robbie111
Registered User
- Nov 10, 2013
- 269
- 67
Just wondered what your thoughts are on helping fix the Flames.
Just an observation from the games I've watched recently and comparing them to our games 10 games ago. When we were winning it was based on a SPEED first situation where other teams were having trouble keeping up to us. Opposition never had much time to move the puck and our defense was confident joining the rush and pinching because the forwards had the SPEED to cover for them defensively.
In the recent games defensemen are not joining the rush as much because they have been burned as forwards have been unable to back them up as effectively defensively. This has lead to a more dump and chase style in which the flames tend to give away possession of the puck.
My guess is that Stajan, Raymond and Colborne all might have come back from injury too soon as they were under the pressure of seeing success by the young forwards. Perhaps if they would have had a chance to ramp up fitness over the Christmas break instead of coming back soon it may have worked out better for them and the team. That's just an observation though and hindsight is always 20/20.
What I'd like to see after the Christmas break is Granlund given PP time as I think he is a bit more creative offensively than Jooris. (Love the way Jooris has played this year just think Granlund might be a better fit on the PP) Glencross is apparently playing with injuries from what I have heard from Steinberg on the fan 960 and wears 2 knee braces. Perhaps he could be given a bit of time to heal up. I really liked Ferlands forecheck game and physicality and think he is a vast upgrade over Bollig who should be moved for whatever we can get for him at this point. Bollig does not have Ferlands speed needed to finish checks. I could see keeping Stajan as a 4th line center to win faceoffs. I would like to see Culkin and Wotherspoon called up and given a chance to play as our #3 pairing. Both could add to our speed game and really the 3rd pairing has been an issue all season long. Byron looks like he is playing hurt to me and does not have the same speed he had in earlier games and maybe I'm wrong on that case but he might need a bit of a rest as well to heal up, just a guess from what I have watched lately. If that were the case I'd really like to see Poirier given a few games to see where he is in his development. Raymond came back too early and you can see it in his shot as it doesn't have any zip on it and his speed is not where it needs to be for him to be effective. Guess is he came back earlier out of fear of losing his job to the kids.
1. Rest Glencross, Raymond and Byron (if he is indeed playing injured, just speculation in what I have seen lately) and make sure they are healthy and up to pace when they come back into the lineup.
2. Trade Bollig and bring Ferland back up.
3. Keep Stajan for faceoffs which has been an issue this year,
4. Bring up Poirier, Wotherspoon and Culkin.
5. Give Granlund some PP time.
SPEED was what helped us in allowing our D-Pairings to be as adventurous offensively as they were and unfortunately when we don't have it we are ineffective.
So what are your thoughts and how would you fix the Flames?
Just an observation from the games I've watched recently and comparing them to our games 10 games ago. When we were winning it was based on a SPEED first situation where other teams were having trouble keeping up to us. Opposition never had much time to move the puck and our defense was confident joining the rush and pinching because the forwards had the SPEED to cover for them defensively.
In the recent games defensemen are not joining the rush as much because they have been burned as forwards have been unable to back them up as effectively defensively. This has lead to a more dump and chase style in which the flames tend to give away possession of the puck.
My guess is that Stajan, Raymond and Colborne all might have come back from injury too soon as they were under the pressure of seeing success by the young forwards. Perhaps if they would have had a chance to ramp up fitness over the Christmas break instead of coming back soon it may have worked out better for them and the team. That's just an observation though and hindsight is always 20/20.
What I'd like to see after the Christmas break is Granlund given PP time as I think he is a bit more creative offensively than Jooris. (Love the way Jooris has played this year just think Granlund might be a better fit on the PP) Glencross is apparently playing with injuries from what I have heard from Steinberg on the fan 960 and wears 2 knee braces. Perhaps he could be given a bit of time to heal up. I really liked Ferlands forecheck game and physicality and think he is a vast upgrade over Bollig who should be moved for whatever we can get for him at this point. Bollig does not have Ferlands speed needed to finish checks. I could see keeping Stajan as a 4th line center to win faceoffs. I would like to see Culkin and Wotherspoon called up and given a chance to play as our #3 pairing. Both could add to our speed game and really the 3rd pairing has been an issue all season long. Byron looks like he is playing hurt to me and does not have the same speed he had in earlier games and maybe I'm wrong on that case but he might need a bit of a rest as well to heal up, just a guess from what I have watched lately. If that were the case I'd really like to see Poirier given a few games to see where he is in his development. Raymond came back too early and you can see it in his shot as it doesn't have any zip on it and his speed is not where it needs to be for him to be effective. Guess is he came back earlier out of fear of losing his job to the kids.
1. Rest Glencross, Raymond and Byron (if he is indeed playing injured, just speculation in what I have seen lately) and make sure they are healthy and up to pace when they come back into the lineup.
2. Trade Bollig and bring Ferland back up.
3. Keep Stajan for faceoffs which has been an issue this year,
4. Bring up Poirier, Wotherspoon and Culkin.
5. Give Granlund some PP time.
SPEED was what helped us in allowing our D-Pairings to be as adventurous offensively as they were and unfortunately when we don't have it we are ineffective.
So what are your thoughts and how would you fix the Flames?
Last edited:
