[GDT] Flames Rookies vs. Oilers Rookies 7:00 PM MDT.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I definitely think that’ll be the case. Puljujarvi has some serious issues with his game. Has a lot of tools, but the toolbox isn’t really there. His hockey sense and puck skills leave a lot to be desired.

That certainly could be... but it might be the same as saying Gilbert Brule was a better NHL player than Robbie Schremp.

Doesn't really mean either of them will make kind of impact.

[Enoch Root]

Dube is an NHLer right now. He does everything right, and has a solid 200 foot game.

Too much depth on the team though, and you have to think they want to acclimatize him to the pros in Stockton at least for a little while - even if it's only a short stint like Jankowski got.

But once he's up, the roster will have 12 top 9 forwards:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm/Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal/Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Frolik/Czarnik
Dube - Ryan - Czarnik/Frolik
with
Rychel, Lazar, Hathaway and Peluso to fill roles, and

Mangiapane, Foo and Klimchuk knocking on the door

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Dube is an NHLer right now. He does everything right, and has a solid 200 foot game.

Too much depth on the team though, and you have to think they want to acclimatize him to the pros in Stockton at least for a little while - even if it's only a short stint like Jankowski got.

But once he's up, the roster will have 12 top 9 forwards:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm/Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal/Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Frolik/Czarnik
Dube - Ryan - Czarnik/Frolik
with
Rychel, Lazar, Hathaway and Peluso to fill roles, and

Mangiapane, Foo and Klimchuk knocking on the door

With that personnel, there is literally no excuse for Peters.



They need to win 1-2 playoff rounds.

[Ozy_Flame]

Hopefully an embarrassment of riches this season, but playing time is going to be ultra competitive. That said, cross fingers for a low-injury year.

[Enoch Root]

The way Dube plays, I actually like the idea of keeping Frolik with Backlund and putting Dube there (assuming Jankowski is ready for a bigger role), That gives you:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Neal
Dube - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Ryan - Czarnik

that bottom 6 has to be as good as any in the league, no?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

^Bennett on the 4th line is going to trigger some of the CP faithful.

[Toonage]

Rolling 4 lines with that talent? Man I'd love to see it. Even if it means Bennett on the 4L he'd still be getting 3L minutes really.

[TheScorpion]

Yeah, after seeing what he's done in these games, I now have Dube ahead of Klimchuk for that 4LW spot. Now get him a real number.

[brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The way Dube plays, I actually like the idea of keeping Frolik with Backlund and putting Dube there (assuming Jankowski is ready for a bigger role), That gives you:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Neal
Dube - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Ryan - Czarnik

that bottom 6 has to be as good as any in the league, no?

This I like, gives him the same possible projection path as Chucky.

[TheKurgan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Dube is an NHLer right now. He does everything right, and has a solid 200 foot game.

Too much depth on the team though, and you have to think they want to acclimatize him to the pros in Stockton at least for a little while - even if it's only a short stint like Jankowski got.

But once he's up, the roster will have 12 top 9 forwards:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm/Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal/Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Frolik/Czarnik
Dube - Ryan - Czarnik/Frolik
with
Rychel, Lazar, Hathaway and Peluso to fill roles, and

Mangiapane, Foo and Klimchuk knocking on the door

I honestly don't see how Hathaway and Lazar make this team. They are going to have to have an amazing camp to not be in the pressbox or AHL.

[Split98]

Have it on this morning, and a few thoughts after the 1st:

I'm really liking Dube's chances this year. Besides what we can see quite a bit so far offensively, there was a play midway through the 1st I quite liked as well:
He got rocked at his blueline, and got back right up with full focus on returning the favour. Like a pro, he waited until his target gained possession and took his shot. It was clean, assertive and restrained; certainly not something you expect to see in a rookie game. But he has that smart edge to his game that is going to be massively valuable to whatever line he ends up on.

Edit: I can't find the post, but someone planted the Dube-Lombardi seed in my head and it has sprouted and this period really helped that along. I'm a 2x Lombardi jersey owner... so I'm trying my best to keep from bursting.

Parsons has been great. His positioning has looked very good, and he's made a bunch of smart plays controlling the traffic in front of his net. He looks so calm back there, but still likes to be assertive when he needs to. It's fun to watch. The goal was a mistake I think he'd want back. It was a nice goal and a bit of an odd puck to track but his game is reflexes and that was the kind of goal he should be stopping.

Originally Posted by Brodieyouevenlift

did he just compare Esposito to Crosby?

He sure did. I came in here just to read about what people thought about that. Malkin as well! I would feel pretty gross listing to a Flames announcer talking about Little Z with such lavish praise at this point.

Also just caught the end of the interview with this Oilers guy, and she's asking him about playing with Conner: '...I've answered this quite a bit, but uh...'
When you play for the Blue & Copper, this is part of the gig kiddo. Tell them how good Conner is. They need to hear it.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by Split98

I can't find the post, but someone planted the Dube-Lombardi seed in my head and it has sprouted and this period really helped that along. I'm a 2x Lombardi jersey owner... so I'm trying my best to keep from bursting.

Here's hoping Dillon Dubé surprises and makes the team à la Matthew Lombardi!

I see Dubé as having Zach Parise upside.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by David Struch

I see Dubé as having Zach Parise upside.

Yes, that's the one! Thanks for that

I can see it for sure. He has that similar mindset in his game.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Dube is an NHLer right now. He does everything right, and has a solid 200 foot game.

Too much depth on the team though, and you have to think they want to acclimatize him to the pros in Stockton at least for a little while - even if it's only a short stint like Jankowski got.

But once he's up, the roster will have 12 top 9 forwards:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm/Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal/Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Frolik/Czarnik
Dube - Ryan - Czarnik/Frolik
with
Rychel, Lazar, Hathaway and Peluso to fill roles, and

Mangiapane, Foo and Klimchuk knocking on the door

I liked Dube's game the last two and liked what I saw last year in training camp, moreso than WJC.

However, I think we need to temper expectations a bit until he plays against real NHLers. It is highly likely (unless the Nurse signing is delays and the Oilers force things that aren't there), that not a single player in the last two games makes an NHL team out of camp this year.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

With that personnel, there is literally no excuse for Peters.

They need to win 1-2 playoff rounds.

I think this team could go to the conference final pretty realistically. Deep, fast, smart and skilled.

Biggest question mark is Smith staying healthy.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by heep223

I think this team could go to the conference final pretty realistically. Deep, fast, smart and skilled.

Biggest question mark is Smith staying healthy.

We saw it fall off the rails last year, but if this is the Parsons we're going to see in camp this year I think we might have another hand to deal if something does happen to Smith this year. Storybook endings do have twists and turns!