FGD: Rookies and Liabilities All the Way Down
Kent Wilson
February 11 2013 01:14PM
There were Great Expectations in Minnesota after their hot start last year and big free agent additions this summer. The stats-inclined amongst us remained skeptical and indeed with a .500 start through the early going and bottom of the league possession numbers, the Wild remain one of the least intimidating opponents in the league currently.
The Flames aren't exactly imposing either, of course. Without Cammalleri and Backlund once again, they will be dressing two rookies on their second line. Not to mention the rookie in net who is playing with the knowledge he will probably be waived and demoted almost as soon as the final buzzer sounds.
Calgary was noticeably exposed against the Canucks on Saturday night in light of these issues, so they can't exactly take anyone lightly at this point. Particularly since they have to start collecting points soon before the early season hole becomes too deep to dig out of. With just 8 points in 9 games and currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference, the Flames are in danger of falling too far behind the pack out of the gate if they continue to lose for much longer.
The bad news for the Wild is their spending spree has only marginally improved the club over last year's Cinderella edition. Ryan Suter is playing in the top-4, has a respectably easy zone start (54%) and is getting absolutely buried in terms of possession (-11.95/60). In fact, his corsi is the worst amongst regular Wild blueliners, which should be especially alarming for Minny's decision makers given how much money they invested in him. It's early so it's possible Suter will reel things in, but those are poor early returns.
Zach Parise has been better and is one of the few Wild forwards above water. He hasn't turned them into instant contenders or anything, but there's no question the Wild's top line is much more dangerous now and will be the primary concern for the Flames this evening.
The Line-up
Nothing changes from the Canucks game aside from Sarich drawing in for Derek Smith. And for good reason - Smith had a dreadful night in Vancouver. Babchuk remains a healthy scratch (FOR NOW).
- Glencross - Tanguay - Iginla
- Cervenka - Street - Hudler
- Comeau - Stajan - Stempniak
- Begin - Jones - Jackman
- Bouwmeester - Giordano
- Brodie - Wideman
- Sarich - Butler
- Irving
Stempniak continues to be good on the third line, generating another goal and a few chances on Saturday night, but that unit wasn't as noticable sans Backlund. The second line was also very quiet with Ben Street in the middle. He has had a good few years in the AHL but Street struggled to do anything of note in his first NHL contest for the Flames. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to translate things at this level.
The Opposition
Parise and Koivu are the big guns here. Cal Clutterbuck is a really good middle-tier, shut-down player (although he's known more as a hitter/agitator) and Kyle Brodziak is a capable 3rd line type center.
- Parise - Koivu - Coyle
- Heatley - Granlund - Setoguchi
- Cullen - Brodziak - Clutterbuck
- Bouchard - Konopka - Rupp
- Suter - Brodin
- Stoner - Gilbert
- Falk - Prosser
- Backstrom
The Wild's second line is probably a lot more famous than it is effective. Mikael Granlund made hay in Finland the last couple years and is generally considered a high level prospect, but he has been beat up so far in the early going of his NHL career. Granlund's possession numbers are terrible (worst on the team in fact) and he has just 3 points in 10 games played and 14 shots on net. He's a guy finding his legs and shouldn't be in a top-6 position at this point in his career.
Dany Heatley's fall from grace is well established at this point. He's a guy you don't want firing on your goalie from the slot, but the rest of his game has fallen away over the years. Devin Setoguchi has the second worst possession rate on the team ahead of only the aforemention Granlund, which is not unsual for the erstwhile Shark. I suspect it's part of the reason San Jose had no problem moving him.
The Wild's other roster holes are obvious on their back-end. Suter is paired with rookie Jonas Brodin on the first pairing. Brodin is another pretty decent looking prospect, but again he's hardly being delpoyed in ideal fashion, assuming the Wild want to win more than a few games this year.
Also, I don't know what PM Bouchard is doing on a 4th line with two ruffians.
Sum It Up
Minnesota remains a flawed club despite their Wild (pun!) spending this past off-season. They have a first line the Flames need to be concerned with and few other decent pieces peppered throughout their line-up, otherwise it's rookies and liabilities all the way down. At some point all of this may coalesce into a contender, but it won't be this season for sure.
That said, they could be a club battling for that final playoff position in the West come game 48, which is probably where the Flames will find themselves as well. If Calgary intends to make the dance, then Minnesota is a key team to grab points from.
TIlted Kilt Ticket Giveaway
Good News Everyone! The Tilted Kilt is giving away two tickets to a lucky patron this evening. Simply stop by before the game and you could win the chance to walk down the street and watch the action at the dome as well.
Otherwise you could just stick around TK and enjoy the game on their various big screens. Win-win!
This one is a sleeper. Both teams playing for OT at this point.
I'm with you Clyde. They have some nice pieces as it is. Neither iggy nor kipper are difference makers. Lets hope a couple GMs out there don't know that and move them, as painful as it is to see. They could have an accelerated rebuild.
Instead of goal we have bad penalty call. Oh my
God damn you, Tangs. You've been terrible tonight.
Iginla looks very slow and unsure tonight. Even on the power play he moves into traffic along the wall.
Will our 4th line ever get one?
Anyone keeping track of how many posts the flames have hit this year? Two more tonight....yeesh.
This keeps up, and I'm just gonna make sh!t up for the Post game.
Flames are in double digits by now. For hit posts I mean.
Three chances between the two teams in the third here.
I don't think either club has made 3 consecutive passes in this game.
2-1 Calgary Kent? [Scoring chances]
Oh no. Not the shoot-out.
Chances were 1-0 Flames in OT. MIN got one chance in the final 65 minutes of the game. They're terrible.
The Irving kudos are a little overwrought in this game. He was fine, but he faced all of 8 scoring chances all night.
you mean 45 minutes?
Solid game by Irving tonight, and he was positionally sound all game. I'm so bored, I really just want this to end, but I'd like for Irving to pick up the W.
Blair Jones??
Kent, if Minny is terrible, what are the Flames?
bugger me. what a brutal game. and to miss the 2 pts hurts that much more.
Blair Jones was definitely a surprise, Hudler has been a stud and a beast for the Flames.
That sucks.
Flames were kind of the better team through the second half of the game, but not to any meaningful degree.
Chances were 10-8 for Flames.
@Clyde
Mediocre with significant injuries.
Was there anyone who though maybe, just maybe! Alias, no.
No Kent, we are as PJ Stock said possibly the worst team in the NHL. Detroit has significant injuries, we are missing giys who would make us mediocre. Time to admit that, make some moves and rebuild.
I have 10-7 by your period counts Kent??
If there wasn't a book yet on Irving in the shootout, Parise and Koivu just wrote it. I figured the guy couldn't be much worse than Kipper.
Those were a couple big league moves, but yeesh.
The Flames are now at 3-4-3, if 56 points is the cut off they would need to go like 23-14-1 the rest of the way.
Blair jones. Really?
Tough one tonight. By my count, I see the Flames being outplayed dramatically in two games this year. A three game win streak would be nice.
Go Flames!
Why did we acquire skill like Cervenka that might help the shoot out only to use....... Blair Jones?
10-8 I think.
Did you JUST start paying attention to the Flames? Sutter absolutely handcuffed any GM who might follow him. Feaster dealt with that well, has drafted well (as far as we can tell to this point), and has made good trades/signings aside from the occasional minor gaffe (like trading for Byron).
@clyde: Minnesota has always been overrated to some degree. They got Heatley and Setogouchi and people thought they were clearly contenders. They drafted Granlund, and they were clearly contenders. They signed Parise and Suter, and they were clearly contenders. And yet, season after season, they get consistently outshot and outscored, and end up at the bottom end of the NHL's middle class. Parise, Suter, Bouchard, and Koivu ARE all 28, and when you're 28 you don't get better at hockey as an NHLer. If they can't carry the team this season, there's little to suspect that they're going to suddenly start doing it in future.
PJ Stock doesn't know his ass from his elbow.
Im not against discussing a rebuild for the Flames, but they aren't the worst team in the league.
I was so hoping the flames would turn it around I think they are moving in the right direction but I think thats the season right there. Hopefully the lottery balls will be kind.
@Kent re: Flames: By shots for/against, they look like they're better than mediocre so far.
Positionally sound all game.*
except when he wasn't in his net when they scored their only goal.
I know the rebuild camp gains steam after every loss, but it's still possible to retool a team without completely tanking or giving up all your useful assets.
A full scale rebuild is a total drag. Ask Edmontonians what they've been watching the past three years while waiting for their picks. It's not like the Oilers are that much fun to watch this year, either.
Feaster's done an okay job. But people won't think there's an actual rebuild happening until Iggy's dealt or leaves.
What do you honestly think the Flames could get for Iggy in a trade? Not much as he is showing his age and he is the last year of his contract. Probably a draft pick and it wouldn't be a first round pick.
As for Kipper, assuming his injury isn't too bad, you might be able to get a first round pick. Maybe to a team like Columbus who have three first round picks in the upcoming draft. Kipper has one year left on his contract after this but I really wonder if he will play in the NHL next year. He has one of those back diving contracts. Do you think he will play next year for a $1 million salary?
I understand Uncle Feaster took over a team with issues but he has delayed making some trades that had the opportunity for the greatest potential return (Iggy and Kipper). Now, the Flames won't get much for those players and by delaying until now, it has the potential to slow any rebuild for a few years. That is my greatest complaint about what the Flames have done.
They could have transitioned more with Feaster when he came aboard but he didn't make some of the bold moves to ensure a bright future for the team in the near term.
@sadflamesfan
I rename you.....Eeyore!
Ha! I totally agree, PJ is a half-wit loud mouth.
One thing about Irving is he seems focused the entire game, he does the little things even when we have the puck, I think he'd grow into a decent backup but he's a little short so he'd have to watch his shoulder.
Is it sad that our fourth line seemed to create most of the chances in the first?
The D seemed to be breaking up plays and getting their sticks in lanes but at the same time Min are terrible.
Jones and Hudler were putting in the effort at least.
What was with those bizarre line combos tonight? Bob was trying any and everything.
Enough rambling, that was one boring game...
Lots of guys have started out slow, Ovi, Perry, Kessel, etc. I agree he's getting old and has lost a step though.
Feaster has to be handcuffed by ownership, I'm almost certain. Remember Sutter and Ollie? Big moves aren't always the right moves.
Blech.
Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. And you're living it, big time.
@Kent: Could not agree more I am wearing out my mute button this season watching Hockey Night in Canada. PJ Stock honestly makes Kelly Hrudey look/sound like a genius!!! Kevin Weeks has also somehow gone from being unable to get out a complete sentence to being the voice of reason on that panel in a season. PJ Stock has never even watched a Flames game he is clearly drunk by 10pm eastern every Saturday night.
The Flames need to spend a practice or two learning how to bury rebounds out front. Honestly just shooting it back into the goaltenders pads isn't working!! ROOF THE DAMN PUCK ALREADY!!!! Why is our only option to score looking to go five-hole....The Flames could have 20 scoring chances a game they still would finish off none of those chances!!!
What has happened to Glencross the past couple??? Hartley should put Stempniak with Iggy & Tangs until Curtis can get out of this funk.
On a side note... What has happened to Dany Heatley... He is a shell of the player he used to be, his 7 Million cap hit will ensure that Minnesota continues to be average. Apparently $33.73 million only gets you Parise, Heatley, Bouchard, Setoguchi, Suter and Gilbert these day in Minnesota... Wow.
PJ Stock? If you have a point, why defeat it by using PJ Stock as your support. I think you'd have trouble finding anybody who actually watches hockey that thinks PJ Stock is anything more than a complete idiot.
That was @clYDE.
And oh yeah, PJ Stock predicted Edmonton to win the west in 2009. He saw big things on the horizon for that team.