JustAFlamer

1. Playoffs YES 2. Pacific Division 1 - VGK 2 - LAK 3 - CGY 4 - VAN 5 - EDM 6 - SEA 7 - SJS 8 - ANA 3 - GOALS 1 - Lindholm 2 - Kadri 3 - Dube 4 - ASSISTS 1 - Huberdeau 2 - Kadri 3 - Lindholm

If we were/are going to sign Huberdeau my guess is the time would be now. just make it the same as Gaudreau contract (9.75x7) or even Tkachuk (9.5x8) and add $1 (kinda like CAR did on offer sheet as statement) even with the control they had (JG picking from bidders in UFA) etc. that should be the top end at this moment if drag it on into season, (or kadri gets insane contract) the benchmark will change and would probably need to add dont lowball or haggle, simply go at it with all cards on table

ooopppsss i see what i did there.... well think everyone knows what i mean

They had the easiest schedule in league this year. Just really really want those teams to come out and shutdown McD and Drai (oil can win just do not let those 2 get points in the scoring races)

noticed that oil seemed to be playing a lot of teams on 2nd half of b2b again this year so went looking... oilersnation actually did article on it "the-oilers-have-the-easiest-schedule-in-the-league-next-year" back in july they had the same kind of schedule difference couple years ago when they made playoffs. Just to give the conspiracy theorists some more food for though. is not just refs is the schedule makers too!

i do not believe all of it is GG. However i do believe GG is having an impact on ALL players performances in negative way and that does include Brodie. (perhaps Brodie a bit more than others) Brodie has had issues ever since being split from Gio. Part of this is attempting to build chemistry with new defence partner. (or having wideman as d-partner) Part is attempting to adjust to new goalie every year Part is own personal issues away from game. I think a lot of people are just pointing out how stubborn GG is in terms of Brodie played RD all career, and even to try to help him back on track/build confidence wont even try on right side for a game or 2 to try to get him rolling again. Personally i think GG is smothering a lot of players careers not just and not specifically Brodie.

Hope that after tonight they give Smith a breather, back to back coming up tomorrow and while Smith has been great really want to see what Rittich can do (he can learn a lot from Smith) Smith has been battling and giving consistent game-winning performances (even with 5 against tonight was only 5 due to Smith) and still keeps getting peppered with high danger scoring chances and games going the other way. But consistently losing games when you get the better goal tending is a trend that needs to stop. I know it would impact my work in that situation and "eventually" will start to eat away at Smith as well. no matter how professional or how much battle he has. He went through years of this in Arizona, and that was "supposed" to stop when he came to a "better" team

really hope Smith is fine, he had a great start to season, and just his passion and attitude drags the other players into the game. Hope they make some sort of announcement soon really has been the star of the flames so far this year, hope he just needs a break to get back and yes i know where gaudreau is in points and that he was starting to wear out a little (last few games) but he stole us a few AND kept us in a bunch more. even with the starting to wear out was giving us what was needed. Totally different team outlook with him out.

Very Glad both Johnson and Elliot got half decent offers in FA. Congrats and Best of luck to them on Sabers and Flyers (thankfully both east teams), they both had stints that pushed us into the playoffs last year, thanks for the memories for the year you were flames.

sounds like lack at 50% salary, and a defenceman potentially bottom paring for kanzig (with basically a pick swap in late rounds) (not familiar with Ryan Murphy can he be our 5th or is he similar to bart?) either way i would consider that trade a steal I was kind of hoping Rittich would get a shot, but this is a good trade.

Cap world = i am more worried at throwing term and $$ at unproven #1, or massive $$ at a proven #1 that may be in decline. 5 goalies in past 2 seasons would throw up warning flags and raise cost for anyone we went after to come here, i still say both Johnson and Elliot were above average when comparing to league, however i also state this based on basically ignoring the first 2 months where entire team was garbage, and trying to learn new system as well as defence/goalie trust/chemistry issues. With the goalies in Stockton knocking on door, would say sign either Elliot or Johnson to 2y prove it contract (cheap), see what we have in Rittich or Gilles AND get someone to take a long look at Goalie Coach. Right now between us and Dallas we are the 2 teams Goalies go to, to Die.

true they could potentially use a new building, however it is not a "NEED" new building. Is it falling down? does it not meet standards? What the heck is Bettman doing saying anything about it. he should have no input into facilities at all, aside from assisting in putting in place minimum regulations regarding ice surfaces and other league wide standards that should be adhered to by all teams. (attempted to post on the main nhl.com on the aritcle, but mysterious error on posting : think they locked the comments on the article)

biggest difference i have noticed is that the goaltenders generally do not have the faith that the defence is going to win the battle with any other attackers, in front or coming in and are not challenging as much as they have used to. That is the biggest difference where i see one's "we think" they should have going in. While they are in good position and do have chance at stopping them there is the touch of room that on their other teams (buffalo/st.louis) they just did not leave. CJ had a weaker defence in Buf that why i would say he the safer choice simply because he used to it. I "think" overall need to get Elliot and defence to build some chemistry and trust and he will return to previous numbers. How long takes to build that trust? Should not be this long, but early in season whole team was garbage. While we were strong, was Johnson. Even when Elliot went strong, was Johnson next game. I do believe with the declaration "We will go with winner" Elliot will be going on streak. (hopefully i do not have to eat my words)