Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames sign Jon Gillies to two-year extension

Goaltending is the only area I am freaked out about.

Would have liked them to bring in someone that can take over the reins next year, then be beat out by one of the younger guys.

How far is Parsons from being ready to compete? 2 years?

Goaltending is the only area I am freaked out about.

Would have liked them to bring in someone that can take over the reins next year, then be beat out by one of the younger guys.

How far is Parsons from being ready to compete? 2 years?
- DuranDuran

He posted a .902SV% in the ECHL so it could be longer. Has a lot of work to do.

Here is hoping Rittich ups his game to the next level.

Sometimes you you just have to go through the growing pains that a player has to go through. Gilles is no exception to that rule. I can't understand why you are calling him a bust. Seriously 12 games in the nhl is not enough to call him anything except inexperienced.

Goaltending is the only area I am freaked out about.

Would have liked them to bring in someone that can take over the reins next year, then be beat out by one of the younger guys.

How far is Parsons from being ready to compete? 2 years?
- DuranDuran

I would think Parsons & Gilles will be handed the reins in Stockton which I have no issue. The real question is two fold, how durable will Smith be & how will Riitch do with more starts next year & is he a bonafide backup. Honestly, at some point you have to let unknowns get the opportunity to win these backup positions. If Smith struggles this year, Tre will have no choice but to make a hockey trade to deal with this. I guess we just cross this bridge until we get there, until then, I suggest drinking heavily.

I would think Parsons & Gilles will be handed the reins in Stockton which I have no issue. The real question is two fold, how durable will Smith be & how will Riitch do with more starts next year & is he a bonafide backup. Honestly, at some point you have to let unknowns get the opportunity to win these backup positions. If Smith struggles this year, Tre will have no choice but to make a hockey trade to deal with this. I guess we just cross this bridge until we get there, until then, I suggest drinking heavily.
- Kevin R

Last year was the first time in years where I was actually confident with our starter.....till he went down. After that it took a lot of alcohol to find the positives.

Still somewhat traumatized from the poop show that has happened since Kipper retired.

Bennett on the block...

Bennett on the block...
- Clyde334

Says who?

Edit: EK?

Says who?

Edit: EK?
- DuranDuran

Right?!

Bennett on the block...
- Clyde334

He's not on the block. Teams are calling about him.

They are in a tough spot with Bennett. If he does break out this year and Tkachuk gets any better, it's going to be really tough to lock them both up, especially if Hanifin gets paid this year.

I still doubt they'll get any offers that make it worth giving him up since they've pretty much shown they're all in this year.

Bennett on the block...
- Clyde334

Probably worth a listen. I sure as hell wouldnt sell cheap. He has been left wing & not really sure he can move to the RW & therefore he would be behind Tkachuk & Gaudreau on the left side. I would hope he still has potential to be much more than a 3rd line LW. Kind of makes sense to start getting the interest generated for next year when he becomes a RFA, these trades seem to take a real scenic route before anything remotely happens. We really plugged that RW this summer with Lindholm & Neal. Top 6 where he should be is going to be really hard to push his way into. I like to think our 3rd line with Janko & ether Frolik or Ryan on the right side will be good enough to get his game going enough to put up a 40-45 point season & discussion of having to get him into the top 6. Thats a good problem to have.

BT and BP seem to really emphasize depth which makes me feel like Tre still has a card up his sleeve... There are still plenty of serviceable backups on the market along with UFAs who could fit the bill.

Goaltending will definitely be our achilles heel for the season if we run with Smith/Rittich/Gillies

Goalies' careers are so hard to predict. Flames did the right thing.

Who's NHL stats are these?

Year 1 GP 5 GAA 1.94 SV% 902
Year 2 GP 20 GAA 2.49 SV% 915
Year 3 GP 22 GAA 3.25 SV% 879

Answer: Mikka Kiprusoff

And these?

Year 1 GP 1 GAA 1.00 SV% 964
Year 2 GP 11 GAA 2.88 SV% 896

Answer: Jon Gillies

Drafting Mason McDonald first goalie taken in the 2014 draft over Thatcher Demko made my head explode. I couldn’t fücking believe it.

It’s moronic scouting like this that we are finally doing away with thank God.

Demko was drafted like 2 picks later by the Canucks as a no brainer, he was highly considered the top goalie prospect in that draft by a wide margin.

Demko has been excellent in the AHL and will be taking one of Markstrom’s or Neilsson’s jobs this year. Meanwhile McDonald is playing backup in the ECHL.

Flames can’t scout goalies to save their lives. I hope Gillies turns out in the next few years because Parsons has a long ways to go..

Drafting Mason McDonald first goalie taken in the 2014 draft over Thatcher Demko made my head explode. I couldn’t fücking believe it.

It’s moronic scouting like this that we are finally doing away with thank God.

Demko was drafted like 2 picks later by the Canucks as a no brainer, he was highly considered the top goalie prospect in that draft by a wide margin.

Demko has been excellent in the AHL and will be taking one of Markstrom’s or Neilsson’s jobs this year. Meanwhile McDonald is playing backup in the ECHL.

Flames can’t scout goalies to save their lives. I hope Gillies turns out in the next few years because Parsons has a long ways to go..

- Flamin_Irishmin

Probably worth a listen. I sure as hell wouldnt sell cheap. He has been left wing & not really sure he can move to the RW & therefore he would be behind Tkachuk & Gaudreau on the left side. I would hope he still has potential to be much more than a 3rd line LW. Kind of makes sense to start getting the interest generated for next year when he becomes a RFA, these trades seem to take a real scenic route before anything remotely happens. We really plugged that RW this summer with Lindholm & Neal. Top 6 where he should be is going to be really hard to push his way into. I like to think our 3rd line with Janko & ether Frolik or Ryan on the right side will be good enough to get his game going enough to put up a 40-45 point season & discussion of having to get him into the top 6. Thats a good problem to have.
- Kevin R

Hiya Kev! Hope your having a good summer!


Ok, now I can go back to being an åsshole

I disagree if you think the Flames will play Jankowski over Ryan in the third line centre spot. Ryan had the 12th best 5vs5 faceoff percentage in the league at just under 60%. That’s some Bergeron territory right there.

Offensive zone face offs are overrated, but defensive zone starts are very underrated. I’m guessing it will be Bennett-Ryan-Frolik to start the third line this year. Or a combination of Ryan and Jankowski and either Bennett or Frolik on the 3rd line RW spot.

Hiya Kev! Hope your having a good summer!


Ok, now I can go back to being an åsshole

I disagree if you think the Flames will play Jankowski over Ryan in the third line centre spot. Ryan had the 12th best 5vs5 faceoff percentage in the league at just under 60%. That’s some Bergeron territory right there.

Offensive zone face offs are overrated, but defensive zone starts are very underrated. I’m guessing it will be Bennett-Ryan-Frolik to start the third line this year. Or a combination of Ryan and Jankowski and either Bennett or Frolik on the 3rd line RW spot.
- Flamin_Irishmin

I think Janko is the better player and he has a higher ceiling. Sure, get Ryan out for important face offs, but we need to be rolling our best players.

I think Janko is the better player and he has a higher ceiling. Sure, get Ryan out for important face offs, but we need to be rolling our best players.
- Saskabush

Frolik- Jankowski- Ryan with Ryan taking the majority of the draws. Jankowski still gets to to play C at the highest level and slowly improve his faceoffs over time. Plenty of lines do this where it's a matter of first man back that plays down low in the Dzone.

Hiya Kev! Hope your having a good summer!


Ok, now I can go back to being an åsshole

I disagree if you think the Flames will play Jankowski over Ryan in the third line centre spot. Ryan had the 12th best 5vs5 faceoff percentage in the league at just under 60%. That’s some Bergeron territory right there.

Offensive zone face offs are overrated, but defensive zone starts are very underrated. I’m guessing it will be Bennett-Ryan-Frolik to start the third line this year. Or a combination of Ryan and Jankowski and either Bennett or Frolik on the 3rd line RW spot.
- Flamin_Irishmin

That's not an bumhole opinion buddy & yup summer going great. But Janko has lots of upside & I dont think you move him backward to the 4th line. I agree with Saskabush, Ryan is also a RHS & can play RW. Peters will blenderize some of these lines anyway.
But one thing is for sure, one of Janko/Ryan or Frolik is going to be getting some 4 th line duty & I dont even want to start to think where fck Brouwer fits in. Same with Stone on the blueline. Tre has some trading to do. & for this reason, it doesnt surprise me that the phone is ringing on Bennett. For the right price, I would move him. I really could see Ottawa or Montreal wanting in on Bennett. I could live with Brady Tkachuk coming back in a package/bigger trade. Even if he doesnt play in the NHL this year, Brady would be a great way to differ some of the cap. Probably take Kylington & Bennett to pry Brady out of Ottawa.

That's not an bumhole opinion buddy & yup summer going great. But Janko has lots of upside & I dont think you move him backward to the 4th line. I agree with Saskabush, Ryan is also a RHS & can play RW. Peters will blenderize some of these lines anyway.
But one thing is for sure, one of Janko/Ryan or Frolik is going to be getting some 4 th line duty & I dont even want to start to think where fck Brouwer fits in. Same with Stone on the blueline. Tre has some trading to do. & for this reason, it doesnt surprise me that the phone is ringing on Bennett. For the right price, I would move him. I really could see Ottawa or Montreal wanting in on Bennett. I could live with Brady Tkachuk coming back in a package/bigger trade. Even if he doesnt play in the NHL this year, Brady would be a great way to differ some of the cap. Probably take Kylington & Bennett to pry Brady out of Ottawa.
- Kevin R

I am pretty convinced that Brady will not be signing with Ottawa anyways, think there will be a deal for him to come play with his bro.

Frolik- Jankowski- Ryan with Ryan taking the majority of the draws. Jankowski still gets to to play C at the highest level and slowly improve his faceoffs over time. Plenty of lines do this where it's a matter of first man back that plays down low in the Dzone.
- MaximumBone

Gotta say, thats not a bad line either, but no way Bennett plays 4th line. Hence maybe why Bennetts name is starting to float around out there.

Bennett for Nurse?

As I now quickly leave the room

I am pretty convinced that Brady will not be signing with Ottawa anyways, think there will be a deal for him to come play with his bro.
- DuranDuran

Hahaha I think that is many of our real wishful thinking. I think the kid wants to play right away & there is no way he waits 3 more years of college to dodge the Sens. We may have to do it the old fashioned way & get him in a trade

Hahaha I think that is many of our real wishful thinking. I think the kid wants to play right away & there is no way he waits 3 more years of college to dodge the Sens. We may have to do it the old fashioned way & get him in a trade
- Kevin R

Does not really seem like a family to place a high regard on education!

Does not really seem like a family to place a high regard on education!
- DuranDuran

I think being belligerent on the ice in an NHL takes priority over education.