👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 brutal

We have the stupidest D men in the league, undoubtedly. Blew this (frank)ing game
- Squilliam-

Agreed

We have the stupidest D men in the league, undoubtedly. Blew this (frank)ing game
- Squilliam-

I blame GG because it's easy.

I blame GG because it's easy.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

Same. But dammit he was the coach last year and they played a lot better than this poop. Smitty shouldn’t have to stand on his head on the regular.

We have the stupidest D men in the league, undoubtedly. Blew this (frank)ing game
- Squilliam-

Rittich is going to have nightmares tonight.

I blame GG because it's easy.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

Honestly, Hamonic is a bad fit. He is equal to Stone at this point.

Looked good on paper....

We have the stupidest D men in the league, undoubtedly. Blew this (frank)ing game
- Squilliam-

Yes they did.. after a fantastic penalty kill!! It's like they thought the game was done. Gio stone and kulak are the only guys doing half ass good on D. The other three can start getting bottom minutes

Yes they did.. after a fantastic penalty kill!! It's like they thought the game was done. Gio stone and kulak are the only guys doing half ass good on D. The other three can start getting bottom minutes
- pzoxic

Yet, Dallas scored off of Kulak and Stone turnovers in the 3rd. It just looks like they're trying to look for a play instead of getting the puck out of danger areas. Dallas pounced on that indecision.

I say trade Dougie to the yotes for a bottom/mid 6 plus a pick, move Hamonic up with Gio and Stone with Brodie and bring up Rass to pair up with Kulak.

I say trade Dougie to the yotes for a bottom/mid 6 plus a pick, move Hamonic up with Gio and Stone with Brodie and bring up Rass to pair up with Kulak.
- FlamesNOTLames

Honestly, Hamonic is a bad fit. He is equal to Stone at this point.

Looked good on paper....
- FLflames34

Not really. On paper, he looked like pretty much the same as Stone. Come up with any way you can think of comparing defenceman over the past couple years and Hamonic looks like a minimal upgrade at best.

The defensive system really needs to be looked at. This team is far too good on the backend to be giving up 4+ goals a game.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

Are they though? I've been complaining about the Flames' defencemen total cluelessness in their own end for years. About time the rest of you finally agree.

They ruined Hiller, Ramo, and Elliott, now they're doing their best to ruin Smith.

Are they though? I've been complaining about the Flames' defencemen total cluelessness in their own end for years. About time the rest of you finally agree.

They ruined Hiller, Ramo, and Elliott, now they're doing their best to ruin Smith.
- Hunkulese

That last statement just ruined any argument you had. Last year they were in the top-half of the league in goals against now they're sitting at 20th. It definitely wasn't because of Elliott or Johnson.

The Flames won in spite of Elliott for most of the season last year.

Ruining Ramo and Hiller? I think they ruined their games by themselves. Ramo was never a starter anywhere but Calgary, I could give you Hiller, but his numbers were never really great and he played on some great Anaheim teams.

That last statement just ruined any argument you had. Last year they were in the top-half of the league in goals against now they're sitting at 20th. It definitely wasn't because of Elliott or Johnson.

The Flames won in spite of Elliott for most of the season last year.

Ruining Ramo and Hiller? I think they ruined their games by themselves. Ramo was never a starter anywhere but Calgary, I could give you Hiller, but his numbers were never really great and he played on some great Anaheim teams.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

When you have as many defensive breakdowns per game as the Flames do, you put too much pressure on your goalie. When they're required to make multiple impossible saves a game to win, it's inevitable they start worrying about letting in bad goals because it makes the games even harder to win. As soon as a goalie is worrying about letting in bad goals, they start letting in bad goals.

The main reason the Flames made the playoffs three years ago was because Hiller and Ramo were unreal and repeatedly bailed out the defence. They come back to Earth a bit, but the defence still sucks, and everyone blames them.

Elliott plays behind a defensively responsible team and leads the league in save %. Plays for a team that has zero defensive responsibility and is run out of town because he can't bail them out. The team actually figured out defence for a stretch last year, and suddenly Elliott is amazing again.

Smith comes in and stands on his head, but the team still has no idea what to do in their own end, and it's starting to catch up with them. Hopefully he's mentally stronger than the rest and it doesn't break him.

They keep changing the goalie but get the same results. Don't you think it has something to do with the players in front of the goalie?

When you have as many defensive breakdowns per game as the Flames do, you put too much pressure on your goalie. When they're required to make multiple impossible saves a game to win, it's inevitable they start worrying about letting in bad goals because it makes the games even harder to win. As soon as a goalie is worrying about letting in bad goals, they start letting in bad goals.

The main reason the Flames made the playoffs three years ago was because Hiller and Ramo were unreal and repeatedly bailed out the defence. They come back to Earth a bit, but the defence still sucks, and everyone blames them.

Elliott plays behind a defensively responsible team and leads the league in save %. Plays for a team that has zero defensive responsibility and is run out of town because he can't bail them out. The team actually figured out defence for a stretch last year, and suddenly Elliott is amazing again.

Smith comes in and stands on his head, but the team still has no idea what to do in their own end, and it's starting to catch up with them. Hopefully he's mentally stronger than the rest and it doesn't break him.

They keep changing the goalie but get the same results. Don't you think it has something to do with the players in front of the goalie?
- Hunkulese

With Smith, absolutely. You said it, he's standing on his head. The other ones, not so much. Elliott is an average goalie at best. Hiller and Ramo were the same. Smith is on another level completely.

They're playing like poop but to say they've been poop for awhile now is just wrong in my opinion. I didn't see the same thing from Elliott, he was shaky with seemingly routine shots. I went to a game in Carolina and saw him play and was surprised they came out of the game with two points. The thing I saw most from Elliott was that he didn't make the save he should've made and then when the defense had a gaffe, he didn't make the spectacular saves too often either. Philly has a pretty good defense and he's been a sieve with them, too.

If they're professionals and aren't mentally strong enough to get over having to bail a team out every now and then, they need to re-evaluate what they do for a living. That is what they get paid for, after all.

They'll either figure it out or they won't and then hopefully some changes happen to shake things up and try to fix the issues but at least we can't blame the goaltender this season. I haven't seen a goalie play at this high of a level for the Flames since Kipper and it's unfortunate the defense is playing like absolute garbage in front of him. I think this defensive corps is strong and will snap out of whatever funk they're in but it isn't pretty right now at all.

With Smith, absolutely. You said it, he's standing on his head. The other ones, not so much. Elliott is an average goalie at best. Hiller and Ramo were the same. Smith is on another level completely.

They're playing like poop but to say they've been poop for awhile now is just wrong in my opinion. I didn't see the same thing from Elliott, he was shaky with seemingly routine shots. I went to a game in Carolina and saw him play and was surprised they came out of the game with two points. The thing I saw most from Elliott was that he didn't make the save he should've made and then when the defense had a gaffe, he didn't make the spectacular saves too often either. Philly has a pretty good defense and he's been a sieve with them, too.

If they're professionals and aren't mentally strong enough to get over having to bail a team out every now and then, they need to re-evaluate what they do for a living. That is what they get paid for, after all.

They'll either figure it out or they won't and then hopefully some changes happen to shake things up and try to fix the issues but at least we can't blame the goaltender this season. I haven't seen a goalie play at this high of a level for the Flames since Kipper and it's unfortunate the defense is playing like absolute garbage in front of him. I think this defensive corps is strong and will snap out of whatever funk they're in but it isn't pretty right now at all.
- Ol_Boy_Wop

Good post.

A lot of the (frank)ups are from the D being under pressure and then passing it to no mans land and the forwards are already breaking up the ice. Brodie and Hamonic especially just seem to pass it to each other and then just loose the puck.

What ever they are doing on the break out needs to change and the D need to be given more support.

Jeez, Brodie is -8 on this road trip. Other teams are just feasting on Brodie/Hamonic right now.

I would rather they play poopty now then in March, assuming we don't fall out of a playoff spot by then.
Hamilton had a baaaad game, Hamonc, meh, Brodie, meh, Gio was Gio but also looked off. Kulak and Stone . The pieces are all there but I think its time to look at the pairings. Maybe the D read all off the pre-season press and forgot they have to show up night in and night out? Who knows. We have a good D group. I still have faith.

Thank god Smith has been great and the top line is flying.

Hey if its any consolation we aren't the Oilers or Habs!!!

Half full oh ye of little faith

I would rather they play poopty now then in March, assuming we don't fall out of a playoff spot by then.
Hamilton had a baaaad game, Hamonc, meh, Brodie, meh, Gio was Gio but also looked off. Kulak and Stone . The pieces are all there but I think its time to look at the pairings. Maybe the D read all off the pre-season press and forgot they have to show up night in and night out? Who knows. We have a good D group. I still have faith.

Thank god Smith has been great and the top line is flying.

Hey if its any consolation we aren't the Oilers or Habs!!!

Half full oh ye of little faith
- geta02it

I think at some point you have to look at the coaching. This summer we all loved our top 4 & yes we all had our Flames tinted glasses on. But many analysts that weren't Flames homers also thought the Flames had a top 5 backend. Right now they are playing like a bottom 5 backend. All of these experienced players can't just go suddenly bad all at once. Something else is wrong. I would say the coach maybe needs to reunite Brodie & Gio. My lord, we have to get this guy out of this rut. Put Hammy with Hamonic & lets see what happens. Who cares if they are RH or LH, I'm beginning to sound like Brad Pitt on Moneyball, who doesn't care if he's RH or LH reliever. Hahaha.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Brodie play back on his offside. Him and stone look good together and try Kulak and Hamonic?

I would rather they play poopty now then in March, assuming we don't fall out of a playoff spot by then.
Hamilton had a baaaad game, Hamonc, meh, Brodie, meh, Gio was Gio but also looked off. Kulak and Stone . The pieces are all there but I think its time to look at the pairings. Maybe the D read all off the pre-season press and forgot they have to show up night in and night out? Who knows. We have a good D group. I still have faith.

Thank god Smith has been great and the top line is flying.

Hey if its any consolation we aren't the Oilers or Habs!!!

Half full oh ye of little faith
- geta02it

Agreed. Another look at the pairings might be a good idea. Stone and Brodie usually work pretty well together.

Don't want to see Hamonic on the 3rd pairing, but the 2nd pairing is pretty underwhelming.

Fun game to watch at least. Holy (frank) Johnny and Money are looking great.

Yeah, you have to ask if there is a systemic problem here. Too many of our veteran D are struggling. GG better figure out a way to tighten things up or he won't be around much longer. This team is too good to be playing this weak defensively.

Yeah, you have to ask if there is a systemic problem here. Too many of our veteran D are struggling. GG better figure out a way to tighten things up or he won't be around much longer. This team is too good to be playing this weak defensively.
- tincup

He really isn't a good coach. Even when he has the ability to get a favorable line out there after an icing, he decides to put the 4th line out there.

Well off to the ol Xmas staff party.

Wish me luck on not getting totally f&cked up and trying to fight my boss like last year. Already dusted 6 drinks so it ain’t looking good!

GFG!

GFG!

Rittich will shine tonight and cement his position as this team's backup, GG's hair will be perfect, and Brodie will shake whatever the hell is going on with him and look like the top 4 defenseman he's looked like in the past.