cross16

I guess that depends on what you define as identity. I agree that sometimes the idea of "identity" from fans is too simplistic. Thinks like hard working, fast, tough etc are not really an identity they are necessities. But I think every team needs a blueprint on how they think their team can play and be successful. Do we need to be that slow down the game, tight defensive and limit opportunities team, are we going to be fast/aggressive and counter attack etc etc. You can't be all of these things at once and be successful, you need to mold what you have into an identity that works for the team so that you know what success looks like for your team and know what you can fall back on when times get tough. That's identity to me and it's absolutely critical to team success and to me it falls on the head coach. The number 1 job of any head coach is setting the identity and then getting players to follow suit and stick to that identity. This is a big question for the Flames right now and I think it's 100% a fair one because for me there is no identity right now. Right now I see a team that wants to be a little bit of everything. They want to be tough when they need to be, fast when they need to be, good defensively when they need to be, aggressive when they need to be, passive and shut down when it warrants it. Problem is when you try to just be good at a lot of things you wind up with either confusion, or just being average. Kind of sums up the Flames for me since Ward took over. I'm critical of Ward, but at the same time I do think it's important to look at the circumstances he took this job under. The fact that the flames don't' appear to have an identity is not cause for concern yet but the clock is starting to run on that one.

Don't disagree with any of this. Just don't consider it an issue because Leivo is just depth and Dube will be back soon. I think Leivo has been fine in a depth role and is an improvement over the likes of Reider and Buddy Robsinon who they used in similar situation the last couple years. But i agree on Dube. I tend to be a bit more optimistic about this team's chances and Dube is a real reason why. He has a chance to make them pretty dangerous as a forward group.

And to be fair I was really upset about the deal at the time too. I was really high on Fox, as I was Hamilton, so to lose both in 1 trade was hard. As i said if I could have it my way both of them would still be playing for the Flames and i'd undo the deal if I could. But once you analyze it I just think you realize that wasn't an option, so given all factors I think the Flames did well in the deal even if I would prefer to have both of those players instead.

so literally no one is saying that, nor anyone making Treliving out to being a god I agree that acquiring both of those players and locking them up long term was a gamble on his part as there is no way of knowing, these are people so futures are never certain, they were going to improve. It's a gamble but a pretty calculated one when you are looking at 2 players who were both top 5 picks fairly recently (at the time) and that is why draft position is relevant. There were plenty of people, even the Canes coach Brind'Amour, at the time who said that in a different situation Lindholm could blossom. It was a risk but IMO a very smart one given the pedigree and skills shown and it warranted locking them up at a fair number and one that any GM should get credit for. Many people, including some on this board, wanted to bridge them so it's also not like he made what was an obvious decision. And I only brought this into the discussion because it seems like many seem to think Adam Fox was just thrown in for the heck of it, or that his value is a big swing in the deal. Fox was worth 2 2nd rounders on his own, and I happen to believe very strongly that the cost certainty that the Flames acquired and the contract flexibility they gained, are well worth 2 2nd rounders.

I'm sorry this makes no sense to me. They traded for 2 guys who were under the age of 24, top 5 picks and there was no indication they could get better? There is no credit to the organization for locking up 2 young players long term that had talent which turned into good contracts? They could have easily bridged them. It's fair to say that Lindholm exceeded expectations to a certain degree, but that doesn't diminish the fact they acquired a lot of cost certainty in the deal.

I don't think the win-lose component is that important. If we really want to keep score I actually think it was a really fair trade where both teams got what they wanted. The only thing that I think people continue to miss in this deal, and what drives me crazy when people say Fox shouldn't have been in the deal, is ignoring the impact of contracts. Hamilton is probably going to sign for almost what Hanifin and Lindholm make combined. The contract value that Lindholm and Hanifin provide the Flames is easily worth the 2 2nds that Fox netted the Canes when they dealt him. It also ignores that the trade had to happen. Fox wasn't signing here and it's been pretty well documented that Hamilton wasn't happy here either. In a perfect world, heck ya give me Hamilton and Fox over Lindholm and Hanifin but perfect worlds rarely exist.

Going to create an AHL CDN only division. Really good situation for call ups now.

Problem with splitting up Gio-Ras is the other 2 pairings are both playing excellent. Doesn't make sense for me to split those up at this point let it play out longer. Defense is not really the Flames issue. Generating offense 5 on 5 and a really poor 4th line are really the only concerning issues for me right now.

I was furstrated with the Jets game but since then the Flames have been solid. There are really only 3 issues that stand out to me right now. 1. Gio and Andersson have played really poorly as a pair at 5 on 5. 2. Lucic is struggling 3. Nordstrom is not worth having in the lineup. I think 1 and 2 just need time but i'm not sure on 3. Still going to give him time but it's pretty bad and It might be time to cut bait sooner rather than later. They clearly don't need his PK abilty.

Interesting news considered a full schedule for the Heat was just released. are they going to redo the whole thing? Playing in Calgary doesn’t make much sense of they have to constantly travel to the US

Good news on Dube and interesting it appears it was not a wrist. Apparently groin is the issue.

a goalies save % doesn't change how many shots a team gives up. Their PK would likely be better I agree but the rest of the stats would be unchanged and they remain unchanged from last year too. The Canucks D, again just based on these numbers, would be performing at the same level they did last year and to add to this, right now the Canucks 5 on 5 save % is almost identical to what Markstrom did last year. Contrast that with the Flames who are in the top half of the league in all of those categories and in many cases top 10.

I have heard some rumors out there that they don't believe it's a fracture. It's one of those "i know a guy who knows a guy" rumors so we shall see. I agree they need to crack down on it but that situation is a tough one for me. Your trying to take a goal off the board and play tight defense and it's a play that happens a dozen times a game and this one just missed. Not sure on that one. but the stuff trying to slow players down ya for sure you need to call that stuff.

I'm not a Benning guy by any means but I actually think he made the right call. As much as i'm enjoying Markstrom right now that contract is going to hurt and had the Flames had a goalie like Demko I would have not wanted to go to the lengths they did to get him either. I don't think the problem lies in their decision to move on from Markstrom it lies in the ability to address the real deficiency of the team. So far here are the 5 on 5 defensive rankings for the Canucks: 8th worst in Corsi against Dead last in fenwick against 2nd last in shots against 2nd worst in expected goals against bottom 5 in both scoring chances against and high danger chances against. 4th worst PK all of those metrics are carryovers from last year and while I like Nate Schdmit I don't think he is a move the needle type of acquisition. The Canucks will get better. Schmidt is still getting adjusted and Peterson is struggling and he'll turn it around but their problems so far are the same as last year, they cannot defend so they'll need to outscore teams. Benning having no cap room, due to bad contracts he handed out, didn't allow him to set himself up very well for the departure of Markstrom.

I didn't like the hire but even saying that I am really shocked how things have gone under Tippett. Usually the one thing you can count on when Tippett is your coach is your team is going to play tight defense and do the little things right in the d zone. Oilers are a far cry from that. Talent plays a part for sure so i'm not blaming Tippett it's just a surprising observation given his track record.

No practice today so we won't get an update until tomorrow but boy will it suck if Dube has to miss anytime. Small sample size for sure, but given how he carried his great playoffs over to this season I really think we were witnessing a breakout season for him. to get it halted by injury would be really unfortunate. We shall see. On the plus side, last night was a good example of the depth moves Treliving made. Instead of having to elevate Reider to fil in for injury you have Leivo and Simon and neither looked out of place and both had a role in scoring plays. Flames well positioned if there is a longer term injury.

being a good coach is about learning and communication. Just because you were good at something, and in most cases naturally talented, doesn’t mean you can communicate and teach someone else. there is a reason good or great players hardly ever make good coaches.

I would prefer Bennett at center too but as long as the flames are determined to play Lindholm at center it can’t happen. Bennett playing with quality line mates in a top 9 role >>>>>>>>Bennett playing 4th line center with scraps again. ive really liked Bennett game so far (minus the bad penalty on Peterson) and I really like the Mang-Backs-Benny line. Hope to see Ward keep that one together for a while. I think Ward should stick with last nights lineup for a while here. The only question I have is Leivo. He isn’t adding much to that line (has made a few good defensive plays) but I’m also willing to give any new player more leash. 2 games,no preseason, isn’t far to say he isn’t working imo. but so far every other line has shown enough promise to give them some opportunity.

I 100% agree with this and just for the record I love an energy line and think you need one. No problem with that idea. It's starting a period and the game with them I have a problem with, especially on the road.

Some good stuff here I agree with especially your last point. To date, yes the success of that line has been they are a rush line and they do their damage off the rush but I also think that's part of the reason they've become easier to defend. There is no plan B and there needs to be. Burying them in the d zone because that's what they use to be good at is not an effective strategy to try and create that plan B.

So Monahan - Gaudreau faced 33% O zone starts last night. Only Bennett and Lucic started less the O zone (per Kent Wilson) that is some bizarre deployment and makes the line configuration for me make even less sense. I am really trying hard to give Ward a chance but the more I see the less I like. There really seems to be a lack of plan/vision for this team from the head coach.

so I don't disagree with this rationale and that is it likely true but here is my problem and it spins into the whole "what is the Flames identify" question I have right now. If you want to set the tone fine but this is not a physical team. So what is the value is going out and setting a physical presence when you don't have the rest of the team to back it up and what do you gain? Not to mention you need to look at the risks in that situation. You are starting your worst line so you are preparing to spend time in your own zone AND you just handed a match up win to your opposition. It all makes no sense to me. The Flames identity, and what you saw in the first period, is not let's go out and be the more physical team. it should be let's go out and be the faster team and put them on their heels, which is where I agree with you on what line should have started. It's just really inconsistent messaging to me.

I get you want to be a 4 line team and that makes total sense to, but boy does Ward ever need to get better and when to use it. Starting a game and a period with your 4th line was just so bad. why give your team an advantage? Then in the 3rd with about 6-7 mins to go you get a great shift from the Bennett, Backs, Mang line and they spend the entire team in the o zone. Ward follows that up with his 4th line and they promptly get stuck in the d zone for the entire shift. Need better bench management from Ward. Mistakes like this have been too common from him.

yes but then that frees up either the Lindholm line or the Backlund line for more offensive opportunities or better matchup's. In particular the Lindholm line.

I know this is the reason but I still don't think there is value or logic in it. You can still have a physical element and use Ryan to drive the play the other way it should not be an either or scenario and that's what Ward (IMO) has created. I suspect that line will be in their own zone a lot which is the last thing you should want from your 4th line.