Nice, where did you pull that? Would love to get the individual dates that the massive declines start and take a look at who we played around then.

Chances are we played the Ducks or the Hawks in a couple of those instances. Until the Coyle incident, the Hawks and Ducks fowards slashed wrists with almost no repercussions.

The game before the Coyle incident, Keith broke Hathaway's wrist and cracked Johnny good in the ribs; both slashes, both uncalled. The Hawks finished the year with only 14 slashing minors. Hath's season was ended that game and it's almost entirely forgotten.
- fry

corsica.hockey

I think Edmonton finishes ahead of Calgary this year. If their D can avoid injury they will make strides. The downward spiral can only continue for so long and I believe that this year they turn back into an NHL hockey team.

Calgary just has too many anchor contracts to be competitive. The 2nd scoring line is Bennet and ??? and ???

I agree that the 1st and 3rd lines are pretty much set. But Brouwer is not a first line RW on a a contender.

This will be the last year Calgary is in the bottom 3rd of the league. Once Stajan, Bouma, Bollig, Smid and Wideman are gone (collective 15,325,000) that money can be put into actual productive players. The Flames will be in a much different looking team. Also, Flames will have Tkachuck and most probably one of Anderson or Kylington plugging some of those gapping holes.
- DuranDuran

I think you're forgetting how bad the Oilers are. They were Flaming garbage by January and that fire never really got put out.

Remove their top scorer and add a pushover, non-physical defensive defenseman and a hulking penalty magnet who's contract might just be the worst in the NHL if he starts to lose accountability; You know, like almost every top 6 Oil winger has in the last 5 years.

It's a tough assessment, but based on how the Oilers have operated this decade.. I think it's a better bet to expect complete and total failure. lol

Frolik - Bennett - ??? Is our second scoring line. Can't forget good ol' Frolik.

I think you're forgetting how bad the Oilers are. They were Flaming garbage by January and that fire never really got put out.

Remove their top scorer and add a pushover, non-physical defensive defenseman and a hulking penalty magnet who's contract might just be the worst in the NHL if he starts to lose accountability; You know, like almost every top 6 Oil winger has in the last 5 years.

It's a tough assessment, but based on how the Oilers have operated this decade.. I think it's a better bet to expect complete and total failure. lol

Frolik - Bennett - ??? Is our second scoring line. Can't forget good ol' Frolik.


- fry

It will be interesting to see. Obviously I hope your right!!!

Edit: I like FroliK with Backs.

I would roll

Gaudreau-Monahan-Brouwer
Bennett-Backlund-Bouma
Shinkaruk-Vey-Frolik
Ferland-Stajan-Chiasson

I think Edmonton finishes ahead of Calgary this year. If their D can avoid injury they will make strides. The downward spiral can only continue for so long and I believe that this year they turn back into an NHL hockey team.

Calgary just has too many anchor contracts to be competitive. The 2nd scoring line is Bennet and ??? and ???

I agree that the 1st and 3rd lines are pretty much set. But Brouwer is not a first line RW on a a contender.

This will be the last year Calgary is in the bottom 3rd of the league. Once Stajan, Bouma, Bollig, Smid and Wideman are gone (collective 15,325,000) that money can be put into actual productive players. The Flames will be in a much different looking team. Also, Flames will have Tkachuck and most probably one of Anderson or Kylington plugging some of those gapping holes.
- DuranDuran

Disagree. Brouwer bounced from 1st to 2nd line & PP time with St Louis & I think they were a contender seeing they made the Conference finals.

It will be interesting to see. Obviously I hope your right!!!

Edit: I like FroliK with Backs.
- DuranDuran

Hah hopefully so. If we learned anything from last October: almost every oil fan on here will talk endless sh!t in the Flames thread if they get better than us.

Stitches187 will climb out from wherever he's cowering and talk enough poop to clog the St. Lawrence.

I hope you're reading this, Stitches. Your team is bad. That goes for you too, Jero.

If Ferland or Bouma are "good enough" to play with Bennett this year, God help this team. Hoping Shink, Poirier and Tkatchuk can come in and earn top 6 spots otherwise we are sprinkling role players throughout this lineup to get by.
With all this money coming off the books next year who do we target to fill these scoring winger spots if no prospects are ready to contribute?

I think you're forgetting how bad the Oilers are. They were Flaming garbage by January and that fire never really got put out.

Remove their top scorer and add a pushover, non-physical defensive defenseman and a hulking penalty magnet who's contract might just be the worst in the NHL if he starts to lose accountability; You know, like almost every top 6 Oil winger has in the last 5 years.

It's a tough assessment, but based on how the Oilers have operated this decade.. I think it's a better bet to expect complete and total failure. lol

Frolik - Bennett - ??? Is our second scoring line. Can't forget good ol' Frolik.


- fry

Personally I liked how backs and frolik played together ..Bennett hasn't proven he can handle it yet ( yes he has had crap linemates )
I don't think the flames will have one guy as your 2C and another as 3C just backs will get D zone faceoffs and Bennett offensive.

I actually wouldn't be apposed to giving Bennett some time with Johnny either at some point as well

I think you're forgetting how bad the Oilers are. They were Flaming garbage by January and that fire never really got put out.

Remove their top scorer and add a pushover, non-physical defensive defenseman and a hulking penalty magnet who's contract might just be the worst in the NHL if he starts to lose accountability; You know, like almost every top 6 Oil winger has in the last 5 years.

It's a tough assessment, but based on how the Oilers have operated this decade.. I think it's a better bet to expect complete and total failure. lol

Frolik - Bennett - ??? Is our second scoring line. Can't forget good ol' Frolik.


- fry

They had a record of 13-15-2 until Klefbom went down with injury and that was just before Talbot hit his stride. I know it's been said before, but that last season featured some absolutely horrid luck and insufficient depth to handle such. Klefbom is the most vital piece to this team's success as of now. That being said, I'm not here in a Flames thread to discuss the Oilers more than this.

I think the question you raised with regard to Elliot is a very fair concern. Some people forget just how bad he was in Ottawa and Colorado (two non-trap teams) before going to St Louis. It's a valid concern that you've gotta hope Gulutzan is accounting for.

During his time in Dallas, I didn't get much feel for his coaching style on defense. However, he did manage to maximize the performance of skilled players. All of Eriksson, Ribiero, and Ryder thrived under him and Benn saw his potential as a 1st liner realized that year. I think Calgary would be wise to sign a guy like how New Jersey signed Stempniak last year. Vet offensive guy that won't cost much. Versteeg would've worked had he not chosen Switzerland.

Treliving probably isn't a big fan of that list.

They had a record of 13-15-2 until Klefbom went down with injury and that was just before Talbot hit his stride. I know it's been said before, but that last season featured some absolutely horrid luck and insufficient depth to handle such. Klefbom is the most vital piece to this team's success as of now. That being said, I'm not here in a Flames thread to discuss the Oilers more than this.

I think the question you raised with regard to Elliot is a very fair concern. Some people forget just how bad he was in Ottawa and Colorado (two non-trap teams) before going to St Louis. It's a valid concern that you've gotta hope Gulutzan is accounting for.

During his time in Dallas, I didn't get much feel for his coaching style on defense. However, he did manage to maximize the performance of skilled players. All of Eriksson, Ribiero, and Ryder thrived under him and Benn saw his potential as a 1st liner realized that year. I think Calgary would be wise to sign a guy like how New Jersey signed Stempniak last year. Vet offensive guy that won't cost much. Versteeg would've worked had he not chosen Switzerland.
- MaximumBone

Truth. Nice post.

Also, Hudler

They had a record of 13-15-2 until Klefbom went down with injury and that was just before Talbot hit his stride. I know it's been said before, but that last season featured some absolutely horrid luck and insufficient depth to handle such. Klefbom is the most vital piece to this team's success as of now. That being said, I'm not here in a Flames thread to discuss the Oilers more than this.

I think the question you raised with regard to Elliot is a very fair concern. Some people forget just how bad he was in Ottawa and Colorado (two non-trap teams) before going to St Louis. It's a valid concern that you've gotta hope Gulutzan is accounting for.

During his time in Dallas, I didn't get much feel for his coaching style on defense. However, he did manage to maximize the performance of skilled players. All of Eriksson, Ribiero, and Ryder thrived under him and Benn saw his potential as a 1st liner realized that year. I think Calgary would be wise to sign a guy like how New Jersey signed Stempniak last year. Vet offensive guy that won't cost much. Versteeg would've worked had he not chosen Switzerland.
- MaximumBone

Goalies are weird (frank)ers though . There's a chance that it was the St Louis system that made him look good, but it seems like he's been getting better with age and he has really been coming into his own the last few years. I expect his numbers will dip a bit, but I don't think he's going to be a bust. He compared himself to the situation Tim Thomas faced when he was introduced by the Flames, I can kind of see some similarities in their career paths.

Also,
I think that's what they hope Chiasson can be. He had his career year under GG so there is a chance that maybe he can help him find some of that magic once again (I don't have overly high hopes for him though).

As for GGs coaching style, I wouldn't use his time with Dallas to judge how he is going to do with us (he flat out admitted that he wasn't ready for the NHL and he was overwhelmed by the schedule and the duties that come with being an NHL head coach). He's still an unknown quantity but the players he has coached seem to love him and the seasoning he's been able to get as an assistant should help him be a better coach than he was with Dallas.

Play Bennett with Johnny and Monahan, keep Backlund, Frolic, Brouwer on the 2nd.
Janko centres the 3rd with Chaisson and Ferland, split the 4th between Bouma, Bolig, Hathaway, Vey, Stagan!

O another note, Todd you forgot to tell us where Bouma finished in that top forward ranking.

5 game rolling average of individual scoring chances per 60


- Feds91Stammer

- Mr.Bobby

I'd of thought Harambe would have had more support, even after death.

Play Bennett with Johnny and Monahan, keep Backlund, Frolic, Brouwer on the 2nd.
Janko centres the 3rd with Chaisson and Ferland, split the 4th between Bouma, Bolig, Hathaway, Vey, Stagan!
- K-man25

I honestly wouldn't mind Bennett playing the wing if we keep backs and janko becomes a 3C at least ...I doubt that happens this year but next year that would really solidify our forwards ...I would do something like

Johnny monny Bennett
tkachuk backs Frolik
Brouwer janko skink/poirier/ etc
Bouma Stajan Hathaway

Something along this for a year from now ...