conundrumed

This is being superfun!!

Vrana's been healthy-scratched for GR's last 2 games now. Still doing the PR stuff and having fun with teammates so not sure if his conditioning is too far behind for this year or what the story might be. Current fwd lines: Bert-Larkin-Raymond Kubalik-Rasmussen-Perron Fabbri-Copp-Berggren Erne-Veleno-Sundqvist Zadina Getting close to really solid with Rasmussen progressing, Berggren and Veleno only getting better. Need to get a lot better defensively as a group. When they're going on O, it's a full on assault at attacking the net. The Jets should have demolished them by the play, but those assaults on Hellebuyck kept leading to goals. Very fortunate to win that one. Follow it up with a 4-1 win vs the Leafs and we're witnessing the full model of inconsistency being the only consistency.lol Leafs beat us 4-1 on our b2b, we beat them 4-1 on theirs. Need teams to help us close the Leafs window for now, we'll do it in about 2 years. But we're entertaining and Mickey on the "ginger ale" is always fun-filled stories. Seeing a lot of Perron now. He's a player the Flames really, REALLY should have went after. He'd be killer with Huberdeau and on a better all around team (for now). Our PP wouldn't be so dismal. It's wild how well he can protect the puck.

Exceptional to have you back rd. Let's give these tossers the what for!! I'm hosting so the Flames best show all of my friends that they're good while I give my house up for this game. Then the US Football heads of which I'm not one. I'm torn. Do I put a TV (I set up 3) on the Wings vs CBJ, 1 on Leafs-Bruins(most are either or fans of them) or go watch the U18 AAA Silver Stick tourney tonight and leave everyone to watch football/Leafs/Wings? Damn. I guess consumption will call the shots.lol We haven't had a solid gathering in a while. C'mon Flames, show us your best!!

I'm not stating this is the case for anyone that enters the program, but the wealth of painkillers prescribed like candy in pro sports is really kept in the shadows. When someone speaks out about it, others join in support. Then that storyline is battered down within a week or 2, at most. We celebrate guys being "tough" by playing through stuff and doing everything for the team, but never ask, "How"? We aren't numb to pain. If we are, it's likely something else doing that. Then it becomes part of that individual's life. This is a massive problem in pro sports that hides in the shadows. Let alone the matter of having to isolate everyone in your life away from the general public and social media.

From Friedman’s 32 thoughts: 5. At some point, Calgary has to give their top prospects a legit shot. I don’t know if Jakob Pelletier — 96 points in 97 career AHL games — is the scorer they need, but I do know we’re not going to find out if he spends his NHL call-up eating press-box hot dogs (although they are tasty).

The loss is on Markstrom. No point beating around the bush. He has to be ready to start games, start periods. He isn't and he wasn't in the 3rd. Those were 2 bad goals that he can't be giving up because he's not focused to start. Their offside goal, sure, it was a nice goal but Markstrom completely deflated the entire team single-handedly. No point in sugar-coating it. For all of the love Andersson's getting for points, him and Hanifin look terrible defensively far too often. But for this game, a bit of a slow start but they definitely hit their groove. Then Markstrom forgets the 3rd period has started and unravels everything.

It’s terrifying watching Andersson and Hanifin attempt to play defence.

Can we not kill ourselves with penalties…

I heard Pelletier was taking his reps in and out on the 1st line.

In case anyone actually likes this player...you have to click the link due to the warning described. But yeah, this is that guy...right up there with B. Lemieux...I'm disappointed Rasmussen didn't kill him, because he would in a real fight. Outside of that, all non-fighters. Real tough guy, pretty disgusting.

Jack Beck is back!! Returned Jan. 5th and has 2g/2a in 3 games. A 3 game set Feb 3-5th through my area, I'm hoping to catch vs Flint on the 4th and the Sting on the 5th. Finally...never easy to catch teams in the other conference, last year was all inter-conference regular season.

11 game goal-less drought during which time he has 3 assists. That 8.3 shot %age looks like a microcosm of a team that takes a lot of low scoring chance shots. If Pelletier draws in, I'd guess Mangiapane's spot is a safe place to land.

I'm okay with Rozey's usage. I was a fan of his with the Sting and he was always going to have an outside shot of being an NHLer. I wrote a long rant about it a long time ago that ended with, "dude, you can be a millionaire hockey player, you have to focus". He's coming along really well. He's still just 23. Fans love to stat-watch, but it's consistent play that will get him a long career, that's more important for us (and him) in the long run. Our 4th line got a LOT better last year with Rozey at C. He's still growing into being a bonafide great NHLer and we have time. Him and Dube aren't this year's saviours, it's not on them. What is on them is to be complete players as 26+ yr olds when they hit their prime. I'm happy for the progress for both of them, it's a long road of hard work. I've stopped really concerning myself with the usage of the young. Sutter's building them up so they can have long careers, not instant results for frustrated fans. We've seen what Sutter can do with guys in their prime like Z and Gudbranson, they were borderline NHLers. I don't think Sutter "hates" young/small players. I think he tries his best to make sure they have a chance at long careers for the player's sake. Rozie did an excellent job signing on for 2 years, one-way. That was a smart move. It gives him ample time to be a difference maker and set himself up for a nice payday. There is really no rush and for now, he solidifies the 4th line which he should take pride in. He doesn't have to be "the guy" right now. We have guys that are supposed to be. He's playing like a great apprentice right now. In a few years, he'll be one of "the guys". Let his game grow into that. The top 9 have issues and they're almost all vets. Rozie isn't fixing everything by himself. I love that he'll play a big role in the future and become a millionaire. Can't race young guys because your vets are under-performing.

It wouldn’t. It didn’t count here either. He didn’t score.lol Looks magnificent though. Former Oiler.

Hopefully Pelletier can get so minutes in. I'm a fan of how he plays and I think that he'll be an effective NHLer. Not sold that he's ready yet, but he's a smart player with a good skill set. If any prospect won't hurt the roster, I'd guess his game. Keep it safe and simple. He's a good skater and solid IQ to keep it simple. Or it's just bonus money, he's young.

Just wonder who else might be dinged up and need a bit of down time. I’d assume mid-6 for Pelletier.

Enough already. You've trade proposed him more times than I care to remember. He's earned the "plum" assignments. If the whole team fought for pucks like he does we'd be sailing. I've always felt Sutter loves him because he's the hardest worker on the entire team. His biggest fault is teammates not working as hard to help him out. He'll do everything to win a puck only to look and wonder wtf his teammates are doing. His play is severely underrated. Some games he looks like the only one who gaf. I really wish his fight was contagious, he deserves an 'A' if we're supposed to be a hardworking team.

Oh boy. A year later, What are everyone's thoughts? Should he sit a game or 2? I just don't know. He's been cringe-worthy way too much and he's been tried everywhere until being reunited with where he had success last year. 7 goals and 10 assists, -6 through 40 games. oof. He looks lost, a lot. His shot% is in the toilet at 8.6% from 19ish in the last 2 seasons and 15.8 career. Is this the outlier or a trend? A confidence thing? Tell me how to think about this. Maybe the all-star break can reset him?

I do think it's a being respectful of the person issue. I get that it's a business, but making a waiver claim on a person fresh out of Player Assistance would be waaay too lowbrow. Trying to get over 1 thing and then having to pull up stakes and move would be extremely low conduct for a league that doesn't need that black eye. I'm sure Stevie waived him knowing full well he wouldn't be claimed, and didn't waive him because he didn't want him anymore. Just part of the recovery process. Vrana's looked happy in interviews, even in GR. Unfortunately, too many had witless "hot takes". This is exactly why BT will say zero about Kylington and had to stress, "it isn't drug-related". Stevie was prolly smacking his head on the table. "Ahhh, I have to waive him to give him as much latitude as he needs and not pressure him. Here comes the internet". As for Vrana, I hope he makes it back. Hockey-wise, he's a lethal sniper from anywhere. Him and Raymond on the PP in preseason looked other level. As for the Wings, a 2C would finish it at forward all healthy. Copp's great, but he's our Backlund. Veleno will rise, but another year under his belt. Lots of turnover to go. Players available for trade, I would say: Bertuzzi-r Sundqvist-r Kubalik Zadina Suter-r Maata-r Walman-r r=rental For the Flames, I'd target Sunny for 4 RW and PP2 for net front. Zadina for change of scenery. His 2-way game is better than expected and he has a cannon not utilized enough in Detroit. He's always been in a D first role on a bad team. And he's easily replaceable for where Detroit is. These are low-level adds, but we don't have much to offer beyond picks. I think BT is one of a few GMs that wouldn't get owned by Yzerman, but damn, we don't have much in trade. And Sutter is maybe another factor in making new players blend in rather than being cast out.

Yay. Put him with Huberdeau already!

Also because I watch the Wings a fair bit, I’m a bit shocked we’re that close to them. Maata or Walman could be trade fodder if they fall further.

He’s saying and showing the stat the D isn’t aggressive enough at they’re blueline allowing too many zone entries. That’s a fair argument and maybe a stat that gets overlooked but is important. That’s it. Focus man, focus. I’d like to see this table in each of our pairings. Guessing 2nd-1st-3rd from best to worst, but is it close between pairs?

Try to stay remotely on topic. The constant crapping on evertthing under the sun has reached torture level.

Wolf with the 29 save shutout, ho-hum... 19-4; 4 SO/2.02gaa;.932 sv% Has played the most minutes of any goalie in the A. When he gets his act together and gets to a 1.5gaa and .960 sv% I think maybe we should start considering calling him up.

While I agree and he's good on the PK, what's the plan to replace him? I've always liked Lewis but not when it looks like we'll just re-sign him every year when we need to get younger and faster like everyone else is doing. I guess my point is, where tf are we going with this right now? Looks stagnant to me, why not inject some youth and try other looks? We're playing okay, lose 3-2, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3. Is this the way? Or change things up? Feels like we're fitting a square into a circle. When that doesn't work, fit a circle into a square...never changing the ingredients. Again, we're a table full of chilli ingredients, but no one wants to experiment that maybe the A has some chocolate, cilantro, spinach, lime to make it a stellar bowl of chilli. Why try when you've got beef, onions, green peppers, kidney beans and Old El Paso? Just like the package says.