AHL- Apolyton Hockey League 07/08: V Blades of Glory

[Flubber]

wtf happened?? I was pretty certain I had set my team last week including through Monday-- Is there some crazy thing that unsets your team ( I have noticed that transactions can seem to undo things)

I wanted Cullen playing--- arrrggggggghghhhhhh-- I fixed it just in time to get Brunette and nabby pplaying

But I wondered if it could be a yahoo feature that I don't know about ( since my opponent has a number of skaters sitting as well).


Or maybe we both forgot---

[Asher]

If you add/drop anyone, it resets your rosters.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
If you add/drop anyone, it resets your rosters.

Well thats just stupid

[Asher]

I concur, good sir.

[notyoueither]

RCMP in Edmonton are investigating the body snatching and substitution of a professional hockey team. Authorities in California and with the FBI are cooperating with the investigation.

Coach MacTavish is being looked at for possible inside involvement after he was overheard asking if he can keep them.

[Asher]

I have to admit, the Oiler's play of late has impressed me.

Particularly Gagner in the shootouts -- he's an artist.
And Garon is surprisingly good. I think he's Edmonton's new #1 in all but name.

[Flubber]

Hmm

The Flames show they can win a game over a decent team and actually get rewarded for a dominant performance. The score of 3-1 actually flatters the Blues as the play was far more lopsided

Kipper gave up a goal on the first shot he faced but was not beaten again as the Flames surrendered very very few chances. It was the first loss for the Blues this year in a game they led at the end of the first period.

NO parades but the Flames played so well that Kipper really had no opportunity to lose it for them. But one game means nothing. What the Flames need is afew more efforts like this. . . and what would make me very very happy is if I could actually see some performances from Kipper that show that he has turned the corner

[Flubber]

Oh and tomorrow night I go to the dome to see Sidney Crosbie-- should be interesting

[Sparrowhawk]

While tomorrow I will be in Tampa Bay to watch the Hurricanes versus the Lightning. We will see if I can weather the storm

Looking forward to it, though confused as to what I should wear, it feels wrong to wear shorts to a hockey arena to me, but I have been wearing shorts and tshirts for my entire holiday, do I change because I am going to an arena with ice or is there a reason why the south has a reputation for crappy ice?

Oh well if that is my biggest dilemma I have no worries!

/me

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber
Hmm

The Flames show they can win a game over a decent team and actually get rewarded for a dominant performance. The score of 3-1 actually flatters the Blues as the play was far more lopsided

Kipper gave up a goal on the first shot he faced but was not beaten again as the Flames surrendered very very few chances. It was the first loss for the Blues this year in a game they led at the end of the first period.

NO parades but the Flames played so well that Kipper really had no opportunity to lose it for them. But one game means nothing. What the Flames need is afew more efforts like this. . . and what would make me very very happy is if I could actually see some performances from Kipper that show that he has turned the corner

That's my frustration with the Flames. They have all of the pieces, and sometimes they look elite. Then they are abysmal.

In the 2nd period last night, the Flames outshot the Blues 20-2.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher


That's my frustration with the Flames. They have all of the pieces,

I would debate that -- a proven solid backup and a good power forward are only two of the most obvious missing elements. Third and 4th line scoring continues to be abysmal and I don't think that any of Calgary's centres rank as an elite type playmaker

I mean . . . Conroy?? The guy tries hard but I just don't think he has it anymore

Originally posted by Asher


sometimes they look elite. Then they are abysmal.

In the 2nd period last night, the Flames outshot the Blues 20-2.

But despite their losing streak you must have noticed that their abysmal stretches were becoming less frequent. Its weird since the Flames won some high scoring games early in which their defense was atrocious. In some of their recent losses, Calgary actually surrendered very few good chances-- instead they would outplay a team badly but lose on two or three truly awful boneheaded plays that sprung an opponent for a good chance. Kipper might only give up 3 goals but that was all the good chances the opponent had.


I am a little more optimistic about the quality of the team's play (with the exception of Kipper) now than I was 8 games ago (when the Flames sported a much better record

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber
I would debate that -- a proven solid backup and a good power forward are only two of the most obvious missing elements. Third and 4th line scoring continues to be abysmal and I don't think that any of Calgary's centres rank as an elite type playmaker

I don't think you need a proven solid backup to win if you've got a Vezina trophy winner who is capable of playing 75+ games a year and every playoff game.

I don't think you need a "power forward" in today's NHL to be an elite team, especially if you don't consider Iginla to be a power forward. I'm curious, could you even name 10 people in the NHL that are genuine "power forwards" in today's league if Iginla is not classed as one?

I also don't think you need an "elite" playmaker. I think Langkow (when he's not concussed) and Tanguay are both great playmakers. Langkow is grossly underrated in particular. Do you need an elite playmaker? No, but it can help.

By "all the pieces", I mean a team that could be a contender. On paper, the Flames have all of the pieces. The problem is chronic underachievement more than anything else.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher

I don't think you need a proven solid backup to win if you've got a Vezina trophy winner who is capable of playing 75+ games a year and every playoff game.

I agree as long as said goalie is

1. playing up to his abilities
2. not injured

Many other teams have good solid backups that are pretty much expected to step in a do a solid job. If Kipper gets injured or flounders badly, the Flames currently just have a couple of untested young guys that might turn out great., many teams have this.

Originally posted by Asher


I don't think you need a "power forward" in today's NHL to be an elite team, especially if you don't consider Iginla to be a power forward. I'm curious, could you even name 10 people in the NHL that are genuine "power forwards" in today's league if Iginla is not classed as one?

Iggy is not -- he is a strong guy and a good scorer but I am thinking of the big guy that really hits a lot-- not necessarily a great scorere but if he chips in 20, that would be great-- I'll have to get back you with a list but Nystrom on the Flames (although smaller than what I am thinking of) is physical enough to be the type for the hitting part but he doesn't seem to excel in front of the net

THink about it-- there's a reason the Flames experimented with Phaneuf going in front of the opposition net on power play. There is no one else that does the heavy slugging in there as well

Originally posted by Asher



I also don't think you need an "elite" playmaker. I think Langkow (when he's not concussed) and Tanguay are both great playmakers. Langkow is grossly underrated in particular. Do you need an elite playmaker? No, but it can help.

MY experience is that Tanguay is excellent-- he is by far the best passer on the team and a lack of finish by Flames has robbed him of at least 15 assists where he set up people beautifully

Langkow-- decent but not exceptional IMHO-- The concussion may be part of it today but he is nowhere in Tanguay's league when it comes to playmaking even when at his best.

It can help??? There's an understatement.

Originally posted by Asher

By "all the pieces", I mean a team that could be a contender. On paper, the Flames have all of the pieces.

"Could be a contender?"-- If Kipper plays out of his mind as he has done sometimes in the past, sure the Flames could make a bit of a run . But I see teams out there that have more and stronger pieces than the Flames

TO me, to "have all the pieces" you would have a team that would never be a big underdog in a playoff series-- I don't see the Flames being there but who knows what might crop up through trades

[Asher]

Damn nye, that was quick.

[notyoueither]

Bob McKenzie had it on his blog yesterday.