Around the Dome 2016-2017: Flames hockey-related news and notes
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Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
Ace Rimmer
Stoke me a clipper.
Is this where I say "Thanks, Captain Obvious!"
Wait, by that list does that mean Dougie Hamilton is our 3rd best defenseman on the PK?
Wait, by that list does that mean Dougie Hamilton is our 3rd best defenseman on the PK?
InfinityIggy
Zagidulin's Dad
Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
It's kind of weird how bad we are on the PK. I guess both the fancy-stats and eyeball-test best PKers on our team being removed from the equation has really hurt the team.
Master Bill
Congrats, Oilers! (2023)
- Nov 9, 2014
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We've never cracked the top 10 in special teams since 2011-12 when we were 9th in the league for PK. That was under Sutter and Kipper had a large role in that. But under Hartley we've never been above average at either.
Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
72.1% is far below anything we've experienced before, though. It's really bad.
Isles5513
Please don't lose
I think the Isles were like that midway through the season last year, and improved it significantly in the second halfish of the season
Master Bill
Congrats, Oilers! (2023)
- Nov 9, 2014
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Oh yeah I agree, my comment was just intended to question the team's PP and PK under Hartley. I mean we shouldn't be this bad in the PK with the defensemen/defensive forwards on the team, it's probably because of employing the less effective tactics.
And we certainly don't have the worst PKers in the league, I'd say if you look at just the players' abilities, we have better/equal PKers than the Coyotes, Jackets, and Leafs who currently take up 10th, 11th, and 13th right now.
Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
That said, though, Hartley took over a rebuild roster.
But interestingly, if you look at the 2001 Avalanche (who won the Cup), their PK was ever so slightly below the league average.
Volica
Papa Shango
- May 15, 2012
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I actually like Joe on the top line with Monny/Johnny; I really thought he gave an element that was lacking to that line; a big bodied forward that could create space and protect the puck. If you added that same size, with finish, on that line... hooo boy.
Is it just me, or does that third line look like it'll be worth a goal against every game.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
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Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
Maybe he was referring to the third period last game.
Also worth noting that Jones has always had good chemistry with Gaudreau every time they've played together.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
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Should really consider calling up Nakladal to replace Russel or Wideman for a game or two. Guy has 5 assists and a team-leading +7 with the Heat, according to the AHL stats.
Lunatik
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You can't just call someone up without sending someone down. Nakaldal isn't going to be any better than Russell or Wideman either, I like him alot and he has played well in Stockton, but he plugging him into a 4/5 role in the NHL is a recipe for failure.
Wasn't Smid sent down for conditioning the other day? Or are conditioning stints not counted like that.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
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A conditioning stint has no effect on anything. It's the same as if they are with the team. It uses a roster spot and counts against the cap. That is why they chose this week for the conditioning stint, since the Flames are in California he will be easy to get to rejoin the team if needed.
Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
This is going to be a bit rambly... but let's be reality for a second here. I keep seeing people posting about Matthews after every loss, but I hope that people realize that a top first-rounder (which there's no reason to believe the Flames can get, anyway, as we've never picked higher than fourth) can't change a team single-handedly.
The question really comes down to whether the team is actually this bad or not. I personally don't believe they are. Confidence and momentum are huge factors. We're losing games because our players are losing battles and making terrible decisions, and that kind of thing is often related to confidence. It's amazing to think back to the playoffs and think about how our forecheck got to be such a big story against the Canucks- nowadays we spend almost no time forechecking because when we get the puck, we can't even support it up to the redline most times before having to chip it to the other team. And these are the same players now as were around for that series (plus Gio, Hamilton and Frolik).
So I'm not looking forward to the draft right now. If we play this way solidly until the draft, I expect that we'll be playing this way the next year too, and probably the next year after that until we've managed to replace 6-7 key players on this roster. What I'm looking forward to is seeing this team get a bit of a spark. The playoffs are basically out of the question right now, but a strong run of games in a row could make a huge difference for the team just in terms of what next year can be like.
The question really comes down to whether the team is actually this bad or not. I personally don't believe they are. Confidence and momentum are huge factors. We're losing games because our players are losing battles and making terrible decisions, and that kind of thing is often related to confidence. It's amazing to think back to the playoffs and think about how our forecheck got to be such a big story against the Canucks- nowadays we spend almost no time forechecking because when we get the puck, we can't even support it up to the redline most times before having to chip it to the other team. And these are the same players now as were around for that series (plus Gio, Hamilton and Frolik).
So I'm not looking forward to the draft right now. If we play this way solidly until the draft, I expect that we'll be playing this way the next year too, and probably the next year after that until we've managed to replace 6-7 key players on this roster. What I'm looking forward to is seeing this team get a bit of a spark. The playoffs are basically out of the question right now, but a strong run of games in a row could make a huge difference for the team just in terms of what next year can be like.
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