2022-2023 Season: High Hopes Low Reality

[harmfuljays]

Yeesh...slotted for the 4th line really? Don't do Phillips any favors!

Johnny and all his BS comes to town tonight...I would assume he gets a rousing chorus of boos because I can't imagine anyone is buying what he's selling.

[harmfuljays]

Not sure what happened in Columbus on Friday (for some reason I thought it was in Calgary). Thankfully I was getting my drink on at a Christmas party (turnt up for Fogg) and didn't have to witness it (only get the updates).

In a moment of what can be called almost absolute clarity on Saturday night.....Vladar starts and lo and behold Matthew Phillips subs for a SCRATCHED Milan. While that did not produce a victory against the Leafs I thought both Vladar and Phillips (PP2) looked good as D wasn't necessarily on display. I suppose I could also mention Zohorna but I'd rather not.

Huberdeau had a careless high stick call in OT that extinguished the Flames. Good game overall against a team that's playing well in the Leafs.

At this point Vladar should be earning top keeper starts even if he is letting the occasional stinker. Markstrom has been letting those in all year so far.

DS has all his cards on the table...calling out players, blaming officiating, and then finally doing what the fans are asking for. Not sure what else he's got left!

Also looks like the Flames and Oil will be meeting for a heritage classic. Might have to book that one!

[harmfuljays]

On a side note I believe THE Mitch Love (of Burgundy and White FingerLove fame) is coaching the Wranglers.

[Pokecheque]

On a side note I believe THE Mitch Love (of Burgundy and White FingerLove fame) is coaching the Wranglers.

Holy shit, really? That's fucking awesome!

[harmfuljays]

I can't they say they aren't trying...but that has resulted in a continuous parade to the box lately. For the 2nd straight game they take a high-sticking call in OT....in this one Tyler Toffoli did his best to rearrange Josh Andersen's dental work to the tune of 4 minutes. Somehow Markstrom turned the clock back a few years and picked his game up (his best of the year easily 37 out of 38 saves). The Habs didn't score on the Double Minor in OT but eventually triumphed in the SO when Kadri couldn't convert. A good game overall.

So far my MVP at the halfway mark is Rasmus Andersson......He's smart and capable. He is in on most plays and logs big minutes as the Flames No. 1 D man. I suppose some could mention Hanifin but out of the two Rasmus is the better.

On an average team that's looking to find its footing, I'd rather see younger kids on the roster getting a shot then old vets hanging on like its a Stanley Cup run,so I like the current direction.

[Pokecheque]

Glad to see the blind adulation fans and coaches seem to have for the Big Looch Buffoon is finally starting to wear off. Dude hasn't been a good player since his Boston days.

I get the distinct impression Matty Phillips is getting shoved down Sutter's throat. Like, management is telling him to play this guy and he's being a big pissant about it. He got pretty testy when they asked him about the guy.

[harmfuljays]

Here is the Matchsticks and Gasoline report card

https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/ ... deau-kadri" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I do like voting in this!

Not sure how Mange Punani and Huberdeau got a C......should be a D or an F!

Milan is a D- I do like Milan but its been over for awhile.

I don't even know who Kevin Rooney is.

[Pokecheque]

Someone needs to tell the Flames players to QUIT WEARING those RR's. They're ruining the coolness of them by doing the thing all stupid , overly superstitious hockey players do, keep the wearing the same outfit because you just happened to hit a win streak while they were on.

Watch Calgary completely ruin everything by going back to black as a primary color just when they finally effin' fixed things by going with the classic red-and-golds.

[harmfuljays]

Flames are still hanging around a wild card spot. Markstrom seems to be playing better. The signings are still moderately disappointing. I find the Milan with Huberdeau experiment concerning. The Matthew Phillips audition lasted for as long as DS could pretend he liked playing him.

Of note......I had no idea Elias Lindholm has played 700 games. I also didn't realize he had played 5 seasons in Carolina or that he was 28 with 10 years in the league. Well congrats bro on 700, your birthday and your new life partner and way to continue to lead the team!

[harmfuljays]

Yeesh.....well Weegar decided to show up this season and Markstrom is back on the struggle bus. Again...more starts from Dan Vladar! Elias Lindholm and Toffoli quietly lead while Kadri does what he can.

Flames continue to lose against teams that are chasing them.......another bout with Colorado this week will show if this team is playoff worthy or not. I would not be surprised to see them fall out of the picture as St Louis, Colorado and Nashville all appear to be better at this point.

[Pokecheque]

Well we know Naz will be good for at least one goal against the Avs.

[harmfuljays]

Calgary gets a progress check game against Colorado and fails in an embarassing fashion. I believe DS and the after game interviews probably summed it up for the Flames.

I appreciate DS's ability to resurrect careers in Zadorov and Lucic and his unwavering support of a clearly struggling Markstrom. Unfortunately, as this season goes along I am beginning to think that this aging coaching dogma from DS is starting to affect this team's future. The absolute disregard and banishment to the pressbox of younger players because they don't fit the DS model (hulking, grinding type) is an issue when Milan Lucic continues to patrol the top line and see minutes that should not be afforded to him at this point (love your career Milan!).

This is not today's NHL like it or not. And all respect given over the years to DS but serious consideration needs to be given to those up and comers. If DS won't do it or change his system to incorporate it then its time to think about other coaching options in the future before more talent is lost. Either that or Brad just needs to overhaul his scouting staff and farm system to only those types of players.

Jonathan Huberdeau does not fit this style.....its painfully obvious. And last I checked he is on this team making great money until 2028. A lesson for all aspiring GMs out there to sample the goods before issuing a long term contract. Not all players are plug and play. I don't envy the job as its hard not to get backed into that corner where you are forced to throw money to cover up mistakes or appease the fanbase. But part of this was a reaction by 3 lives who was on his 8th one to replace what was lost. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors but it doesn't appear to have been a complete and thorough match so far.

Tampa up next as a second chance.

[Pokecheque]

Zadorov was probably Calgary's best player last night. He moved the puck really well and he did something I NEVER remembered him doing as an Avs player--read the play and actually broke up a pass. That was his biggest flaw as a player before, he just didn't have the hockey sense to anticipate things like that. Good for him, though if Zadorov is your best player on any given night, probably not a great night for your team, no offense to the big Russian, of whom I'm still kind of a fan.

Avs got damned lucky last night, on more than a couple occasions the puck got behind Georgiev and slid back out of the crease. Thankfully for their sake they dominated in the first, played okay in the second, and then kinda hung on in the third.

I believe it was Huberdeau who turned it over on the first Avs goal thanks to a quick pinch of stick check from Devon Toews, which eventually landed on Rantanen's stick and past Markstrom. Rough night for him. Kadri and Lindholm were visible but didn't really turn the tide much. That might be the biggest issue at present for the Flames. They no longer have a gamebreaker in the lineup now that Johnny Hockey and Keith's Kid are gone. Huberdeau and Kadri are certainly worthy successors but neither is on the same level as those two.

Lastly, if you're gonna use the slow, lumbering presence of Milan Lucic, who shockingly got knocked down a lot last night, as a top six forward, I think your offensive depth is a huge issue.

Also, I know it's probably strange of me to keep harping on uniforms (but hey it's me so no one should be surprised) but it's super-confusing that Calgary would be switching between their regular uniforms and two different versions of a black jersey this season. Like, why use "Blasty" again this year...??? I get the nostalgia and all but that's a truly shitty uniform.

[Chris18]

Calgary gets a progress check game against Colorado and fails in an embarassing fashion. I believe DS and the after game interviews probably summed it up for the Flames.

I appreciate DS's ability to resurrect careers in Zadorov and Lucic and his unwavering support of a clearly struggling Markstrom. Unfortunately, as this season goes along I am beginning to think that this aging coaching dogma from DS is starting to affect this team's future. The absolute disregard and banishment to the pressbox of younger players because they don't fit the DS model (hulking, grinding type) is an issue when Milan Lucic continues to patrol the top line and see minutes that should not be afforded to him at this point (love your career Milan!).

This is not today's NHL like it or not. And all respect given over the years to DS but serious consideration needs to be given to those up and comers. If DS won't do it or change his system to incorporate it then its time to think about other coaching options in the future before more talent is lost. Either that or Brad just needs to overhaul his scouting staff and farm system to only those types of players.

Jonathan Huberdeau does not fit this style.....its painfully obvious. And last I checked he is on this team making great money until 2028. A lesson for all aspiring GMs out there to sample the goods before issuing a long term contract. Not all players are plug and play. I don't envy the job as its hard not to get backed into that corner where you are forced to throw money to cover up mistakes or appease the fanbase. But part of this was a reaction by 3 lives who was on his 8th one to replace what was lost. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors but it doesn't appear to have been a complete and thorough match so far.

Tampa up next as a second chance.

Sounds like Lambert/Trotz with the "veteran presence" BS. I know it takes all kinds of skill and toughness to remain in the NHL but just because a guy has been around for a long time doesn't mean he still should be. Even Gretzky was demoted to 4th line towards the end of his career. So many talented kids in the AHL are blocked by old farts like Lucic and Sutter thinking guys like Lucic can still play.

[Pokecheque]

TBH Looch looks kinda weak these days. There was a time when guys would try to hit him and either just bounce off or actually injure themselves. I don't know if I've ever seen a guy that solid on skates before. But last night he was pushed off the puck and/or knocked down a LOT by my observation. Echoes of Jarome Iginla his final season, who was way too slow and weak to do anything of consequence during that absolutely disastrous year.

[Bosc]

Even Gretzky was demoted to 4th line towards the end of his career.

Wayne was playing 21 minutes a night in his last season

https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... zwa01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pokecheque]

Not sure Gretzky was ever 4th line. Messier definitely was, he didn't even practice those last couple seasons in New York.

Anyway, Johnny Hockey makes his not-so-triumphant return to Calgary, credit to the fans, they gave him a standing O after the video tribute before resuming the boos. Lumbus made a game of it, coming back from 2-0 to force overtime, but both Laine and Gaudreau get knocked down (both looked pretty exhausted) and the Flames win it.

Seriously get those goddamned Blasty jerseys away from the Flames. They're gonna switch to those full time and completely ruin what was one of the best uniform sets in the NHL.

[harmfuljays]

Last night marked fragile Johnny's return to Calgary. Regardless of how he pissed down the fans backs and told them it was raining (aka the Russell Wilson) he must have been all nerves so lets recap!

He was booed loudly at the first touch of the puck.......

He was then given the obligatory thanks for coming video.

He then missed a penalty shot much to my delight and the rest of the saddledome.

He then went all vintage Johnny on his dive/giveup/soft on the puck in OT to create the 2 on 1 for a Flames victory.

Couldn't have done any better!

Don't come back any time soon!

[Chris18]

Even Gretzky was demoted to 4th line towards the end of his career.

Wayne was playing 21 minutes a night in his last season

https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... zwa01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well this is what I get for listening to ranger fan friends! They've all always said he was on the 4th line his last year.

[harmfuljays]

Apparently last night was lay a steamer night in the NHL.

Seriously, if the Flames back out of a playoff spot....DS at least needs to be looked at......I don't understand this over dedication to struggling and minimally contributing players unless he is being instructed to do so from management.

Markstrom needs to assume a temporary backup role in favor of Vladar at this point. There really isn't even any discussion. The season is at a tipping point and the team can't afford for him to continue to "work through it."

Lucic had 11 minutes of TOI last night and somehow managed to be a -3.....

As a fan I like seeing Pelletier out there and some of the kids. I am much more forgiving of a young kid finding his way. I do understand its a balancing act and sometimes you just got to ride it out so I suppose that's where we are at. Playoffs or not.