2018/2019 flames thread.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Trochu

I find it amusing. Alot of people were saying that the Flames had an excellent chance of making the playoffs due to the weak Pacific division (I agreed with the weaker division aspect). They are leading, and assuming the Sharks win, there will be 3 Pacific teams in the top 6 in the league.

Another thing I found interested. Listening to 960 on the way home and apparently Elliott Friedman thinks Ferland and Hamilton will be on the move prior to the trade deadline. Curious what they can get for Hamilton if Carolina moves him and will find it quite amusing if he ends up in Edmonton. Given the numbers and utilization, I think his value had decreased considerably.

I wonder if we have room for Ferland?? PROVIDING he aggress that he is not a skill player and we need FERKLUND back. DH can go to Edmonton. I would laugh and laugh and then laugh some more. I get how Ferland cant play games in the regular season like how he did in the Playoffs against vancouver. His body can not hold up to that.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Jamie

I wonder if we have room for Ferland?? PROVIDING he aggress that he is not a skill player and we need FERKLUND back. DH can go to Edmonton. I would laugh and laugh and then laugh some more. I get how Ferland cant play games in the regular season like how he did in the Playoffs against vancouver. His body can not hold up to that.

Would you rather have FERKLUND, or Sam, if you could only have one?

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by spurly

He was pretty quiet tonight. You think he is a keeper?

Absolutely. Love Bennett! We need his grit for those games!

[Rig-Rat]

Originally Posted by Jamie

I wonder if we have room for Ferland?? PROVIDING he aggress that he is not a skill player and we need FERKLUND back. DH can go to Edmonton. I would laugh and laugh and then laugh some more. I get how Ferland cant play games in the regular season like how he did in the Playoffs against vancouver. His body can not hold up to that.

I liked Ferland, would like to see him back. Just don't put him on top line like before. That's when he started being less of a threat on the ice. When he was lower man people had their hear on a swivel, which I think we need more of. Bennett and Hathaway are good out there but you add a Ferrly in the mix and I think we would benefit huge. Plus he can set up goals and sink a few. Him and Bennett would be awesome.

[Pixel Shooter]

We don’t need Ferland back. Go big or go home. Would love Schenn from the blues. Move Backlund to third line. Don’t want rentals. Run with what we have in goal and deal with in off season. Goes for frolich as well as he is exactly what need in. Playoff run.


Athletic top 20 players that could be on the move. Craig Custance. Good write up for each player if you have a subscription. Comments right now it is definitely a buyers market which is great news for us.

1. Panarin
2. Duchene
3. Stone
4. Hayes
5. Hamilton
6. Simmonds
7. Krieder
8. Schenn
9. Muzzin
10. Nyquist
11. Puljujarvi
12. Liljegren
13. Ferland
14. Zuccarello
15. Niederieter
16. Howard
17. Burakavaky
18. Daley
19. Martinez
20. Jensen

[Trochu]

Giving it a whole 30 seconds of though, I'd love to see Mark Stone on the team. He is 26, 6'3", 205 lb right winger. Has 47 points in 43 games playing on the Senators. Lineup would potentially look like this:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Stone
Frolik - Jankowski - Bennett
Hathaway - Ryan - Neal

Probably not going to happen, and I wouldn't really want to see a 1st going the other way, but I feel this team has potential.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by spurly

Would you rather have FERKLUND, or Sam, if you could only have one?

I think the Ferklund we saw against Vancouver would be a upgrade. 40 hits in that series. I watched some high lights last night from that series. Amazing effort and very few penalties. To his credit, he continues to show that he is more than that though. I think the Ferklund I fell in love with is dead and some guy name Ferland has taken over.He is on track for another 40 point season. Decent player. Not first line good though.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Jamie

I think the Ferklund we saw against Vancouver would be a upgrade. 40 hits in that series. I watched some high lights last night from that series. Amazing effort and very few penalties. To his credit, he continues to show that he is more than that though. I think the Ferklund I fell in love with is dead and some guy name Ferland has taken over.He is on track for another 40 point season. Decent player. Not first line good though.

Yup. I don’t think he can play that game anymore. He was for sure at his best then.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

We don’t need Ferland back. Go big or go home. Would love Schenn from the blues. Move Backlund to third line. Don’t want rentals. Run with what we have in goal and deal with in off season. Goes for frolich as well as he is exactly what need in. Playoff run.


Athletic top 20 players that could be on the move. Craig Custance. Good write up for each player if you have a subscription. Comments right now it is definitely a buyers market which is great news for us.

1. Panarin
2. Duchene
3. Stone
4. Hayes
5. Hamilton
6. Simmonds
7. Krieder
8. Schenn
9. Muzzin
10. Nyquist
11. Puljujarvi
12. Liljegren
13. Ferland
14. Zuccarello
15. Niederieter
16. Howard
17. Burakavaky
18. Daley
19. Martinez
20. Jensen

Would love the have Schenectady, or Stone, but I don’t know how we could fit either in, without moving someone out.I think Schenectady, still has a year, but how could we sign both Stone and Chuck, next year?
If we were to go cheap. Maroon, might be a guy to look at. He is not doing great this year, but he did play well for the oil.

[Pixel Shooter]

Interesting: week old article as we are in second

According to the USA Today Sagarin ratings (A computerized poll) the Flames (Currently ranked (4th overall) have played the 5th hardest schedule in the league. They have also played the hardest schedule of any team in the top-10.

[Trochu]

Well, I know its really early for these types of things, but according to Sports Club Stats, our chances of making the post season is 99.9%. Others you may, or may not care about, are:

Tampa: 100%
Toronto: 99.6%
Winnipeg: 99.5%
Pittsburgh: 96.1%
Montreal: 45.7%
Edmonton: 24.4%
Vancouver: 18.3%

[Rig-Rat]

Just looking but Rittich is only on a one year contract so he will have to be signed again before July. Signed for $800,000 so you know that price will go up if he is the true #1. Tkachuck signs as well and this is where things get tricky..

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Rig-Rat

Just looking but Rittich is only on a one year contract so he will have to be signed again before July. Signed for $800,000 so you know that price will go up if he is the true #1. Tkachuck signs as well and this is where things get tricky..

I don't think it should be too much of an issue. Smith is signed for $4.25M and it expires this year, take that money and resign Rittich for what $3M-3.5M which leaves about a million on the table. The cap is supposedly going up to $83M (approx. a $5M bump). With the extra $5M and $1M, we have $6M to sign Tkachuck without really doing anything different from this season. If Tkachuck is asking for $8M+, it could get a bit tricky, but there is still about $2.5M in cap space as of right now. Two buyouts are coming off the books that also free up about $1M.

What we really need to do, is sign Tkachuck and then offload Stone's contract.

[Rig-Rat]

Good call, I didn't take into account Smith $$ coming off the top, so would cancel each other.

[Twisted Canuck]

I don't think leaving the goal tending situation where it is at for the remainder of season is a great idea....I honestly believe Smith would single handedly eliminate any chance of a deep run. Put him on waivers, try and do a deal with the Hawks for Delia as a #2 behind Big Dave, and see what they can do. They both have tremendous long term potentials, for a young team that is hitting it's stride. I see long term plus in that type of deal.

But I called Smith before the season started. Nothing personal, but he should be golfing with the Sedins.

[Pixel Shooter]

Delia is not even an option. be surprised if Crawford ever returns to play again. Delia is there star and super high on him.......................... I would be amazed if our goal tending is addressed prior to end of season or trade deadline.

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

I don't think leaving the goal tending situation where it is at for the remainder of season is a great idea....I honestly believe Smith would single handedly eliminate any chance of a deep run. Put him on waivers, try and do a deal with the Hawks for Delia as a #2 behind Big Dave, and see what they can do. They both have tremendous long term potentials, for a young team that is hitting it's stride. I see long term plus in that type of deal.

But I called Smith before the season started. Nothing personal, but he should be golfing with the Sedins.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter

Delia is not even an option. be surprised if Crawford ever returns to play again. Delia is there star and super high on him.......................... I would be amazed if our goal tending is addressed prior to end of season or trade deadline.

I agree. I like Delia a lot, and think he would be a great goalie to have in the system. I don’t know if we could rely on him as a bonified backup, having only played a total of 7 NHL games. I think Tre will probably stick with what we have, for tenders, this season.Maybe look for a top 6 forward, but that’s probably about it.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

I don't think leaving the goal tending situation where it is at for the remainder of season is a great idea....I honestly believe Smith would single handedly eliminate any chance of a deep run. Put him on waivers, try and do a deal with the Hawks for Delia as a #2 behind Big Dave, and see what they can do. They both have tremendous long term potentials, for a young team that is hitting it's stride. I see long term plus in that type of deal.

But I called Smith before the season started. Nothing personal, but he should be golfing with the Sedins.

The only way Smith can destroy this season is to be put back on the ice. Pray that BSD stays healthy. No matter what, Smith is only in charge of ordering Popcorn once the playoffs start. BSD goes down and we have a problem at that point.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

I don't think leaving the goal tending situation where it is at for the remainder of season is a great idea....I honestly believe Smith would single handedly eliminate any chance of a deep run.......

I'm okay with the current goaltender situation. I think the only reason Smith would single handily eliminate any chance of a deep run is if Rittich gets hurt. I'd prefer not to plan the playoffs around the likelihood of our starter getting hurt. How many backups out there are going to provide adequate goal tending if the starter gets hurt?

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Trochu

I'm okay with the current goaltender situation. I think the only reason Smith would single handily eliminate any chance of a deep run is if Rittich gets hurt. I'd prefer not to plan the playoffs around the likelihood of our starter getting hurt. How many backups out there are going to provide adequate goal tending if the starter gets hurt?

Thats exactly it. If we trade him right now what have we done to make the team better? And at what cost? Everyone knows he sucks and we would be dealing from a position of weakness. Perhaps another GT could win another handful of games? So we finish 8th over all rather than 2nd or 3rd. Does it matter? What matters is those 4 rounds in the playoffs.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Thats exactly it. If we trade him right now what have we done to make the team better? And at what cost? Everyone knows he sucks and we would be dealing from a position of weakness. Perhaps another GT could win another handful of games? So we finish 8th over all rather than 2nd or 3rd. Does it matter? What matters is those 4 rounds in the playoffs.

Yup, at this point I think another top six scorer, is more important, to balance our lines. If we were to lose anyone from our first line, we would be in serious trouble. Another top end scorer, could take us a long ways in my opinion.
For how far we have come I think a tender change is risky.Unless a proven tender becomes available

[Twisted Canuck]

Well, I'm respectfully disagreeing with the three of you. I think we have lots of capable offense, including secondary scoring and from defense. If Neal ever got going that would help. But Rittich will need his breaks, Smith will keep sucking, and if Rittich gets hurt they are screwed. I think it's imperative to bring in a decent goalie, even if it is a rental. Put Smith on waivers, nobody is going to want him. If you need to deal for a GT, there is the option of Frolik, Neal, Ryan...(those are the first three I'd pick to move)...heck you could even throw Lazar in the mix. I could be wrong, but I don't see him ever being Team Canada Captain-like in the NHL. Maybe I'm wrong on that, be he has been a major disappointment for Sens and Flames. They threw him in too soon and ruined him perhaps? Whatever.

We need a solid GT heading into playoffs besides Rittich, and excluding Smith. And yes, Delia probably won't happen...but I sure like the look of him.

[Roderek]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

Well, I'm respectfully disagreeing with the three of you. I think we have lots of capable offense, including secondary scoring and from defense. If Neal ever got going that would help. But Rittich will need his breaks, Smith will keep sucking, and if Rittich gets hurt they are screwed. I think it's imperative to bring in a decent goalie, even if it is a rental. Put Smith on waivers, nobody is going to want him. If you need to deal for a GT, there is the option of Frolik, Neal, Ryan...(those are the first three I'd pick to move)...heck you could even throw Lazar in the mix. I could be wrong, but I don't see him ever being Team Canada Captain-like in the NHL. Maybe I'm wrong on that, be he has been a major disappointment for Sens and Flames. They threw him in too soon and ruined him perhaps? Whatever.

We need a solid GT heading into playoffs besides Rittich, and excluding Smith. And yes, Delia probably won't happen...but I sure like the look of him.

Read an article yesterday that it was Lazars idea to go down to the AHL so he could get his confidence back, sounds like it has gone really well for him and he is in line for a call up. They made it sound like the only reason he wasn't back up yet, was if they decided to send him back down he would have to clear waivers and they think someone would snap him up.
I would have to double check the stats, but I think he has been over a point per game in the AHL>

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

Well, I'm respectfully disagreeing with the three of you. I think we have lots of capable offense, including secondary scoring and from defense. If Neal ever got going that would help. But Rittich will need his breaks, Smith will keep sucking, and if Rittich gets hurt they are screwed. I think it's imperative to bring in a decent goalie, even if it is a rental. Put Smith on waivers, nobody is going to want him. If you need to deal for a GT, there is the option of Frolik, Neal, Ryan...(those are the first three I'd pick to move)...heck you could even throw Lazar in the mix. I could be wrong, but I don't see him ever being Team Canada Captain-like in the NHL. Maybe I'm wrong on that, be he has been a major disappointment for Sens and Flames. They threw him in too soon and ruined him perhaps? Whatever.

We need a solid GT heading into playoffs besides Rittich, and excluding Smith. And yes, Delia probably won't happen...but I sure like the look of him.

Lets take this a bit further. According to TSN, Rittich and Smith have each started 22 games. With 38 games remaining on the schedule, even if Rittich were to start every single one, thats only 60 games played, hardly a big workload for a starting goalie. Lets say they throw Smith in for the Coyotes, Kings, Flyers, etc. and he starts 10 more games this season, that's only 50 games for Rittich. That seems like lots of rest to me. The backup isn't starting in the playoffs, so that should be a non-factor.

Doesn't seem like its much a factor for alot of other teams either, think Washington is going far with Copley if Holtby goes down, how about Winnipeg with Brossoit, San Jose with Dell, etc. I don't think we should be spending assets and cash for a guy we hope sits on the bench while other teams load up with players that will actually be skating against us.

We are 2nd in the league, with or without a decent backup, I don't think we are catching the Lightning, and as much as I don't like Smith playing, it does seem to be working at the moment. Is there a mental aspect there with Rittich having Smith sitting on the bench that might not be there with a younger guy, is Smith pushing Rittich to play better, are they buddies and Rittich is going to be ticked if Smith isn't there?

I'd hope they'd at least try Gillies or Pearson before getting another young guy and I certainly hope they don't spend to go get an old guy (Jimmy Howard for example).

Guess I just don't understand why you think we "need a solid GT heading into playoffs besides Rittich". Most teams win the cup with one solid GT and a mediocre guy sitting on the bench.

[Twisted Canuck]

That is all true. And if you can guarantee Rittich doesn't get injured it's a great idea to sit on Smith, and only play him as you suggest to keep Rittich fresh. But God help them if Rittich gets hurt. Last time, he tweaked his knee a bit against Sharks. What happens if those Hateful Ducks decide to goon Rittich and crash him, just because, you know, Ducks? That's a world of hurt. You'd feel ok with Smith #1 and Gillies #2 going into playoffs? That'll end poorly. Gillies doesn't exactly have stellar numbers in the A at the moment....the idea makes me cringe.

Yes, I'd trade an asset for a GT (though I agree, I don't really want another old guy, hence my harping about Delia), but since I'm not being consulted by Tre it doesn't really matter....

But it makes me nervous. We are totally fine though, as long as Rittich stays healthy. I'd just like a bit of insurance, it has been a long time since the flames had a team that could compete like this.

[spurly]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

That is all true. And if you can guarantee Rittich doesn't get injured it's a great idea to sit on Smith, and only play him as you suggest to keep Rittich fresh. But God help them if Rittich gets hurt. Last time, he tweaked his knee a bit against Sharks. What happens if those Hateful Ducks decide to goon Rittich and crash him, just because, you know, Ducks? That's a world of hurt. You'd feel ok with Smith #1 and Gillies #2 going into playoffs? That'll end poorly. Gillies doesn't exactly have stellar numbers in the A at the moment....the idea makes me cringe.

Yes, I'd trade an asset for a GT (though I agree, I don't really want another old guy, hence my harping about Delia), but since I'm not being consulted by Tre it doesn't really matter....

But it makes me nervous. We are totally fine though, as long as Rittich stays healthy. I'd just like a bit of insurance, it has been a long time since the flames had a team that could compete like this.

It’s a tough call.
We will have to have faith in Tre. the wizard.

[HoytCRX32]

I am simply amazed we are actually talking about this!! This is not how I expected this season to go....Flames in SECOND?? Good God, it's nice to feel good about the Flames again...how long have we watched from the abyss?? AND, I believe every game they are getting more confidence....swagger if you will. It's been some time boys...

[Twisted Canuck]

Big game tonight against Avs. Jest beat them up pretty good last night and they are traveling, so hopefully the Flames come out with some good jump and skate and shoot them into the ice!

Go Flames...!

[Reddin]

Originally Posted by Trochu

Well, I know its really early for these types of things, but according to Sports Club Stats, our chances of making the post season is 99.9%. Others you may, or may not care about, are:

Tampa: 100%
Toronto: 99.6%
Winnipeg: 99.5%
Pittsburgh: 96.1%
Montreal: 45.7%
Edmonton: 24.4%
Vancouver: 18.3%

If Smith plays in playoffs, assuming they make it, your chances of advancing are 0.1%.

[spurly]

We will have to go with what we have, until something better is available.
We need a good solid effort tonight