I'm still wondering if the plan is to give Valimaki <9 games (allows ELC to slide rather than burn a year) and then send him down and bring Andersson up. I don't think Valimaki stays beyond 9 games unless he is really ripping it up.
His comments were exactly what you want his to say, my godI'm surprised they kept Lazar up after his comments.
I suspect that will change sooner rather than later.
I'm surprised they kept Lazar up after his comments.
I suspect that will change sooner rather than later.
Unless Valimaki somehow implodes he is here for the season. Unlike with Chucky, Sam, or Janko there was no we will see from here and make a judgement then. Peters is planning to have Dube and Valimaki in the line-up for the season.
These kids brought it this year (contrary to many peoples opinion around here) 5 NHL coaches on the staff, Conroy and Tre all believe they deserve to be there. They ultimately must believe the kids best opportunity and development interests are in the starting line-up for the Flames not the Heat.
I'm surprised they kept Lazar up after his comments.
I suspect that will change sooner rather than later.
His comments were exactly what you want his to say, my god
He certainly wasn’t demanding a demotion.
But shortly after going unclaimed on the NHL’s waiver wire, Calgary Flames forward Curtis Lazar admitted that a stint with the farm team might be the best thing for him.
In fact, the 23-year-old would rather — at least, for now — be a regular with the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat than a frequent healthy scratch at the Saddledome.
“I just want to play. If it’s here, if it’s down in the minors, anything … I need to play,” said an open and honest Lazar after Monday’s practice. “I want to be a part of this organization. I’m more so looking bigger picture. I haven’t been a regular since my rookie season (in Ottawa). The only way I’m going to get better is if I play every single night and get the chance to handle the puck in games and everything like that.
“For me, I’m kind of fed up of being that so-so guy that’s just plugged in here and there. I want to rebuild my game and re-establish myself, and I think the organization is on the same page with that.”
Every player wants to play. If anything they're going to try and move him ala Kulak. Now that he's cleared waivers, he might have some suitors.That has nothing to do with my point. Lazar wants to play and doesn't want to sit around anymore.
Management will almost certainly oblige him at some point. They're probably just waiting to see if they're any injuries within the next week or two that force him into regular rotation. Otherwise, they'll send him down and call up someone else to be pressbox fodder.
I mean, he really couldn't have been more clear on his wishes:
Flames' Lazar believes stint in AHL ticket to big-league success
New phone, who dis?@Lazar Beams I await your new username
I'm also going to predict Neal starts off real slow and they have to move him up to the top line at some point to get him going.
I'm surprised they kept Lazar up after his comments.
I suspect that will change sooner rather than later.
I wouldn’t mind Buddy Robinson as our 14th forward, I liked how he played and he is already developed to his peak. Get Lazar down on the first line in stockton.