A Closer Look at Ales Kotalik
by Kent Wilson on Feb 2, 2010 11:58 AM PST
222 comments
With the fireworks ending, it's time to take a calm and sober look at the player the Flames may be stuck with for the next couple of seasons. He hasn't always been a veritable pariah in league circles and has managed to stick around for some 490 games. He's an NHLer, one who has scored 20+ goals four times in an eight year career. So surely there's something to like about him?
The positives:
Kotalik is big, for those who care about such things. He has a cannon of a shot and is a guy who has managed to score a bunch on the power play the last few seasons. He's also fairly dependable in the shoot-out, which, admittedly is a (limited) skill the Flames could use. Tyler Dellow argues that Kotalik could have some utility as a shoot-out specialist. Of course, he qualifies his argument with: a guy like Kotalik, as long as he can play on the fourth line at a replacement level and maintain his shootout performance, he’s a useful player.
Somehow, I doubt we'll see Ales on the 4th line.
The negatives:
He's a middling player at even strength. At best. His production rate at 5-on-5 has hovered around the typical 3rd liner mark of 1-1.5 ESP/60 the last few years. And that's playing against other third liners. Kotalik has to be sheltered to break-even, to say nothing of outscoring the bad guys. There's a reason his career plus/minus rating is -44. He's also a guy you don't want on the ice for own-zone draws. He's basically Todd Bertuzzi, except with a bigger shot, less silly back-hand passes and a more expensive salary.
Which brings us to the biggest negative of all: Kotalik's contract. While $3M/year for two more seasons isn't a giant albatross, it nonetheless represents a very poor bet to provide value. No one knows why Sather signed Kotalik to such a favorable deal and now, less than a year later, no one knows why Darryl Sutter would agree to acquire it.
One (extremely thin) silver lining I can point to is the fact that Kotalik's poor numbers this year have been goosed by some outrageously bad percentages: 5.34 on-ice SH% + 88.4% (!) on-ice SV% = PDO of 93.8. For those unfamiliar with this stat, it's been shown that a players PDO (combined on-ice SV% and SH%) inevitably regresses towards the league mean of 100. Anything 3% above or below 100 is in line for a correction down the road. The further away you get from the mean, the worse the players "luck" has been. So we can probably say that Ales was run out of New York thanks to a combination of his deficiencies as a player plus apathetic hockey gods.
That's all the positive spin I can muster. My enduring hope is that this acquisition is extremely short term and an entree to something more appealing. Otherwise I predict a lot of healthy scratches in Ales' future.
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Courtesy of Boomer...
Ales Kotalik’s flight out of NYC cancelled. Coincidence, or something cooking?
Maybe the traffic controller is a Flames fan.
Go Flames Go
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
Higgins is supposedly going to be on the Fan soon if I caught that right?
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
well than what the heck
was the flight cancelled from the airline or did he just not get on the plane?
by canadiancolts on Feb 2, 2010 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
We don’t know. Hopefully he just didn’t get on.
Go Flames Go
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
He was with the team when he was traded, so wherever he was (not NY) is where he flew in from.
Go Flames Go
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
Honestly
I would not be surprised at anything here, we have a classic clusterfuck happening.
So trying to be positive in the other thread I wrote:
1. Ian White covers Dion’s EV minutes + whatever else he brings (even if that’s very little)
Ales Kotalik covers Dion’s PP presence + what ever else he brings (even if that’s 0)
We save 2.5 million today, and 1-2 million going forward. until the end of Kotaliks contract (which is shorter than Phaneuf’s term)
The others are to cover Joker +Prust + Sjo… which you can read about over at the psot game.
I watched a bunch of Kotalik video and the guy has hands and a super heavy shot with a quick release, kinda like Hull. Those are things Joker didn’t have. But apparently he’s lazy as all hell,
That’s all I got for optimism.
I think that’s just the flight. No big deal. He’ll be on another one, I’m sure, in 3 hours (prove me wrong…prove me wrong)
I hate it when reality stomps on my dreams.
Go Flames Go
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:31 PM PST up reply actions
Does anyone have a connection
With an airline? Perhaps we could find out.
by canadiancolts on Feb 2, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe they could just shut down Newark, Laguardia and JFK? For, like, a week?
Go Flames Go
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
why stop there?
maybe he can stay in the departures lounge for the next 2+ seasons
So...
I have a Dion jersey and I am going to the game tomorrow night. What should I do?
1. Wear it
2. Put white stick tape over Phaneuf and write White in black marker
3. Put a no sign through it
4. Open to other options
White stick tape below the 3, in black marker: “I GO TO TORONTO”
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 12:37 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Also it is signed
Oddly enough in white marker on the number 3 on the back
by canadiancolts on Feb 2, 2010 12:37 PM PST up reply actions
Home or Away (blue or white)
Also it is a Manning so it has 18 on it I could put tape on it that says “Stajan Cool”
by canadiancolts on Feb 2, 2010 12:40 PM PST up reply actions
Can’t you get the Phaneuf removed and have White put on it?
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
The ones that don’t cost insane amounts of money?
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 12:44 PM PST up reply actions
Bob McK Tweet
TSNBobMcKenzie
Kotalik is trying to get to Calgary but can’t connect through another Canadian city because of immigration paperwork awaiting him in Cgy.
I still don’t see places for Conroy, Dawes and Moss unless that ends up being. McGrattan, Mayers, Lundmark getting put up stairs plus with Backlund up there too.
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
Yeah, I imagine the lines will shake up like this:
Kotalik-Stajan-Iginla
Hagman-Lanks-RBQ
GlenX-Boyd-Moss
Nystrom-Conroy-Mayers
McG
Lundmark, Backlund go back to Abby, Dawes is injured/on injury rotation…. or someone is dealt for a backup.
Actually out of all the new Flames I thought Hagman was arguably the best, Great speed and had a good chance in the 3rd.
I expect a much better effort tomorrow especially against the Canes which I’m still trying to find out why they’re playing so badly.
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
Well Damn,
Maybe it’s more like this:
Hagman – Stajan – Iggy
Higgins – Lanks – RBQ
GlenX – Boyd – Kotalik
Nystrom – Lundmark – Mayers
McG
until Moss, Connie, Dawes are not injured. Then it’s the speculation.
That may be it. cause if Dawes/Moss are gone for a long term. You’ve got Higgins who plays LW/C. Connie can be a presser….so… maybe we don’t have THAT much uncertainty.
Other than the contract. Kotalik on the 3rd line wing ain’t bad. And for this year….the pay between RBQ and Ales works out (it’s just flipped)
Daz on the Fan in 5.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
[in mumbles]: “plain and simple, it’s a hockey move”
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
did he really say that? i have to blast the audio in my office just to barely here what the guy is saying…so i opted to listen to the mumbles at a later time…
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
This is not the post I wanted to see when I checked in on my lunch break. I wanted to see “Flames flip Kotalik, [someone else], and [another guy] for [someone who is better than Kotalik, or at least a better contract].” Drats!
Perhaps not the post we wanted but from the title i was worried that a picture of Kotalik had been found without the towel
by Napoleon Wigglesworth III on Feb 2, 2010 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
Kotalik is an outside, finesse player with an OK shot — if he’s got time to get it off, as he does on the shootout — not much on defence, but not so bad as some.
Don’t count on him to screen goalie, or go to net. Tomas Holmstrom, he ain’t.
At least, that was my take on him in his 19 games with Oilers. I was glad he left when I heard the dollars being mentioned. He’s not terrible, but that’s a big contract.
by David Staples @ The Cult of Hockey on Feb 2, 2010 1:21 PM PST reply actions
Then if it’s not Kotalik that leaves who is it? Boyd?, Healthy Moss?, Backlund but Darryl is in love with him.
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
from scott cruickshank
Even though RW Ales Kotalik (who’ll wear No. 26) will arrive later tonight — his direct flight out of Newark, N.J. was cancelled, thereby forcing him to miss Tuesday afternoon’s practice — here is the more recent look for your Flames.
- Hagman-Stajan-Iginla
- Higgins (No. 21)-Langkow-Kotalik
- Boyd-Backlund-Bourque
- Glencross-Nystrom-Mayers
- Lundmark-McGrattan
- Scott Cruickshank
Splitting up RBQ and Lanks this can’t happen, Please be only practice lines.
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
Throw everyones name in a hat and BOOM you’ve got lines.
"KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE!"
by MillertimeinSK on Feb 2, 2010 1:36 PM PST up reply actions
Sutter on Leafs Lunch
He mentioned Backlund is still going to play and not going to be sent down anytime soon. Moss hasn’t earned any spot. Conroy is done for the year. He will stay on the IR. Still gotta move 2 guys by the looks of it.
"KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE!"
never caught anything on Dawes. Not much of an interview. Lot of rhetoric and left it open to some more moves
"KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE!"
by MillertimeinSK on Feb 2, 2010 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
Taling about Kotalik and Higgins on the fan960
Apparently Higgins was good, just didn’t get the numbers. Played well in all ways though. “He’s a legitimate young NHL’s”
Kotalik “fell out of favour” was good early and then……wah wah.
Kotalik is a “tremendous guy”
Good to hear that Higgins didn’t play Center in NYC. Fu*k
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
Looking for tiny positives. There were always rumors (which I don’t really put much stock in) that Dion and Joker were bad in the room. If Kotalik hated the coach…maybe the room is cleaned up and that’s even a tiny silver lining???
I’m stretching more than Kip’s here, but….damn. I’m ready to write off the season at this point.
If Higgins were signed for two more years at 2.25 and Kotalik was a UFA @ 3, this situation would make more sense.
Kotalik can fuck off to the KHL and Higgins can put the Yale education to some use and shut er down after the season. Our new GM can hunt for some legit players in the offseason.
"KEEP YOUR STICK ON THE ICE!"
by MillertimeinSK on Feb 2, 2010 1:40 PM PST up reply actions
Darryl mentioned that Lindy Ruff & Darcy Regier both liked Kotalik, but that the $ amount was the issue.
I’m starting to think that there is no bigger trade coming. Daz may not be done, but if they’re saying Connie is out for the season as per ^, and Dawes or Moss are LTIR, then it’s likely nothing is going to happen in the next 7 days.
Daz sounds high on Higgins.
And I really don’t think another trade is necessary and it could be really detrimental to the team. Give the current team the two weeks leading up to the Olympics to mesh then if Daz doesn’t feel like it will work.
March 3rd could be decision day but if anything a deal will take place but I don’t think it will be a major one.
Somebody needs to turn down the heat in the Darryl Sutter's home.
he sounds high on every player he acquires.
I think you’re right though, this could just be cutting out perceived cancers and filling holes.
I’m moving onto stage 5 – Optimism. I didn’t like the trades, and I don’t but I didn’t like winning only 3 times in the last 16 in reg time and 4 total.
We were free falling out of the playoffs. This could be worse, but it’s the same result. We’ve got more money and more flexibility…so there we have it. Most people hated Joker and Dion.
I’d have preferred the greater amount of money afforded by Joker, though. Sometimes having a pending UFA or two on the team feels so good, and replacing almost half their salary with someone who is unlikely to perform to expectations for the next two years just irks me.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 2:26 PM PST up reply actions
Killer…good? Not by my eye, and I like Boyd. Backlund had a nice couple of nights, but he’s half-baked. A real NHL third line, say the one in CHI, will crush them like bugs.
Oh, c’mon… it’s Chicago. Their third line is about as good as any other teams 2nd line, is paid like a 2nd line and will likely be traded away to make room for the extensions. Compare them to a normal team that doesn’t have two superstars on entry level deals.
Okay. I think the Flames third line from most of the season (Conroy-Glencross-Moss) would beat up on their current (hypothetical) third line.
Well, the difference is Backlund isn’t an NHL player yet. The other three are, even if Moss wasn’t quite up to snuff this year.
I dunno man, leaving aside that the GlenX – Connie – Mosser line hasn’t really been together this year (Injuries and spot top 6 duty) I wouldn’t say that with so much confidence. Moss has struggled this year as has Conroy (just ol’ father time in his case I think) and this 3rd line has Bourque on it.
Regardless I like watching Boyd & Backlund on the same line. For a brief moment it allows me to have the “Think of the future!” thing that most struggling teams have before I have to remind myself that our prospect cupboard is thinner then a strippers work attire.
personally, i like the 3Bs line better than conroy – moss – glenX. all three had a pretty rough go this season and the 3Bs are flying. PLUS any hesitation defensively with mickis should be eased by the abilities of the other two. honestly ? they looked good in practice. plus it makes our fourth line awesome again.
by walkinvisible on Feb 2, 2010 2:59 PM PST up reply actions
As long as it works, I see no reason for them to not stay together. But then, “reason” seems to be in short supply right now.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 3:01 PM PST up reply actions
Folks, Backlund is a 21 year old rookie who hasn’t even made a dent in the AHL this year. Dude is raw. Now, did he show well in two games? Sure, one of which was against the Edmonton Oilers and the other he played 8 minutes in a mostly 4th line role.
Kids got some skill, but there’s little chance he’s even up to replacement level yet. If he proves me wrong, god bless him, but it’s not a good bet.
And I understand that. But if it works, then why change it? He won’t be the guy that turns the season around, but if he gets a couple goals or his play helps us win, I have no problems with him staying up.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 3:23 PM PST up reply actions
currently in a third line role. could work, IMO. if he’s underwater v. the canes then he’s obviously gonna get annihilated against good teams. worth a shot.
by walkinvisible on Feb 2, 2010 3:59 PM PST up reply actions
The pun. But I wasn’t making it…it was the fan960 throwing that down. I just thought it was funny.
I totally agree with you. In fact, when I saw Backlund in the first game I thought, holy hell this guy is green, the second game was a bit better, but I’d have him in the line-up only ahead of Lundmark personally, and that would be a day to day kinda preference.
It DOES sound kind of like the vocals are saying “Kotaliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik”
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
I heard that too. I will chant that at certain points the next time I’m drunk.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 3:00 PM PST up reply actions
KOTALLLIIIKKKKKK CONNNLLLLLLLYYYYYY
Every time I hear that song from now on, thats what the words are.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
Brent Sutter...
“To be quite honest I couldn’t care less about Kotalik’s reputation. He was a good player in Buffalo. We need that here.”
My reply would be "But wasn’t Olli Jokinen a “good” player in Florida? What makes you think Kotalik will suddenly rediscover his BUF form (which wasn’t all that great anyways) here?"
Has anyone bothered to solicit an opinion from Oilers informed, stats-minded fans who watched this guy for the last bit of last 08-09? I don’t remember hearing anywhere near as much griping from that crowd as we have from Rags fans this year.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no reason to believe he’s anything stellar, but in a market like the NYRs’ there does tend to be a penchant for scapegoating. The analysis here does show that he has had truly dreadful PDO in 09-10 and let’s all remember that he gets no chance to correct those numbers when he’s sitting in the press box.
So then if he was the same in Edmonton, why was he considered “good” in Buffalo? Soft minutes? Better linemates?
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 4:58 PM PST up reply actions
Kotalik for the Oilers was not much different than most of his career stuff.
Not great 5v5, racks up points on the powerplay. Seems to have a middling corsi rate (his corsi rel in 2008 was 6.6, top20% on the Oilers (but that’s skewed by Buffalo #’s).
Doesn’t seem to have a bad SA/60, so nothing leads me to believe he’s a defensive black hole, and he’s in the higher end of SF/60. It looks to me like you can get a serviceable 12 minutes a game out of him and he is pretty level moving the puck the right way vs the wrong way.
It looks like he should get the majority of his points on the PP. I remember just the last time the Flames played the Rangers nothing of Ales Kotalik except his shot, which was a cannon, he got through often (although high) and I thought he was going to kill Kipper.
Didn’t score though. Didn’t remember him at all 5on5
In that game, he had 4 shots 4:20 PP time and a 4 minute double minor for high-sticking. He was tied for the lead on both teams for shots on goal. He finished with 17 minutes of ice, and even…the Rangers out shot the Flames 33-22 and lost 3-1.
It’s good to see all these fan pages set to music about Kotalik, at least someone liked the guy.
There were no Jokineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen, Jokineen, pages when he came over.
Oh, and judging by the number of shootout video’s he’s in on youtube, we haven’t lost anything picking him up for Joker. Both are good. One of the videos says “Kotalik is the best of the Sabres”.
Even though by my eye, he does the same move everytime, the goalies are on to him, but he still scores.
Kotalik’s reputation insofar as I’m conerned is as a bad bad hockey player.
by R O on Feb 2, 2010 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
Huge LOL @ line combs on the front page, Kent.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
Mudcrutch’s take on the Phaneuf trade:
http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3322
Eh. He and I take two different tacks on this.
He is projecting Phaneuf as a future elite D based on his prior accomplishments and how they stack up to history. Which is fair, Phaneuf has done a lot even though “incomplete” would be a pretty accurate descritpion.
My take is that Phaneuf is being paid now, and is not providing value now. His EV defence was on the upswing but I don’t believe his PP contributions were great shakes. Should break down the chances at some point although I haven’t downloaded them yet. My eye tells me Jay Bouwmeester is better now, plus Bouw has an impressive resume himself in terms of the age at which he was playing tough-minute defence.
We all need a laugh after last night.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
After 1 Flames game and 1/6 of a Leafs game, the players traded to the Leafs have scored infinity percent more points than the players traded to the Flames. :D
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 4:24 PM PST up reply actions
and won, from what i hear…. the ACC is chanting his name. hahahahah *sigh
by walkinvisible on Feb 2, 2010 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
I really think he’s going to do well with the Leafs, if only because he was traded from Calgary.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 4:23 PM PST up reply actions
I think he’ll do well with the Leafs this year but only because of favorable circumstances. The Leafs season is done, they have no hope of making the playoffs anyways so the little things like proper d-zone coverage, not standing around while a puck is hanging in front of a open net, throwing yourself out of position in order to make a hit won’t matter.
They’re going to tell him to go out there throw as many big open ice crushers as he wants (regardless of the positioning consequences), Shoot the puck as much as he wants (regardless of whether it’s the best shot), be as rough as he wants (even if it draws a penalty). He’ll do all the things that make him an exciting player but not the things that make a flashy d-man an elite d-man. When the Leafs become a competitive team (and I believe they will) and those little things start to really matter I’m confident they won’t be chanting his name. Dion Phaneaf is only a great player in the absence of expectations I believe.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 4:33 PM PST up reply actions
Quote from one of the commentators regarding Phaneuf on the point: “He rarely misses the net.” :D Must be talking about Phaneuf from two years ago.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 5:30 PM PST up reply actions
I popped in over at PPP's gamethread:
Flames fan here…
so how’re you liking your new guys?
by rich snake on Feb 2, 2010 9:22 PM AST reply actions 0 recs
.
FUCKING LOVING THEM THANK YOU VERY MUCH
by L510 on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. No complaints so far.
by clrkaitken on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
.
I WANT TO HAVE THEIR BABIES!
by Almo89 on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
.
VERY VERY MUCH
by Kavel Pubina on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. Sjostrom got a point already
by Bobby Paradise on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. shoestring is awesome
Phaneuf is pretty keen too
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. better question, how are you liking yours ;)
by Golden Gopher on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. Sjostrom has been a big surprise.
by mf37 on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
.Phaneuf Is my new favourite Leaf
by Huey2k2 on Feb 2, 2010 9:23 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
. Yeah… what everyone else said! :D
by stucky on Feb 2, 2010 9:25 PM AST up reply actions 0 recs
.
And the Leafs
up to 3-0 against New Jersey! Wow. That’s the kind of trade that energizes the team. Maybe it isn’t the players but the “system.”
Then again, this is one game. And I think Dion now has a big chip on his shoulder and will be out to show how really awesome he is.
Crazy.
Flames (27-21-8) make trade lose 3-0 vs Flyers (28-23-3)
Leafs (17-28-11) make trade win 3-0 vs Devils (35-17-2)
Makes you wonder who improved their team the most, doesn’t it?
Improvements for Toronto probably almost strictly come from the upgrade in goal. They ate into their forward depth to acquire Phaneuf and Giguere, it would not surprise me if they scored their 3 goals on less than 15 chances.
by R O on Feb 2, 2010 6:54 PM PST up reply actions
They were against Danis as opposed to Brodeur; I imagine Brodeur would’ve limited them to more like two goals out of the shots they had. That said, the Leafs played admirably, and once their forward depth is refurbished this deadline/summer (operating under the assumption that it will be) then I expect we’ll see a much more competitive team.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 7:00 PM PST up reply actions
Man, you guys are all so stuffy. I think it’s pretty amazing/funny that the three stars were:
Sjostrom
Phaneuf
Giguere
and our three stars were….well all Flyers.
Just saying that I think Burke pulled off the better trades, and, sure, it’s easier to just keep denying we may have got hosed, and that Phaneuf was a special player…so hey, who am I to judge? Whatever gets you through the night.
Phaneuf will be a great player. The main opposition is that he was being paid now for what he may be later. While I agree, I think it was a mistake to dump him 8 months to a year before he starts to fully develop.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 9:35 PM PST up reply actions
It’s one game, hardly enough to start assessing who the trade ‘favored.’ Three star selections are also favorable for the home team…no surprise that Sjostrom and Phaneuf were selected, it builds hype.
-Colin
Plus, it was Danis starting, so…
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 10:22 PM PST up reply actions
PP verse that I enjoyed too much not to share:
lock eyes from across the rink
bodies flying around as the ice skates clink
phaneuf shoots the puck at the net
lays a guy out and my balls get wet
giguere makes a save something we dont see
slides across the ice almost naturally
the leafs first score from kulemin
got an assist from his new best friend
and I
JIZZED IN MY PANTS
seriously? where did you get that? PPP?
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Whoops, I forgot a “P” in my post. Yeah, it’s from PPP. I get the distinct feeling that they have a younger fanbase on that blog than here.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 7:59 PM PST up reply actions
well they are obviously not children given the fact they jizz their pants
but man…any male who admits he jizzes his pants because of a male hockey player might be gay…just a thought…when i was 12, Cindy Crawford was in my thoughts more than Joel Otto…that’s for sure.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Haha. I don’t know, there have been a couple of goals scored in the past where I think I needed a change of underwear afterward. But you do have some good points. =D
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 8:14 PM PST up reply actions
The original version of this is actually brilliant and extremely addictive to listen to, even if a particular still from the music video is overused on message boards.
by R O on Feb 2, 2010 9:09 PM PST up reply actions
Wow…I’ll be damned…either a) Daz didn’t have the right pieces or b) Lombardi stepped his game up while Daz decided to play the Joker one last time…either way Ales Kotalik is a Flame!!!! Yipee!!!!
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
I still think this Kotalik thing might be part of a three-way with LA and Atl. I don’t think the Flames ever wanted Kovalchuk.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 8:03 PM PST up reply actions
so who do they get Whitney? Frolov? Wayne Gretzky?
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Haha I was thinking Frolov, since he’s been mentioned so often. Frolov to the Flames, Kovalchuk to LA, and 3-4 Flames to Atl (Kotalik, Moss, and a couple more).
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
Kotalik even seems like an Atl-type player. Can be offensively flashy, can’t spell the word “defense.” It goes with my impression of the team identity, anyway. And there’s almost no chance Kovalchuk is going to resign with Atl, so why not?
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 8:10 PM PST up reply actions
So I DVRed the Leafs game just to see how Dion looked in that ugly uniform…get this…the crowd cheered so loud the first time he touched the puck. I wish you could bottle up that noise for the last time he touches the puck as a Leaf cause it probably won’t be that loud. It would be really interesting to see how or if he ends his career as a Leaf. Right now those fans are on cloud 9, so I’ll let them enjoy it…its a very special moment for them.
Btw, nobody is happier than Phil Kessel and Luke Schenn these days…spotlight off of them…and on to Mr. Phaneuf who was boldly labeled the Face of the Franchise by TSN today. DIdn’t know we had such a gem on the Flames roster. Damn.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
If he really is that big a personality I can see him feeling stifled on the Flames. If Phaneuf needs to be the alpha dog, Toronto will probably give him that opportunity.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 2, 2010 8:01 PM PST up reply actions
I’m a Flames fan who lives in Toronto and I’m already sick of 24/7 Dion Phaneuf coverage. Then again, I’m pretty much just sick of 24/7 Leafs coverage in general.
Leaf fans are absolutely in love with Ron Wilson and Brian Burke this season, so anything that either of them do is instantly genius. However, the real test will be next year. If there isn’t a noticable improvement in the team, you’re going to start hearing a lot more grumbling.
its a powderkeg…and the lovefest could very well lead to it blowing up…but you’re sick of 24/7 coverage of the Leafs in Toronto…how about the absolutely biased approach TSN has taken to this whole trade…they haven’t hidden the fact they are Leafs fans these last two days, have they? and i don’t even live in canada.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
i still have faith…no way you explode a roster like this and not make the playoffs…right? hey look at it this way, daz is probably a goner if the Flames don’t make the playoffs.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
As Lawrence pointed out though we are probably going to need a pretty high winning percentage in the final third. Something like 63%. Dallas and Wings look better than us on paper (and as of tonight in the standings as well I believe).
Col doesn’t seem to be losing any momentum. Phoenix is a possibility of catching if Bryz cools even more though they just won 5 in a row. The only other team I see catching is Nashville BUT I also see the Ducks as a playoff team…
Makes me think that these moves are a complete desperate move by a GM trying to save his bacon.
Lines
Bourque-Langkow-Iginla
Hagman-Stajan-Dawes
Glencross-Boyd-Moss
Higgins-Nystrom-Kotalik
Slide Kotalik on the point for the PP
Moss/Glencross and Kotalik switch.
Go Flames Go
Where Ales Kotalik is the saviour of the franchise. Yuck.
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 2, 2010 10:02 PM PST up reply actions
In NYR news, Joker was the only Ranger in the game to garner a -2 rating, and Prust got 19 PIM (fighting, boarding, instigator, game misconduct). Sounds about right.
He had an epic fail on Kopitar’s SHG. For some reason Tortorella felt the new guy should work the point on the PP, a 5 on 4 where he used 5 forwards
So of course puck got through, Joker went to the wrong guy, and that was that.
Prust’s instigator was funny. He was past the blue line, then turned around, went almost below the faceoff dot and just started hitting the dude.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Feb 3, 2010 5:55 AM PST up reply actions
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