travel_dude

Brennan Klak‏ @nhlupdate FollowFollow @nhlupdate More #Flames RFA Daniel Pribyl signs with HC Sparta Praha (Czech Republic) Can't speak as to the accuracy, but just posting since it sounds reasonable. Haven't heard this reported anywhere else.

I think he started away from Kane, but impressed. 3rd line I could deal with. 4th line, not so much.

That's the big thing isn't it. Breadeater was played in exactly the wrong role in CGY. He was a leading AHL scorer playing on top lines. Why would we consider even using him on the 4th line playing 8 minutes? Perhaps a simple answer is a line of Mangiapane-Janko-Bennett. Shelter them a little. We can still upgrade a RW on Backlund's or Monahan's line. It's funny you mentioned DeBrincat. I was hoping he would be on the board for us in the 2nd round. Up till we traded with STL for Elliott. I hadn't heard anything about Kyrou, but probably still would have picked DeBrincat knowing what I know today.

I don't know about the higher skill part. I have watched him double clutch on tap in goals, miss the net on any kind of shot and skate by the puck so many times, I don't know if he can score anymore. Maybe the coach misused him, but he's got to do something out there positive on the score sheet. To date, I haven't seen anything from him that demonstrates a higher skill set. I wouldn't be expecting him to be a regular 3rd line or above. If he played on the 4th line with a decent center and winger, we might actually have a 4th line that doesn't concern you playing any time in the game. A secondary shutdown line with speed to transition into scoring. Between him and Shore, I think they have some of that, they just need to work in the offense side and get the correct winger. As some have pointed out, we aren't that far away from being a good team. Putrid scoring/luck when we needed it. Goaltending dropping off the face of the earth to end the season. Putrid PP numbers. Etc. We have enough good players to fill most of the lineup: JH, Mony, Tkachuk, Backlund, Ferland, Bennett, Janko, Frolik. A couple of complementary players to balance out the 4th line and extra F: Lazar, Shore, Hathaway. To me that seems one top 6 RW and a decent RHS C, and a good 4th line LW short. Maybe (big maybe) we have a guy from the farm or two that could hop in, but I think at best they would be battling Lazar, Shore and Hathaway for spots. Maybe battling Ferland and Bennett too.

Funny how we are always the bridesmaid, even when traded away the pick. 2016 - finish behind WPG, they get 2nd overall, just ahead of CBJ, they get 3rd. 2018 - finish one point ahead of CAR, they get 2nd overall. All I can say is good thing we beat Vegas in game 82.

Nope. He's 6'7" shoots left and is the slowest skater on the ice. Sounds about right.

Not everything is the same. Flames did not threaten to leave. That is just a reality if you can't continue to operate out of an aging building and you can;t get any traction on building a new one. Both sides used the media to further their cause. What I don't like is self-serving politicians. Use language strong enough for the supporters that don;t want any public money spent on anything but social progams. Use language subtle enough that you don't PO the Flames supporters. Make it sound like the owners are money grubbers. Use a vision of an arena district based on some mystery arena in your election platform. The owners walked away because the counter-strategy was in a complete other direction and there was no movement. I don;t like King, nor the timing of the original proposal, but at least it was a proposal based on needing to upgrade 2 facilities and build a 3rd one. And it made use of an area that needs to be fixed. The rejection was based on location (cleanup costs the excuse) and not wanting to spend money on a field house.

If you can build a building and have part of that deal housing city employess, then you have a sweet deal. We won't go into the EDM deal, since it's beyond what any modern concil should have approved. It benefits the city because they don't care about revitalizing unless there is a reason to do it. CGY did not want to have anything to do with the creosote site. I can understand that. It's wrong, but that is social conscience talking. They place a bigger focus on libraries and artwork, which is fine in for a limited number of people that would enjoy it. Anyway, I'm out on this topic. I was just responding to the negatives about perception and what I felt was a political agenda.

You can't enter into a negotiation with set boundaries. You start that way, and someone has to "lose". Pretty much have to walk in with the idea that everything is on the table. That goes for both sides. The Flames came in with a grand plan that was about 2 years too late. The economy sucked. The Flames included a plan for a fieldhouse, which was supposedly in the plans of the city. The pushback from the city was that the cleanup cost was underestimated and could reach $1b. And that they were only considering a fieldhouse, but other things need to come first. So, here is plan B for the Flames to think about. You build where we say and we give you no input to the area's development. We'll delay it till after the election, so as not to create sides. At the same time, we'll show a vision of a new arena in that somehow gets built according to the cty's plans. The Flames balked, as the funding model was Flames build and own the arena, in the city's location. Very much turned into Bettman vs Fehr. If the city is sincere, then the Flames will meet with them. The underlying theme is just the city wanting to discuss again after the Flames saying they were done. Nothing new being tabled, just somebody calling it something new.

Other than sound bites and press, what has the "group" that may or may not include Nenshi actually said new? Nothing has changed from the city perspective, yet a soured negotiation should begin with the exact same position it ended on? The mayor does not support a new arena, yet he is part (or isn't part) of the group? The timing of this is bizarre. Wait till they are announcing a new coach. Ask about it there. I neither support the city nor the Flames on this. I do think this is pure political grandstanding. You want to negotiate or talk about how to re-start it? Send someone to meet in private with the ownership group and ask.

What else are they going to say. The mayor may be involved in a new discussion where the mayor was as stubborn as the ownership group. Nothing new in the approach other than saying they want to talk. Talk, bit start with the same message they gave ownership last time. Sounds like the councilors want to continue the Olympic bid and have the Flames involved in funding a site for the Olympics. If you want to build an arena for the Olympics, build one like last time. Worse case, you collect revenue from the Flames and any other event it gets used for. Forgive me if I am not an expert in the topic, I just get tired of hearing people talking about things you are going to do that seem to have little basis in reality.

Looks like the Oilers are going after the "2nd best guy not in the NHL". They are expected to sign Mikko Koskinen for $2.5m AAV for 2 years. The "best goalie not in the NHL" is perhaps Emil Garipov. Just won the Gagarin Cup, with AkBars sporting the following numbers: Regular season - 1.99 GAA with .931 SVS% Playoffs - 1.55GAA and .944 SVS% He's available after April 30th. Anyone have any insight into this guy and whether we should be looking to sign him?

Well, to be fair, you didn't mention anything about the episode.

Does this apply to the Flames arena?

Just to add to this discussion. When Rittich returned from the Flames, he was not playing well. The backup had gone 4-1, but was not played. If you want to win, you go with the guy who is hot, not go to the "prospect". Rittich went 2-4. Although Rittich was the "starter" while Gillies was up, the decision seems to be more benefiting the Flames over going for the playoffs.

Of all the things to blame on BT, I think the failure of the Heat is the last thing you should blame him for.

I remember a blogger talking about Ramo and that coaching moment. I do believe it happened when he was on the Flames. But, you are right, he didn't say who told him that. Gillies spent less time in Calgary than Rttich. Gillies returned and has won two in a row for the Heat. Rittich spent a lot of time in Calgary and was just fine until he was the starter. WHat I found most annoying was that after he played a good game and got a win, he doesn't get the next start. During the 6 game losing streak (Jan-Feb), he started one game against EDM. Loses to them n the SO. Next game go back with Smith; loss. Next game go back with Smith; loss to Tampa. Next game go back to Smith; win over CHI. Next game go back to Smith; win over CHI. B2B games, start Rittich in game 1, win over NJ. Game 2; Smith loss to NY. Next game go back to Smith; win but injury time. Rittich has a rough time, but finally gets 2 wins in a row over BUFF and OTT. Go back to Smith. I get the logic of running your starter as much as you can, but there were signs that your backup was ready to take on more games, or that your previosly injured goalie was not 100%. With consistent goaltending in March, we would have been a playoff team. Goalie coaching played a part in the performances, whether it was not recognizing readiness or changing parts of the rookies' games.

Amazing that it comes down to this. SD playing against the top team in the division and needing to get at least to OT to clinch. Stockton able to clinch with a win and SD regulation loss. Gillies comes in when it's basically over and wins two in a row against the Reign. Need a big win over the fish. No choice but to go to Gillies tonight. Rittich has lost something and needs to find it before he starts again. Good to see Dube, Foo, Andersson, Kylington on the scoresheet. Would be nice to see one Flames team actually make something of their chances. Just win your own game and let the chips fall.

The greater issue is his continued presence on the roster.

A lot to digest here. Did Brouwer give 100% of his 20% abilities? Watching him try to use his stick to block a shot at the point suggests he doesn't GAF. The 5v3 PK was the only time he was actually that good on the PK, and that's because he was able to play stationary. Others that manned the PK were better. Lazar better per minutes played. Janko was a mobile player on the PK and could pressure. Brouwer does nothing for me. Waste of space on the team. He was able to play 10 minutes on the 4th line and not look out of place, but that level of play is available in the sale part of UFA season. Absolutely no good reason to pay him that much for that. I don't see any skill to do anything when he's in "the right spot", otherwise he would have about 10 PPG. He has zero. He can't tip a single puck. His cycle game on the PP lasts about one possession for him. I haven't heard him say anything that isn't parroting of Gully's "we tried but couldn't finish". DO the right thing BT. Put him out of our misery.

That goes to show you something doesn't it..... Coach the skill right out of 'em. Great idea.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/960/the-big-show/brad-treliving-things-didnt-go-way-cant-blame-injuries/ The Fan960 interview really has me concerned. The questions were easy to avoid direct answers to. Nothing hard hitting at all. I get he won't tip his hat but honestly, if you don;t have a clue to the problems, waiting till after garbage day, and after the emotion is gone is not going to reveal the answers in a bowl of alphabet soup. You have to ask the coach what he thinks in a few days? The Stajan's and Brouwer's are going to provide you with that great insight? Maybe it's all smoke and mirrors, but if nothing changes between now and next season, we are in for more of the same. We aren;t just a good team that hasn;t quote reached our potential. Corsi number are nice if they aren;t achieved by not getting quality shots and just passing around the puck.

To be fair, I don;t think he ruined Smith. That was just a matter of time playing at a high level. Like a pitch count in baseball. Maybe it's more not recognizing when your goalie needs to sit. Schedule? Hopefully we don;t do that anymore.

I would agree with the 2nd part of this. Smith was as good as advertised...for 1/2 his season. Were the fans the only ones to notice that his play fell off v=before he got injured? What happened to Rittich? Suddenly he starts doing a few things differently and starts to lose his edge? Same goalie coach as last year. Same goalie coach as the BH years.

I don;t think that Brodie cares much about hockey once the season is over. He's declined every time there has even been the posibility of an offer to play.