darth_henning

There are plans for that bus barn to be moved. They're expanding the others across the city, and building a new one (though I forget where). If they could wing a deal for that, and the vacant lot there might well be enough space, but barely. However, there are two problems: 1) its not close to significant transit until the SE LRT gets built though, and that's estimated 20 years away. And the bus-only right of way will only be built in 5-10. I think that limits the abiity to utilize that land. 2) The block of houses on the east side is already spoken for for the two tower Orchard condo development. So expanding across 11th Ave won't happen. They could fit a hockey stadium, and parking there, but I can't see them doing the entire project for hockey, football and conference facility that many expect in that area. There simply isn't space. If they could buy up the GSL lot and the old Bus depot, then they hae space for a mega project ike that, and I think that's probably the place we'll see. There are two big problems with the McMahon area. 1) The land is actuay owned by the University of Calgary, buying that out would not be an easy process in any way. 2) Though there is good transit access (routes 41, 47, 20, the LRT, and the future 16th avenue LRT) the area is a horendous bottleneck for vehicular traffic. - Crowchild slows to a crawl at the best of times in the area, 16th is a morass bounded by the lights at banff trail and 29th ave, and Univeersity Drive cannot handle the volume. I don't think that's a viable sight, even though I'd support that plan in theory. Either the GSL/Bus Depot or McMahon would require massive infrastructure upgrades by the city to the road network to support the increased traffic. The diference, is the City has explicitly said they hve no plans to improve that section of Crowchild, while they have planned upgrades to the "West Village" area f Downtown for about 4-5 years now.

I don't know about moving Russel and Wideman to a third pairing. I'd love to see their time come down a little (heck I wouldn't eeven mind seeing Gio and Brodie playing a minute or two fewer per game), but that's going to require upgrading. Schemko is a good start at that it seems based on a small sample size. Diaz and Engellend are both servicable as a 7th D man to draw in. I would be ok with any combination of: 1/2 - Gio - Brodie 3/4 - Russell - Wideman/New 5/6 - Schlemko - Wideman/New/Diaz 7 - Engellend/Diaz I don't think Smid stays. I see no logical place for him. We do have to start drafting some good D-men for our top end though. Gio and Wideman need to be replaced in under 5 years and we have no one in the pipe to match that.

At this point I think we definitey re-sign Ramo for next year. Sorting out who pays will be an issue for management, but its a good position to have problems. Most of us agree that our D depth needs improvement, and having a goalie, and a couple expendable bottom D might be enough for us to pull an upgrade there in a trade.

Hiller definitely played well tonight, good to have both goalies putting up impressive numbers. That said, I think it might be time to do what we did in the early season again - alternate them games. Both are playing well, let each of them get playing time but a reasonable amount of rest.

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.

Tonight was not an easy game. Its no disrespect to Ramo to give him the scond of a back to back off. Ottawa's new goalie has been on a pretty impressive run of his own for his first 7 games, so Ramo will need to match that. That extra day of rest might help. But they should indeed run with Ramo for most of the stretch drive if he keeps playing this well.

The People beat me to the main issue - Cab and transit access is non-eistant out there. If they were to extend the C-train out to Balzac then you have a maybe. But even then cab rides would be insane. Stadiums have to be more central than that. So we're looking probably at the west downtown, or if they're willing to work with the stampeed, basically where it is now, or if the University will go aalong with it, where McMahon i now. Those are the three most likely really. As to the topic of public funding - the above suggestion of the city becoming a partner and profiting proportionally, that's a great idea to help expand the tax base in fuure, and help pay for needed infrastructure. Option2 woud be to fund it as a type of loan with an interest rate that garuntees the city some upside on the deal.

Schlemko I think is that bottom pairing D who could play in the top 4 in a pinch we were looking for most of this season. That's a huge waiver pickp. Acccording to Hartly after the game, apparently he was good at this sort of thing in Junior (Russel says so anyway) so if we could add a shootout breaker to the team that would be another great pickup. Definitely someone I would look to keep after this season. Engellend, who I was the exact oppositie fo a fan of has played really well the last two (for him). I'm glad to see he is capable of doing that with big minutes. The problem is if he can only play well with a good partner and big minutes, I don't think he's a fit here. Gio and Brodie are the top pairing next year. I don't see Wideman or Russel losing much of their ice time. And Schlemko looks like he'll be outplaying him for a spot.

Apparently Schlemko has quite the set of hands. SWEET shootout goal tonight.

I think the decision on Ramo will be pending seeing a few more games from him. He's been lights-out the last four, but is this play sustainable? If so I think he signs. If not, harder to say. Someone pointed out above that he played much better on the road this year than at home. That could be an issue. I'd like to see him get a few home sstarts after this road trip to see if he can overcome that.

I can understand the comments about it being easier with longer shifts. You get into a rhythm and muscle meory takes over. That said, if he CAN play this well, why HASN'T he been playing this well? I don't think its likely to be an attitude issue either given Harty and the team, but that may mean he isn't capable of playing this well consistently. Either way, that's not a good thing going forward.

The logical question thereffore is why didn't he try and prove that by playing like this all season? Will he only play well if given top minutes? And then slack off again if he has to drop down the depth chart? Tht's definitely a concern. If he is actually capable of playing this well reguarly? that makes him a solid guy I'd like to see kept (and I previously wanted him the first gone from the team), but only if he keeps up this play with a 15minute/game shift when Gio comes back next season. If he's going to only play well if he gets more time, then that's not an attitude I like. Hopefully its just a turnaround, not an attitude issue. Just worries me.

Honestly, the whole TEAM was suspect for the first 15 minutes of the third except maybe Johnny who was making a lot of nice moves (not sure why he's nt scoring the last few). Given that, I can't really critique Engellend in particular on that period of play.

That first goal was an issue of blown coverage, but there were at least 3 Flames out of possition on that. Engellend may hold part of th eblame, but he's not the direct cause of it. Honesty, he played quite well. Brodie definitely does help him lok better, but for the most part, he made smart, simple, and most importantly CORRECT plays. No dumb passes. Strong on the Blue line. Finished his checks well without getting (too much) out of position. Is he top pairing material suddenly? Not remotely. But if he played like he did tonight on the third pairing? Wow. That's the D upgrade we needed right there. If they keep him with Brodie and he gets in the habbit of playing like this next year, that's a great (free) upgrade for the Flames.

Comes down to whether Ortio is ready for reguar NHL duty AND if we have enough goalies to fill in all the positions in the junior leagues and be competitive there. Then there's the waiver issue. I don't follw the prospects closely enough to answer part two of that, but I feel that Ortio is definitely showing he's ready for a 20-30 game season at the NHL level for a look. A lt of people like Hiller, and while I think he's good, he's not great and I don't think has any upside from where he's played this year. Would I be OK with running with him another year? sure, but he moves at the TDL next year at the absolute latest. If that was the only thing for it, I'd say sure, Let Ortio play most of the season in the A, and then come up fresh(er) for the playoff drive as our depth. But will Ortio clear waivers at the start of next year? I honestly don't think so. There are never many really good goalie prospects available at any time, and some team is going to bite if we try to send him down. I see more upside in Ramo than I do in Hiller at this point, so I think if one has to go we look at trading Hiller.

What will be interesting to see is that if Ramo can sustain his current level of play with consistent starts. If he shows that he can routinely play at or close to the level he's been at these past few games, I think we definiely resign him net year and look at trading Hiller for a D-man, RW, or prospects.

After watching the first couple periods with the Flyers...Where the hell was this Engellend all year?

That winds up being about 0.6PPG to finish the season? Still possible, but I suspect he'll fall a couple short. Still though, when adjusting for games played, itll wind up being basically equal if not in our favour.

Agreed on all counts. Hopefully the coaching staff feels the same.

Wish we`d shored up defence a bit more at the deadline. We definitely could have matched the trade for Petry (using Washington's second and our fifth, leaving us upgraded from a 5th round pick to a 3rd rounder), and we probably could have found a way to snag Yandle without giving up young assets. Too bad.

Hope he is. Though I think Schlemko may be an upgrade on Engellend, he's no Gio. But its good to at least be bringing in an option. Had hoped we'd get more out of the GlenX trade, but ah well. If Gio is back in Calgary, I expect we don't see him till the next home game. If its just 4 we can survive that, but if its longer, we may be in trouble on the back end.

With the trade deadline coming, and our playoff position looking increasingly tenuous when we can't score in 2of 3 games this week, it is very relevant. Do we trade one now and try and get someone on the team who can take the minutes Gio now cannot? Do we try and get some scoring back on the team? If we don't, is this the same tandom we want to run with next year? If Ramo can keep up the performance he's had the last 3 games, I honestly think that Hiller would be a great asset to have on the trading block to help us stock some scoring and defence depth.

Minny loses Duybnik? Please?

No matter what it is, this is really bad news for the Flames. We're in the midst of a 6 way race for four spots. We can't afford to lose any games. And if they're serious about putting Engellend in the top pairing, no matter how good Brodie is, we're basically garunteed to lose. Even 2-3 games could be season ending for us at this point. Scary.

I guess the question is then, next year do we want to see a rotation of Hiller-Ortio or Ramo-Ortio? Honestly, I think Ramo has more upside then Hiller, even if he does have the occasional bad game. Might be worth re-signing Ramo and trading Hiller in the off season. A proven starter could net us a good upgrade on D or RW.