cccsberg
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Posts posted by cccsberg
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I think you need to analyse why Raymond was signed when he was. Glencross suffered some serious knee issues at the end of 2014 so who knew what he would deliver this season. Gaudreau was an unknown commodity so IMO we lacked significant players on LW. I think Raymond has done just fine providing some much needed scoring while adding some experience to the forward ranks. I think we will need him around for next year because you always need scoring.
BTW what "style" of hockey is it you see being formed that Raymond wouldn't be a fit ?
I always saw Raymond as insurance for Glencross vs ever trying to replace Cammalleri.
Yes I agree. Its always hard to put yourself in the GM's shoes at the time of the trade, or prior instead of looking back on things with 20/20 hindsight. Right now Calgary is #6 in GF60 in the league, which I think no one saw coming last summer, especially after Cammi walked, Glencross was hurting (and a likely TDL trade), Monahan's Sophomore Slump was upcoming, Bennett and pull-ups was still a story and JH was just a dreamer's hope, if he didn't get knocked out the first hard check he took in the Big Leagues.
Morrison needs to be added as well.
Yeah, plus a few others signed at Adirondack, which still comes under BT's purview?
Yes I agree. Its always hard to put yourself in the GM's shoes at the time of the trade, or prior instead of looking back on things with 20/20 hindsight. Right now Calgary is #6 in GF60 in the league, which I think no one saw coming last summer, especially after Cammi walked, Glencross was hurting (and a likely TDL trade), Monahan's Sophomore Slump was upcoming, Bennett and pull-ups was still a story and JH was just a dreamer's hope, if he didn't get knocked out the first hard check he took in the Big Leagues.
Yeah, plus a few others signed at Adirondack, which still comes under BT's purview?
You might also include some non-trades that were heavily scrutinized, even if we don't have all the details.... e.g. Mike Richards out of LA.
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Nice job +1 here too. I think this summer between re-signings, the Draft and trades will be monumental in terms of the next few years...
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IMO both of those goals were results of scrambles where the flames got caught standing and the Avs were moving the puck at will so I can't really blame Ramo. He got a bit too scrambly but I also thought he was under seige and got no help from red sweaters just standing and watching
Ramo made a good 4 or 5 excellent saves that kept it a game. Avs could have easily had 4 or 5 goals last night IMO. Not a strong defensive game from the flames.
Agree its not on Ramo. CA were pressing, very quick and in the scramble the puck pops out to Tanguay right out front. The Flames didn't tie up their men but then again that's pretty much illegal now so I'm not faulting them too much. We could say the same against the Avs i.e. Flame's scrambles in from of their net.
I would say there were times when we had big problems with their speed, but overall played pretty solid. They were winning battles all over the ice and competing hard for the puck. It was a great playoff-style game against two attacking, offensive-minded teams. I'll take the two points and move on. GFG!
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Dollar was at 92 cents for bulk of last season. Since the start of the season it has dropped to 78 cents. Thats a drop of about 16%. Canada accounts for 36% of the revenue of the NHL give or take. So just from the loonie alone the entire revenue is dropping 6-7% or about 250-300 million dollars. ~10 mil per team. 50% goes to players so you have a net negative effect of ~5 million on per team revenue. That will have a significant impact on the cap and 8 yr contracts that looked like they were going to get cheaper as the cap goes up suddenly dont look as attractive.
There was an interesting article yesterday I believe on TSN theorizing the NHL could raise the Salary Cap even if the players voted to keep it the same (current speculation, escrow concerns). I don't like the idea and think it should stay level or go down, as that's the best way to keep GM's in check . Either of those options is going to seriously impact some top-level teams (Chicago, LAK, Boston) and perhaps the league office is feeling pressure from teams to raise it?
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I think to are dreaming if you think you are gettkng Gio for less then 7 mill on any term. Gio is worth probably 8-8.5 right now and will be for the next 5 years because the cap is not going down any time soon. I'd like see a 5 year deal in the 8 mill range and then an opportunity to do 1 year deals after that like the wings did with Lindstrom
I don't disagree with you and hope we can sign him for 5 years at about $7mm per AAV. If he went UFA he'd get more, but I think he values his current position and team more than the money (kind of like Doughty) and would stay with a fair offer. I believe he's also wise enough to realize you need a team for success and signing a monster contract (ie Kessel, Phaneuf) hurts the team in the long run.
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Agree to a point it's not only the defence but they play a part. Outside of brodie and Gio I find the D struggles to handle a cycle and forechecking game. The 2nd pairing lacks physicality and gets cost chasing and the 3rd pairing lacks mobility and not to mention both are problematic against top talent.
Again it's not a slights it's about saying what is needed to be a top level team and how are we going to get there. It's not just the D that would be improved either so I'm not singling them out.
Good insights on our needs, while not trashing what we've currently got. Think Boychuk could be a great signing in the summer to potentially replace Wideman, or push someone down to the third pairing and potentially replacing Smid. In the next two years I think we could be looking at adds of: Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Culkin, Hickey, Rafikov(?) and Kanzig and who knows about someone coming out of nowhere?
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I don't think BT brought in Engelland at the price they did to not play him or trade him. You never say never but I think he is here next year.
I get beat up when I suggest busting up Giordano and Brodie but maybe with bring in someone else you spread out the talent for the better. Here is my take with the addition of Luke Schenn.
Giordano, Wideman
Brodie, Schenn
Russell, Engelland
Agree. We have a few D in the pipeline that may be ready in another year or two but it would be nice to get a couple stud D picks at the draft.
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Did Markstrom have to clear waivers to return to the Canucks when Miller got injured? He has had an amazing year down in the AHL, although he hasn't done anything in the NHL to warrant a pick up off waivers.
I dunno? Maybe we run with three goalies a few weeks and then trade one after?
Markstrom didn't have to clear waivers coming up since they changed the rules. You only have to clear waivers going down, which for us would be a problem with Ortio...
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Regardless of advanced stats, we're doing well in the ONLY stat that really counts - points. And that is due to our D.
Gio and Brodie are one of the best tandems in the league, and probably both have a good shot at winning a Norris in their career.
Wideman and Russel have shown themselves to be a solid 3/4 pairing that would fit on all but the best teams as such.
Our bottom two looked weak much of the early season, but there's finally some good play there. Diaz has been great as a PP quarterback, and of our original bottom three, has the best +/- which means a lot. Smid hasn't seen action in a while, but didn't play particularly well in the early part of the season. Engellend's play has improved of late, and he does better with bigger minutes. That's greatmm but he's not likely to get a lot of big minutes next year. That could be an issue, but as mentioned a RHS isn't common on this team and he's one of our few big guys. Schlemko adsa an interesting dynamic. I think he coud wind up being a payer who was capable of playing on the bototm line, but also drawing bigger minutes in the top 4 when needed.
Based on their play this year, I'd rank our bottom four Diaz > Engellend > Smid. Too small a sample size on Schlemko yet, but I'd say probably as good or better than Engellend for the bottom roll.
Engellend and Smid are the ones signed for next year, but I'd honestly prefer to see a bottom pairing of Diaz and Schlemko, with Enegellend as the 7th to draw in when we require size. I don't see a place sof Smid anymore next year.
I doubt Wotherspon cracks the opening lineup, but that's also a pssibility.
Very good assessment to which I mostly agree. As for next year I think at least Smid and perhaps Wideman are gone via trades, making room for a UFA (i.e. Boychuk) and Wotherspoon the first call-up.
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I would like to see the Flames buyout the Pumphouse Area just West of downtown and develop the area. That way they can remove themselves from the shadow the Stampede, remain centrally located, and develop a forgotten area of Calgary for commercial purposes.
Would rather see them go to the Iron Mills area in the NE, North of the airport. Forget centrally-located. With #2 and Stoney Trail access is great and you could do some mega-development there....
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Where the hell is it??? What is the holdup?
Yeah, Much Ado about nothing. If you got something to announce come out and announce it.
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I would do my best not to have the weaker Dmen put out of their normal positions. Brodie is a smart player and has played the LS before so I would go like this.
Brodie, Engelland
Russell, Wideman (keep them together)
Diaz and Potter ( I might even put Diaz on the RS )
Yes like this as a good starter, to be adjusted as the game goes on dependent on the situation. Since Brodie& playing top guns having Engelland's strength a good thing, while utilizing the KISS principle and Brodie holding back a bit on his rushes. If playing a very speedy team may consider changing it up but I think Hartley has done well so far utilizing the D and they all have stepped it up. Also factoring in is the forwards, specifically the C's coming back to help out... It's a team game.
Brodie is really good. We forget sometimes, but Giordano wasn't a Norris candidate until paired with Brodie.
That said, the real Engelland stood up on the first goal in the third.
Give the guy a break. Couturier snuck in from the boards and it was a great pass across the crease while everyone was looking out front of the net. Engelland played a very solid game, as did all of the D. In the third Philly got their cycle behind the net game going along with crashing their big bodies to net-front...
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There is a chance that Hartley goes with 7D, to help offset the loss of a 25 minute D-man. Forcing Russell or Wideman into 1st pair is a risky move. Spoon could probably play close to those minutes, but he still only had 14 NHL games.
Yeah I like the 7D also. Think it might be interesting to see Wotherspoon with Brodie.... baptism by fire.
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Who steps up into the top pairing tonight, with Gio out?
If it was me I would go with.
Russell/Brodie
Wotherspoon/Wideman
Diaz/Engelland
Supposedly from morning skate it was:
Engelland/Brodie
Russell/Wideman
Diaz/Potter
Should be interesting tonight...
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Minimum Price of Brodie, Monohan and a first.
Your valuations are way off. In this grouping of players I'd put Kessel as the third best of the bunch.
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I said it before... stick with your #1 and #2... give them confidence to be ready come playoff time. Don't repeat the same mistake other teams have done last season, going with the hot may win you a game or even two but not the SC, see Kings/ Ducks goaltender rotation in the last playoffs.
I think the Ducks and Kings 'rotated' because the starters faltered badly and needed to reset, not some preplanned rotation.
With Ramo not having a full game in so long, do you play him against the Pens though? As a first game back in a really long time, it could be a tough one to start? But then, when do you start him?
On upcoming road trips there will be b2b games and a good chance for Ramo. We already know Ramo is capable and will do well when the team needs him.
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I'm fully with Cheers on that as well.
The top 4 don't need tinkering, possibly for a few years really. Our top pair has the 1st and 3rd highest +/-, Russel has the most blocked shots, and Wideman has the 2nd most goals.
I'm pretty sure most teams would kill to have that collection of stats.
Diaz isn't terrible. His stats are very hurt playing with Engellend as much as he does. He's a decent PP quaterback. Do I want him in the top 4? NO, but I think he's our best 5/6 option currently.
Engellend has the 12th worst +/- of defencemen and 3 points. Smid has the 16th worst +/- of defencemen and ONE point. (and throw in that the only goal against tonight was because Engellend blocked Hiller from getting in front of it)
Hard to find a worse pairing of stats.
If we need to make any trade before the deadline It needs to be for a decent 4-6 Dman for the bottom pairing. Otherwise we'll get killed in the home stretch and playoffs when they're on the ice.
Its our one glaring weak spot.
D has to be the priority right now I think.
BTW, not impressed enough with our top D yet?
They are ranked 1st (Gio), 15 (brodie), 20 (Wideman) and 49 (Russell) in D-man scoring league wide.
You know how many other teams have FOUR defencement in the top 50 of D scoring? NONE!
Dallas and Anaheim have 3.
That's it above 2.
That's not a group I change.
If you're basing our "terrible" 5/6 D on 16th and 12th worse +- then I think you're off base. Making an assumption of 2 bad D per team, (not true I'm sure but for arguments sake) that means there's at least 7 other teams out there with worse bottom pairing, probably more. They also provide toughness, protection and PK. I'm not saying they are the best, but they play a role and are not terrible in that role. If they start playing terrible I'm fully confident we've got D on the farm that can come in and fill in in an emergency.
Right now the team is very cohesive and playing for each other. That means a lot. If we can bring in someone who is definitely better at little cost, then great, but I don't see it happening. The team we have has gotten us to second in the Pacific Division, and the team seems to be getting better as they go. Don't mess with success!
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Minimum Price of Brodie, Monohan and a first.
Forget all the attitude issues. I'd never do that trade in a million years.
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Hiller is too expensive to be a backup for contending team.
My guess is that Gillies is a least 3 years away from NHL duty.
Injuries happen (e.g. Nashville), team upgrading happens (e.g. Minnesota) and some teams just need a starter (e.g. Edmonton). Won't say it will be easy but opportunities do arise.
Agree with Gillies, and that's assuming he turns pro this summer.
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i did also hear a good article the other day that made lots of sense. Good teams have a goalie depth of 3. 2 up and #3 pushing from the farm. Look at Detroit, lost their top 2 but still had Mrazek(sp?) to toss in there.. this is why i dont see the trade off of one, until we have a new #3(eg , maybe Gilles on the farm next year ?).. if anything were to happen , im definitely not comfortable with whoever is our #4 right now
That may be the case, but sometimes you have to make decisions because of other factors like contracts, waiver rules and etc. Don't think Ortio has won anything yet but do think it's coming and we should be looking to trade off one of Hiller or Ramo before the TDL. The only downside I see is Addy gets left in the lurch for the stretch drive. Ok, then re-sign Ramo for two years then make your choice between the three after the season, i.e. before the draft. Then in the summer get Gillies signed to come to Addy.
Any way you look at it, we'll be losing one of them next Fall as none of the three will make it through waivers...
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Orts most likely starts in SJ, however, even if he backstops the Flames to another win, 3 wins isn't enough of a sample size to warrant trading away one of your NHL goalies.
That decision would be reserved for a timeline much closer to the trade deadline. However, the topic would definitely be under a microscope in the office.
Sure 3 starts isn't enough, but a couple seasons of strong play in the AHL and doing well on call-ups will be. The Flames are in a position to trade off one of their goalies (Hiller or Ramo) to hopefully really bring in a solid D man. Since I believe Hiller and Ramo are about even (Hiller better this year, but only marginally) I'd be looking at Hiller as he has more NHL history and trade cachet at the moment and likely into the TDL.
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I think it's great that there are so many young guys pushing for spots on the big club. I hope they let Ortio, run with it for as long as he can. Ramo/Hiller is passable but there's room for improvement and it would be great if that came from Ortio. I'd like to see him get several more starts before they think about sending him back. Ideally, he wins a job and they move Hiller or Ramo for a pick or prospect.
That would be great. Gonna happen sooner or later, so now is great. Better to know now while we've got the chance to make a move before the TDL.
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I’m not in love with Hiller (33 yrs) or Ramo (28.5yr), neither has out played the other IMO, but both have been doing a decent job. Sure Hiller has 5 more wins but he also has had 13 more opportunities. Ramo proved last year that he can play in this league, this year he started well but then had a couple of shaky starts resulting in Hiller getting the bulk of the opportunities.
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Ortio is knocking on the door and has already negotiated a big raise next season, his chances are good to be here FT next year. If we could gain some promising young talent this year in exchange for either Hiller or Ramo I’d be tempted.
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Right now Hiller may bring us the best return, that would leave us with two fellow Finnish countrymen (Ramo/Ortio) to guard the pipes. Not bad!
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DET appears to be in the market for a GT. Howard was stretchered off last night which looks like a severe groin pull. Their backup GT has been out due to injury since early Nov which leaves them a 3rd string starter and a 4th string backup. Maybe a deal can be had right now with DET?
I fully agree, a great opportunity on a deal that HAS to be made at some point this season. Trade Hiller, get a good, young D and a pick. That's a win-win for both teams.
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Yeah I'd agree, however its great to see Ortio doing very well in the AHL which indicates he's probably ready for the next challenge.I don't see how you can begin to compare Ortio at the AHL level and Ramo at the NHL level. Apples and Bananas.
Unless he was called up for a run and was 4-2 then I wouldn't consider him in the same ballpark as Ramo yet.
Brad Treliving - GM Tracking & Evaluation
in Flames Talk
Posted
Agree completely with your thinking and ratings, but not going too hard on Darth. Its always tough being the first to put something out there for everyone that follows to knit pic. Where's your ratings?