John Gove: Should we be concerned about the defense?

The simple answer is….Yes we should be worried. treliving has not done enough on any front this year to make this team competitive. We have heard for the last 3 years “this is the flames core last chance” but save for last year with treliving FINALLY addressing our need for a goalie and the add of Tanev (who’s play was a happy surprise) we have not see treliving give any indication of the core being on the hot seat at all. In fact the only core adjustments were an expansion draft taking our Captain, and the continued “negotiations” for gaudreau’s next contract. In addition after last year embarrassing play (yet again), and headlines (ward) we didn’t add any meaningful pcs. Coleman I’m sure will add a little bump to us now but has brouwer written all over him with the contract signed. Zadorov is fun for the roughy and rowdy flames fans with his large hits but does nothing to replace gios departure. The ownership groups avoidance to a rebuild and mediocre leadership for years has crippled this organization. And not only that……..we have the 2nd worse mascot

I agree with everything you said, and before I get into that I really need to know Who' is the worse mascot in the league?

It's cliche at this point - but we can better judge this team, after Sutter has a full season to work ON them. The same applies to the defense, can Rasmus be revived? Can he help Hanifin make steps? Can he settle down Valimaki? Can Sutter get Zadorov to buy in since he's a big bruising dman, capable for Sutter's system? I think you said it though, for defense the achilles heel is hoping Valimaki, Rasmus can rebound, and for Zadorov to fit in. Just how we need a Pelletier to have a strong camp, to give us cheap quality - we need the same out of Kylington, this guy needs to step up and answer the call as far as internal competition goes.

Long term I think we'll end up bringing Gio back on a cheap contract, and he'd be great on the 3rd pairing. Then 2 seasons from now, pray that Matt Dumba signs with Calgary.

I still think we have a lot of missed opportunities with our third line. For the money we spend on our 3rd line, Montreal managed to get 2 proper wingers. The standard that the 3rd line should be held to, is for all three to average 0.5pts/game - Backlund passes that test, Lucic is almost there, credit to him for digging in last season, and then you have Dube, and a lot hinges on whether or not he can take a next step. We should have 2 more Coleman's for the money we spend on the 3rd line, and if the top core guys rebound, then I think you end up trading a 1st round pick - for another Coleman-type player, who'd average 0.5pts/game, to round out the 3rd line. The $3m cap space Treliving left himself, is for a possible upgrade on forwards/defense, depending on how things go.

Our D has been one of our stenghts for years (at least on paper). Now it's one one our major weaknesses (at least on paper), with at least 3 or 4 major questions marks. Can Hanifin be a true #1? Can Zadorov or Valimaki grab that #3 spot and hold their own? Will Tanev have another great year or regress quickly like most tough defensive dmen? Will Andersson rebound or have we seen the best of him?
If "No" is the answer to any of these questions, Flames are not making the playoffs.
Nothing to be optimistic.

Our D has been one of our stenghts for years (at least on paper). Now it's one one our major weaknesses (at least on paper), with at least 3 or 4 major questions marks. Can Hanifin be a true #1? Can Zadorov or Valimaki grab that #3 spot and hold their own? Will Tanev have another great year or regress quickly like most tough defensive dmen? Will Andersson rebound or have we seen the best of him?
If "No" is the answer to any of these questions, Flames are not making the playoffs.
Nothing to be optimistic.
- redseerpf

Good post. To me Andersson and Valimaki have a lot upside potential... yet another add definitely wouldn't hurt Flames chances.

Our D has been one of our stenghts for years (at least on paper). Now it's one one our major weaknesses (at least on paper), with at least 3 or 4 major questions marks. Can Hanifin be a true #1? Can Zadorov or Valimaki grab that #3 spot and hold their own? Will Tanev have another great year or regress quickly like most tough defensive dmen? Will Andersson rebound or have we seen the best of him?
If "No" is the answer to any of these questions, Flames are not making the playoffs.
Nothing to be optimistic.
- redseerpf

That's a lot of cans, wills, probably say the same for most of the team as well as a lot of other teams.
I'd like to see Tre make a big splash, but maybe Sutters saying no I can work with this roster. I'm sure they'll be moves once we start playing, maybe they're waiting for Eichels operation outcome? I for one have faith in Sutter to get the most out of this group. I think putting 13, 28, 19 together gave us a true #1 line. Would like to see how Monahan responds before shipping him out for peanuts. Mang was mvp at the worlds, that's a huge confidence builder. Addition of Coleman should complement the line. Pelletier could be a surprise add to the 3rd line playing with Dube and Backlund.

We are finally getting some decent prospects to look forward to. As much as we fans are wanting changes, it's not all doom and gloom.

I think Mackey is a sleeper not many people mention.
Would be nice if Vali can step up and take the 2nd pair LD spot and Zadorov and Mackey can be our 3rd pair.

It least hanifin has a nice garden.

I agree with everything you said, and before I get into that I really need to know Who' is the worse mascot in the league?
- hockey4hockey

Stinger from CBJ

https://www.google.ca/amp...harvey-worst-mascots/amp/

Hello gents!!

Yes we should be concerned but not as much as media and fans are saying we should be. Losing gio will hurt but his game really took a massive step back last year and we would likely be having this same conversation if he was still here.

While I do like what zadorov brings and he will be a good fit for sutter, what is concerning is that he’s not exactly the ideal replacement for Gio considering the complete lack of offence to his game.

So with all that said I wouldn’t be expecting our D to generate a lot of points but defensively I think they can be fairly average and possibly overachieve in a Darryl sutter system.

The simple answer is….Yes we should be worried. treliving has not done enough on any front this year to make this team competitive. We have heard for the last 3 years “this is the flames core last chance” but save for last year with treliving FINALLY addressing our need for a goalie and the add of Tanev (who’s play was a happy surprise) we have not see treliving give any indication of the core being on the hot seat at all. In fact the only core adjustments were an expansion draft taking our Captain, and the continued “negotiations” for gaudreau’s next contract. In addition after last year embarrassing play (yet again), and headlines (ward) we didn’t add any meaningful pcs. Coleman I’m sure will add a little bump to us now but has brouwer written all over him with the contract signed. Zadorov is fun for the roughy and rowdy flames fans with his large hits but does nothing to replace gios departure. The ownership groups avoidance to a rebuild and mediocre leadership for years has crippled this organization. And not only that……..we have the 2nd worse mascot
- kresco

Coleman is a completely different player than Brouwer, to compare them is idiotic. Zadorov does not replace Gio, no shît Sherlock, he was brought in to provide truculence to the team and play on the third line. Apples to oranges there.

I think people are giving Sutter and his "system" way too much weight in how the season will shape up. In LA he had prime Kopitar and Doughty and Quick (and tons of depth) to enforce that "system"....and his "system" became quite obsolete when he lost that depth and Kopitar/Doughty/Quick took a step back.

Sutter is not a god. He's just a guy who pushed the right buttons at the right time in a team filled with All-Stars. He likely won't be able to bring a team filled with mid-tier level players to the highest levels.

Am I concerned, yes. You can’t do anything about the expansion draft, we weren’t going to risk losing other players for a 38 year old. It’s a bîtch, but it is what it is. I miss Gio too. Hanifin righted his ship and played very well last year, playing a much more reliable game. Tanev proved to be an excellent leader and shut down defenceman. Andersson had an up and down year last year, but he’s still young, should be interesting to see how the new father rebounds this season. He has good upside. Zadorov brings the truculence, hits and size this team needs. Hopefully he’s a 3rd line D only, definitely don’t want to see him in the top 2 pairings. Valimaki has excelled at every level he’s played at and is still just a young buck, Sutter will help him turn the NHL corner. We all know what Kylington is, a smooth skating young 3rd line D that is hot and cold mentally. He’s still quite young even though he’s been in the organization for what seems like forever, again, let’s see what Sutter can do for his game. Mackey the rookie is what interests me, has good size, skating and potential, a real wait and see what he does this year. Would I like to see another veteran, top pairing defenceman, yes, but we all think this arm chair GM’ing is so easy. We have a young D core this year, it is what it is. Lots of potential here, don’t forget that. At least with Sutter, you know they’re going to learn how to play defence first lol.

I think people are giving Sutter and his "system" way too much weight in how the season will shape up. In LA he had prime Kopitar and Doughty and Quick (and tons of depth) to enforce that "system"....and his "system" became quite obsolete when he lost that depth and Kopitar/Doughty/Quick took a step back.

Sutter is not a god. He's just a guy who pushed the right buttons at the right time in a team filled with All-Stars. He likely won't be able to bring a team filled with mid-tier level players to the highest levels.
- redseerpf

True but you can't dismiss what he did here with a mediocre roster. He has a way of pushing the right buttons to get the most out of some guys. His shelf life is the same as most coaches, eventually their system quits working.
Unless it's a huge splash of a trade, I still like the wait and see method.
If Dvorak gets you a 1st and 2nd pick then I'd wait to pull the trigger on Mony, I'm hoping he rebounds big time.

Ok, lets make the trade that needs to happen for both teams.
to Calgary: V. Tarasenko
M. Scandella
J. Neighbours
2023 2nd round pick

to St Louis: M. Tkachuk


Calgary will not want to pay up next year to keep Tkachuk,and I believe he wants to come back to St. Louis

It is common for fans to overstate the value of their own players. I believe this is why many fans cannot perceive the depth of the Flames defensive issues. These concerns are obvious when the defensive lineup is viewed from an impartial and analytic approach. Corsica Hockey is a publicly available analytical resource site. It can be utilized to illuminate the dearth of defensive talent. Here is how Corsica ranks each of the Flames defenders.

77 - R. Andersson [2nd pair RD]
84 - N. Hanafin [2nd pair LD]
112 - J. Valimaki [3rd pair RD]
133 - N. Zadarov [3rd pair LD]
189 - C. Tanev [Depth D]
207 - O. Kylington [Fringe D]
No rank - C. Mackey [AHL D]

Based on this approach, most of the Flames defenders will be improperly slotted comparative to individual talent. This is extremely problematic when the team lacks either top pairing defender, and has an oft-injured depth defender playing top pairing minutes.

Fortunately for fans the Pacific Division is comically weak. This provides the Flames a good chance at making the playoffs despite this dilemma.

I'm not worried so much about the defense. I'm more worried about the offense. Who knows how healthy Monohan is going to be? Chucky needs to better this season. Too many question marks on the offense.

I'm not too worried about our D. Over the past few years, Giordano had become very slow. Not worried about our goalies as well. Really worried with our forwards, cleaning was not done, too weak in the middle.

Ok, lets make the trade that needs to happen for both teams.
to Calgary: V. Tansanako
- BluesStrong

Is this a prospect? Has he two healthy shoulders?

You guys don't have to worry about our forwards. The puck will very seldom get to them anyway.

Coleman is a completely different player than Brouwer, to compare them is idiotic. Zadorov does not replace Gio, no shît Sherlock, he was brought in to provide truculence to the team and play on the third line. Apples to oranges there.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Maybe go back to sleep. I never compared them based on player to player. I specifically mentioned the contract. Yes they are VERY different players but like brouwer Coleman isn’t here as an elite add. He is leadership, cup winning pedigree and depth support. In a few years I belive his contract and role on this team will be a lot like how Brouwer was with us. And as far as Zadorov…..in the blog he talked about losing Gio and adding Zadorov. Yes obviously treliving isn’t expecting the same stuff from big Z, but the honest fact is that our d core lost Gio and added Zadorov, there in it is weaker. If you want to troll / pick a fight maybe read the post before spouting out angry random nonsense

Ok, lets make the trade that needs to happen for both teams.
to Calgary: V. Tarasanko
Kyrou
J. Neighbours
2023 1st round pick

to St Louis: M. Tkachuk


Calgary will not want to pay up next year to keep Tkachuk,and I believe he wants to come back to St. Louis
- BluesStrong

This is more acceptable. You're welcome.

If there's a glaring issue with defense, Tre will use that $3m cap space.. Or if we're doing good and need to add quality, I could see him trading a 1st.

Consensus generally is that they're depending on core players to rebound, and for Sutter to work his magic. Not sure what the stats are for 'goals against' with Sutter, but he was already tightening things up defensively