Digging Out

The Flames ended their short 2 game winning streak losing to the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, in from what I heard another dismal performance. I have missed the Flames last two games completely have have only been able to catch the highlights and like everyone knows, those only show you so much and are alot better to watch when your team is winning. So I really dont have much to say about those two games but since the Flames hit the 20 game mark or 1/4 way through the season last night I can talk more about the Flames season so far....not very good.

I first like to say that we all came to the conclusion way to quickly about the the Flames getting off to a good start after a 6-3-3 record in October. Every since we mentioned that the Flames have gone 2-6 and their weakness's have become more evident then ever but that is usually what happens after this kind of a streak.

The Forwards...

For some very strange reason Conroy is still on the top line in between Iggy and Tanguay and why Keenan thinks that line or should I say Conroy can be productive and help the team win playing there is way beyond me. He did score last game but that was his 3rd goal of the season, amazing eh! From the highlights and reaction from the Edmonton game on Saturday Lombo and Nolan seemed to click a little bit, what they did last night or if they even played together I dont no but it could be something to build on especially since Nolan's numbers so far are projected to be worse than Tony Amonte's, UGLY!! Anyways he better pick it up, I did have sort of a quezzy feeling when they first signed him in the off-season but he has lots of time to make up for himself. More production is needed for the bottom 6 on the team this including Nolan so bottom 7 I guess. In the offseason I mentioned that I thought the Flames should add youth rather than aging veterans and typical Sutter went and signed the aging veterans and now it's the vet's who are killing us. Yelle is not the player he has been in recent years, he is still good but not helping the club as much as he had in the past. Primeau is injured and still probably out another 3-4 weeks and the longer he is out the worse that Kobasew, Ference-Primeau, Stuart trade looks. Primeau gives the Flames a ton of energy when he is in the line-up but thats not really what the Flames need right now. He is also locked up for the next two years, kind of scary. Moss has to figure out a way to score some goals. He was lined-up with Huselius and Langkow for the last couple of games so that could help his cause. His lack of scoring hasent been reflected on his play, he works hard very shift and the goals should just come as long as he keeps his work ethic up. Finally Nilson, the guy I thought we should of never re-signed in the first place has been terrible. He is so bad, waste of time and waste of money and is also locked up for another year after this one, very very scary. Good news though, Nilson suffered a concussion in the Vancouver game from a hit dished out by Trevor Linden and will miss at least the game against Colorado. Hopefully the Flames will bring up a guy from the farm like Dustin Boyd or Brandon Prust and will out play Nilson and keep him off the ice.
So like I have done a couple of other times this season, here is what I think the Flames lines should look like for the next game against Colorado.

1- TANGUAY-LANGKOW-IGINLA
2- HUSELIUS-LOMBARDI-NOLAN
3- NYSTROM-CONROY-MOSS
4- SMITH-YELLE-GODARD
INJURED- PRIMEAU-NILSON

The Defense...

Other than Phaneuf and Regehr and Aucoin in recent games, the group has been terrible. Phaneuf has been awesome and if he keeps it up could very well be in the running for the Norris trophy at the end of the season. Regehr got off to a terrible start but has improved drastically over the past couple of games. Aucoin is much of the same as Regehr but hasent played as well as him but still has improved. Sarich has been pretty consistent but needs to pick it up a notch to help the Flames top four. Warrener seemed to add a spark to the Flames D since he returned from injury. So there is something to build on. Eriksson was more than terrible at the start of the season and could of very well of gotten away with wearing a Zyuzin jersey for a game. He has improved the last couple of games but I think the Flames could definitely acquire another defensemen to take his place on the blueline. I really dont know who the Flames could get, I mentioned Danny Markov but he has signed to play in Russia this season. The problem with a trade is that the Flames might have to give up a top 6 forward like Huselius to get something in return and I dont think that is the way to go yet. Here is what I think the pairings should look like.

1- PHANEUF-AUCOIN
2- REGEHR-ERIKSSON
3- WARRENER-SARICH
EXTRA- HALE

The Goalie

Kipper has not played up his full self yet this season through 20 games. His SP is .881% and that is worst in the league among starters. He is not to blame for all the goals but he has let in some very soft and very not like Kipper goals and that needs to change. I really dont have much to say about Kipper who has played every game so far for the Flames cause I'm not worried at all that it will continue. One last note, the Flames swapped Keetley for McElhinney for their back-up role, mostly to get Keetley playing in some games.

STARTER- KIPRUSOFF
BACK-UP- McELHINNEY

All in all, the Flames have to be way more consistent, like you haven't heard that before. It is really the same old story, game after game. I am expecting a trade later on this month or early in December, hopefully for a defensemen but who knows. There has been rumors that the Flames have been talking with the Sharks about acquiring Patrick Marleau but I dont think that is the way to go. Sutter has to do something to make up for his so-so offseason based on the results so far. What the Flames really need is another Kiprusoff trade, a diamond in the rough player. Someone who no one has really ever heard of but will be a top player and over play his contract for the next couple of years. Please Sutter work your magic.

Finally the Flames should be fortunate that this hole they've dug themselves really isn't that deep when you look at it. They are only 5 points back of the division leading Wild and 2 points out of a playoff spot. Work still needs to be done but I think the Flames can do, lets hope anyways.