MP5029

Agreed 100%

It’s funny that about 2 months ago I was saying put Bennett on line 2 Crt and watch him excel...now look at him in Fla! It’s time for fans and more So mgt to take a hard shot of reality... the reality is: 1. Monahan is a great Ctr 2. Gaudreau is too small and we simply don’t have enough size to keep him successful 3. again on the size issue, Manji, Dube and Gaudreau are great but 3 super small players is far too many pick one trade the rest..love them all but.. 3. Gio is too long in the tooth, move him to line 3 or better still trade him and get something for him 4. We should have kept Bennet and traded Backlund...but that’s a mistake, however, trade Backlund now before he’s worth nothing 5.Tachuck is still the future, let’s not ruin him like Bennett, rather let’s get him on the top line with Monahan and Lindholm...then build a solid second line which, to be honest should have been Around Bennett. 6. the D is not so bad just need to be paired better with: Hanifin/Tanev Valimaki/Anderson gio (or 2021 first)/Kylington Stone (solid #7 filler) lots of work to do, but if done right, could only take a year or two to turn it around...enter BT to ruin this by keeping Gio and Backlund, Gaudreau...maybe trading Hanifin and Kylington...bring in some more small players etc...it’s pretty predictable cause that’s al he’s done!

Exactly, the mix isn’t right and it needs to be changed up...re-tool or re-build kinda depends on how much changes are needed. I think we will get a better idea of that in a few weeks ones we are officially eliminated and we see who if any of the key guys are and have been playing with injury...also in the equation is if there are injuries, to who and how severe are they? for example if Monahan is, that’s a big issue as he’s becoming injury prone every few years, sure he’s awesome when healthy for a few years then has a year or two of bad play...personally I like Monahan but if he’s injured yet again it may be time to think about moving him for someone a bit more durable...especially at the C position. I would argue if that’s the case we should target some 2022 first round picks...deep draft up front and this team needs it. I think the D should be ok if...we trade Gio or move him back to the 3rd pair next season and mix up the top two pairs: Hanifin/Tanev Valimaki/ Anderson Gio/ Kylington (or maybe 2021 first pick?) Stone (spare) he’s been good...not great but good if not that, maybe another way to look at the D is trading Gio: Hanifin/Tanev valimaki/anderson 2021 first pick/ Kylington Stone (Spare) he’s been good, not great but good Or another option besides trading Gio is the possibility of swinging another trade like the Hamilton trade but using Hanifin...maybe we could get lucky twice and land a young up and coming D and a solid top 6 forward again...I see Hanifin much like Hamilton was but he’s got another few years of growth so we may be able to land a decent haul for him...obviously we should be moving Gio too, maybe if luck land a low round 1st or a high second and a prospect? of the options I see the keeping Gio and mixing up the lines as a safe fall back. trading just Gio is not doing much short term but could help in 3-5 years, so not the best option unless it’s a lucky type trade and we land a decent first rounder or a young up and coming prospect...would have to be from a contending team in need of a D like Gio, so not likely. moving Hanifin and Gio (separate moves no doubt) could be the key to a quick turn around with this team, but is it realistic to think another Hamilton type trade is possible? It’s a long shot but if there is an option for such a move this is where I’d start...ideally such a move could land a top 2 pairing D like Hanifin back and a top 6 RW (or Ctr), obviously a top RW would be best but another top 6 Ctr would be almost as good giving some option on trades later as Backlund or Monahan could be expendable depending... I guess what I’m saying is if this team is to get turned around the key is through the D not the forwards...but it’s going to require very carefully planing your assets...which I’m not sure if BT is good at or not, he did great with the Hamilton deal but since then it’s questionable...If he can swing and other deal like that well then that’s 1/2 the work done....well sort of, but it’s a huge step in the right direction at least.

Hopefully soon, got a feeling there are a lot of them on the team this year?

I too would love to see them give Kylington a longer look on a regular basis...and also hopefully this forces them to put Valimaki with Anderson...been screaming for this all year maybe it’s getting fixed on them...hopefully! I get the sense Anderson and Valimaki could become a secondary top pair like Hanifin and Tanev did...I hope this most unfortunate situation makes that a reality and hope Hanifin gets healed up without nagging issues for next year...maybe see an improvement in the as by simply having: Hanifin/Tanev Valimaki/Anderson Gio/Kylington (mostly cause Gio prob not getting traded but too old and slow for top line duty so, may as well try and get Kylington up to speed next year with having Gio as his lime mate teacher) this could be a blessing in disguise, provided Cgy makes use of the pairings the proper way...well there goes that whole opportunity to get a solid D for a few year to come cause we all know Cgy messes it up! prob gonna have stone and nester as our top pair 😞

Agreed

When do they hit the point where they are mathematically eliminated? It’s gotta be very close now?

Well they drafted Bennett and then nearly ruined him..he’s starting to catch on in Fla...maybe the Flames need to put some faith and give their high picks a chance to play a meaningful role, but not here in Cgy nope..we will give Lucic, an again Backlund and Gio..oh how about Brewer or Neil..like seriously I did say many times over way back as far as Brewer and maybe past that..play our young guys up...Bennett should have been the #2 Ctr the season after that play off run when he was drafted...Backlund should have been the #3 but nope I was crazy today that and now look weheee we are lost our highest and back then potentially best pick in years for what? man Sutter has some serious work to do in just 2 years, hopefully he and BT can clear out this core and get a new good young and hungry core in the next 2 years?

I knew we would be missing Bennett...been saying for a few years now, trade Backlund and play Bennett...so far early on Fla has gotta be happy with this trade...BT best pull off some kinda of magic trick this off-season and get this crappy lazy “core” trades out and bring in a new core group that actually has drive and will play to win..this current group plays to get paid...time to go! should have kept Bennett as the #2 Ctr to build around...messed that up too and now we have a 30+ decline if Backlund 😞 for that role🤨

Yeah, I have to agree, it’s like he’s had a leash around him since that meeting...the problem is he an agitator who can put up some great numbers when he’s got the opposition off their game by being that elite agitator...since he’s not doing that then opposing side has been able to control the pace of most games against the flames...so either let Tachuck off his leash, hopefully he returns to form or...consider offers on him... in any case I think every player on this team needs to be considered as a movable asset especially the “core” it’s lost its way time to do a quick rebuild...but do it properly. hoping BT sees it’s time for a fire sale...Gio, Backlund, Monahan, Gaudreau, Dube, Heck even Lindhom and Tachuck at this point..it seems the whole of this core has rotted away time to show them you need to earn your money...

not really, Ottawa has traded away most of the team on a few occasions and grabbed up a bunch of draft picks and suddenly had a good team for a year or two...they need to do that mostly cause they can’t afford to keep those amazing players past the 4/5 year mark. other teams have also done a complete tear down and grabbed a bunch of top draft picks and then become really good teams...col did it and found Mackinnon and a few others to build around... I can’t remember if Stl did the same type of thing...LVK were smart in the expansion draft so they are kinda an exception to any rule.. but generally speaking, the best thing Cgy could Do is rip everything apart say for a few guys like Tachuck, Lindholm, Gio etc... the thing is, the defence and G are pretty solid, if they were smart maybe bolster the d in this years draft with a few first round picks and also keeping in mind Tanev will age over the next few years so the D is pretty much 1/2 way built for the future with Valimaki, Hanifin And Anderson...so since the team sucks so bad this year may as well make use of a draft that could actually help solidify the back end...I’m only talking an extra 1st from this years draft should do it along with the picks they got at the TDL... after that, I would say they need to trade everyone else for 2022 1st round pics (well those that should fetch a 1st) so basically we would be looking at: 2021 Draft: Gaudreau for a 1st round pick, hopefully a top 10 pick or at the very least a top 15 pick and draft a decent D Cgys first round pick draft a decent D and quite possibly a top 10 pick this way we could be looking at: Valimaki/Anderson Hanifin/Tanev 2021 Cgy 1st/2021 pick from gaudreau trade next year in 2022 (strong draft year) cgy 2022 1st should definitely be a top 10 pick, hopefully get that franchise C 2022 1st from trading Monahan, take another crack at getting a top level Ctr this would then have the top 2 lines looking kinda like: Tachuck/2022 1st/ Lindholm manji/ 2022 1st from Mony trade/ RW from Backlund Trade Not including any moves you could make to build the bottom 2 lines but we also have Zary and Pelletier coming so that’s possibly 2/3rds of a line there... anyway a full tear down could be possible and have a team that could complete in 2023 and beyond The only other option would be maybe a Monahan/Gaudreau/and Cgy 2021 1st to Buffalo for Eichel and Reinhart...but that would still leave a lot of work to do on the D and forward lines, as Backlund is 31 nest year so he’s definitely 3rd line Ctr but for how long? And there would still be a huge RW hole on line 2 assuming you keep Lindholm as 2nd line Ctr and Manj as 2nd line LW

Thanks for Those...I have a bad feeling Bennett is gonna shine in Fla...he just got grounded down and miss managed so badly here...he’s gonna be a rockstar in Fla...wait and see...

Well said 😊👍

Backlund is and always has been a solid #3 Ctr...only on the flames was he a #2...which sure, he’s capable of filling in at #2 Ctr but he’s best suited for 3rd line Ctr duties bit

Yes I did see that too...he could be a good option if they decide to trade Lindholm

No thank you, I’m good with Eichel, Nylander is ok, Konecny ok but a bit smallish...Hall no he’s getting too old, especially with his playing style...it wears on a body, he’s a bit of a risky tak on now...Laughton I think is also north of or at 30...pass personally I’d be looking for something like: Eichel and Reinhart for Monahan and gaudreau + something probably a pick or something of the sorts... Tachuck/Eichel/Reinhart Manji/Lindholm/??? use Backlund (if possible, meaning if he waves) grab another top 6 RW hopefully then work on the 3rd line RW Dube/Bennett/???? our largest weakness for many years has been the RW and now that is getting exposed and exploited...making the whole team look horrible. It needs to be fixed, it can’t be ignored any longer nor is any other area of the team able to be blamed...our RW is horribly weak like worse than AHL weak.

To be honest I believe it too, we kinda see this in the way the team is playing and in particular those two players who are supposed to be our two best (and have been) I think they need to take Monahan out of the line up and force him to get fixed and healed up... Definitely time To Trade Gaudreau, he’s got value so move him to where he may be happy and we can get an asset or two back that will help not hurt the team...on the GJ topic, it makes sense what with the no PP pass to him from Gio, he’s never in interviews with other players...heck mostmof the time he’s not sporting any flames gear in those interviews, he looks like he’s ready to leave the building...I’d say this info seem spot on about him. the only issue I have is why the heck did they not trade him earlier in the season? Poor return and maybe they are waiting and gambling in the off season the return may be better?

It means negative attitude, and or someone with ego issues causing a divide between players in the dressing room.

This is exactly what we see from them, it’s a good read, hopefully, ownership and management alike take this into account but is gonna be tough to make large scale moves to improve...Francis ha been a total douche, telling every team he’s gonna want any player they make moves for... anyway not a good year to fully rebuild bit this article sums it up, it’s what they need to do: https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/platform/amp/2021/4/1/22362633/between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-the-harsh-truth-about-the-current-state-of-the-calgary-flames

Ok that jets line up was horrible I think I mentioned it in the game day thread before they played...anyway the point..or question I bring to the table is: what is Sutter doing? From what I can tell he’s evaluating everyone and doing what he can to show BT and owner ship later, that x,y and Z players gotta go...look here’s the proof... therefore we need A,B and C players...it’s either that mor Sutter has no clue...but that’s not the case he’s proven to be a great coach so I’m thinking all of what he is doing is making a case for later on who stays , who goes...and who this team needs to go get. I’m fine with that given 1. He’s got 3 years, and 2. It’s better than what we have now and if not, no harm done, we may see a few decent draft picks out of the whole thing in a worse case after 3 years anyways the last game vs WPG, those lines were horrible, so if a simple fan could see that, I’m positive a very proven vet coach knew what was gonna happen too.

Yup! that’s all that needs to be said, is yup, hammer on nail did you hit!

Ok I have to point this out...peps has been in my opinion, a huge supporter of this team and it’s management, so when he’s saying stuff like this, it’s a huge indicator that it’s time to re-shape this team

Exactly right no totally agree and well said about the too many small skilled guys on the team, it’s an obvious issue, which you pointed out so well...I mean really Gaudreau Manji Dube are our energy guys, which we all love but they really can’t move a 6’+ 200 lbs + guy from the opposition’s net, rather they get crushed by that...it really shows when you look at the game Stats, the little box in front of the goalie is really where most goals are scored, but Cgy’s shots are on the outside and top of the circles...where did they score mostly last night inside those circles, also where did WPG, Edm and Tor score from...mostly that little box between the two circles and in front of the opposition net...again if you look back to Mlt a few years ago with small skilled players that’s the problem they had, and we have now...Mlt is doing so much better with big guys like Anderson for example...vs a few years ago with smaller more skilled guys...anyway, all I’m saying is, if you look at things, we have too much small skill and not enough power Fwd’s and it shows when you look at where goals are scored from

I’d like to see Gaudreau and Tachuck switched...but moving Lindholm back to the RW is a good idea...least for now....I mean it’s possible the last year playoff lines may do well, especially if the 3/4 lines click well, they are a bit of a different look and feel so who knows?

Why...just why do they keep trying to force the Gio/Anderson pair? It’s not working and has not worked at all this year...I think it’s time to concede that the playoff click last year was a one off and nothing more...I really wish they would try: Hanifin/Tanev Valimaki/Anderson Gio/Kylington I just get the feeling the Valimaki/Anderson pairing would be amazing, and we would have two top pairing for a long time...also, Gio could also mentor Kylington who they really need to do a much better job at developing... also, while they are at it I’d really like to see some changes to the forwards, the team and the lines are just too predictable and need a shakeup: Tachuck/Monahan/Dube Gaudreau/Lindholm/Levino Manji/Bennett/ Backlund Lucic/Ryan/ Ritchie obviously the right side is a mess no matter what, it’s a desperate area for a few years now...I’d also like to see them move Lucic over to the RW side, and try him on a few other lines, heck maybe even with Monahan/Gaudreau/Lindholm/Tachuck, mix and match him see if anything clicks? it amy be a slow line but: Tachuck/Monahan/Lucic at this stage of the season, I think Sutter needs to try and mix and match guys a bit and see who and where they click and get a guard of who they are gonna keep next season and who they are gonna move. but I’d definitely try to alter those D pairs that Gio/Anderson things is horrible!