2019-2020 Expectations Are Real

[Pokecheque]

Yeah, I'm intrigued about this interim guy. They're saying good things about him--hopefully he'll take a good look at the reasons behind his new promotion and not make the same mistakes as his predecessor.

[Pokecheque]

https://twitter.com/AJHaefele/status/12 ... 0305367040" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

#Flames at practice today:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Monahan-Backlund-Dube
Lucic-Ryan-Gaudreau
Rieder-Jankowski-Frolik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson
Stone

Czarnik, Rinaldo, extra forwards.

Well okay then.

[harmfuljays]

If they are going to roll position by performance lines its time to start talking trades!

I'll say it again I don't care how much Lucic makes....or how much I once liked him.....if you have to tailor a game plan to some dude that's at least 3-5 seconds behind every play he probably shouldn't be out there. Seriously, promote him to assistant coach or something (aren't there openings now).

But who knows maybe the thought is to merge Johnny and Milan into some hybrid alien being that can skate and be tough! Like that dude from Death Stranding......probably makes about as much sense.

[harmfuljays]

watching jonny on the 3rd line tonight and all I have to say is I ain't buying whatever coaching is trying to sell! 15 Million dollars on the 3rd line! Bullshit!

[harmfuljays]

Jesus, Lucic is bad! Checks to no one..........someone please!

[harmfuljays]

well I can say I haven't seen this compete level since last year so...if mixing up lines does this so be it.

[Pokecheque]

Damn, Looch finally scores, and it's a GWG.

[harmfuljays]

Damn, Looch finally scores, and it's a GWG.

They have been setting him up since day 1.....so I suppose that just tells you the state of affairs.

I haven't seen those Flames since last year (before the Avalanche) so if tossing conventional wisdom to the wind works I guess we need to go with it! 15 Million on the 3rd line it is! We'll just need to eliminate the 3rd line stigma and call it the ReaLGaud line.

[harmfuljays]

Don't look now......but the Flames are 17-12...6 in a row and back in the playoff hunt.

Big OT victory the other day over the Avalanche was a confidence booster.

Now I still don't understand why I see Milan so much out there but whatever....if they can somehow balance his 3-5 seconds behind every play with the intangibles he brings then so be it. That will become a problem if and when they make the playoffs though.

Until then I'll enjoy the ride.

[harmfuljays]

Justin Williams anyone? he can't cost more than 1 Mill......oh wait they only have 500K in cap space!

So...what does buried mean? Does that mean a 1 way to the minors?

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It seems the Austin Czarnik experiment is over. Too bad I've always liked the guy (since Boston) but sometimes the talent that makes you raise an eyebrow just doesn't translate. Hopefully he keeps working and gets a shot somewhere else he's 27 so still a little bit of time.

This is a very precarious position for the Flames.........Christmas time.......barely holding down the last wild card spot.

7 UFAs on the roster all of them fully aware that they won't be here next year.

I'd hate to be the GM here making the decision when to cut bait. Merry Christmas Brad!

[E.L.]

Calgary got Suzuki'd last night. Big tying deflection goal for him. Domi won it in overtime. The Habs' annual West Coast jaunt used to be a black hole for points. Not anymore. Big Hab crowds in Calgary and Vancouver, too.

[harmfuljays]

Out of the playoffs and looking like the worst bubble team out there. Brad jettisons Frolik to Buffalo. Frolik for the most part was a good soldier but its the nature of the beast, both ways. Definitely expect more if they can't get their shit together. I would assume Hamonic or Brodie (modified NTC) is up next.

[Pokecheque]

Rasmus Andersson inks a big extension, 6 years, $4.55 million AAV.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/ ... 9653647360" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Seems like a good deal to me, I don't know how good Andersson's underlying numbers are but he always struck me as a very solid depth guy for them whenever I saw him play.

[E.L.]

Yo, what happened to Mark Jankowski? Stanstead College's finest!

[Pokecheque]

Yo, what happened to Mark Jankowski? Stanstead College's finest!

They should seriously try trading him to the Canucks. The AGM there thinks he's the next Joe Nieuwendyk after all...

[harmfuljays]

Don't look now but the Flames are 2 points out of 1st place in a tight Pacific Division. Makes the Saturday night game with Edmonton very meaningful. Can the Flames figure it out? Can they start scoring? Can all this nonsense about trading Johnny evaporate? Stay tuned!

[Pokecheque]

Reportedly both Mark Jankowski and Sam Bennett have requested trades.

I'm not quite sure why Bennett is so bent outta shape. Hasn't he been hurt all year!?

[harmfuljays]

Reportedly both Mark Jankowski and Sam Bennett have requested trades.

I'm not quite sure why Bennett is so bent outta shape. Hasn't he been hurt all year!?

Good....makes Brad's job easier trying to determine if this team is for real or not. My opinion is that they should be sellers. This group just doesn't have it and if you can't plug the holes and make do with what you have then its time to cut bait as the window is short.

[Logical Progression]

Heard that Tree loves him some Sam Bennett? Is that true?

[E.L.]

Heard that Tree loves him some Sam Bennett? Is that true?

Sam Bennett is the kind of shit disturber with ok hands teams crave. If he replicated the point total of his rookie year I think teams would be happy, but there's always the possibility of more. I'd take him in a heartbeat, even if chances are high he never gets out of his 26-27 point rut.