Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames: On Russell, Ortio & More

Definitely not all on Orts, and that one goal was blatant interference...

Definitely not all on Orts, and that one goal was blatant interference...
- rmull905

I thought the right call was made. Either way, he's nothing special.

Mark Jankowski with 2 goals and 2 assists last night. Is more than a point per game player in the NCAA. Craig Button tweeted out last night he has #2 potential still. I've watched a few of his games and been impressed as well.
As for Russell I'd love to trade him to Boston for one of their prospects (they've got a lot high end) he would fit well with that group. Another fit could be LA if they are serious about going all in.
Last note: Good things seem to happen with TJ Brodie on the ice, you'd be a fool to not consider him in the Norris Trophy race.

Mark Jankowski with 2 goals and 2 assists last night. Is more than a point per game player in the NCAA. Craig Button tweeted out last night he has #2 potential still. I've watched a few of his games and been impressed as well.
As for Russell I'd love to trade him to Boston for one of their prospects (they've got a lot high end) he would fit well with that group. Another fit could be LA if they are serious about going all in.
Last note: Good things seem to happen with TJ Brodie on the ice, you'd be a fool to not consider him in the Norris Trophy race.
- brb1397

He's amazing

Mark Jankowski with 2 goals and 2 assists last night. Is more than a point per game player in the NCAA. Craig Button tweeted out last night he has #2 potential still. I've watched a few of his games and been impressed as well.
As for Russell I'd love to trade him to Boston for one of their prospects (they've got a lot high end) he would fit well with that group. Another fit could be LA if they are serious about going all in.
Last note: Good things seem to happen with TJ Brodie on the ice, you'd be a fool to not consider him in the Norris Trophy race.
- brb1397

He's not "sexy" enough to be considered... Its become an offensive defenseman trophy, ie. points and guys like Karlsson rack up the points. To me he's surpassed Gio and is top 10 in the league!

He's not "sexy" enough to be considered... Its become an offensive defenseman trophy, ie. points and guys like Karlsson rack up the points. To me he's surpassed Gio and is top 10 in the league!
- geta02it

And did you see Johnny undress Karlsson?

He's not "sexy" enough to be considered... Its become an offensive defenseman trophy, ie. points and guys like Karlsson rack up the points. To me he's surpassed Gio and is top 10 in the league!
- geta02it

Don't get me wrong Gio is a top 10 defenceman in this league. But this season he has been surpassed by Brodie. Although they play very similar, TJ's skating and puckhandling (backhand saucer pass) propel his game to an elite level. His injury for the first 10 games will hurt his Norris chances but anyone who covers the Flames knows that he deserves to be in the chase and at 25 he is only getting better.

Does anyone think that between today and tomorrow Gio should be traded?

I this is loaded question and its just a question to spark some conversation while were waiting for the domino's.

Does anyone think that between today and tomorrow Gio should be traded?

I this is loaded question and its just a question to spark some conversation while were waiting for the domino's.
- Yeah...Baby

As much as I love his story and everything he's done for this team, I think it would be good asset management to trade him now. We could still get quite the haul for him and I think his contract will be ugly in a couple of years. Not to mention this team can still win without Gio, its Brodie that they really need.

To me Wootherspoon has upped his value for this team in the future, guy is a solid stay at home defenceman. Just what the Flames need.

Of coarse I'm not looking at chart bullsh!t, just the old fashioned eye test. Sure Todd will post some stats that paint him differently. :
Would like to see some trades that make room on the back end.

I hope you guys get a 1st from Boston.

Does anyone think that between today and tomorrow Gio should be traded?

I this is loaded question and its just a question to spark some conversation while were waiting for the domino's.
- Yeah...Baby

I kinda agree. The one thing I would worry about is what does that say to the rest of the room? He took a slight discount to stay in Calgary as it was.

I thought the right call was made. Either way, he's nothing special.
- ToddCordellCGY

If a puck is rimmed around the boards and the skater intended to receive the puck is hit attempting to play the puck it isn't considered interference , even if he is hit prior to actually playing the puck. However, if the puck is puck is played by a third skater 8 -10 feet prior to arriving where the intended receiver is attempting to play it and he is hit , it is definitely interference because the puck wasn't there so he isn't eligible to be hit.

This is exactly why BobbyvRyan was guilty of goalie interference. Ortio was reacting to the shot and moving to make the save as evidenced by his glove hand reaching down and to the left. It is true that Ortio extends hit blocker /stick hand out to the right and slightly forward in an attempt to protect himself from Ryan skating through, and had the puck made it through to the net, and had gone in, I would agree that it was incidental contact that was all a part of play and was unfortunate, but legal. The problem is that the puck was blocked on its way to the net and Bobby Ryan's contact with Ortio was a separate event from the puck arriving at the net and he prevented Ortio from being able to make a play on the shot by taking hit away from the play. This probably should have been called goalie interference and the goal overturned.

Unfortunately, this became the turning point in the game, and Ottawa seized the momentum and never looked back.

Fortunately, the Flames took another step toward a top 5 pick in the draft with that loss.

I'd love the Flames to make the playoffs, but that reality or likelihood slips further and away by the day.

For what seems like forever, the Flames floundered in mediocrity. They weren't good enough to make the playoffs, often missing by just a few points, but not bad enough to draft in the top few spots. In the last few years, they have twice drafted in the 6 and picked up a couple of gems in the process.

If they aren't going to make the playoffs, let's hope they REALLY miss big and at least have a good chance of drafting another talented piece to the long term success of the team

Don't get me wrong Gio is a top 10 defenceman in this league. But this season he has been surpassed by Brodie. Although they play very similar, TJ's skating and puckhandling (backhand saucer pass) propel his game to an elite level. His injury for the first 10 games will hurt his Norris chances but anyone who covers the Flames knows that he deserves to be in the chase and at 25 he is only getting better.
- brb1397

Brodie might be the best skater in the league, and if not the best all - round skater, he at least is the player with the best control of his edges. He is an exceptional player on a VERY friendly contract. Regardless who he plays with he is top 5 in the league, but in tandem with Gio, he's even better. That combined with Gio being not just the captain , but actually the unquestioned LEADER of this team, make him untradable. His contract won't leave egg on the team's face.

Not all of the captains in the league share Giordano 's leadership qualities, and on such a young team, the damage of moving "that guy" may be irreparable.

Just picture all the Flames players stepping up onto the bench and onto the dasher of the boards one after the other - "Captain my Captain"!!!

Berra on waivers. You guys picking him back up?

That trade was robbery

Berra on waivers. You guys picking him back up?

That trade was robbery
- Iggysbff

Would of been nice if we used the pick on someone other than Hunter Smith. Almost made the trade even in the end.

To me Wootherspoon has upped his value for this team in the future, guy is a solid stay at home defenceman. Just what the Flames need.

Of coarse I'm not looking at chart bullsh!t, just the old fashioned eye test. Sure Todd will post some stats that paint him differently. :
Would like to see some trades that make room on the back end.
- K-man25

He sure passes the eye test. Looking very good so far. He and Nakladal definitely have chemistry, and Jakob seems to be adjusting a little more each game to the speed of the NHL and rink size. Uses his reach very effectively, and is more physical than I had expected. Needs work hitting the net more consistently with that BOMB of a shot, but that'll come too. I like them both.

I think their emergence, along with the others in the system, like Kulak, make Others more expendable too.
Although Englland is a very useful utility D-man that can slot in effectively from #5 to #7, and has done a nice job covering the #4 spot for the last few games, moving his $2.9M contract wouldn't be a terrible idea either if there are takers.

I wish Smid all the best and hope he has a long healthy life, but it wouldn't hurt the Flames if he were to retire Rhett Warrener style.

Lol i laugh at the people who say trade Gio, know next to none about how hockey works, just saying. Its called leadership, not lets "fetch the biggest haul". If that is the case though, why not trade Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Bennett while we're at it? We could get a 1st + for all of them

Lol i laugh at the people who say trade Gio, know next to none about how hockey works, just saying. Its called leadership, not lets "fetch the biggest haul". If that is the case though, why not trade Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Bennett while we're at it? We could get a 1st + for all of them
- Flamesfan_34

Because they win hockey games and will be worth their contracts the whole way through. I love Gio but I'm pretty sure we will hate that contract for at least the last 2 years.

I hope you guys get a 1st from Boston.
- jfkst1

Agreed, now we just need to figure out which one. I think San Jose's pick is more likely to be the earlier pick. Boston will have to get though 2 of TB, Florida, Pittsburgh, NYI, or Detroit to get to the Eastern final depending on where they finish, which could be anywhere from 1St in their division to the second wild card spot. The only really bad match up they could run into in the first round would be Washington, if they finish in the second wildcard spot, but I think this is unlikely.

SanJose on the other hand , is historically not a playoff team period. And they WILl be facing either LA, or more likely Anaheim in the first round, because SJ will definitely finish 3Rd in the Pacific, and to make matters worse, their second round match up will be the LA or ANA.

Since Boston seems to have more likelihood of making it to the eastern final, and also of winning their division, a Boston pick could end up being 21 - 26, and SanJose is more likely to be in the 15-20 range, the Sharks 1St is definitely more valuable.

Jankowski isn't signing with the Flames. Trade his rights now.

Jankowski isn't signing with the Flames. Trade his rights now.
- newmy

He's not signing with the team that took a huge chance on him? If that's true I would rather offer him a contract then wait for him to sign somewhere else so we receive a 2nd rounder.

Lol i laugh at the people who say trade Gio, know next to none about how hockey works, just saying. Its called leadership, not lets "fetch the biggest haul". If that is the case though, why not trade Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Bennett while we're at it? We could get a 1st + for all of them
- Flamesfan_34

I agree. IMO, trading Gio is committing to being a bottom dweller for the next half decade. No thanks.

He's not signing with the team that took a huge chance on him? If that's true I would rather offer him a contract then wait for him to sign somewhere else so we receive a 2nd rounder.
- The_Janitor

There's been talk all year long that he's not signing with the Flames & they have until June to figure it out.