Should have traded for Bishop instead. At least management was not dumb enough to sign Elliott to a long term contract like the Leafs did with Toskala part 2 in the summer.
- Rocket_Launcher

Based on that game sure

I have a question for you boys, couldn't Gulu have used his coaches challenge on that penalty shot call?!!
- Flamin_Irishmin

Gulu was more concerned about how his hair looked when the camera was on him!

I'm confused. That's pretty much all I said last year. I've always thought the goalies (well at least Ramo) didn't deserve nearly as much blame as they got. The Flames put their goalies in positions to look bad more than almost every other team.

Elliott definitely wasn't great last night but he did make some great saves and 4 of the goals were a direct result of brutal turnovers that were easily avoidable or defensive breakdowns.

I thought Grossman had a chance to improve the team because they could use a stay at home defenceman and someone to clear the net on the penalty kill, but why was he trying to dangle in the offensive zone when he had zero chance of catching anyone if it didn't work?
- Hunkulese

Some of those turnovers were brutal but should have been saved. I don;t think anyone is going to argue with you about giving up too many chances, but to say that they got consistent (not even good) goaltending that gave them a chance to win last night or last year is wrong IMO.

elliott needs to tighten thing sup, some of those were some softies.
I still dont understand how Mcdavid was awarded a PS....sure a penalty, but I dont see how it was a PS.

Fun game to watch though....now I wait for my team to rip my heart out opening night too
- DDM-Coga

OMG that was such a terrible call for a penalty shot
Not to mention that breakaway shouldn't have happened if they properly called 3 Oilers hooking Johnny right before that

huge turning point as we had just regained momentum with 2 shorties

Based on that game sure
- Redmile247

Totally lets trade Bennett for 1 year of a starting goaltender over 30 that is going to ask for megabucks when we have Gillies a couple years away.

I'm confused. That's pretty much all I said last year. I've always thought the goalies (well at least Ramo) didn't deserve nearly as much blame as they got. The Flames put their goalies in positions to look bad more than almost every other team.

Elliott definitely wasn't great last night but he did make some great saves and 4 of the goals were a direct result of brutal turnovers that were easily avoidable or defensive breakdowns.

I thought Grossman had a chance to improve the team because they could use a stay at home defenceman and someone to clear the net on the penalty kill, but why was he trying to dangle in the offensive zone when he had zero chance of catching anyone if it didn't work?
- Hunkulese

Sorry I forgot to use the sarcasm emoticon


After last year I would want to see better use of the d pairings ...putting grossman in, splitting up gio and Brodie for not Dougie Hamilton, wideman on the ice against mcdavid ....these are not smart coaching strategies ...what did GG expect was going to happen ?

The game was crap. The effort (as a whole) wasn't great. Goaltending looked porous... All in all a disappointment but for fks sake its the first game!
The Oilers have their new barn (though still squarely living in the past) and came to play. Talbot was poop too but only half as bad as Elliot. A crap call or two, bad bounce or two and poof...that combined with a poop (team) effort sealed it.

If the same effort and outcome comes out of the rematch, maybe we should have some (small) concern. 83 more games to go so everyone breathe...

I thought everything was crap except Backlund, Frolik, Bennett, and Brodie.

Can't believe people are already crying for GG to be fired and Elliott being worse than Hiller on the FB page.

On the plus side, I think Versteeg could have great potential alongside JG and Moni.
On the downside, Tkachuk looked very slow. I was surprised about how slow he was accelerating through the neutral zone.

Might want to switch up Brouwer and Versteeg so we can get more speed on the 2nd line and "grit" on the 1st.

Swap Grossmann and Engelland for Jokipakka and Kulak. Even if they aren't better defensively right now, at least they'll be improving their game after learning from mistakes.

Totally lets trade Bennett for 1 year of a starting goaltender over 30 that is going to ask for megabucks when we have Gillies a couple years away.


- DuranDuran

Nailed it

Sorry I forgot to use the sarcasm emoticon


After last year I would want to see better use of the d pairings ...putting grossman in, splitting up gio and Brodie for not Dougie Hamilton, wideman on the ice against mcdavid ....these are not smart coaching strategies ...what did GG expect was going to happen ?
- Redmile247

As a coach, until you see what you have (at game speed) you juggle and adjust. He has HIS system and HIS style and wanted to see what works (or doesn't). He's not Bob... give it time.

The game was crap. The effort (as a whole) wasn't great. Goaltending looked porous... All in all a disappointment but for fks sake its the first game!
The Oilers have their new barn (though still squarely living in the past) and came to play. Talbot was poop too but only half as bad as Elliot. A crap call or two, bad bounce or two and poof...that combined with a poop (team) effort sealed it.

If the same effort and outcome comes out of the rematch, maybe we should have some (small) concern. 83 more games to go so everyone breathe...
- geta02it

83 ?

So we are losing the first two playoff games and then just forfeiting ??

Sorry I forgot to use the sarcasm emoticon


After last year I would want to see better use of the d pairings ...putting grossman in, splitting up gio and Brodie for not Dougie Hamilton, wideman on the ice against mcdavid ....these are not smart coaching strategies ...what did GG expect was going to happen ?
- Redmile247

As a coach, until you see what you have (at game speed) you juggle and adjust. He has HIS system and HIS style and wanted to see what works (or doesn't). He's not Bob... give it time.
- geta02it

As I stated above I could see them starting slow before hitting stride

GG will get time ...but I want to see positive things resulting from his changes

83 ?

So we are losing the first two playoff games and then just forfeiting ??
- Redmile247

Only one coffee in... theres always one...
edit...two...(frank) you irish

83 ?

So we are losing the first two playoff games and then just forfeiting ??
- Redmile247

Apparently Geta got us two extra games over everybody else!! Sweet!!

I have a question for you boys, couldn't Gulu have used his coaches challenge on that penalty shot call?!!
- Flamin_Irishmin

Good question, technically, it was a play that led to a goal so you'd think that it was reviewable? Maybe he could have only reviewed the penalty shot itself and not the play that resulted in the shot? I had a quick glance on the NHL site but I couldn't find how penalty shots equate into the reviewable play scenarios.

Totally lets trade Bennett for 1 year of a starting goaltender over 30 that is going to ask for megabucks when we have Gillies a couple years away.


- DuranDuran

Didn't you guys have high hopes for a kid named irving a few years back?

Good question, technically, it was a play that led to a goal so you'd think that it was reviewable? Maybe he could have only reviewed the penalty shot itself and not the play that resulted in the shot? I had a quick glance on the NHL site but I couldn't find how penalty shots equate into the reviewable play scenarios.
- Flames in 6 04

i don't think there was anything he could challenge there.

As I stated above I could see them starting slow before hitting stride

GG will get time ...but I want to see positive things resulting from his changes
- Redmile247

This. As much as I hate loosing to the Oil gotta trust that there is a plan. GG was brought in by smart MGMT group.

Grossmann is low risk signing, same with Versteeg. Wideman and his salary are taking the place of a good 2nd pairing Dman, this along with a bunch of other anchors will be gone next year. Tkachuk is an 18 year old rookie.

I am stoked that they have not mortgaged the future for MAF/Bishop or traded prospects for an ageing vet that has 2 years of good play and 4 years of salary.

Only one coffee in... theres always one...
edit...two...(frank) you irish
- geta02it

Didn't you guys have high hopes for a kid named irving a few years back?
- SRam19

No

Didn't you guys have high hopes for a kid named irving a few years back?
- SRam19

We did, much like you have high hopes for Demko. Not all these guys work out but some eventually do.

We did, much like you have high hopes for Demko. Not all these guys work out but some eventually do.
- DuranDuran

I never had high hopes for Irving ...I guess he had decent numbers and was a first rounder but I never was that high on him

I never had high hopes for Irving ...I guess he had decent numbers and was a first rounder but I never was that high on him
- Redmile247

I guess it depends what high hopes mean. Never saw him as a blue chip tender that would dominate and put in 60-70 games, but hoped he could be more of a 1b, or a really good backup.

I thought he would have an NHL career of some sort.

As others have mentioned team play is what is making Calgary look bad right now and last year. Any goalie in that game was not going to be able come out looking good in any way shape or form.

It's only game one but its hard not to notice the amount of cheating going on. Not unusual when trailing most the game but the Flames didn't look any different than when Hartley was behind the bench. Buy in needs to happen quick.
- Aerchon

Like before the first game of the year?

Give them 10-15 games at least. Christ.