So I said (for all of you waiting with bated breath lol) back in October when the Flames were struggling some, that I'd reserve judgement until after American Thanksgiving, or the 20 game mark more precisely. Anyway, my disappointment at the time was to do with Gaudreau/Monahan/Ferland more than anyone, but, thankfully, I bit my tongue.
That said, I'm following through with something for all of us to chime in on.
Pretty happy for the most part with this team. Johnny and Sean struggled for a few weeks early on in the season. And I have to say it seemed it was Monahan more than Johnny but it affected the production of both. Ferland was playing a similar game to what he is for that line but has gotten better too. Anyway, it wasn't as long an exaggerated spell as last season and I'd be a moron to be anything but proud at how this line has come around, especially in recent weeks.
A+ for the first line and man, I have to say, I'm so happy to see a rejuvenation in Johnny's game in particular after a really tough year last year. Boy did it feel at moments that all that went on could derail otherwise great potential. But thank goodness the great players push through those periods. I never thought Monahan's ceiling was as high, but he's certainly elevated his game too and is firing on all pistons over the last few weeks as well. What I'm loving most is seeing the increasing confidence from the whole line.
Otherwise, I'm still disappointed with Sam's progress. Some signs of life recently, but that's got to keep growing at a quicker pace than it has.
Jagr is looking decent and is helping us, something I wasn't sure about.
Finally, and sorry for the lack of comprehensiveness here, but my biggest disappointment has to be Brodie. Gosh has he been struggling. Hamonic hasn't been great either.
Heck, I'll add a couple of more thoughts. C+ on our secondary scoring. Backlund and Frolik need to contribute more, which, like the rest of the team "has" been coming as of late. And I wouldn't say Matthew Tkachuk is having a sophomore slump by any stretch, but we could use some more of the game he brought last year.
Anyway, post your quarter mark thoughts.
That said, I'm following through with something for all of us to chime in on.
Pretty happy for the most part with this team. Johnny and Sean struggled for a few weeks early on in the season. And I have to say it seemed it was Monahan more than Johnny but it affected the production of both. Ferland was playing a similar game to what he is for that line but has gotten better too. Anyway, it wasn't as long an exaggerated spell as last season and I'd be a moron to be anything but proud at how this line has come around, especially in recent weeks.
A+ for the first line and man, I have to say, I'm so happy to see a rejuvenation in Johnny's game in particular after a really tough year last year. Boy did it feel at moments that all that went on could derail otherwise great potential. But thank goodness the great players push through those periods. I never thought Monahan's ceiling was as high, but he's certainly elevated his game too and is firing on all pistons over the last few weeks as well. What I'm loving most is seeing the increasing confidence from the whole line.
Otherwise, I'm still disappointed with Sam's progress. Some signs of life recently, but that's got to keep growing at a quicker pace than it has.
Jagr is looking decent and is helping us, something I wasn't sure about.
Finally, and sorry for the lack of comprehensiveness here, but my biggest disappointment has to be Brodie. Gosh has he been struggling. Hamonic hasn't been great either.
Heck, I'll add a couple of more thoughts. C+ on our secondary scoring. Backlund and Frolik need to contribute more, which, like the rest of the team "has" been coming as of late. And I wouldn't say Matthew Tkachuk is having a sophomore slump by any stretch, but we could use some more of the game he brought last year.
Anyway, post your quarter mark thoughts.
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