GDT: Around the League 2022-23

[Fixed to Ruin]

Saturday night's game between the Canucks and the Sabres is basically a must win for the Canucks at this point.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I browsed their board and had to chuckle. "Lindholm has been terrible at both ends of the ice. Starting to get worried Huberdeau can't drive the play like Gaudreau could."

No shit, sherlock. Just what everyone that wasn't drinking Flame kool-aid was saying the entire summer.

the entire Flames season rests on the shoulders of 32 year old Nazem Kadri and Vladar lol

Huberdeau is a point producer but like I said at the time, he ain't a line driver like little Johnny Gaudreau was

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

I browsed their board and had to chuckle. "Lindholm has been terrible at both ends of the ice. Starting to get worried Huberdeau can't drive the play like Gaudreau could."

No shit, sherlock. Just what everyone that wasn't drinking Flame kool-aid was saying the entire summer.

Yeah. Hey, we all loved to make fun of JG, but he was a damn good driver and hockey player. The chemistry that top line had was insane. He was the straw that stirred the drink there. Happy he is gone.

Lindholm is an overall good complete player, but I watched a ton of Flames games. He always found a nice lane to sit in and JG mainly or MT would just feed him for a one timer.

Saturday night's game between the Canucks and the Sabres is basically a must win for the Canucks at this point.

I am looking forward to that game lol. Demko has looked average at best as well, which doesn't help. He is usually what made them look better than they are.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

I am looking forward to that game lol. Demko has looked average at best as well, which doesn't help. He is usually what made them look better than they are.

I think Demko's poor play is in part due to the Canucks having an atrocious defense. Unless he's going to be perfect he's not going to make up the difference.

Now that i think about it, the Canucks this year has alot of similarities with the Jets last year.
Bad defense
Elite goaltender that can no longer make up the difference
Core players no longer getting along and under performing
Sitting duck coach

 

[Soundwave]

Yeah as much as we shit on him, Gaudreau really made you hold your breath when he had the puck in high danger scoring chances, he's a really creative and dynamic talent, really glad he's out of our division.

 

[K1984]

I think Demko's poor play is in part due to the Canucks having an atrocious defense. Unless he's going to be perfect he's not going to make up the difference.

Now that i think about it, the Canucks this year has alot of similarities with the Jets last year.
Bad defense
Elite goaltender that can no longer make up the difference
Core players no longer getting along and under performing
Sitting duck coach

Problem with the Nucks defense is they don't have a single player that is reliable defensively whatsoever in a lock down situation. Poolman and Schenn are defensive, but in a #5/6 kind of way, not the players you want to deploy to lock down another team's stars.

Meanwhile Hughes has to be one of the most overrated players I have ever seen in the NHL. Seeing him on top 10 lists of NHL defensemen is comical. He makes the cool plays, but in no way shape or form can be relied upon to lock a game down.

Nurse has his really bad games and the face palm moments, but generally he'll give you what you need if you need to hold a lead against the other team's elite players. Not a single player on the Nucks D can say the same.

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

I think the Oilers right now have the worst team shooting %. Bodes well for finishing better.

Buffalo is 3x better than the Oil right now. They are on a heater.

Oilers are 17th in team save % as well. Buffalo? 3rd

 

[Da McBomb]

I would take Gaudreau over Huberdeau again and again

 

[K1984]

I would take Gaudreau over Huberdeau again and again

It was stunning to me to continue to see Huberdeau cited as better in every player ranking list over the summer. Wonder how that would have looked had both players stayed with their original teams. IMO it had more to do with everyone following the narrative that the Flames are now better rather than actually taking an objective lens when looking at the players.

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

Elisa Lindholm is -2 after 4 games and has 2 goals 0 A

meanwhile Connor has like 5G 5A in 4 games for 10 points and is +1

Leon 2G 6A and +1

 

[Mav3rick07]

Yeah as much as we shit on him, Gaudreau really made you hold your breath when he had the puck in high danger scoring chances, he's a really creative and dynamic talent, really glad he's out of our division.

That goal he scored the other night against Vancouver was a thing of beauty. Vintage Gaudreau.

 

[Da McBomb]

Elisa Lindholm is -2 after 4 games and has 2 goals 0 A

That's not very selke like numbers. Lindholm coming back down to earth after being carried by Johnny and Tkachuk. He's the type of center that needs a good puck carrier like Gaudreau. Not surprised that he, Huberdeau, and Toffoli are not meshing very well so far.

 

[Drivesaitl]

HuberDOH?

You watch flames games, any of them, and you need a program to see what number he is on ice. He's been that ordinary. He looks slow, maybe has trouble skating at this elevation.

He is -1 and has one meager EV assist in 4 games. You only ever see him really on the PP. Good thing Flamers get a lot of those. But you look through the lineup and wonder where all the goals are going to come from. There just isn't many to be had in that lineup. Theres going to be some rough scoring patches for the Flames.

Yeah as much as we shit on him, Gaudreau really made you hold your breath when he had the puck in high danger scoring chances, he's a really creative and dynamic talent, really glad he's out of our division.

Gaudreau you at least notice on the ice. Pretty good with the puck and creating open ice for himself and team mates. Hubs has been invisible at EV play. Flames better hope he's still figuring it out. Really I think he's somewhat reliant on better shooters being around. He's a setup guy, thats what he is, and the Flames don't have a lot of sharpshooters around.

 

[Oilhawks]

HuberDOH?

You watch flames games, any of them, and you need a program to see what number he is on ice. He's been that ordinary. He looks slow, maybe has trouble skating at this elevation.

He is -1 and has one meager EV assist in 4 games. You only ever see him really on the PP. Good thing Flamers get a lot of those. But you look through the lineup and wonder where all the goals are going to come from. There just isn't many to be had in that lineup. Theres going to be some rough scoring patches for the Flames.


Gaudreau you at least notice on the ice. Pretty good with the puck and creating open ice for himself and team mates. Hubs has been invisible at EV play. Flames better hope he's still figuring it out. Really I think he's somewhat reliant on better shooters being around. He's a setup guy, thats what he is, and the Flames don't have a lot of sharpshooters around.

The best part? They could be paying $10.5M for a PP specialist when his contract kicks in next year.

Gaudreau > Huberdeau, easily

 

[Drivesaitl]

The best part? They could be paying $10.5M for a PP specialist when his contract kicks in next year.

Gaudreau > Huberdeau, easily

Absolutely. This was always clear. Its early, but I would rather have either Tkachuk or Gaudreau than Huberdeau. Kadri has looked good. but then again his only goal of season is against us. He was another player that was hard to spot last night. Deserves mention that both Hubs and Kadri have had off seasons as well. Its not like they bring it every year. If either has a quiet year look for trouble. Flames need all production on board.

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

Absolutely. This was always clear. Its early, but I would rather have either Tkachuk or Gaudreau than Huberdeau. Kadri has looked good. but then again his only goal of season is against us. He was another player that was hard to spot last night. Deserves mention that both Hubs and Kadri have had off seasons as well. Its not like they bring it every year. If either has a quiet year look for trouble. Flames need all production on board.

100%. Their top players have to bring it 95% of the time to succeed. They have never shown that. McDrai have a sh** game here and there, but they have shown to carry our team game in and game out. Their awards speak for themselves. Always on top of the NHL stats. The cream always rises to the top.

I see CGY as having a lot of good "balanced players", but no game breakers. Plus, their starting goalie has sucked the hind banana.

To each their own. Give me the team that is a tad less balanced, but has two guys who can just annihilate them.

 

[Oilhawks]

Absolutely. This was always clear. Its early, but I would rather have either Tkachuk or Gaudreau than Huberdeau. Kadri has looked good. but then again his only goal of season is against us. He was another player that was hard to spot last night. Deserves mention that both Hubs and Kadri have had off seasons as well. Its not like they bring it every year. If either has a quiet year look for trouble. Flames need all production on board.

The Kadri and Huberdeau contracts are absolutely ugly long term. Flames know this and have to make hay in the first few seasons of them, particularly in Kadri’s case as he is already 32

 

[Drivesaitl]

100%. Their top players have to bring it 95% of the time to succeed. They have never shown that. McDrai have a sh** game here and there, but they have shown to carry our team game in and game out. Their awards speak for themselves. Always on top of the NHL stats. The cream always rises to the top.

I see CGY as having a lot of good "balanced players", but no game breakers. Plus, their starting goalie has sucked the hind banana.

To each their own. Give me the team that is a tad less balanced, but has two guys who can just annihilate them.

This not even mentioning entertainment factor. Which club is entertaining? In Calgary your guns are Mangiopane and Tyler Toffoli. lol. Those are the great hopes to bag goals.

I said it immediately. Hubs isn't a goal scorer first and foremost and Kadri is really inconsistent. Where are the goals coming from? We don't have to ask that in the Oilers lineup. Even our depth players will start potting some. McLeod already has 2 goals. He would be leading the flames.

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

HuberDOH?

You watch flames games, any of them, and you need a program to see what number he is on ice. He's been that ordinary. He looks slow, maybe has trouble skating at this elevation.

He is -1 and has one meager EV assist in 4 games. You only ever see him really on the PP. Good thing Flamers get a lot of those. But you look through the lineup and wonder where all the goals are going to come from. There just isn't many to be had in that lineup. Theres going to be some rough scoring patches for the Flames.


Gaudreau you at least notice on the ice. Pretty good with the puck and creating open ice for himself and team mates. Hubs has been invisible at EV play. Flames better hope he's still figuring it out. Really I think he's somewhat reliant on better shooters being around. He's a setup guy, thats what he is, and the Flames don't have a lot of sharpshooters around.

The Kadri and Huberdeau contracts are absolutely ugly long term. Flames know this and have to make hay in the first few seasons of them, particularly in Kadri’s case as he is already 32

Tre is set long term from his owns salary, but he has daddy's empire as well (if it will indeed go to him). What's it to him right? He is betting so hard that CGY can beat EDM and COL, etc in the next 2 years. They will look hideous after with those contracts. Tre won't be there. Win-Win for him

 

[SnipeShowJB11]

Meanwhile, Matthew Ratchuck has 6 points in his first 4 games. More than any Flame lol

JG also has 6 points, more than any other Flame

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Problem with the Nucks defense is they don't have a single player that is reliable defensively whatsoever in a lock down situation. Poolman and Schenn are defensive, but in a #5/6 kind of way, not the players you want to deploy to lock down another team's stars.

Meanwhile Hughes has to be one of the most overrated players I have ever seen in the NHL. Seeing him on top 10 lists of NHL defensemen is comical. He makes the cool plays, but in no way shape or form can be relied upon to lock a game down.

Nurse has his really bad games and the face palm moments, but generally he'll give you what you need if you need to hold a lead against the other team's elite players. Not a single player on the Nucks D can say the same.

Poolman sucks at the defensive side of the game. Routinely gets slaughtered in scoring chances.

 

[Stoneman89]

Kassian shouldn't fight anymore.

He probably shouldn't play either. Man, what a beatdown.

 

[Mr Positive]

That's not what a 'country club' atmosphere is. This is used as a pejorative to describe team cultures that have essentially lost control or direction of its coaching staff. Comfortable to coast and play with indifference because there is little accountability or repercussion.

We know the incredible elite training and conditioning that this team's elites put in to continually improve their games and lead in elevating the expectations for the rest of the team to follow. It is a significant strength similar to the 80's Oilers who Sather instilled to practice at high level which Gretzky, Messier, Lowe and that leadership group embraced to set the culture.

Now in their peak performance years McDavid, Draisaitl and Nurse's competitive drive and training to support team success is a massive positive intangible.

In that case it's obvious there has never been a country club atmosphere in the McDavid era. I just see it as even if the coach has lost the room here, McDavid and the rest of the core won't put up with players coasting. Or, more likely no player will even feel they can even start and want to meet the high standard. Our team has had bad years but it's likely due to a lack of talent in the depth or goaltending

I could see that perhaps the team's core could be like a club in itself or a clique of friends on the team. I don't think that has to be a bad thing. Heck if anything it's something that might help us re signing McDavid and Draisaitl

 

[Mr Positive]

This ref assist to help the Flames last night was funny. This was the only isolated clip of it I could find (it has youtuber commentary)

 

[Oilhawks]

This ref assist to help the Flames last night was funny. This was the only isolated clip of it I could find (it has youtuber commentary)

That Tim Peel goal is legendary.

Lewis should be buying that ref a steak dinner for helping prolong his career