cross16

but that isn’t what Tampa did. Tampa went out and got guys in the bottom 6 who can bring either size or grit AND the ability score. Blake Coleman is not big but he’s fast, can be physical but brings a scoring punch. Tampa did not load up on Brett Ritchies they went after effective bottom 6 players. I have no problem with the idea that your bottom 6 needs to have some size or physical presence to forecheck effectively. Where I think Sutter is either missing the boat, or perhaps just over simplifying, is those players need to produce too. You don’t win with Brett Richie’s anymore you need every like to have the ability to produce in certain situations. it also ignores the fact that Tampa won because their star players played like them which was not the case the previous year. So while there is one truth it’s not accurate either imo. It’s a false conclusion imo but that’s a separate discussion

great but that isn’t going to win you a cup. I’m not sure it even gets you into the playoffs especially given that the flames don’t really have that elite or high end goal scoring prowess in their top 6. Bottom 6 is going to need to produce for this club I think.

If you are getting rid of those guys then don’t replace them with Ruzicka. He is not gritty at all. I actually have no problem with the concept of your bottom 6 being fast and gritty. The key to me is being fast, gritty AND effective. Ritchie is a good example. Fast and gritty sure but a good player? Makes the team better? No. It’s a good approach but it’s getting so much tougher to do it right. As I’ve said before lost in what Tampa did is they gave up 2 first round picks to build that bottom 6. im fine moving on with Ryan just so long as they replace him with someone good. Your losing a lot of transition ability with Ryan and if the plan is to lose that but make up for it by being gritty well that ain’t gonna work. fine with the philosophy I just think it’s comical to try and argue Tampa won the cup based on their bottom 6.

so if you aren’t pulling NHLers out of the draft how do you plan to make those trades? Give up more picks? Good players are hard to come by no matter what hand then shoot. Think it’s easy to acquire someone like Mangiapane? Or cheap? I know we won’t agree on this but I firmly believe the approach to the draft should be to prioritize talent and potential above all else. I think prioritizing RS over LS makes sense just so long as it doesn’t infringe on the first priority. Pulling 1 NHLer out of every draft is not how you build a sustainable product or a winner.

Yup that Tampa winning the cup with their depth. Had nothing to do with having an elite goalie, number 1 center and Norris Caliber dman. Nah.... I can't tell if it's comical or depressing to be a fan of this organization. Just so stuck in the past.

This whole the Flames overdraft LWs things is pretty overblown. Under Treliving Flames have drafted 27 forwards: 14 Centers 4 of which were RS 5 RWs 8 LWs 1 Step further.. 12 Dmen 4 RS This is very in line with the breakdown at the NHL level. So while sure you can make the argument the Flames don't prioritize it (which I think is weak personally because it depends on how the board falls) this idea they don't value RS is false. RWs and in particular RS RW is he shallowest position in hockey. I understand the counter argument is if it's shallow then overdraft it but in order to consider that strategy you have to weight that you overall ability to find players in the draft is going to go down. So at the end of he day do you want assets and players out of the draft or do you just want RS? Further more in considering this year's draft the LW depth of the Flames: Gaudreau is 1 year away from UFA Tkachuk is 1 year away from needing a 9 Mill Qualifying offer. Mang just as productive on either wing Dube comfortable on both wings but yet to establish himself as a top 6 Lucic aging and up in 2 years After that: Pelletier Emillio Petterson end of list IMO the Flames need the best available player/Asset (whatever term you want to use) to add to their stable because all positions are of need.

I don't view it that way. While it is cool as a fan to see them, and I think that should be part of this, ultimately I believe its more prudent from a development standpoint. I view it most as put the kids in a pressure situation and see how they react. Let them talk away the speed of the game at the NHL level and the little things that are different between NHL and AHL. Let guys like Valimaki and Dube play 20 mins plus and see how they react. You should not react to small sample sizes and that's not the intention. The intention is put players in situations they have experienced before and see how they react and what they can learn. It just sounds like excuses to me and really outside of Gio why should that matter to anyone on the roster? I don't care if Gio plays a bunch the rest of the way but you can do that and still play more kids.

I don't think it is necessarily just a Sutter/Flames thing but I don't think that matters. It's just not smart IMO. with the Canucks I can understand it because Green is coaching for an extension or a new job. There is no rationale for Calgary to be doing what they are doing. At least it looks like it won't continue

Looking at the ice time from last night, Sutter coached like it was meaningful game. Gio and Tanev over 20 mins Gawdin under 9 mins Dube under 15 Lindholm, Backs, Tkachuk Gaudreau all around 20 mins. Ridiculous. Makes zero sense.

Don't blame him. This was likely the last straw.

Right.. but kids who can actually make a difference to the team fortunes next year (Dube, Valimaki, Ruzicka, Phillips) we don't really care about?? Approach makes no sense to me.

Don't really know why this just doesn't start tonight.... Don't like that Markstrom is starting either. Really wish the Flames would embrace that these games don't mean anything

It depends on where the Flames wind up and who they get, but I would not agree that whomever they take is going to auto be their number 1 prospect. I would rank Zary ahead of several players I could see them taking at 10-12 if they wind up there. IMO he was a better draft eligible prospect than the likes of Lysell, McTavish and probably even Sillinger. Really depends on how the board falls and where they wind up picking.

Connor Mackey off to the Worlds for Team USA. That's pretty cool.

Looks like Flames are really valuing the wins in these last 4 games. This lineup is just beyond silly at this point. Makes zero sense. If they go into the game with this i'm going to be pissed.

Getting Guenther there would be bananas. However, unless they win the lottery I don't think it's happening. Flames would have to lose all 4 games against the Canucks and hope all of LA, Ott and SJ win their last game. Hoping for a lottery win now

Yup. Natural center

Ruzicka at practice

Power also tops Craig Button's rankings. Button has dmen ranked 1 through 4 in his latest rankings. 1. Power 2. Clarke 3. Edvinsson 4. Hughes 5. Beniers 6. Eklund 7. Guenther 8. L'Hereux 9. Wallstadt 10. Svechkov https://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-defencemen-dominate-top-of-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-1.1638404

It looks REALLLLLLYYYY bad on the Flames that they let him play. While not mathematically out of it yes, we've all known for weeks this was over and they put him out there while he was also clearly struggling. Poor look for the organization.

Injuries are, IMO, a key reason why Monahan has flatlined. Even with they drafted him the question was footspeed and as the game continues to get faster all of these injuries and rehab seem to be preventing him from making any strides in the offseason. Every offseason he's got to rehab an injury and he can't seem to get any traction on working to get faster. Sucks for Monahan and sucks for the Flames. His value was already likely pretty low and this won't help.

Another sign of the growth of Mangiapane, he's going to represnt Canada at the Worlds. I know that the Worlds doesn't carry much weight but I think it's a cool addition the story for Mangiapane that he's now representing his country. Dube is going with him too.

Rangers continue to clean house, not a surprise of course once you go to a new a GM. I was skeptical of the Quinn hire but I thought he had thigs going in the right direction. I think the Rangers had a much better season than their owner seems to think and were on the cusp of breaking through next year.

Big stage for Power to showcase his skills and perhaps solidify his draft stock

For sure. I just have a hard time seeing a situation where Conroy would disagree with the process or on so many individual decision that would make me believe he'd do things drastically different. I guess I'm also coming from the angle of if you are choosing to move on from the GM why are you doing so? to me it's because you either disagree with his philosophy or your disagree with his approach so a change needs to be make. I have a hard time seeing an AGM from the same team being that change. perhaps i'm wrong and he has a different vision he could sell the club on, i'm just skeptical.