A Case of the Mondays: No News Is...Bad News?
by Hayley on May 10, 2010 11:44 AM PDT
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It's been almost exactly a month since the Flames' season ended, and aside from the Bryan Cameron signing, there has been nothing to report from within the confines of the Pengrowth Saddledome. There have been persistent rumours of pending trades, firings and hirings--but nothing substantial, nothing worth elaborating on. This lack of news has led most to believe that the no changes will be made; the jobs of various individuals are safe, and things within the organization will remain status quo. Of course, it took until the end of May last season for Flames management to complete their annual end-of-season review and cut Keenan and Co. loose, but that was after six games of playoff hockey. After a season as disappointing as this one, even after having had four full weeks to mull over it all, Flames fans are impatient. Desperate for the slightest indication that things are moving in the right direction, or any direction at all, for that matter; searching for a sign of what this long off season holds. Since no such sign has arrived as of yet, the speculation will only continue and likely intensify the longer we go without any sort of announcement. There is only so much reflection we can do on the season that was; I have draft and free agency coverage planned for next month and as it happens, but that is still a ways away, so I'd like to take this opportunity to ask you for your input: what would you like to see at M&G over the course of the summer? More weekly features? More statistical analysis? More of my pathetic attempts at being funny? Let's hear it!
Links after the jump.
The Heat are facing elimination tonight after Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Bulldogs put them down 3-2 in the series. T.J. Brodie and Bryan Cameron did not suit up for Abbotsford after joining the team late last week, and there is no word on whether or not they will be in the lineup tonight. Staffan Kronwall is a game time decision after succumbing to an injury earlier in the series, so whether or not Brodie plays will likely depend on his status [Abbotsford Heat]
Craig Conroy doing what he does best, talking. A lot. [Dome Beers]
Remembering George Pelawa [Calgary Herald]
Steve Yzerman: Will he stay or will he go? And what of Nick Lidstrom's future? [Detroit Free Press]
A eulogy for the Detroit Red Wings who were eliminated from the playoffs in five games by the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night [Puck Daddy/Second City Hockey]
The Predator's efforts to provide flood relief in Nashville [On The Forecheck]
Twelve teams are raising their ticket prices for next season, will the Flames be one of them? [CBC Hotstove]
What have this year's playoffs done for the reputations of certain free agents? [Puck Daddy]
Ten things the folks at MHH hate about the 2009-10 Avalanche [Mile High Hockey]
Did the Leafs pass on Bobby Orr? [PPP]
Orr scored this famous Cup-winning goal fourty years ago today, as a statue depicting the moment was unveiled outside of TD Garden in Boston today [YouTube] [Stanley Cup of Chowder] Also, an interview with the sculptor.
The most recent "History Will Be Made" parody ad, this time at the expense of Sami Salo after he took a puck to the groin in yesterday's game, resulting in a trip to the hospital for what was widely speculated to be a "ruptured testicle." Nick Lidstrom suffered a similar injury in last year's playoffs that actually required surgery, after being speared in the groin by Patrick Sharp in the Western Conference finals.
Bob Cole: Yay or Nay? [The Star]
Can Roberto Luongo still be considered one of the top goalies in the league? [The Toronto Sun]
Have the Habs finally reached the end of their rope with Sergei Kostitsyn? [Montreal Gazette]
Canada is currently leading Latvia 1-0 on a goal from John Tavares in the preliminary stages of World Championship play. Ryan Smyth is out of the lineup with a foot/ankle injury. The game can be seen on TSN and is also streaming live on their website.
Tonight's Playoff Schedule:
The Flyers and Habs both face elimination from the post season tonight, let's see who can avoid the inevitable
Philadelphia at Boston (BOS leads 3-1, 5PM MT & 7ET on TSN)
Pittsburgh at Montreal (PIT leads 3-2, 5PM MT & 7ET on CBC)
Abbotsford at Hamilton (HAM leads 3-2, 5:30MT & 4:30PT)
Enjoy tonight's games and have a good week!
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Domebeers linkage? Bless your heart.
I love it Dome Beers too, and you did it, and I didn’t even ask you too. Awesome.
Ok, so the crew is at the Hitmen game. Kens Kings face gets put up on the Jumbotron. What is the crowds reaction? Rather muted, I think. I know I cheered, because I was the only guy cheering in my section (122, if I wasn’t there what would you have done?) and I like Mr King (unrelated, but I emailed Ken King several years ago about instituting a retro night, and guess what? I got 2 tickets to see any game I wanted, an email back from Mr King, and Flamesfans now have a retro night. Your welcome).
So take it for what you will, but they still are showing him on the Jumbotron when they need some applause.
Here’s a question for everyone to mull over.
Is Roberto Luongo overrated?
Wheaties and Hitmen.......... The Dub rules over Canada.
Go Heat Go. THE CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS!!! THE FINEST ACTION AROUND.
It’s hard to say. In a perfect world, goaltending would be solely dependent on individual ability, but since it’s not, you can make a case for just about every goalie being overrated.
My personal opinion of Luongo is skewed since I’m a Flames fan, but I’ve never really felt confident with him in net for Team Canada.
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
I compare him to a light switch.
When he’s on, he’s the best in the world as the media loves to say but then their are those nights where he can’t get it going at all.
I guess that’s the type of world all goalies live in these days.
Wheaties and Hitmen.......... The Dub rules over Canada.
Go Heat Go. THE CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS!!! THE FINEST ACTION AROUND.
I’d say his swings are worse than a lot of goalies, though.
by SmellOfVictory on May 10, 2010 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Luongo is a diva and a douche, but his ability to tend nets is tops or near tops in the league IMO.
How long that lasts… who knows. But almost surely not as long as his contract, I think VAN will get screwed there. But right now he’s a terrific goalie, getting shelled for 7 and 5 in two consecutive elimination games… it’s highly entertaining but mostly just bad luck against terrific shooters.
Abby eliminated.
Boo. Probably for the best though, I’ve become way too emotionally invested in the Flames’ farm team.
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
Hold up...you're telling me Daz hasn't been fired yet?
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Go Habs
Look what a small team that wasn’t supposed to win that has heart (and Cammy) has done to the league’s supposed juggernauts. All I asked for in the last 5 seasons is one series win. Just a series win. Yet somehow Daz still has a job. Because this season wasn’t an epic failure by any means. I just don’t get the ownership group and the fact they are blinded by Daz and his bullshit. I wonder what they all think about the Canadiens right now.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Is heart a euphemism for Halak?
It better be. Look, it’s not like this sort of stuff can’t happen in a short series, because it can, and it does. That noted, looking wistfully at a team that’s been out-played the overwhelming majority of the time in the first two rounds seems a bit off, at least to me. Being out-shot 27-37 a night over 13 games suggests your team isn’t really playing very well, and Olivier has them being out-chanced by a fair number over at his place. They might keep winning because Halak has been terrific, but I am mindful that Montreal would have finished 12th in the West, so the fact that they’re even in the mix is largely due to good fortune.
As for keeping Cammalleri over Joker, well, that’s another matter entirely.
by Robert Cleave on May 11, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Case for the status quo
Montreal’s ( and Boston’s) success can be used as argument for the Flames to maintain the status quo. It will be argued that once you are in to the playoffs anything can happen if you have a hot goalie. I am not if favour of that, I think it is too much left to chance. The Flames ( circa mid 90’s) but we have been on the other end too, finishing in the top half only to lose in the first round. One can only wonder how Washington, New Jersey and Buffalo fans feel about what their team needs/direction are this offseason
I think that it is still possible for a GM change – the holdup would be to announce a replacement at the same time as a dismissal. In fact, it wouldn’t be a firing; a reassignment of duties. The replacement may not have been available. Now that Detroit is out however……this Friday’s presser could be : Welcome Jim Nill !
And here you thought I was going to say Stevie Y. Frankly I’d rather have Jim; he was rumoured to be the guy when Craig Button was hired 8 or 9 years ago, he’s got way more expereience – more than Daz even.
by PrairieStew on May 11, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree. There’s no doubt that Montreal has shown resilience in the playoffs, but lets be honest – it’s been all about Halak and Cammy. You could argue that much of the Flames run in ’04 was all about Kipper (and, to a lesser extent, Iggy and Tanguay).
Well, yes. It should be clear as day to everyone now that fortune was the greatest contributor to the Flames run to the finals.
I wonder if Sutter would still have his job now if the Canucks had scored in OT in game 7 that year?
Well, yes. It should be clear as day to everyone now that fortune was the greatest contributor to the Flames run to the finals.
You’d be surprised just how much of it was due to Iggy’s leadership, a quality he no longer possesses.
- MSM mouthpiece
Maybe the dressing room chemistry was much better……………
by Kent Wilson on May 12, 2010 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Fire up the Canuck eulogy.
I will love reading that one.
Wheaties and Hitmen.......... The Dub rules over Canada.
.
Hear hear. I especially liked the Canucks faithful jeering Luongo in the 3rd period after they had been “LUUUING” him a few minutes earlier.
A great day for Flames fans everywhere! Loved that, and the best part is he’s not even holding himself accountable for his performance.
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
I look forward to writing the eulogy, but it might take a little while to make it extra funny.
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
It’s a great day for Canada. I don’t mean to go all Don Cherry but the Canucks might play the least Canadian-style game in the league.
I mean if Burrows and Samuelsson (who is a world class pussy, pardon my French) never take advantage of another opportunity to dive, it’ll be too soon. Luongo is the biggest drama-queen to grace the nets of the NW division since Roloson played for EDM. It’s funny that they were seriously considering scratching a Canuck for a testicular injury, I mean if I suffered Salo’s injury I’d probably still have more balls than that sad-sack squad.
And to boot, the “H. Sedin for Hart” chant is seriously pissing me off. If VAN fans talking Hart talk were even half-way intelligent then it would either be “Kesler for Hart” or “both Sedins split the Hart, they are identical fucking twins after all”.
So fuck em all, forever.
I think I found my eulogy co-writer
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
There will be gratuitous Laser Douche references.
Matchsticks and Gasoline
Go Hitmen, Heat, and whoever's playing the Canucks
Mikael Samuelsson 74GP 30G 23A 53Pts +10
Alexandre Burrows 82GP 35G 32A 67Pts +34
More pussies on the Flames please.
Holy shit! Production well beyond career norms, driven largely by unsustainable shooting%, cushy icetime and superior linemates!
If I hadn’t heard this story a million bajillion times already then I’d be interested.
Talk about hearing it enough or captain obvious…every time someone on another team has a good season you rip into ways that anybody and his mother could have done the same. On the flip side, when a person has a down year you amazingly tell that anyone intelligent could have seen that coming. Are you psychic?
By the way…both those guys had pretty good seasons last year as well and one of them wasn’t on the same team. But I guess that other team is too good as well so we have to throw that out.
The stats are on NHL.com in case you want to look it up.
Samuelsson 07/08:
EV Pts/60 1.66, on the back of a 7.6 EVSH%
PP Pts/60 3.18, on the back of a 10.7 PPSH%
Samuelsson 08/09:
EV Pts/60 1.20, on the back of a 6.4 EVSH%
PP Pts/60 5.02, on the back of a 12.5 PPSH%
Both years, icetime at EV looks cushy, as it would in Detroit. He played a regular shift at 5on5 and we know Detroit, they have Zetterberg and Datsyuk facing the top lines regularly. QUALCOMP suggests he played minutes other than these tough ones, although it’s not to be fully trusted unless we watch the games. I have, I’ve seen Samuelsson take a shift with Zetterberg but I don’t know if that’s a regular occurrence. If he did, he had fuckin’ Zetterberg with him, so it’s not like it’s the most grueling gig in the world. And it looks like he played on the second PP unit.
Samuelsson 08/09:
EV Pts/60 2.18, on the back of a 9.7 EVSH%
PP Pts/60 3.34, on the back of a 16.5 PPSH%
He got more EV and PP icetime (about a minute and half a minute more per game respectively) He didn’t get the Sedin treatment (i.e. no through-the-roof offensive zone opps). But hey, will you look at that, he made opposing goaltenders look like 08/09 Kiprusoff at even strength! Despite making them look like Hasek/Hasek-lite the previous two years. He got some icetime later in the season with the Sedins and they’re combined natural abilities + ass-horseshoeing streak benefited Samuelsson somewhat, and the rest of the time he played with VAN’s less offensive forwards, so a big chunk of his EVPts/60 and EVSH% upticks were probably handed to him at the caprice of the Hockey Gods. The part of his increase in production that he owned probably lies somewhere between “not a lot” and “not a whole hell of a lot”.
Or maybe you can come up with an alternative explanation. I’d suggest something a little off the board, maybe he is the third Sedin twin we’ve all heard about.
On Burrows: do we really need to write and rewrite this terribly boring story over and over? Production as a linemate of the Sedins =/= actual natural ability to produce.
I realize that these concepts of “context of icetime” and “non-persistence of variations in finishing ability” are just fictional concepts, I mean psh is there really any coach who is stupid enough to distribute his icetime amongst his players differently depending on how he wants their results to turn out? And this concept of luck, well forget that, it doesn’t sell papers.
You know who else shares these opinions? The wonderful people at Calgary Puck. Or you can call in on the FAN, they’ll gladly welcome your counting stat lines, some of those broadcasters can’t even competently use NHL.com it seems, so you’d be doing them a service.
You should go there, and not here.
How the coach WANTS the results to turn out? Really? You think a coach goes into a year and picks a player out of a hat and says “you will have a good year. I choose you”? Talk about la la land. This is called good coaching. Do you think that anyone here in Flames land (besides you) would care if Butter put good players on cherry minutes to score if we were winning?
Just because these guys may not do the same thing in other situations doesn’t change the facts that a)They are scoring b) They are contributing to winning games. WHO CARES if the person is put in with good players or in good situations when winning? It’s a ridiculous argument. Should the Canucks coach put the same guys in other situations where they don’t score or contribute in the best way simply because it looks better and is more of a indication of their REAL talent?
By the way, what is a large enough sample size to measure if someone is a “real” talent or contributor? Half a season, one season, 10?
Perhaps people who don’t like what anyone has to add need to go to new websites as well. Like the contrarian.com or whatever_anyone_else_says_I_will_bash.ca
How the coach WANTS the results to turn out? Really? You think a coach goes into a year and picks a player out of a hat and says "you will have a good year. I choose you"? Talk about la la land. This is called good coaching. Do you think that anyone here in Flames land (besides you) would care if Butter put good players on cherry minutes to score if we were winning?
Yeah, I’m pretty sure coaches go into a year, look at their weak or incomplete players, and say something to the tune of “I can’t have you being outscored by double-digits this year, that would hurt us, so I will give you easier minutes that you can manage”. And likewise, for their complete players, “I need you to play these tougher minutes even though it will hurt your results, because everyone else on the team will hurt us more with your results”.
I think it’s clear that you don’t even understand this basic concept of context of icetime. How it’s important to have good players playing and succeeding in tough minutes so that there are actually easier minutes to give to your bad players.
And obviously, I don’t give two shits about bad players, who does? I mean who would constantly obsess over how good the sub-par players on their team are, that’s just insane and inane. You can go on dreaming about how they score without helping us win while looking good in their jeans, the rest of us will go on thinking about the players on whose shoulders the games are won and lost.
At this point, it’s not really worth it for me to debate with you anymore, it’s clear that we’re not even speaking the same language let alone having the same conversation.
The fine folks at HFBoards and Calgary Puck, to them hockey is played out exactly like the video games, points points points! You should really go there and endlessly discuss exactly how one line of counting stats defines entire seasons for players. I don’t really care, just leave that worthless analysis off this board please and thank you.
Daz should have rolled the dice on Samuelsson.
Wheaties and Hitmen.......... The Dub rules over Canada.
See, if you really wanted to impress, then you should have said this last off-season (and backed it up with money to show that you’re really serious), and then have the courage of your convictions and proclaim (with backing of money) that he will sustain this level of production and that Darryl (who started this “Daz” thing?) was a fool to pass him up at $2.5M x 3.
As it stands I’m not impressed. I can look up players on NHL.com who’ve scored a ton for their teams too.
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