Trevor Neufeld: Flames Clinch Pacific Division — 100 for Tkachuk — On Backlund

Backlund was always more important to the defensive (checking) side of the game than the scoring side. By putting two offensive weapons on his him, it seems to turn them into possession only players. Backlund is not a pass-first player either, so your finishers are not getting as many chances. Then you have the Jarnkrok line doing much the same. Not sure why this continues. Why not move Jarnkrok and Coleman up. That would give you a line of Bread-Dube-Toffee. The only downside to that would be winning faceoffs. Dube would be off the boards though, so that may help a bit more.

The other option is to leave Jarnkrok at C and have Dube with Backlund and Coleman. Both wingers go to the dirty areas. Jarnkrok could become the setup guy for Bread and Toffee. Sounds okay to me.

Perhaps the 4th line is not set. The biggest problem with Ruzie is that he isn't winning a lot of faceoffs. You could offset that by using Lewis on Ruzie's weak side draws. Ruzie isn't a small player, and while he belongs on a 3rd line or higher, brings a little more skill to the 4th line. He played well against CHI. Maybe get him in against VAN and the next game against NAS. See what the results look like.

Good blog Trevor! I have read many on different sites wanting to jettison Backlund & Monahan. Just cant happen, Backlund still brings a lot of value to this team. We also dont have anyone ready to step up for 2nd line C. So Backlund stays.
Monahan I am torn. He too could bring value but I agree with a few others that for his sake of health after hockey, get the surgery done & give his body a rest & take the majority of next year off on the LTIR. Not only does he need the time to heal his body but Flames need that cap space, so if he's bent & determined to be back for training camp, it will have to be else where via trade or buyout. We need his cap to pay Gaudreau & Tkachuk. Hopefully with the oil making our ownership group rich again, Tre will have the budget to upfront some big $$$ to them & get the cap hits down to around $9.5mill over 8 years.

The Tkachuk kid might just be a keeper.

Not sure why this continues.
- Traveldude

Really? Check out their record and goal differential. It’s continuing because it’s working.

NOW THAT THEY HAVE CLINCHED THE PACIFIC TITLE WHY NOT BRING UP JUSTIN KIRKLAND AND JAKOB PELLETIER.
THE HABS BROUGHT UP COLE CAULFIELD AT THE BEGINNIG OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS AND HE WAS A BIG PART OF THEIR IMPROBABLE RUN.
PELLETIER HAS SIMILAR APTITUDES AS CAULFIELD AND BOTH HE AND KIRKLAND SEEM READY.
BRETT RITCHIE HAS 2 POINTS IN 36 GAMES AND ALTHOUGH I ADMIRE HIS GRIT I THINK HIS NUMBERS DICTATE GIVING PLAYERS LIKE PELLETIER AND KIRKLAND A CHANCE AT THE BIG LEAGUES... AND IT'S NOT AS IF WE ARE SHORT ON GRIT.

Really? Check out their record and goal differential. It’s continuing because it’s working.
- Squeaky

Jarnkrok hasn't been here for the entire season. From February 1st to the TDL, we had an 18-3-2 record. From the TDL on, we have a decent record, but the goal differential is 64-44. That sounds impressive until you take out two games of 9-5 and 9-1. More like a differential of 46-38.

But to be clear, my issue is that Backlund with Coleman was killing it. Whether Dube or Bread was the third guy, they were getting the job done. Now it seems like Backlund's line isn't scoring or defending that well. Maybe it's just his faceoffs have nosedived or he's playing with shooters.

NOW THAT THEY HAVE CLINCHED THE PACIFIC TITLE WHY NOT BRING UP JUSTIN KIRKLAND AND JAKOB PELLETIER.
THE HABS BROUGHT UP COLE CAULFIELD AT THE BEGINNIG OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS AND HE WAS A BIG PART OF THEIR IMPROBABLE RUN.
PELLETIER HAS SIMILAR APTITUDES AS CAULFIELD AND BOTH HE AND KIRKLAND SEEM READY.
BRETT RITCHIE HAS 2 POINTS IN 36 GAMES AND ALTHOUGH I ADMIRE HIS GRIT I THINK HIS NUMBERS DICTATE GIVING PLAYERS LIKE PELLETIER AND KIRKLAND A CHANCE AT THE BIG LEAGUES... AND IT'S NOT AS IF WE ARE SHORT ON GRIT.
- Fan the Flame

STOP SHOUTING. Just kidding. Last season was a blip. What worked then won't be guaranteed to work this year. Pelletier is a playmaker and could possibly fit one of the lines, but definitely not the 4th line. Unless it's an injury, who do you sit to get him in?

STOP SHOUTING. Just kidding. Last season was a blip. What worked then won't be guaranteed to work this year. Pelletier is a playmaker and could possibly fit one of the lines, but definitely not the 4th line. Unless it's an injury, who do you sit to get him in?
- Traveldude

Everything I've heard on the kid over the years is that he plays a pretty solid 2 way game - I'd bring him in on the 3rd line to give some guys a game off if need be, couldn't hurt.

Jarnkrok hasn't been here for the entire season. From February 1st to the TDL, we had an 18-3-2 record. From the TDL on, we have a decent record, but the goal differential is 64-44. That sounds impressive until you take out two games of 9-5 and 9-1. More like a differential of 46-38.

- Traveldude

If you're going to arbitrarily take away their biggest margins of victory, why wouldn't you take away their biggest margins of defeat? Puts you right back where we started. The Flames have been an elite team since their COVID break.

The Tkachuk kid might just be a keeper.
- Reveen

4 points Evander Kane vs 4 players for Toffoli...

Thx Treliving!!

The simple truth is we are entering the world of playoff hockey where the level of intensity is ramped and any flaws will be exposed.
Now I have nothing against Mikael Backland. I was impressed with how quickly he made it known that he had not tipped in either of the two goals he was involved in against Dallas.
I understand that he is very popular in the dressing room.
However the fact still remains that for what ever reason wingers production goes down when paired with Backland. Sutter has addressed the fact that he needs more for what Backland is paid and has tried numerous ways of getting second line scoring.
Why is this important? That will be answered when we face teams like Tampa and Florida with Brayden Point and Claude Giroux as SECOND line centres!

y - Calgary Flames
@NHLFlames
#Flames Roster Update: Goaltender Dustin Wolf has been recalled from the
@AHLHeat

4 points Evander Kane vs 4 players for Toffoli...

Thx Treliving!!


- LordHumungous

One of these players has character and one does not.
I'll give you three guesses which is which.

y - Calgary Flames
@NHLFlames
#Flames Roster Update: Goaltender Dustin Wolf has been recalled from the
@AHLHeat
- drogon[/quote

Great news. Lets give the kids some exposure.