Todd Cordell: Tkachuk, Bennett, Brouwer Shine As Flames Top Canucks

First!

Suck it Wildschwiener!

I know it's early yet, but I told you naysayers Troy would earn the contract he got. Hard nosed with good hands and hockey IQ, first to get in the scrum and stick up for teammates, great veteran that everybody on the team loves, and vocal in the dressing room. Perfect addition to our team at the right price.

Early yet? He hasn't even played a single one of the 328 regular season games he signed for.

Early yet? He hasn't even played a single one of the 328 regular season games he signed for.
- coryberg2

Lol, good burn. But he's been spectacular in the preseason games... That counts for something...right!...

We have a new powerplay set up! Surprised it hasn't been mentioned..

Wingers take the flanks down low with about 15 feet between them and the net. The Defensemen set up evenly on the blue line. The Center plants out in front.

Johnny played this at WJC-U20 and destroyed on his offhand side.

More goals for Johnny this year!

I think CGY will make a lot of noise in the Pacific this year. I don't see how you guys miss the playoffs.

SJ
ANA
CGY
LA
EDM
AZ
VAN

That's how I see it playing out. I see LA and EDM duking it out for 4th.

Bennett

I was one of the Brouwer naysayers. Here is hoping I was wrong.

Really wish Elliott's pads didnt remind me of Trevor Kidd so much. That's the only negative I can think of.

Brouwer scored most of his goals with the Caps in between the hash marks, not around the net.

We have a new powerplay set up! Surprised it hasn't been mentioned..

Wingers take the flanks down low with about 15 feet between them and the net. The Defensemen set up evenly on the blue line. The Center plants out in front.

Johnny played this at WJC-U20 and destroyed on his offhand side.

More goals for Johnny this year!
- fry

Sounds cool, and I'm really optimistic. Gotta be honest tho, I'm still a little wary with Dave Cameron running the power play...

Yup. The hit on Gaunce was clean.

It's odd when guys have to answer for a clean hit, but there are two factors as to why this one resulted in a fight.

To a lesser degree, because it happened to a rookie—Labate had to answer for his hit on Tkachuck, although there was an infraction there.

The main one—Jack Skille is fighting for his career and has to make an impact any way he can. Standing up for a rookie seems like a good way to win some favour.

Good game for the Flames. Rreally wish Benning hadn't passed on Tkachuck...

I think CGY will make a lot of noise in the Pacific this year. I don't see how you guys miss the playoffs.

SJ
ANA
CGY
LA
EDM
AZ
VAN

That's how I see it playing out. I see LA and EDM duking it out for 4th.
- Rinosaur

The Kings are far better than the Flames still.

EDM and VAN will duke it out for 1st overall is what I see.

I think CGY will make a lot of noise in the Pacific this year. I don't see how you guys miss the playoffs.

SJ
ANA
CGY
LA
EDM
AZ
VAN

That's how I see it playing out. I see LA and EDM duking it out for 4th.
- Rinosaur

If Kopitar gets injured, I see LA sinking like a stone during his absence...

Yup. The hit on Gaunce was clean.

It's odd when guys have to answer for a clean hit, but there are two factors as to why this one resulted in a fight.

To a lesser degree, because it happened to a rookie—Labate had to answer for his hit on Tkachuck, although there was an infraction there.

The main one—Jack Skille is fighting for his career and has to make an impact any way he can. Standing up for a rookie seems like a good way to win some favour.

Good game for the Flames. Rreally wish Benning hadn't passed on Tkachuck...
- Fosco

LaBate and Chaput were a burden last night it seemed like.

Refs didn't full nelson Ferly (like they did all of last season) and look what he can do.

The Kings are far better than the Flames still.

EDM and VAN will duke it out for 1st overall is what I see.
- fry

How so?!
Elliott's numbers are better than Quicks, plus we have a better back up.
Our top 3 D are as good as their top 3, and both our 4,5,6 drop off from there.
BRB...

Calgary is going to crush Vancouver for years to come in would think. Think you guys should be in for a good season, hopefully get Johnny signed up and ready to go soon!

How so?!
Elliott's numbers are better than Quicks, plus we have a better back up.
Our top 3 D are as good as their top 3, and both our 4,5,6 drop off from there.
BRB...
- Flamin_Irishmin

HB might be on to something.. You know that the TV has to be turned on to watch hockey? You're not just watching a blank screen, right?

In all seriousness, a goalie's stats have a direct correlation to the system played in front of him. The Blues limit shots to the outside better than any other team in the NHL. Quick makes incredibly athletic saves and takes over games. Apples and oranges.

On top of that, the Kings completely outmuscled us last year. I don't think you watched those games. It was very evident. End of year interviews: BT and Burke also conferred that teams like LA, St. Louis and Anaheim were outmuscling the Flames and that we won't be advancing in the playoffs until we can bring in size and physicality to match theirs.

HB might be on to something.. You know that the TV has to be turned on to watch hockey? You're not just watching a blank screen, right?

In all seriousness, a goalie's stats have a direct correlation to the system played in front of him. The Blues limit shots to the outside better than any other team in the NHL. Quick makes incredibly athletic saves and takes over games. Apples and oranges.

On top of that, the Kings completely outmuscled us last year. I don't think you watched those games. It was very evident. End of year interviews: BT and Burke also conferred that teams like LA, St. Louis and Anaheim were outmuscling the Flames and that we won't be advancing in the playoffs until we can bring in size and physicality to match theirs.
- fry

Ohhhh, so all those years THATS what's been wrong with my tv... A$$.

Now your going to tell me that LA doesn't play a defence first structured game as well, is that it?! Not. Even Doughty himself they were a defence first team. I.e Quick operates with reduced shot total and reduction in grade A chances. Quick is an above average goalie during the regular season and nothing more but he really elevates his game in the playoffs, or used to anyways.

I have more to add shortly, busy day!

Ohhhh, so all those years THATS what's been wrong with my tv... A$$.

Now your going to tell me that LA doesn't play a defence first structured game as well, is that it?! Not. Even Doughty himself they were a defence first team. I.e Quick operates with reduced shot total and reduction in grade A chances. Quick is an above average goalie during the regular season and nothing more but he really elevates his game in the playoffs, or used to anyways.

I have more to add shortly, busy day!
- Flamin_Irishmin

"Defense first" and "the best trap system on earth" are very, very different. The Kings play great defense, but they do have the odd forward get time and space in front of Quick.

Hell yeah it's a busy day. You have about 40 posts in the Tanner thread you need to oppose. They're calling you names!

Honestly any one of Anaheim, Calgary, or LA could take second in the Division. Calgary's addressed their biggest weaknesses this off-season and LA and Anaheim, while worse than they were last year, haven't fallen off of a cliff and will still be competitive.

Anyways, I was excited about the Brouwer signing from day 1 and it's already looking like he's going to be earning that paycheck. This Tkachuk-Bennett-Brouwer line has a lot going for it.

Typical Burrows cheap shot on Jankowski. That guy is the biggest chicken poop in the league. Maybe in the history of pro hockey ! Where's Kris Russell when you need him ?

Not to say Brouwer isn't going to earn his salary but it's really not hard to stand out when Mony, Johnny, Backs and Frolik are not on the ice. Otherwise the BBT line looked good together and I agree with some comments about Tkachuk playing with the big club to start the season to see how he handles RS play. GFG

The Kings are far better than the Flames still.

EDM and VAN will duke it out for 1st overall is what I see.
- fry

The Kings are still good, but I think CGY has really improved significantly.

The Kings are still good, but I think CGY has really improved significantly.
- Rinosaur

I think they will still be battling Edmonton for 4th this year. Out of the Cali teams I see Anaheim falling off the most. If they supplant one of the three I bet it would be Anaheim. Even still I think they finish 4th or 5th this year in the div.

one year ago everyone was saying SJ sucked...now they are a lock lol

Calgary could certainly finish above LA...who knows, they did the season before last with a much worse lineup