cross16
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Everything posted by cross16
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Wouldn't touch him at any cost. It's not a talent thing at all as he is one of the most talented players in the NHL but I've read so much more about his attitude and work ethic and he is not a guy who can lead a team and at his salary he needs to lead a team you can't afford him for him to just be a secondary piece. Plus he would still be in a hockey market which I think is a poor fit for him. I just don't think a team can win with Kessel as one if it's main pieces so add in the fact your going to have to pay huge for him I would pass.
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I thought engleland was ok to start the season but overal was trying to do too much. He's play a very simple game lately and his decision making has improved. I don't think the 3rd pairing is the liability is was earlier in the season.
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That was a large piece of the "unsustainable" part of the flames. It just wasn't realistic for the d to keep scoring at that pace and the offence became too reliant on the d. They need the forwards, specifically the likes of glencross and colborne, to start up picking up the slack.
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Why not Macdonald? I get you prefer Ortio and Gilles but I would say Macdonald has as good a shot as those two and like them started slow but has turned it on as of late. Very much in the long term mix IMO.
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I think it's too early to abandon Ramo. He was great last year and was still good this year up until the last game and I think coming in cold like that is sometimes tough to do for a guy who wants to be the starter. I think he should, and will, get another chance and I personally think that should start next game. Numbers won't back me up, but IMO hiller has been starting to leak for a few games now and I think needs more then just one game off.
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No it doesn't guarantee anything but it removes a lot of hope IMO. Kanzig is already in his 4th season in the WHL too remember that and his point totals have not improved.
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I'll be shocked if Kanzig makes the NHL, he's plateaued since they drafted him and I've talked to a couple of people who have seen him live and no one is impressed. The flames are full of bubble dman that might make it and even if they do likely make out as a 4/5 dman unless they get lucky and find another Gio. Hickey has looked good so far however but he is a few years away. The flames don't look horrible on d for the next year or two but 3 years out they may be in a bit of trouble. Would be wise to try and find a dman in the 21-23 range because even drafting a dman this year likely wouldn't help the team who I think the could have a good shot.
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There are some yes, but defence would be the biggest difference IMO. The hawks were able to build a very strong and deep d core and so far the flames are very lacking in that area, especially over the next few seasons with the prospects they have. The rocks the hawks have on the blueline and their depth is a huge reason IMO they've got the two cups.
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I'd pass on Myers. He's been terrible outside his rookie year and at this point is just a very expensive project. I'd love Larsson but I doubt very much he is available.
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You trade Wideman only if you get an asset back that could play now not a prospect you have to wait a few years for and I'd say that about just about any flames asset right now. I think the flames have don't their sell off and gotten their picks and prospects, now you need to be more strategic because you don't have to trade him, but if a team is wiling to offer a Dman or RW on the 21-25 age bracket who can play now and maybe top 4 d or top ) winger for years to come the flames would be stupid not to listen.
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This is not he first time hiller has had a stretch like this either. He's shown at times to be top tier and then he'll struggle, that's life in the NHL. Flames do need to see what et gave in Ramo as well which is why I fully expect he'll get some games. Hiller is not a long term solution.
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Why would you need to watch this year? If you did last year you would have seen Brodie's defence and even last year it was without question top 4 calibre. He shut down, on his own without gio, more then a few top players last year. Clearly you saw something else but I think most will tell your and the numbers back it up, that TJ played fantastic defence last year. Offence may have been his best skill set when he was drafted but he's developed his defence to a top tier level.
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I think you are seriously under rating Brodie. He's a top 4 d on virtually any team in the league without question. Gio does not carry Brodie, they just play off each other extremely well and both of them raise the game of the other.
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I don't agree that Englelland is redundant or doesn't fit a need. IMO in the offseason a big need for the flames was a physical dman and another RH shot and he fits both. Yes would it be better if he was a true top 4 dman of course, but which dman exactly was out there that would have filled that need and would have signed for the short term deal Engelland got? I agree that the flames likely saw either Smid or Russell in the top 4 but he and Widenan playing well to get her is forcing their hand to a degree.
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I think everyone is too harsh on Englelland. It's not a good contract, no question and even the flames admitted that but does it really matter? They've got a boatload of cap space even with that deal and for the next 3 years I cannot see that deal preventing them from doing anything they want to do. Considering he is in a new place with a new team and carrying a free agent deal I think Englelland played ok. I agree that he and smid are not the greatest match but that's more circumstance then anything IMO but I also think they can and will get better. It's still very early for two guys that have never played together and are likely use to playing the same role.
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All I'm saying is for th right return I would absolutley deal Wideman because if the flames can get a piece that can help then more in 2-3 years I would do it. I would not give him away like some want to because IMO he is a still solid top 4 dman but if you out can make a smart future move I would do it.
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The flames defence is a tale of two cities IMO. Offensively and puck carrying wise they've been excellent and they are doig a great job leading the offence. In their own zone I still think they are below average however and there is no question that goaltending is really the primary reason the flames are where they are. Wideman and Russell are an ok 2nd pairing but one that is below avg in their own end and while I like the grit that smid and Englelland bring, you'd like a bit more mobility on that 3rd pairing. The issue with Wideman is in 2-3 years when the flames are hopefully contending is Widenan going to be an asset? I'm not do sure so IMO finding a dman in the 21-24 range who can do a bit of everything is the number one need in this organization right now.
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I get what you are saying but when in a rebuild I'll take it every single time because I really like how it reinforces the young players to compete at all times. I think from a mental perspective when you go into a game knowing you at least have a chance its a great teaching tooling reinforces that you always have to compete. Not to mention I think of brings a team closer together and allows you to trust each other. Look at Edmonton right now no one on that team trusts anyway they all try to do it themselves and I think goaltending is a big part of that. When you see your goalie doing everything they can to keep you in the game you feel you've got to pull your weight for him. The other issues are up to the coaching staff to identify and correct and I trust in this staff they will do that so I'll take the trade off. If this was a contending team I would be more inclined to agree.
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I'm fine with an early rotation to get them both into thd season and get their reps if it last the first 10-15 games are so. After that then I think you have to start riding the hot hand and I hold Hartley commits to that because I agree his handling of thd goalies last year wasn't great. Flames need to know what they have in Ramo before his free agency
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I agree 100%. As well as Ramo played last year it was pretty clear you don't have a kipper like star and your hands so why not go the group route? If Ramo is that all it's going to do IMO is force him to get better. I'm happy to see this play out
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It is frustrating that arena plans have been delayed because I remember about two years ago king saying at the season ticket meeting that they would likely have an announcement in the coming months and as I said that was years ago. However, reading between the lines of he last ticket holder meeting I went to I think get delay is because the flames bought the stamps and had to re do their plans to include two facilities. He skipped over it but I'm 90% certain that I heard king say three things about the plans. 1- it will be a duel facilitiy 2- it will be more then just an area or facility project and 3 it will be part of a revitalization. He didn't expand on that and didn't clarify that by duel facility it means both hockey and football but that's what I took from it. I also am almost positive it will not be on the stampede grounds anymore and it will be closer to downtown as the stampede wants that land
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I love both the idea of creating competition and I think that should create an atmosphere again were the flames arent likely to get blown out in a lot of games. I think heir goaltending is good enough to keep then in it and thus competitive so win or lose they can keep battling and building the right type of attitude with this club. As it stands right now their forwards and offence are looking pretty horrific but this is a rebuild so I don't mind that but like that you compensate for that by being strong in the pipes
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At the seasons ticket holder meeting Burke referenced and Gilles and his growth. Said he is playing well down in the NCAA but to be a prospect worth getting excited about he needs to dominate and take games over and they arnt seeing that to this point. That's the step they want to see him take is year.
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I think Ortio has a great future and I think he could end up being better then Ramo but right now I think Ramo has proven to be a very good NHL starter and Ortio has yet to assert himself as a starter. Personally I would have no issue with the flames using both Ramo and Ortio next season and giving then even starts but the problem with that is also the potential that someone like Ortio could go weeks without a start if Ramo gets hot so that's why I think it's best to have Ortio run as he starter whether or not he plays well or poorly in abbotsford you can keep giving him starts but in calgary you'd have to roll with the guy who is playing the best. That's not the right situation to develop Ortio properly.
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Your answer is right in your own post. Ramo had a bad start and a terrible save percentage and he still managed to finish at .911 which means he played llike a legit starter the rest of the season. December had a 922 save percentage in 7 GP January 911 with 11 GP February was 100% but that was only one game March 924 with 5 GP April 914 with 6 GP. On a bad team those are starter numbers. Ortio did the opposit he started strong and began to fade which is an indication he is not qu ite there, close but not quite and he needs to play. Sure if he can beat Ramo out in camp the option is there and I have no doubt that the flames would make theta move if that happened but I don't think it's plan a. Ortio needs to play and needs to carry the load as a starter and he can still prove things in the a.