cross16
-
Posts
30,202 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
517
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Videos
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by cross16
-
I think you answered your own questions/contradicted yourself. Anyone could have done what he did but then acknowledge he did things differently and a great job navigating a situation that most don't have to deal with it? I think many of the strategies he employed are very different and not common to see form coaches. From cancelling/changing practices, workload management, line ideas, communication ideas (for example getting player input on lines) he did things different so i'm not sure it's fair to say anyone could have done what he did. But again, that doesn't mean there were not problems or areas where Ward fell short. There are many of those, but the idea of what i'm getting at is there are some very impressive areas too so it makes sense why Pike would make a comment like he "definitely impressed". I may be wrong on this but i'm very skeptical we will see anyone but Geoff Ward as the coach next year. Flames are already a tough draw for a marquee coach but with this COVID pandemic and the crash in oil I think it's even more unlikely that the Flames are going to open up their budget to be able to pay a Gallant/Laviolette. Likely to be a bit of a tough go for the organization in the near future.
-
Difficult to do in a public setting when you have a coach who the players like and you are in the playoff race should the league come back. i get it likely won't but I until it's officially cancelled I think the Flames are in a tough position to do anything publicly but back Ward. Listen, i'm not a big fan of Geoff Ward on a number of fronts but I do think he deserves more credit than he gets and I think I understand the "definitely impressed" idea Pike is getting at. This team was heading towards a disaster of a season and a lottery pick. Basically no one, other than Rittich, was pulling the right way you had players upset (Lucic and Talbot now have both confirmed they weren't happy to start), then you walk into the whole Peters situation. I think that would have been difficult to recover for some teams and the season could have turned into a write off, so to go from there to the 9th best Point % since says something. Even put the record aside and look at the different in the players attitudes. Lucic and Talbot, both upset to start, are now saying it's one of the best groups they've been a part of. Gaudreau went from sulking to his borderline MVP self, Backlund dominated etc etc. IMO, the hardest job a coach has in today's game is to manage the players and I think you have to admit what Ward has done in that category is very impressive. There are many problems and i'm by no means saying he should be the permanent coach. There is a huge weakness on X and Os and in game strategy but all i'm saying is there are parts of his work that are pretty impressive too. Think we need to be more fair.
-
According to Ryan Pike, Flames won't address the coach until the know what the rest of the season holds. This on the heels of news Gallant is interviewing in New Jersey. Which is interesting as the rumors have always been he is Detroit bound.
-
Yes, technically has 2 but next year he is not eligible for the AHL either so almost a given he'll be back in the WHL next year.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
again no surprise but Wolf up for Top WHL goaltender. Should win this easy.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
I think the definition of what makes a number 1 is changing mostly because we are in an era of less than stellar goaltending. The idea of this number 1 guys who was going to start 60 plus games for you, keep you in them all, steal many and put the team on his back i'm not sure really exists anymore. i think you have maybe 2, and i think maybe is strong, goalies that would fit that definition and that's Vasilevsky and Hellebuyck. I think the tendency is to put down goalies that don't meet this criteria and I think that needs to change as the goal is not as realistic as it use to be. I don't think we are in a era of very good goaltending right now and if you get one, like Price, you wind up tying up too much of your cap to make it work. I think the more realistic target is a stronger team and a goalie that CAN raise his game to the next level when needed. IMO Rittich has shown he is capable of doing that so i personally don't really care that he won't be a guy you can count on for 55 plus game. I'm perfectly fine with a 1A/1B scenario.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
While possible, you just described what could be true of almost every player. They usually always have something nagging. I think Talbot played more because it made sense to play him more and as I said before I don't think it was the case that Rittich was off. Neither goalie was playing that well due in large part to the fact that the team in front of them was hot garbage in their own zone.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
incredibly sad. Based on some article/interviews and the reaction to his passing he seemed like quite the character. The type the world needs more of not less. Very sad
-
I think too much is being made of these "injuries" or injuries in general. I think conclusions are tough to come by given we have no idea the extent or the type of injury. There are plenty that you can play through that don't risk any further injury or impact your play at all, not to mention I think the concept that a hockey player, or really a pro athlete for that matter, is going to stay 100% healthy through the season is false. In Rittich's own words, it wasn't a big deal https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/qa-david-rittich-self-isolating-czech-republic-missing-teammates/
-
Both IMO, i would lump them in as the same team. Injury prevention is as critical, and you could easily argue more so, as treatment. I think the Flames have been strong in both. No correlation for me between their injuries and playing style. Luck would for sure play a part but some credit is needed IMO. Flames avoid a lot of the muscle type injuries that can be common, pulls sprains etc which I think is a credit to their medical side.
-
Not surprising, but Ken Holland's understanding is the Oilers will not send the Flames a 3rd rounder if season is not resumed. https://www.tsn.ca/ken-holland-edmonton-oilers-to-keep-pick-in-neal-trade-pick-if-season-does-not-resume-1.1464036
-
To no one's surprise i'm sure, Dustin Wolf was a 1st team All star in the WHL.
-
usually both. Goalie coach normally does not have the final say. Hard to say for sure without knowing the injury. There re plenty of injuries you can play through that don't risk further injury. End of the day one aspect of the Flames I don't have a problem with is their medical team. I think they've done a good job in that area with injury management and prevention.
-
Maybe but i'm not really into the idea that much changed in Rittich's game. The team just got incredibly leaky in front of him.
-
It does not sound like the issue was serious. Bruising and stretched tendons, i would bet a vast majority of an NHL roster would have something similar. I'm not really concerned about the injury or having him play through it as it doesn't sound serious. However, where I do have some concerns is that sounds like an injury broght on due to fatigue or overuse. I think the Flames played the crap out of Rittich early in the season and IMO it was not necessary to do so. The model the Flames have had here for years is to take a very short sighted view of their goalies and just play the crap out of one of them early in the year. I wish they would take a long term view and maybe stuff like this doesn't happen.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 3
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
No chance. Standard language is you don't prorate games so the only way the Flames are getting a 3rd is if Neal can get 2 more goals.
-
They are not but honestly with the way the Flames have played D lately i'm not convinced the results would be different if you had Hellebuyck or Vasilevsky back there. Flames D is jut too leaky and their team is so inconsistent. Really, really hard for a goalie to get in a groove when it's so different game to game. It's so chaotic you just don't know where it's coming from in the Flames d zone.
-
I mean you can argue this if you want but to me it’s pretty pointless as neither goalie is playing well right now. Talbot’s results look better sure but if you consider the opponents and team play in front of them it negates the small difference in numbers. Talbot has been extremely lucky lately or this conversation is quite different. Flames need to tighten up defensively and they need both playing better. End of story for me.
-
Jakob Pelletier - 2019 1st round pick
cross16 replied to cross16's topic in Calgary Wranglers and Flames Prospects
Pelletier appears to be over his injury. After a slower January he was back to his normal numbers in February. 8 goals and 19 points in just 13 games. Did not register a single point in only 2 of those 13 games. Back up to 9th in QMJHL scoring. -
James Neal returning to the lineup tonight. Needs 2 goals, and Lucic less than 5, for the Flames to get that 3rd round pick. Neal was goalless in 8 straight and has only scored in 3 of his last 24 games dating back to November 23rd.
-
And I would agree. He has taken a step back for sure. More concerning for me is the attitude. He is a fiery guy and I love that about him but for me he seems to be best when that spirit is channeled in productive/fun ways. Lately it seems to be directly more to the frustration side. I can't say I blame him though. Watching the Flames fail to execute basic defensive details gets me riled up, and i'm not the one playing goal behind them. However, he still has to learn to cope with that.
-
The numbers do look bad, if we are talking about the Flames defensively that is. I have a hard time worrying about either goalie when the reality is unless the team cleans up their d play and can do it consistently, it likely doesn't matter which goalie you have out there. I took a little closer look at the numbers since Feb 1st. In 15 games the Flames have been able to have what I would consider an above avg defensive performance (beat the league average of expected goals against/60) only 7 times. Those teams were Canucks, Blackhawks (funny enough this was the game they gave up 8), Ducks, Bruins, Red Wings, Bruins and then the Panthers. So of the 7 you have 4 teams that are out of the playoffs and 2 of the doormat NHL teams right now. If you want to look at Talbot's last 5 starts the defensive numbers avg out to be: 2.38 ExGoals a/60 25.6 Scoring chances against/60 9.52 High danger chances/60 Rittich's last 8: 2.51 26.2 11.17 also interesting is that the Flames give up almost 1 full Rush attempt against/60 more with Rittich in net then Talbot. This is why i would call it basically even right now. Talbot's numbers look better but he's gotten some better performances ahead of him. He still gets the small edge in performance, but at the end of the day for me it doesn't matter unless the Flames can get more consistent in executing their defensive coverage.
- 13,148 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- goalies
- goaltending
- (and 2 more)
-
Agreed. Rare occurrence, Great feel good story where the good far outweighs the bad, and the press has been all positive for the league. Move on. Far bigger issues to discuss. I'm not really concerned what Burke says for the most part in his new job. I think he was hired specifically to be that "old school" guy so naturally his opinion are going to be slanted as such. Pretty much all media analysts play a "character" to a certain extent.
-
yes I do know he said it i'm just not sure how real it is. Feels like something you say when you know you are being interviewed that is a bit of a hyperbole. I just didn't view it as a serious comment. Doesn't really matter, i'm just skeptical he's going to retire at any point with the contract he has.
-
I mean I don't know Lucic but count me as skeptical this is true. Feels like a pretty media drive thing to say, i'm sure he was frustrated but out right quit? I remain skeptical. My takeaway is it does just re affirm that things were not good around this team to start the year. Bit of a toxic culture it appears and while there are many things to dislike about the Flames game they do seem to be a fairly positive team with a close nit group. Nice to see Lucic feed off that and I also agree he's been pretty good lately.