that great strategy of continually playing smid cause hartley is "trying to win" is working so well right now great move by him

another outstanding game by smid, this guy is truly a superstar
- Bigern4MVP

He's no Russell

Refs really wanted to have a role in this game... just brutal!

Who doesn't love 3v3??!

This is great

Ugly win, got lucky with this one.

Ugly win, got lucky with this one.
- dr_soiledpants

All good in the first period then it just got ugly from there , good we battled through for the extra point though!

that great strategy of continually playing smid cause hartley is "trying to win" is working so well right now great move by him
- Bigern4MVP

Haha the Flames have won three in a row and all you do is female dog about them not playing a 28 year old who has never played in the NHL....do you have any other takes? Or do you just hate life in general? Not every player can be Brodie!

what a game that was, exciting. Good one Flames

Haha the Flames have won three in a row and all you do is female dog about them not playing a 28 year old who has never played in the NHL....do you have any other takes? Or do you just hate life in general? Not every player can be Brodie!
- The-O-G

good win boys
I'm not saying Nakladal has to play...we just need to be realistic here
Russell isn't worth what he's supposedly asking for, and he's being utilized for more minutes than he can handle, and the advanced stats prove he's floundering with increased utility...his blocked shots are a function that when he's on, we don't have the puck and as a last resort he's put in a situation where he HAS to block shots.
How many times that game his blocked shot was almost a direct result of him not being able to get the puck out of the zone or losing a puck battle in the corner

If his stock is so high, trade him for some long term value that isn't gonna need to be immediately overpaid for a season where we aren't big shot contenders
Who are we gonna replace those minutes with? well if we're being realistic and looking at the long term which BT has been always touting, then we fill it in with whomever....will they be as good? maybe not, but at least it's not gonna hurt us long-term by overpaying a shot blocker who can't control the puck in his own zone.... in fact long term, letting one of the younger guys play to at least SEE WHAT WE GOT may end up working for the better anyway

my two cents
Hartley's not all bad either...but his usage of some of the d-pairings is suspect. Hamilton is taking time to adjust, but not letting him play a bigger role isn't gonna help him adjust to the team or conference any quicker. We've committed to this guy long-term and he's 22. Where we're at, this is a season we can allow him to get comfortable. Same with Bennett...if the long-term is to see him at center, maybe it's time we let him practice on those face-offs, etc

good win boys
I'm not saying Nakladal has to play...we just need to be realistic here
Russell isn't worth what he's supposedly asking for, and he's being utilized for more minutes than he can handle, and the advanced stats prove he's floundering with increased utility...his blocked shots are a function that when he's on, we don't have the puck and as a last resort he's put in a situation where he HAS to block shots.
How many times that game his blocked shot was almost a direct result of him not being able to get the puck out of the zone or losing a puck battle in the corner

If his stock is so high, trade him for some long term value that isn't gonna need to be immediately overpaid for a season where we aren't big shot contenders
Who are we gonna replace those minutes with? well if we're being realistic and looking at the long term which BT has been always touting, then we fill it in with whomever....will they be as good? maybe not, but at least it's not gonna hurt us long-term by overpaying a shot blocker who can't control the puck in his own zone.... in fact long term, letting one of the younger guys play to at least SEE WHAT WE GOT may end up working for the better anyway

my two cents
Hartley's not all bad either...but his usage of some of the d-pairings is suspect. Hamilton is taking time to adjust, but not letting him play a bigger role isn't gonna help him adjust to the team or conference any quicker. We've committed to this guy long-term and he's 22. Where we're at, this is a season we can allow him to get comfortable. Same with Bennett...if the long-term is to see him at center, maybe it's time we let him practice on those face-offs, etc
- cpltanto

Haha look man I get it....all of what you said about Russell is true. He was never brought in here to be a top 4, it just so happened as things turned out he became one. I think he gets a rough ride from the Advanced Stats community, and he doesn't get a lot of credit for what he's willing to do on the ice. Anyway, that's kind of beside the point, 5.5 is wayyyyyyy too much for him, and if the Flames are out of it by the trade deadline then he definitely should be traded.

As far as Bennett is concerned I am all for limiting his minutes. He's 19 and missed pretty much a whole season last year. The last thing I want the Flames to do is run him into the ground this season, even though he deserves more minutes. I think next year is going to be big for him.

Oh and thanks for at least putting some thoughts together. I'm happy to talk hockey if someone is actually willing to put some decent thoughts down!

Gotta give Hiller some props for coming in and dare I say stealing the game.

San Jose might be looking for a back up tender after last night as well.

Anyways, the two top lines are playing well.

My major concern going into next season is goaltending.

But besides that:

1) whom should they target to replace Huds/Russell after they are traded? I think both have played themselves out of Flames price range.
2) Bennett at C? If so where does that leave the 2nd line?
3) Still think the Flames are 2 top 6 wingers, a top 4 defender, and a real decent tender from being a contender.

Gotta give Hiller some props for coming in and dare I say stealing the game.

San Jose might be looking for a back up tender after last night as well.

Anyways, the two top lines are playing well.

My major concern going into next season is goaltending.

But besides that:

1) whom should they target to replace Huds/Russell after they are traded? I think both have played themselves out of Flames price range.
2) Bennett at C? If so where does that leave the 2nd line?
3) Still think the Flames are 2 top 6 wingers, a top 4 defender, and a real decent tender from being a contender.
- DuranDuran

My number 1 is David Backes...I would back the truck up for him come July, throw him on the top line and never look back.

My number 1 is David Backes...I would back the truck up for him come July, throw him on the top line and never look back.
- The-O-G

I think that is a very real possibilty there was some rumors in the summer we were targeting a player "like David Backes."

I would really like to see them target Malcolm Subban. I know hes not proven at the NHL level but I think hes got all the tools to be great. Tuukka is only 28 and you would have think Subban is not going to be a back for the next 5 years.

My number 1 is David Backes...I would back the truck up for him come July, throw him on the top line and never look back.
- The-O-G

Still think there are too many stinky contracts to be able to do that. Once Smid, Wideman, Engelland, and Bollig are gone I could see them being able to take on more big contracts.

So Ramo, Jones hurt, Widedog suspended...

Looks to be a quiet deadline in Flames land.

Still think there are too many stinky contracts to be able to do that. Once Smid, Wideman, Engelland, and Bollig are gone I could see them being able to take on more big contracts.
- DuranDuran

So what does a player like Backes get as a UFA? Him and Burkey are buddies aren't they? I think he could convince him to sign here on the cheap!

So what does a player like Backes get as a UFA? Him and Burkey are buddies aren't they? I think he could convince him to sign here on the cheap!
- The-O-G

He's 31, isn't that a little old for our rebuild, especially at what it would cost?

So what does a player like Backes get as a UFA? Him and Burkey are buddies aren't they? I think he could convince him to sign here on the cheap!
- The-O-G

To tell you the truth I have no idea. He should be in his prime right now, and he will be looking for a payday with some term. But it seems that the FA market might have cooled off as teams are worried about the cap going down. I would imagine 6+, but as I said I am not sure. I would be happier looking at a guy like Okposo whom is younger, guys like Backes are great but sometimes the body starts to break down.

Gotta give Hiller some props for coming in and dare I say stealing the game.

San Jose might be looking for a back up tender after last night as well.

Anyways, the two top lines are playing well.

My major concern going into next season is goaltending.

But besides that:

1) whom should they target to replace Huds/Russell after they are traded? I think both have played themselves out of Flames price range.
2) Bennett at C? If so where does that leave the 2nd line?
3) Still think the Flames are 2 top 6 wingers, a top 4 defender, and a real decent tender from being a contender.
- DuranDuran

We have needed a backup long before you guys scored on him.

We have needed a backup long before you guys scored on him.
- BeastModeS62

We have 2. Take your pick.

Any one see on sportsnet that they suggest a trade of Russel, hudler for nischuskin. I would love that. Skilled young big r.w.