guys (well maybe Czarnik is somewhat debatable) are clearly of a higher class than the other options. Backlund and Frolik will also go up and down the lineup as players get hot. Players like Rieder are of NHL calibre and when the Flames are short-handed can definitely fill in as depth, especially on the PK. However, they aren't ideal, and the Flames can't lean on them to provide consistent play.
I agree except one of those two are destined to lock down a top 6 spot.
I could have probably picked up at least 2 assists this month in Neals spot on the PP.
That's probably not untrue.
Neal's assist comes at about 2:10. He goes to shoot, totally misses the messes up the shot. The puck goes behind the net, Chiasson recovers it, and feeds it around the board to Draisaitl, who banks it off the LA defender. Neal's contributions now consist largely of missing shots that get recovered by players that can actually skate.
Neal hasn't had a goal in 6 games, and has only 2 in the last 14 games. IMO, it's only a matter of time before the coaches realize they'd be much better off with another player, like Chiasson, that can actually chase down pucks for Draisaitl/McDavid, and Neal loses his prime spot on the #1 PP unit, which should pretty much put a bookend on his career. The coaches are giving Neal a long leash to justify the trade, but that will end as soon as the schedule and probability odds catch up with the Oilers and their playoff spot becomes tenuous.
Neal will get bought out. Of course, we'll still have to hear about what a great trade it was, as their player can be bought out. Nevermind the actual math, which when the retention of $750k and the cost of a replacement roster player is taken into account doesn't actually save much from what the Flames are paying Lucic, who looks like a solid, yet horribly overpaid, contributor.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to blankall For This Useful Post:
I agree except one of those two are destined to lock down a top 6 spot.
I don't disagree. Both Dube and Mangiapane could become top 6 guys at some point. One of them could even permanently take Frolik's spot by the time the season is over. The Flames would be a much more balanced team if that were to occur. I'd say both Dube and Mangiapane are quickly developing far more explosive offence than Frolik at this point. We'd be better off with Frolik in a bottom 6 shutdown role. Really glad we still do have Frolik on the team though, as he's the type of depth tweener player that can move up and down the lineup withe ease while young guys develop.
The Following User Says Thank You to blankall For This Useful Post:
Rieder has plenty of skill, too. This is a guy who's scored 12+ goals on four occasions.
And he can do this:
__________________
"This has been TheScorpion's shtick for years. All these hot takes, clickbait nonsense just to feed his social media algorithms." –Tuco
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to TheScorpion For This Useful Post:
Rieder has plenty of skill, too. This is a guy who's scored 12+ goals on four occasions.
And he can do this:
Once Dube inevitably pushes his way up the lineup I think Reider could slot onto a line with Ryan and Lucic and provide a similar element Dube has to the line.