[News] Flames release training camp schedule and roster

[btimbit]

Pribyl injured? Damn. I had him as a dark horse breakout season and playing 15 ish games in the NHL

[Gaskal]

I like the look of that 4th line.

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg - 21m

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland and Mangiapane-Jankowski-Brouwer skating as lines again this morning. #Flames

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Lazar/Stajan/Brouwer/Jankowski - 19 goals last season
Bennett/Versteeg/Foo - 28 goals last season

We have stajan and lazar (regular scratches), Jankowski and Foo (unproven rookies) and Bennett/Versteeg/Brouwer - decent depth. Forecasting two rookies and two scratches into the bottom six and calling it the best in the league seems absurd to me.

It's also less than 50 goals combined for those 7 guys last year. The best teams score ~250 goals for a season.. 200 goals is a lot for the top 6 to make up. An impossible amount. It's not great scoring depth. The only way it's good is if all of these things happen:

A) Jankowski seemlessly transitions to the NHL and puts up numbers (1 GP)
B) Foo seemlessly transitions from college to the NHL and scores goals (0 GP)
C) Lazar at least matches the output from his best season (37 GP last season - 4pts)
D) Brouwer and Stajan increase their point totals in their 30s (rare feat)
E) Bennett rebounds from a regression last season and
F) Versteeg is still awesome.

I'm willing to bet on F and E - but anything else is hopes and dreams.

Since I'm so out to lunch here - how many goals are you guys projecting from Foo? Lazar? Stajan? Jankowski? Where does the depth scoring come from?

For starters, we got 40 goals out of defence last year

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Since I'm so out to lunch here - how many goals are you guys projecting from Foo? Lazar? Stajan? Jankowski? Where does the depth scoring come from?

The Flames don't necessarily need the same level of scoring from their fourth line as other teams because of their defense. How many teams go 5 deep on the blueline with players that can chip in offensively?

The big thing for the Flames bottom six is to be competent enough driving play that Gulutzan doesn't need to shelter them with Giordano and Hamilton to bail them out.

Do that and he can load up with the top pairing with the top two lines and dominate.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Lazar/Stajan/Brouwer/Jankowski - 19 goals last season
Bennett/Versteeg/Foo - 28 goals last season

We have stajan and lazar (regular scratches), Jankowski and Foo (unproven rookies) and Bennett/Versteeg/Brouwer - decent depth. Forecasting two rookies and two scratches into the bottom six and calling it the best in the league seems absurd to me.

It's also less than 50 goals combined for those 7 guys last year. The best teams score ~250 goals for a season.. 200 goals is a lot for the top 6 to make up. An impossible amount. It's not great scoring depth. The only way it's good is if all of these things happen:

A) Jankowski seemlessly transitions to the NHL and puts up numbers (1 GP)
B) Foo seemlessly transitions from college to the NHL and scores goals (0 GP)
C) Lazar at least matches the output from his best season (37 GP last season - 4pts)
D) Brouwer and Stajan increase their point totals in their 30s (rare feat)
E) Bennett rebounds from a regression last season and
F) Versteeg is still awesome.

I'm willing to bet on F and E - but anything else is hopes and dreams.

Since I'm so out to lunch here - how many goals are you guys projecting from Foo? Lazar? Stajan? Jankowski? Where does the depth scoring come from?

I would also ask for the burden of truth to be on you. What is the typical bottom 6 production of NHL teams and contender teams, and how far off do you think we are?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

I would also ask for the burden of truth to be on you. What is the typical bottom 6 production of NHL teams and contender teams, and how far off do you think we are?

I had a quick look at the Penguins and they were .45 PPG, Calgary's projected is closer to .38 with some pretty big guesses for the younger players.

If Bennett/Versteeg are more productive this year the difference would be negligible.

[Caged Great]

This group looks more prepared than last year. Nice seeing Hamonic out there.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Also, comparing the slated 'expected production of the bottom 6' with overall team totals is flawed because bottom 6 players come in and out of the lineup, therefore our total bottom 6 production is composed of >6 players. It depends between teams how many players come into the lineup to contribute. Finally, some teams have very set top 6, while others do get lots of variability in opportunities. That also includes PP time.

Last year, our total forward production beyond the year-end top-6 players was 66 goals.

[Rick M.]

Has anyone noticed if Tkachuk's skating has improved?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I had a quick look at the Penguins and they were .45 PPG, Calgary's projected is closer to .38 with some pretty big guesses for the younger players.

If Bennett/Versteeg are more productive this year the difference would be negligible.

I feel like the flames need a other 20 goals for as compared to last year to be a solid contender. An up year from Bennett could go a long way but so could 70+ games of janko and Foo.

[Braden]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

And some comments above suggest Gadzic might surprise, though I'm a skeptic.

To clarify more, I had the lowest of low expectations. Just because I said what I did doesn't mean I think he should be on the 4th line of this team. He just looked/skated better then I thought a press box "enforcer" would. Again there just doing drills so that doesn't amount to very much.

[FacePaint]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Has anyone noticed if Tkachuk's skating has improved?

From what I saw at practice yesterday he seemed much quicker. However, it wasn't Gio or Hamilton that he was speeding around so perhaps cautiously optimistic?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I feel like the flames need a other 20 goals for as compared to last year to be a solid contender. An up year from Bennett could go a long way but so could 70+ games of janko and Foo.

I think Bennett is my first choice.
Your suggestion of better youth is certainly valid.

My biggest worry in the 3M line as you have a sophomore and a guy coming off a career year in Backlund.

I think an uptick from the blueline is likely.

But I think the biggest source could be the top line. No back injury, hopefully no broken hand, certainly no big contract adjustment, no new coach adjustment, plus the suggestion that Monahan may have gone another level in off season work has me pretty intrigued to see if they both go to the 35 goal level plus this year. Additionally, I think Ferland could be a 20 goal guy this year as well.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

This group looks more prepared than last year.

In my opinion last year's contracted, "sloppy" training camp was as significant (maybe most significant) factor toward horrible start than the Gaudreau holdout, the Monahan injury, the new system or the Grossman experiment.

I really expect us to come out flying this season.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The Flames are perhaps the deepest team in the NHL as is. Getting Jagr would be the cherry on top, but it isn't vital or necessary.

They look good but let's not get carried away....

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by edslunch

They look good but let's not get carried away....

We don't have the top end explosive forward talent of Dallas, Pittsburh, McDavid, Buffalo, Philly, Tampa, or Toronto but in terms of slotting and NHL-ready talent at every position we have to be up there. I don't think we have anyone slotted too high (maybe Frolik but I know others will disagree so we can leave it at that) and we have plenty of guys about to be slotted lower than they might deserve.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by edslunch

They look good but let's not get carried away....

No doubt. We don't even have a RWer that could crack most teams second lines. Saying we're one of the deepest teams screams having your homer glasses on. Maybe to say one of the deepest teams on defence would be more accurate.

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
Our fitness testing results are in! Top 3 veterans:
1) Michael Frolik
2) @MarkGio05
3) @GarnetHathaway

Top 3 prospects:
1) Josh Healey
2) Dillon Dube
3) @brettpollock39

[Monahan For Mayor]

Keep it up Gio. That's how you prevent regression.

[savardandjokinen]

Pollock had a good tournament in Penticton and is now one of our better prospects in terms of fitness. If I have an AHL dark horse it's him