It is past time we start calling Hudler an elite winger, and part of the untradeable core.
- FLflames34

Not even going to get into what elite is. Still traumatized from this summer. He was a damn good signing and seems to be one of many silent leaders on this team.

Besides Gio and Brodie (realistically I can only see Gio making it), do we have anyone else that makes the Allstar game? I can't really see anyone else making it. Even though they might deserve it.

This actually pisses me off so much. I hate the people who come to these conclusions when the majority of them don't even watch the flames.

Ever since the bench brawl against the Canucks. In 57 games the flames are 32-22-3. Good for 67 points and 3rd in our division (In that amount of games around the league). We've scored 175 goals in that span which is far more than anyone, other than Tampa bay (180), and Boston (184).

Anyways, on another note. The best problem a team can have is the one we currently are faced with. Who goes and who stays when everyone is healthy?
IMO

Glencross-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Byron
Bouma-Jooris-Jones
Bollig/Mcgrattan

*I've heard that Stajan is closer to returning than expected, but I still believe that he will be gone for quite sometime. I personally think there is no way we can take Stajan over Granlund. And in that roster there, there isn't anyone i'd replace with Stajan. Great guy, but maybe time for a trade? Package him (A full time NHL center), with someone like a Baertschi (Just an example), for a #3 defenseman, to make up for our god awful bottom pairing on the back end.
- Lucky23

I like your lines there. My question to everyone is ..... Is it time to sell high on our vets now or would too much change affect the team and the way they play. My opinion is sell high on Glencross and Stajan (when he returns from injury). Maybe a deal like: Glencross + Stajan for Arizona's Gormley could be worked out. Arizona needs some offensive help and I think those 2 guys would fit into their system quite well. Plus Treliving might have some pull there still since thats where he came from. Gormley seems to be the odd man out there and he is RFA at the end fo the year. Gormley seems to be the exact prospect type that the Flames are missing in their system except he is LH shot.

If that happened I think that Calgary's lines could look something like this.

Raymond-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Backlund-Byron
Bouma-Jooris-Jones
Bollig/Mcgrattan

Giordano - Brody
Russel - Wideman
Gormley - Smid
7th D - Engeland

It is past time we start calling Hudler an elite winger, and part of the untradeable core.
- FLflames34

Elite?? Really? He's good but certainly nowhere near elite. And he is tradeable.

I like your lines there. My question to everyone is ..... Is it time to sell high on our vets now or would too much change affect the team and the way they play. My opinion is sell high on Glencross and Stajan (when he returns from injury). Maybe a deal like: Glencross + Stajan for Arizona's Gormley could be worked out. Arizona needs some offensive help and I think those 2 guys would fit into their system quite well. Plus Treliving might have some pull there still since thats where he came from. Gormley seems to be the odd man out there and he is RFA at the end fo the year. Gormley seems to be the exact prospect type that the Flames are missing in their system except he is LH shot.

If that happened I think that Calgary's lines could look something like this.

Raymond-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Backlund-Byron
Bouma-Jooris-Jones
Bollig/Mcgrattan

Giordano - Brody
Russel - Wideman
Gormley - Smid
7th D - Engeland
- buddy_doug

Honestly, right now I would not trade any of the vets. We'll need that presence in the case that we do make the playoffs. However, trading some of the vets opens room for the little guys to come play, and more often than not they show more hunger in their game so it's a tough decision.

I just hope that come TDL, if we are in a playoff position, that we don't go trading our picks/prospects to bring in a "playoff guy". Sure we'll be inexperienced, but the kids will learn and the next year will only be better... hopefully! (looking at you Colorado)

Not even going to get into what elite is. Still traumatized from this summer. He was a damn good signing and seems to be one of many silent leaders on this team.

Besides Gio and Brodie (realistically I can only see Gio making it), do we have anyone else that makes the Allstar game? I can't really see anyone else making it. Even though they might deserve it.
- Mr.Pink

I'd say no. I don't think we have any forwards that are top 30 in the league... yet. However, if they do the young stars classic I think Mono and JG will be there.

Elite?? Really? He's good but certainly nowhere near elite. And he is tradeable.
- TandA4Flames

for (frank) sakes hide that elite comment before the oilers fans see it

for (frank) sakes hide that elite comment before the oilers fans see it
- monymonymony

If the playoffs started today 5 Canadian teams would be in. Can't hope for better than that.

If the playoffs started today 5 Canadian teams would be in. Can't hope for better than that.
- itwasin

Better yet is the fact that the Oilers are not one of them!

Elite?? Really? He's good but certainly nowhere near elite. And he is tradeable.
- TandA4Flames

This ^^

Elite ....that's a good one

"When you can't beat out the likes of Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris, Michael Ferland and Lance Bouma for playing time, NHL teams start to believe that you can't help them win games, apparently."

Another gem from drance

There's one thing that's been bugging me with all this comparison to the leafs and avs seasons that defied the all mighty advanced stats ....the leafs and Avs both played a more run and gun style ...because they had the higher end forwards ...they would not chip and chase and try and cycle ...they we're taking far more chances with trying to keep the puck and packing it across the blue line instead of dumping it in ...the comparison in defense to quite different as well ...while our bottom pairing is nothing to be desired its our top 4 that have played extremely well for us ...and do an excellent job of keeping teams to the outside and getting the puck out. I would argue that our defence as a whole were far stronger than either of those teams.

So when all the fans from other teams just look at the advanced stats and say our success so far is unsustainable and point to the other two just remember we are really quite different than those teams.

There's one thing that's been bugging me with all this comparison to the leafs and avs seasons that defied the all mighty advanced stats ....the leafs and Avs both played a more run and gun style ...because they had the higher end forwards ...they would not chip and chase and try and cycle ...they we're taking far more chances with trying to keep the puck and packing it across the blue line instead of dumping it in ...the comparison in defense to quite different as well ...while our bottom pairing is nothing to be desired its our top 4 that have played extremely well for us ...and do an excellent job of keeping teams to the outside and getting the puck out. I would argue that our defence as a whole were far stronger than either of those teams.

So when all the fans from other teams just look at the advanced stats and say our success so far is unsustainable and point to the other two just remember we are really quite different than those teams.
- Redmile247

I have to agree...we are a much different team than those compared other than similarities in possession and offensive opportunity stats. The one aspect of the advanced stat argument against the Flames that I have, is that we are missing our best centermen in terms of 2 way play and ability to win faceoffs. In my personal opinion, good 2 way centermen drive corsi/fenwick with their ability to handle defensive assignments and win important offensive zone faceoffs that create opportunities (an area that Calgary is last in; offensive zone faceoffs).

Long story short, my anlaytics/advanced stat opinion will be determined once we have a sample of play with a healthier center group. But I sure am enjoying the wins regardless

I have to agree...we are a much different team than those compared other than similarities in possession and offensive opportunity stats. The one aspect of the advanced stat argument against the Flames that I have, is that we are missing our best centermen in terms of 2 way play and ability to win faceoffs. In my personal opinion, good 2 way centermen drive corsi/fenwick with their ability to handle defensive assignments and win important offensive zone faceoffs that create opportunities (an area that Calgary is last in; offensive zone faceoffs).

Long story short, my anlaytics/advanced stat opinion will be determined once we have a sample of play with a healthier center group. But I sure am enjoying the wins regardless
- GC_Flames86

That is another part of the sustainable arguement I hate ...all the so called experts are predicting us to regress yet we will be getting healthier and be slotting players into more fitting roles ....I kinda think that would make a team better ...

Once you get backlund healthy that will have a trickle effect on all our centers ...maybe Monahan won't have to play all his minutes against top lines ...this could boost his offense ...and maybe even possession numbers
Granlund gets slotted more accordingly ...everyone slides down a peg

That is another part of the sustainable arguement I hate ...all the so called experts are predicting us to regress yet we will be getting healthier and be slotting players into more fitting roles ....I kinda think that would make a team better ...

Once you get backlund healthy that will have a trickle effect on all our centers ...maybe Monahan won't have to play all his minutes against top lines ...this could boost his offense ...and maybe even possession numbers
Granlund gets slotted more accordingly ...everyone slides down a peg
- Redmile247

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Granlund playing on the wing once injuries come back. He has all of the necessary offensive gifts to be in the NHL and is just as stable without the puck in a defensive role as well, however, I cringe every time he lines up to take a faceoff. It's just not a skill that he has developed yet and is getting taken advantage of by the pro's in the NHL.

I honestly wouldn't mind seeing Granlund playing on the wing once injuries come back. He has all of the necessary offensive gifts to be in the NHL and is just as stable without the puck in a defensive role as well, however, I cringe every time he lines up to take a faceoff. It's just not a skill that he has developed yet and is getting taken advantage of by the pro's in the NHL.
- GC_Flames86

I have no problem with this thought process

OK Boys i'm putting together my GFY Friday Top-10 Worst blog comments.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE

OK Boys i'm putting together my GFY Friday Top-10 Worst blog comments.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE
- The-O-G

Still have 12 hours til Friday ....plenty of time for a last second gem

Adam Proteau @ The Hockey News:
"The San Jose Sharks lost their fourth straight game Wednesday – this one, a feeble 2-0 defeat at home to the Flames."

There's always a reason why the Flames aren't the reason.
http://www.thehockeynews....-for-coach-todd-mclellan/

OK Boys i'm putting together my GFY Friday Top-10 Worst blog comments.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE
- The-O-G

"The oilers are better than the flames and that's the god damn truth!"



If that's not number one I don't know what is.

Adam Proteau @ The Hockey News:
"The San Jose Sharks lost their fourth straight game Wednesday – this one, a feeble 2-0 defeat at home to the Flames."

There's always a reason why the Flames aren't the reason.
http://www.thehockeynews....-for-coach-todd-mclellan/
- itwasin

From NHL.com:

Three paragraphs into a story about possible Norris candidates Cory Masisak (NHL.com staff writer) says:
"This season, he is probably the Norris favorite at this point ....... If Giordano keeps up this goal and point pace, then he will almost certainly win the award.


and here's the actual headline at the top of the story:




http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=740742

OK Boys i'm putting together my GFY Friday Top-10 Worst blog comments.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE
- The-O-G

"Corsi is more important than winning"

"Corsi is more important than winning"
- Nucker101

Of coursee it is.

Of corsi it is.
- itwasin

Fixed