cross16

I don't think i would toss out "guru" when it comes to goaltender evaluation. It's such a volatile position and there really isn't anyone in the league that has figured it out. The closet your going to get is the Ducks and really their model has just been to draft a lot of them. It's been reported that Sigalet led the charge to acquire Vladar and part of the reason the Flames wanted to establish a separate goalie team was to allow for more scouting/developing etc. So I would imagine it helps in their draft process but we'll see how it turns out.

IMO there is a lot to like about how the Flames D is developing this year: Rasmus is turning into a dark horse Norris candidate. Been excellent over the last 20 games and is up to the top 10 in ice time among Dmen over that time with strong results (both counting and underlying) Weegar took time to settle in but he's now starting to show you why people were excited to get him. He and Tanev are one of the best shutdown pairs in the league and Weegar has been one of the best transition dmen in the league the last 20 games. Not allowing much in his own zone. over the last 20 games the Flames are top 5 or 10 in almost all D categories. There ability to limit shots and chances is amongst the league best. Their Achilles heel right now would be high danger chances. They are still giving up a few too many of those (middle of the pack but interesting enough not that much different from last year's team) but I think that's not all on the D either. When you play man to man communication becomes critical and the Flames are still ironing out their communication this year. Case in point the Kraken's 2nd goal where Huberdeau lost his man and there was no communication to back him up. it's trending really well though especially the last 10 games your starting to see the D much more active in the rush. I agree that the 3rd pairing is a problem right now with Stone. He actually hasn't been terrible but the chemistry between he and Z isn't there.

That's the model that's always made sense to me, every 1-2 drafts target a goalie late and stock pile them. Nice to see the Flames maybe starting to have some success with that method. Would be nice to see Chechelev get some AHL games. ECHL stats are so hard to get a read on that it would be nice to see what he can do at a higher level. Think you need to start testing a 22 year old prospect more than the ECHL.

Maybe not losing games but they are losing points. If Mang doesn't take that penalty against the Oilers maybe they get it into OT. What if Huberdeau doesn't take that penalty right away in OT against TO? In their first game against the Kraken it was a PPG that got them back in the game. Not to mention, you make it really challenging on yourself to score if your killing so many penalties. Hard to expect guys like Huberdeau/Kadri to get playing at a high level if they are on the bench a lot. I get the overall point here that penalties are just one aspect but it's got a lot of ripple effects.

As of the Oilers game the Flames have given up 15 more goals on the PK this year than last. That was a pretty surprising number to me and it's due almost entirely to the fact they are taking more penalties. Clean that up and things would look better. I don't think they can blame bad officiating either. They are just taking a lot of dumb and bad penalties so far this year, mostly due to the fact that they have been a step behind the play in many games.

With a fairly light schedule the next 10 days it doesn't make much sense to carry extra bodies.

I'm not saying he will be as good but honestly I like Bedard more than I liked McDavid at this age. Bedard's anticipation, deception and ability to use both his pass and his shot (and his ability to shoot) are a combo I've honestly never seen at this age. McDavid is more physically gifted and Sid more powerful so I think both of those guys had games that will translate more seamless to the NHL, but Bedard is really special. It's a tough comparison because I really don't think we've seen a prospect like this, style wise, in a very long time. I didn't watch Gretzky until he was later in his career and I hate the idea of labelling a 17 years old kid as the next Gretzky but style wise I think that's the way your going. I get the comparison style while to Kane but IMO that's a floor for Bedard. He's got more to offer than Kane IMO.

Pretty good win. Wasn’t great in the first half but they were very good once it became 2-2. thst was an impressive 3rd. Kraken really had no ice out there. Smothering forecheck from the Flames.

It’s pretty unreal how many pucks Huberdeau can keep alive simply by winning physical battles.

Great finish from Huberdeau who has been very good these last few weeks.

He knows it, but you have to put that in if you’re Huberdeau. Just needed a bit more patience.

PP has been good tonight. Flames have had some jump since they tied it up

Nice execution. Second time this year they’ve hit Kadri coming down the seam like that.

Flames definitely looking like a team coming off an emotional game last night. Not mentally sharp and not playing with much jump.

Really poor defending so far tonight. Multiple blown assignments

I think this is a common misconception with Mang. he actually is equally as good as setting guys up as he is finishing. Not really gonna argue against swapping Ruzicka with Mang because at the end of the day I think the main thing here is how do the Flames get a great and consistent top line. I'm not really worried about their ability to build good secondary lines, it's the top line that is the issue for me.

Wanted to take this one step further, especially now given this is a topic of discussion right from the coach. (should note there is 8 more games in this year's sample size vs last years) As of Dec 28th 2022. 16-13-7. 39 Points and a 0.542 Points % 5 on 5 (League ranking): 55.74% Corsi F % (3rd) 55.76% FF% (3rd) 56.67% Shots F% (3rd) 52.11 Goals F% (14th) 54.06% Expected Goals for% (5th) 2.37 Expected Goals Against (6th) 52.39% Scoring chances for% (9th) 6th Against. 13th For 52.10% High danger chance for% (13th) 7th Against, 15th For Save % 90.70 (28th) High danger save % 81.28 (27th) SH% 7.74 (26th) 2.45 Goals Against/60. (16th) 2.66 Goals for/60 (11th) 80.4% PK. (10th). 27 Goals against allowed. PK Save % 86.01%(18th). Interesting to note they are number 1 in High danger Save % 19.3% PP (22nd) 23 Goals For Dec 28th, 2021. 15-7-6 for 36 Points. 0.643 Points % 5 on 5 54.51% Corsi F (3rd) 53.99% FF% (4th) Shots For% (4th) Goals for %(3rd) 53.32% Expected Goals For%(6th) 2.29 Expected goals against (4th) 56.32% Scoring chances for % (2nd) 1st Against. 3rd for 53.73% High Danger Chances For%(8th) 8th Against. 14th for Save% 94.15% (1st) High Danger Save% 87.04% (3rd) SH% 7.32% (23rd) 1.64 Goals against/60 at 5 on 5. (1st) 2.44 Goals For/60 at 5 on 5. (13th) PP 18 Goals for (15th) PK 12 Goals Against (4th) PK Save % 89.19% (6th) My observations: Almost identical in terms of the team game at 5 on 5. Scoring chance generation was better last year but high danger similar. Really highlights that if you want to know why the goals against is that much higher look at goaltending and the PK. In terms of their underlying metrics there isn't a big difference from last year to this year in terms of their 5 on 5 game. 15 extra goals against on the PK this year vs last year. Being much more penalized is really hurting them. For all the talk about how this team can't score, they are scoring at a higher rate 5 on 5. Interesting to look at but should be qualified with I do think this year's team has been more inconsistent so when you see things like higher goal rates, or similar defensive metrics I do think it doesn't mean the path to get there has been the same. Also worth noting that last year's team went on a tear in January. Not trying to draw any conclusions or predictions based on this, just interesting to look at it that while it feels different there are more similarities than differences.

Ya this doesn't' feel hard to me Huberdeau - Lindholm - Dube Mang - Kadri - Toffoli Ruzicka - Backs - Coleman Lucic - Lewis - Ritchie. Even if Sutter insisted on Lucic higher than swap him and Ruzicka. That's the most balanced/complimentary lineup IMO and I really don't understand the hesitation to try it.

I didn't see quite the same in Bedard myself. Perhaps a little too much when they got down by 3 but up until then I thought he was making things happens for his teammates. I just don't think Canada was well prepared for that game and when the Czechs came out with a heavy forecheck it put them on their heels. They seemed to get it going up until the disallowed 2-0 goal and then were never the same after. Tend to agree with TSN here that I think they were guilty of reading their own press clippings about how this is supposed to be the greatest World Junior team every. Which is crazy to me because honesty this blueline is not that great, nor is their goaltending. They've got firepower sure but they are going to have to compensate for their blueline. If they can find their stride I think they'll be dangerous but this team has flaws for sure IMO.

I hope the coaching staff doesn’t fall into the trap of making decisions based on weak competition. I still don’t think this lineup is it and while I know the points looks good you have to factor in the competition. I’m not convinced this lineup can thrive when they need it too.

Well they have a script. They were the much better team but couldn’t bury it, took bad penalties, and their stars couldn’t find a way to win them the game. very familiar. You need your best players in a game like this and the flames didn’t get it, Edmonton did and they lost because of it. Which is really too bad because I really liked their team game.

It’s not costing the flames the game but this has been an atrocious game from these refs.

I really wish the flames wouldn’t fall into this trap so quick of thinking they have to have a dirty goal. It’s Edmonton and there is open ice in the o zone. Don’t like they they give up on that and play the let’s get a shot and hope for a rebound strategy. Skinner is big and he’s seeing everything why not get him moving?

Can’t take dumb penalties. Simple as that. that was stupid by mang.