Todd Cordell: G21 Calgary Flames vs Vegas Golden Knights: Five things to watch

Glad to see Rittich in.

At what point do we become concerned Neal is becoming Brouwer 2.0?

Even if Rittich stinks it up in this game, stick with him. We need to see exactly what we've got and starting Mike Smith, except in the back half of back-to-backs, won't help that at all. Smith is gonzo next year, so will we need to look for a new #1 or a decent back-up come trade deadline or even July 1, 2019?

At what point do we become concerned Neal is becoming Brouwer 2.0?
- geta02it

Difference is, Brouwer never looked like he gave a crap.
Neal is up against reduced ice-time but I think he'll come around. He's lost the position on the top line to Lindholm fair and square, though. So he shouldn't be pouting about not playing there.

Difference is, Brouwer never looked like he gave a crap.
Neal is up against reduced ice-time but I think he'll come around. He's lost the position on the top line to Lindholm fair and square, though. So he shouldn't be pouting about not playing there.
- MABster

Neal will be fine but he never lost the 1st line fair and square because he never got a shot there. That being said, the way Linds is playing he won’t.

Maybe Neal, Kylington & ??? To the Leafs for ???

At what point do we become concerned Neal is becoming Brouwer 2.0?
- geta02it

Not yet!

At what point do we become concerned Neal is becoming Brouwer 2.0?
- geta02it

Not a thing

Neal hasn't been scoring but he's been noticeable and he still puts up quality shots. I feel like he's experiencing the ol' classic Flames snakebitten shooting%.

Playing his former team tonight so I'm sure he'll be playing with some extra motivation to make Vegas regret letting him walk.

Even if Rittich stinks it up in this game, stick with him. We need to see exactly what we've got and starting Mike Smith, except in the back half of back-to-backs, won't help that at all. Smith is gonzo next year, so will we need to look for a new #1 or a decent back-up come trade deadline or even July 1, 2019?
- MABster

absolutely...rittich needs to be given a run and see if he can handle not only the workload but the pressure of being number one.....smith has proven he no longer can.

absolutely...rittich needs to be given a run and see if he can handle not only the workload but the pressure of being number one.....smith has proven he no longer can.
- Barx

You’re a long way from the Leaf thread...

Bill Peters is an absolute donkey! What he said about Dube is nuts! I’ve lost faith in BT as well. Can’t wait until both are history.

Bill Peters is an absolute donkey! What he said about Dube is nuts! I’ve lost faith in BT as well. Can’t wait until both are history.
- Clyde334

Not sure why you think its that bad.

Its a valid argument, would top line minutes on the farm help him? Wouldn't hurt him.

And have to agree that there's a worry about him getting hurt. He's been nailed a few times because hes held on to the puck to long or put himself in a bad position. That Keith hit I have to say was more on Dube...he sedin'd and used the turn your back to the opponent trick which only puts you in harms way...hate that, protect yourself out there.

But...that being said, he's fun to watch. And is there anyone better to take his spot?...Rychel has size, rather see him them Peluso.

Not sure why you think its that bad.

Its a valid argument, would top line minutes on the farm help him? Wouldn't hurt him.

And have to agree that there's a worry about him getting hurt. He's been nailed a few times because hes held on to the puck to long or put himself in a bad position. That Keith hit I have to say was more on Dube...he sedin'd and used the turn your back to the opponent trick which only puts you in harms way...hate that, protect yourself out there.

But...that being said, he's fun to watch. And is there anyone better to take his spot?...Rychel has size, rather see him them Peluso.
- numbear

Didn't they let Rychel walk?

Bill Peters is an absolute donkey! What he said about Dube is nuts! I’ve lost faith in BT as well. Can’t wait until both are history.
- Clyde334

Hey Bro

I havent lost faith in BT. He's brought this team a long way & expectation is legitimately higher, making it that much more frustrating when they dont play to expectation. Give Peters a chance. GG drove me absolutely insane dressing the same losing lineup game after game after game after game. Cut him some slack, he has a learning curve to figure out the players first hand & how they perform in particular situations. It's a process. I have been ecstatic about that trade & I thought it was a long term win but right now Hamilton isnt playing that great, has 7 points, same as Hanifin. Lindholm is just blossoming & we got him for such a great cap hit. Ferland is already starting to cool down & we know he will be wanting a big pay cheque next July. Treliving just has to go on a fishing trip where there is no cell reception during Free Agency frenzy. To me, that is his achilles heel. He signs these 30 year old UFA's for what they have done & not what they will be able to do for you as their careers regress. He needs to smarten the fck up with that. As frustrated as we've been lately, this team has had a way better start than we have the last 3 years.

Didn't they let Rychel walk?
- DuranDuran

He's in Stockton, doing ok.

Neal will be fine but he never lost the 1st line fair and square because he never got a shot there. That being said, the way Linds is playing he won’t.

Maybe Neal, Kylington & ??? To the Leafs for ???
- Clyde334

I can see maybe Neal, Kylington & a conditional 1st for Stone in Ottawa.

Bill Peters is an absolute donkey! What he said about Dube is nuts! I’ve lost faith in BT as well. Can’t wait until both are history.
- Clyde334

Hunk is that you?

Peters has this team playing some fantastic hockey and he isn't entirely wrong about Dube. He definitely could benefit from top line time in Stockton and there arw definite injury concerns given some of the hits he's been taking. There isn't anything wrong with being patient with prospects, especially ones as young as Dube, and Peters saying that doesn't mean he thinks he's a bad player, we wouldn't have made the team in the first place if he did, he's just saying it might be better for his development.

Hunk is that you?

Peters has this team playing some fantastic hockey and he isn't entirely wrong about Dube. He definitely could benefit from top line time in Stockton and there arw definite injury concerns given some of the hits he's been taking. There isn't anything wrong with being patient with prospects, especially ones as young as Dube, and Peters saying that doesn't mean he thinks he's a bad player, we wouldn't have made the team in the first place if he did, he's just saying it might be better for his development.
- Helios

You don’t ask the media! Fcking brutal!!

And I loved BT until he hired BP! Bingo nailed everything so far about Peters.

(and you call me Hunk again I’ll hunt you down and rip you into little pieces)

Hey Bro

I havent lost faith in BT. He's brought this team a long way & expectation is legitimately higher, making it that much more frustrating when they dont play to expectation. Give Peters a chance. GG drove me absolutely insane dressing the same losing lineup game after game after game after game. Cut him some slack, he has a learning curve to figure out the players first hand & how they perform in particular situations. It's a process. I have been ecstatic about that trade & I thought it was a long term win but right now Hamilton isnt playing that great, has 7 points, same as Hanifin. Lindholm is just blossoming & we got him for such a great cap hit. Ferland is already starting to cool down & we know he will be wanting a big pay cheque next July. Treliving just has to go on a fishing trip where there is no cell reception during Free Agency frenzy. To me, that is his achilles heel. He signs these 30 year old UFA's for what they have done & not what they will be able to do for you as their careers regress. He needs to smarten the fck up with that. As frustrated as we've been lately, this team has had a way better start than we have the last 3 years.
- Kevin R

Hey dude.

Hey dude.
- Clyde334

You two need some alone time?

You don’t ask the media! Fcking brutal!!

And I loved BT until he hired BP! Bingo nailed everything so far about Peters.

(and you call me Hunk again I’ll hunt you down and rip you into little pieces)
- Clyde334

Has he though? Peters has this team off to the best start they've had in years and if it wasn't for Smith the Flames would probably be firmly leading the Division right now. So is it Bingo being right about the coach but Carolina not having the roster to properly execute, or Bingo being wrong entirely? Does it really matter when the team is off to a good start?

You two need some alone time?
- geta02it

Dude! Not at all, just trying to get you to notice me.

How you doin’

Has he though? Peters has this team off to the best start they've had in years and if it wasn't for Smith the Flames would probably be firmly leading the Division right now. So is it Bingo being right about the coach but Carolina not having the roster to properly execute, or Bingo being wrong entirely? Does it really matter when the team is off to a good start?
- Helios

Let’s go with Bingo being wrong about a coach he watched for 3 plus years... and let’s agree with you who has seen said coach for 2 months.

Dude! Not at all, just trying to get you to notice me.

How you doin’
- Clyde334

Just back from Mexico...
(frank) its cold here!

Let’s go with Bingo being wrong about a coach he watched for 3 plus years... and let’s agree with you who has seen said coach for 2 months.
- Clyde334

And like I said, in those two months this team has gotten off to the best start they have in years. So again, Bingo could very well be right about Peters and his systems, but if he is it means the Flames have a better roster to pull said systems off than Carolina did.

Unless you want to throw coaching out the window and say that it is just the roster that's good (which is an argument I saw several here make against Gully last season when the Flames were winning), then his systems are working in Calgary. Whether or not they worked in Carolina is irrelevant to that fact.

Whether or not it continues to, we'll see, but right now I see no reason to believe it won't.