cross16

While I agree Lucic in the top 6 isn't Ideal I can understand the fit. The hesitation I would have with a Lindholm-Toffoli pairing is who digs out pucks on the forecheck? Lucic is still very good at that.

I don't blame Sutter for trying. It may have been easy to say it's too early to worry about the top line I'm not so sure it was. In the offseason I had questions about who was going to be the puck carrier on that line and I think that was where that line was really struggling. They were great once they got it into the zone (just snake bitten) but I think you'd want more volume and consistency out of your top line. Be intersting to see if he sticks with those or is this just a mix up for a practice and a way to get Ruzicka some more time. I can get the rationale behind most of it and i'd be curious how he treats lines 2/3. Could argue he's trying to create a more offensive oriented line 3 with having Dube down there. Not sure why Sutter doesn't seem to be happy with Rooney. I've liked his game so far. Very good on his details.

I think the Flames beat the Oilers but they couldn’t beat McDavid and That’s going to happen sometimes with someone of his skill set. Thought Markstrom was very good outside the 2nd goal and even then there is only one player is the world who is getting that puck on the net that fast.

I'm not sure the Canucks have a coaching issue myself, I think they have a talent/chemistry issue. I do think they are going to play better than this but that's about as bad a D core as your going to find in the NHL. It's not a huge surprise they can't hold leads.

The balance is not really that bad. Lindholm has the almost the same Off zone start % then he does in the D zone. Think the numbers look funny because that line starts in the neutral zone so much. And I mean at the end of the day you should not have to feed your "top line" o zone starts. They just need to play better, Lindholm in particular.

Unfortunately this is what you get when you hire Sutter. I'm not trying to criticize (everybody has pros and cons) but I think he's stuck in the mindset that the only way young players play is they have to almost over prove themselves. I don't think Ruzicka had a good pre season but I wish Sutter had a longer leash when it came to young players.

A rare sight for a Darry Sutter coached team, Flames are a bottom half defense right now at 5on 5 in the league.

Markstrom hasnt been great this season but he was very good last night. Huge reason the flames stole 2 points. Flames were luck to get they into OT let alone get the 2 points. flames finding ways to win which is great but still a ways to go at 5 on 5. Their d zone play remains a huge problem.

Sabres were great and they deserve a lot of credit. I didn't think the Flames were very sharp or really mentally into this game but the Sabres took full advantage. Think you take it as a learning/reminder that if you don't come ready to play mentally in todays' NHL your likely going to lose Don't think there is a line/pairing conclusion to take away from the game because when the vast majority of your team isn't there mentality it's pretty hard to draw any conclusions. The only conclusion I'm drawing is to stop suggesting the Flames trade a dman this season. Their depth is not near as good as people make it out to be and Mackey is not, IMO, the player some think he is.

Not the flames night. Let’s just hope this is an off night and not a blueprint for how to play against them the Sabres speed has really given them fits. Similar to the oilers in the playoffs.

Don’t agree with the Goalie change. The players should have to wear this, they’ve been the ones letting the goalie down. really poor effort from the flames tonight.

Sabres killed the flames with the east-west game and got them scrambling. Really played off their aggression in the d zone flames are going to have to adjust. I think they can score their way back but they can’t give up anymore.

It’s pretty hard to blame Markstrom tonight. The chances against tonight have been of mostly grade A variety. this game could easily be 4 or 5 to 1

Give Sabres credit they look great. I don’t think the flames were well prepared for how they were going to play. Flames have not been good this period but Buffalo has a lot to do with that. They’ve won game but their d zone play hasn’t been great so get this season. Lots of work to do there.

Flames clearly banking on that 4mill or more raise to the cap. I like the flexibility it gives you with the depth and time frame to let things sort out. It’s a little higher AAV than I would have ideal liked and if the cap doesn’t go ok by much I won’t like the cap position it leave them with.

New jersey confirmed. I'm not a fan but mostly because I just associate that pedestal jersey with such bad times for the organization. They didn't have many options for another retro look so I get it, just not happy memory's with that jersey. The color scheme is cool though.

Which is what the Flames believe (i've heard Treliving says this almost verbatim). It's not like a bunch of AHL vets are getting time over Kerins. Top line: Pelletier-Zary-Phillips. 2 first round picks and arguably their most pro ready player (especially for a top 6 opening) in the A 2nd line - Sutter - Schwindt - Duherl. Sure you could argue the "upside" might be higher in Kerins then both Schwindt and Deuhr but at the same time you could you argue the NHL potential is better in both Schwindt and Duehr, and they are definitely closer. I know some will point to Sutter on the 3rd line and say why, but that's LW. Kerins is a Center and a right shot who I don't believe has ever played LW. The 3rd line you may have an argument because it's been a combination of Bishop and Jones that i've seen in that role but that's a tricky one for me too. The focus should be on developing prospects but I also think you need to use the A for depth for your NHL team too. I think they needed Jones for some center depth and on top of that part of development in the A is you need some veteran presence to help the young kids too. Could move him to 3rd line RW but as Sak says then what do you do with Posposil? As much as I agree it would be great to find a way and I really like Kerins, I'm not sure it's as easy as just "play him there".

in terms of sending him down? likely I would say. The top 9 for the Wranglers is pretty full and pretty deep.

Kerins and Nikolaev both going to start their pro careers in the ECHL. This is a tad dissaponting especially Kerins. Wranglers have some depth but this is part of the reason I don't get the Zahorna pick up.

Wasn't sure where to put this. @conundrumed not sure if you are up for changing the title to Jersey thread? tomorrow the NHL is releasing their Reverse Retro jerseys and below is the predication of what the Flames will look like. Playing of the 90s jersey look and introducing black.

Obviously would never question any hesitation or pessimism around this project but there is some hope here. While it feels like the City and CESC went dark after the last deal fell apart that wasn't the case. The line of communication was open, albeit through hired representatives, so the fact they are willing to start formal talks again would suggest that the conversations they've been having have been positive. I also agree that the City engaging in an experience negotiating partner is a good sign too.

City and Flames have agreed to restart formal talks on the Event Center. City has engaged with an agency to represent them in the talks. And so it begins... again.......

It was only 1 game so I want to be aware of that but watching Phillips on Sunday I can understand why the Flames haven't given him a shot. He is very slippery, got a great nose for the net, but it wasn't difficult to knock him off the puck. Several plays ended just by him getting leaned on and the puck was going the other way. I don't think he's going to get a chance under Sutter.

The only other line I can recall was Sutter - Schwindt - Duehler. It was tough to judge though. Wranglers didn't start well and it was a penalty filled game so there wasn't a lot of 5 on 5 and therefore not a lot of set lines.

Question will be can he repeat it but for now i'ts a monster week in the Dub for Lucas Ciona. Seattle is a very good team mind you but he'll be interesting to watch to see if he can take a jump offensively. That was the question of him when they picked him.