cross16

I mean Stone isn’t a top 6 nhl dman. I think we got sucked in last year but he is what he is. He’s gonna make mistakes. Sharks PP made it seem closer than it was. Flames just need to keep coming. Really hope I don’t see them sit back.

im not blaming the goalie.

Small miscue. Shouldn’t be a big deal. Can still put your foot on them

Fantastic start. Now I want to see them put the boots to them. Don’t let up, use it as a game to get you going.

I get this in theory but in the NHL the team that scores first wins approximately 70% of the time. Not a death nil but it is pretty impactful. Especially for a team still trying to find its way.

This is exactly what I would do too. the way Dube has played the last few weeks is the profile that I think that line needs.

The Oilers embraced what you are talking about and where did it get them? Where has it gotten Florida? New York Islanders? Those teams, by your definition, would not be ok with mediocrity (they all rebuilt) yet none of those 3 franchises are substantially better than Calgary or really have had anymore success. The Flames also draft substantially better than Edm and quite frankly it isn't close. Since 2013 (and outside of McDavid/Draisitl) the Oilers have drafted exactly 1 top 6 forward. (and you could even argue that Yamamotto isn't a top 6 forward) They've drafted 1 top 4 dman in Evan Bouchard. From 2013 to 2019 (excluding players that played less than 30 games) players the Flames have drafted have played 3,114 games in the NHL. The Oilers 2,985. Total amount of picks: Oilers 49 vs Flames 43 Avg position of first selection: Oilers 7.75 Flames 30 Like I said, it isn't close. Do I wish the Flames would embrace more of what you are talking about, yes I do. As i've said many times before with Tkachuk/Gaudreau left I would have torn this down (actually I would have torn it down 2 years ago) because I was ready. However, what I don't like is tying that decision in with mediocrity. So the Flames are ok with mediocrity because they don't want to tank? That's silly IMO because tanking does not guarantee success and there are countless examples in the league of that. The Flames don't build the way some want and I think it's ok to acknowledge that we can disagree with how they run their team without have to accuse them of being ok with mediocrity. Those 2 situations are not mutually inclusive of each other. The owners just differ and have a different philosophy on how they want their team and even though I wish they would embrace it more I think there are reasons why it's also sound logic. Ok to disagree with them.

Can't fault Sutter for not being able to see the future. Up 5-2 I bet Gilbert would have played a lot if he could have.

Looks like Ronni starts the tourney as Finland's 3rd line center. They have a prelim game against the US. Worth pointing out, Finland is very good and deep this year.

It's not a game day so it's not worth freaking out over but its hard to have words for Lucic in the top 6. But putting the Mang-Backs-Coleman line back is super intriguing. They were dynamite last year. If be really cool if they could just swap Lucic and Phillips.

Since returning from injury Stone hasn't been very good. In response Sutter has really had to lean on his top 4. In addition he's still trying to figure out the forward lines so I thought the 7 dmen made sense personally. I want to see Phillips play too but I liked the decision by Sutter last night. Try and take some pressure off your d core and also allow yourself to cycle players up and down different lines.

I'm not sure how offering a different opinion is being told to "shut it". No one here is saying their game is perfect and it's all on Markstrom. I have no problem pointing the finger at the team if they are sloppy and the goalies don't play well because of it but I also just don't think that's really what has happened that much this year. It is also possible to say the team needs to improve their game and the goalies need to be better too. Doesn't have to be one or the other and I would be in the camp that would suggest both need to improve. I just think Markstrom needs to improve more that's all.

I really liked most of their game until they got the lead, didn't like how they played once it was 2-1 and then missed the 3rd. But he first 3 mins of the 3rd is exactly why I think the team frustrates you. It's getting easy to say well were 30 games in this team is what it is, but then they flash things like that. Creating chances/goals with speed, threading passes through the box, slot shots etc. I know it's San Jose but they did they against the Wild too. They keep teasing flashes of high end play.

Oilers give Skinner essentially the Vladar deal. I actually like this for the Oilers as I like Skinner but it's hilarious they are now are paying their backup, who honestly should have been their starter this year I thought, half as much as their starter and he's out playing him. Will never get tired of the Oilers shooting themselves in the foot with bad personnel mistakes.

Also a lot harder to find your team game, especially with the turnover the Flames have, when you are consistently playing from behind. Frequently due to the fact your goalie can't make a save.

We can keep talking about this but that would assume it was ever on the table and I think by now we know what that answer is. I agree they should have rebuilt and gotten younger but I don't think that was every on the table. On when they play together Weegar/Tanev have been one of the best shutdown pairings in the NHL.

I'm not really a believer in assigning blame. When things aren't going as well as you think they can there is almost always multiple factors at play. But I will say right now I have more questions for the coaching staff then I do the players. Right now the 2 biggest issues I see with the Flames is they don't seem to play with a purpose and when they get leads they play scared. That makes me question what is the message here, what is the game plan? What is the environment like around the rink because there is a team that is not playing with any type of confidence or relaxed. On the PP what are we trying to do, I don't see a plan. Do we really want to play the 1-3-1 so we can get point shots and traffic? Why is the bumper spot going to the net? I think when the Flames PP clicks is because of individual talent making plans and not based on scheme so again what are we doing here? Not saying it's the coaches fault nor am I trying to suggest players are fine and letting them off the hook, I just really don't see a game plan, nor do I see a team that is confident. 2 things I put more on coaches then I do players.

This is starting to really bother me. Do we really think an organization that is ok with mediocrity would authorize the buyouts they did/do? Would an organization ok with mediocrity have up to 3 head coaches on the payroll at one time? Would an organization that is ok with mediocrity authorize 3 of the largest deals in their franchise history last offseason, 2 of which to players that had never played a game for them? You can disagree with how they go about doing their business, and I have issues myself, but I don't think it's fair at all to say this franchise is ok with mediocrity. That's crap to me.

I am of the belief that if the Flames were receiving even avg goaltending from Markstrom, and to an extent Vladar to begin the season, they are in the a playoff spot right now and the angst around this team is greatly reduced. I think it's been a net negative 4 point swing for the Flames, in that I think goaltending has cost them 4 points less than what they ahve gained them. I think there has only been a game or 2 where goaltending stole them points and there's been 5-6 where they've cost them points. That would put them 3rd in the division right behind LA and in a spot where they likely were expected to be when starting the season. I agree it's a team game and I also agree that the Flames need to be more consistent in their team game and defense. However at the same time they are top 10 in pretty much all defensive metrics so it's really hard for me to say the D hasn't played well enough or that we can absolve a bit of Markstrom's play because the team hasn't been good. He's just needed to make more saves. I think he's been pretty good the last 2 weeks and for me that's what Markstrom he. He is a pretty good goalie, one that should give you a quality start far more often than not and keep you in games with stealing the odd one. While the Vezina nomination was great last year I personally don't think that is the type of goalie he is.

As soon as the flames get a lead they played scared. Doing it again tonight. This has been a very rough period when you factor in the opponent.

The San Jose sharks have the flames on their heels because they are sitting on a 2-1 lead… against one of the worst teams in the league. yikes

Hey look another bad thread. can always tell how the flames are playing based on the quality of threads and posts here.

Stupid fight. Any player who takes a fight when the team has offensive zone possession should be benched immediately. flames have not been very good since they made it 2-1

I didn’t like that PP. is he flames are way too focused getting the puck high. PP doesn’t really have much purpose to it. Hasn’t all year. What’s the goal?

The flames o zone system is archaic. Gain the zone, point shots and go get traffic. predicatable and terrible. Yes the flames need their best players to produce mitt for sure, but their system is not helping at all. Blues know exactly what the flames want to do