That Didn't Last Long

Where is the harm of letting a young kid who gets called up and has a few practices get a couple of games. Is there not a benefit of letting them and the organization see where they are at and then send them back down with a few goals to work on?

I like McGratz but he won't fight anyone less than a heavy weight. I like him playing but he is not needed in every game. We certainly Don't need two guys of that same ilk playing. There needs to be a balance of protection and space being opened and skill to really allow for proper development. And how does having less skilled guys patrolling the ice help with those skilled vets you speak of bring in those great returns we all hope for?

Its not complaining, its an opinion. I'm all for the high pick but not at the cost of poor development and return for the players we currently have. Are you ok with being shut out in 4 of the last 6 games? Is this what you see as proper development?
- TandA4Flames

Careful. I expressed my opinion on JBo making team Canada on twitter and was called NASTY things...

Working really well so far
- TandA4Flames

Right on pace for Elkbald so I would say it is working

The oilers will find a way to finish with a higher pick then the flames and draft Ekblad, leaving Dal Colle or Ritchie

The oilers will find a way to finish with a higher pick then the flames and draft Ekblad, leaving Dal Colle or Ritchie
- cmpdave

NO. Elkbald is a Flame sign him to an Entry level contract and get him a jersy for the young stars tourney this fall. The Oilers have had their chance at drafting in the top 5 year after year after year ............. after year

NO. Elkbald is a Flame sign him to an Entry level contract and get him a jersy for the young stars tourney this fall. The Oilers have had their chance at drafting in the top 5 year after year after year ............. after year
- Svensational47

Old habits are so hard to break.

The oilers will find a way to finish with a higher pick then the flames and draft Ekblad, leaving Dal Colle or Ritchie
- cmpdave

I'm not completely convinced they would take Ekblad over a C. They may take DalColle since they could really use a C with size, someone described as "a bull."
Not to mention they took Nurse last year.

Where is the harm of letting a young kid who gets called up and has a few practices get a couple of games. Is there not a benefit of letting them and the organization see where they are at and then send them back down with a few goals to work on?

I like McGratz but he won't fight anyone less than a heavy weight. I like him playing but he is not needed in every game. We certainly Don't need two guys of that same ilk playing. There needs to be a balance of protection and space being opened and skill to really allow for proper development. And how does having less skilled guys patrolling the ice help with those skilled vets you speak of bring in those great returns we all hope for?

Its not complaining, its an opinion. I'm all for the high pick but not at the cost of poor development and return for the players we currently have. Are you ok with being shut out in 4 of the last 6 games? Is this what you see as proper development?
- TandA4Flames

It's your just so focused on the Wesgarth & McGratton in the lineup. No, I hate the fact we cant score in the last 4 of 6. But now is not the time for the young guys you want to see. Their development is way better served playing in Abbottsford. After the trade deadline, Flames should have a weekly shuttle from Calgary to Abby. The quicker we bottom out the quicker we can lift ourselves off the mat. 3rd or 4th line minutes in the Flames current situation does absolutely nothing for Knight/Sven/Granlund. By March, these kids will all get chances in our top 6 in Calgary. By then we are mathematically elimintated, they can make mistakes & not be the end of the world.

The oilers will find a way to finish with a higher pick then the flames and draft Ekblad, leaving Dal Colle or Ritchie
- cmpdave

My bet is, oilers wait till the end of the season and use the pick as leverage to get a d-man or a big centre… or a goalie… or…. whatever else the oilers need. A top 10 (more likely 5) pick will get you a pretty solid player that will help them now rather than waiting for them to develop. Besides, at this rate it will be Calgary and Buffalo fighting for bottom 2.

Happy to help.


It's Shaune.
- vetts

The guy spelled company with a "K"....give him a break would ya?

It's your just so focused on the Wesgarth & McGratton in the lineup. No, I hate the fact we cant score in the last 4 of 6. But now is not the time for the young guys you want to see. Their development is way better served playing in Abbottsford. After the trade deadline, Flames should have a weekly shuttle from Calgary to Abby. The quicker we bottom out the quicker we can lift ourselves off the mat. 3rd or 4th line minutes in the Flames current situation does absolutely nothing for Knight/Sven/Granlund. By March, these kids will all get chances in our top 6 in Calgary. By then we are mathematically elimintated, they can make mistakes & not be the end of the world.
- Kevin R

This is exactly right The month of January is going to be long Feb a little brighter but only because of the Olympic break followed by the exciting trade dealline that will be full of fun for Flames fans Then we get to see the kids play the remaining 20ish games and repeat again next year Then hopefully we will beging to see a team that will start climbing up the division standings.

There is no way you can expect 18, 19, and 20 year old kids to play 82 games a year against other teams top end talent and expect them to develop into top players in the league.

Should this not now make Burke realize that we need to address goal scoring via draft and trade and not more truculence/goonery? This should be a good thing in this respect, yes?

What good is truculence, or more so goons, when the other team gets so far ahead the opposition doesn't bother icing their own goons? And of course we only employ a higher class of goon that won't take cheap shots or scrap anyone less than heavy weight. Why oh why did we not give Granlund a game or 2 when he was up to see if his offense translates to the NHL?
- TandA4Flames

Better to loose but push the other guys around than to loose and get pushed around. The young guys will see their time. We have at least a couple years to test them out. I am also of the point of view that we Truculence is like cowbell……..

It's your just so focused on the Wesgarth & McGratton in the lineup. No, I hate the fact we cant score in the last 4 of 6. But now is not the time for the young guys you want to see. Their development is way better served playing in Abbottsford. After the trade deadline, Flames should have a weekly shuttle from Calgary to Abby. The quicker we bottom out the quicker we can lift ourselves off the mat. 3rd or 4th line minutes in the Flames current situation does absolutely nothing for Knight/Sven/Granlund. By March, these kids will all get chances in our top 6 in Calgary. By then we are mathematically elimintated, they can make mistakes & not be the end of the world.
- Kevin R

You're right, in this particular thread I am a bit focused on the goon squad, but not entirely.

After trade deadline we are only allowed 5 call-ups, I believe it is, aside from emergency call ups. It may be different if those call-ups are kept up. Still, I know what you're saying regarding playing the kids in a losing environment, but how is bringing them up after the vets are traded away any different? How is giving them a look see now with goals to achieve before the deadline a bad thing. And maybe, just maybe, one of these kids starts lighting it up and injects some needed offense and more youthful energy.

Should this not now make Burke realize that we need to address goal scoring via draft and trade and not more truculence/goonery? This should be a good thing in this respect, yes?

What good is truculence, or more so goons, when the other team gets so far ahead the opposition doesn't bother icing their own goons? And of course we only employ a higher class of goon that won't take cheap shots or scrap anyone less than heavy weight. Why oh why did we not give Granlund a game or 2 when he was up to see if his offense translates to the NHL?
- TandA4Flames

My sense is that when he says Truculence he doesn't mean just adding goons. Sure he picked up Westgarth but thats a minor trade to take weight off Gratts and add some kick to the bottom end. I feel like he means guys like Dustin Brown in L.A. or a Wayne Simmonds or Brad Marchand type of player. Guys that can still score but can at the same time ware on opponents night in and night out. Look at the teams who've done well in playoffs the last few years, (other than chicago) L.A. beat people up, Boston beat people up, St. Louis probably would have gone pretty far if they hadn't run into the Kings first round. Truculent teams

My sense is that when he says Truculence he doesn't mean just adding goons. Sure he picked up Westgarth but thats a minor trade to take weight off Gratts and add some kick to the bottom end. I feel like he means guys like Dustin Brown in L.A. or a Wayne Simmonds or Brad Marchand type of player. Guys that can still score but can at the same time ware on opponents night in and night out. Look at the teams who've done well in playoffs the last few years, (other than chicago) L.A. beat people up, Boston beat people up, St. Louis probably would have gone pretty far if they hadn't run into the Kings first round. Truculent teams
- Talking_hockey1

Exactly. He wants players that are tough to play against... Which still doesn't explain Colborne... Just saying...

Exactly. He wants players that are tough to play against... Which still doesn't explain Colborne... Just saying...
- vetts

But colborne was on sale...nobody can pass up a sale

Exactly. He wants players that are tough to play against... Which still doesn't explain Colborne... Just saying...
- vetts

But colborne was on sale...nobody can pass up a sale

Just remember, there is a lottery that includes all teams that miss the playoffs now. Finishing 29th or 30th doesn't guarantee a Ekblad or Reinhart anymore. My bet is CGY finishes 29th and EDM wins the lottery. Then EDM wins the lottery again next year too. Seems about par for them.

Just remember, there is a lottery that includes all teams that miss the playoffs now. Finishing 29th or 30th doesn't guarantee a Ekblad or Reinhart anymore. My bet is CGY finishes 29th and EDM wins the lottery. Then EDM wins the lottery again next year too. Seems about par for them.
- wreckage

Don't hate....

Just remember, there is a lottery that includes all teams that miss the playoffs now. Finishing 29th or 30th doesn't guarantee a Ekblad or Reinhart anymore. My bet is CGY finishes 29th and EDM wins the lottery. Then EDM wins the lottery again next year too. Seems about par for them.
- wreckage

I heard the Oilers plan to build their new stadium without any corporate OR tax payer money. They've started buying 649 tickets instead, and have already added the winnings into the construction budget.

Kevin Lowe was quoted saying "Nobody has won more lotos than me!"

Don't hate....
- Iggysbff

Yeah, 2 more young kids careers that can be destroyed!!

I heard the Oilers plan to build their new stadium without any corporate OR tax payer money. They've started buying 649 tickets instead, and have already added the winnings into the construction budget.

Kevin Lowe was quoted saying "Nobody has won more lotos than me!"
- Saskabush

Beauty!

But colborne was on sale...nobody can pass up a sale
- Saskabush

Exactly