Confirmed Signing with Link: [CGY] Erik Gudbranson signs with the Flames (1 year, $1.95M)

[grapes55]

Should also be noted that 2 years in a row a team has literally "grit" their way into the finals before running into the dynasty caliber team that was Tampa

I think you're really underrating Dallas and even Montreal here. Both teams played excellent defensively and got high end goaltending in the playoffs.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Call me crazy but using cap space and paying these players over $4 million a year not to play doesn't seem like a great job to me!

It's better than paying them more and having them on the team.

 

[ManofSteel55]

He was a large tree in Ottawa last year. Opposition forwards just skated right by him.

Calgary's blueline looks pretty easy to play against. They have three good defensemen, and a pile of question marks that are either slow as molasses, make poor decisions, or haven't learned to play defense. For some, it's all three.

 

[topshelf15]

Solid bottom pairing/depth defender...Physical in and around the net,will stick up for teammates....Decent in role ,but not good outside it

 

[Figgy44]

No one is going to be limping when literally 1/3rd of the roster are tin cans.

Edmonton’s list while on paper looks bad, did a great job getting rid of the net negative players in Neal, Sekera and Lucic who currently is in a leadership role on the flames and most likely the leader of this movement where they are trying to be an 8bit version of the 2012 kings.

Sarcasm detector a little off?

Seriously though, the roster has taken a turn down Sutter goon lane. Sutter's style slows down the game. Many Flames fans aren't sure what to think about next season. Few are thinking they're sure fire locks for playoffs and the only reason why a vast majority aren't automatically throwing in the towel is because it's a Sutter coached team where anything can happen.

Calgary's blueline looks pretty easy to play against. They have three good defensemen, and a pile of question marks that are either slow as molasses, make poor decisions, or haven't learned to play defense. For some, it's all three.

Most Flames fans won't disagree with this analysis. However, many of us are also a little unsure whether Sutter's coaching style where he clogs everything and slows everything down is going to at least make the games reasonably close. If it wasn't for Sutter, you'd see a lot more white flags for the 2022 season from Flames fans.

 

[Volica]

Flames are going to be the ugliest team in hockey.
There's not even a question about it anymore.

One of two things, and only one of two things will happen:

1) They are going to be a ~20th place team that doesn't score many goals, gets blown out a lot, but beats up on bad teams in the Pacific.
2) They are going to be a ~10th place team that doesn't score many goals, protects leads, makes life miserable on teams, and annoys other teams' fans.

Side note:
1) Team is going to be absolutely boring to watch.
2) Markstrom will play about 70 games this year.
3) The Saddledome is going to be a top 1-2 least favourite trip for most teams. The pound of flesh toll will be demanded.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

I think you're really underrating Dallas and even Montreal here. Both teams played excellent defensively and got high end goaltending in the playoffs.

Not sure how I'm underrating them? Calgary is more than capable if having those exact things too

 

[Mez]

Flames building a mega goon beef squad.

 

[Mez]

how freaken slow can the Flames make their D...

They want McDavid to have more highlight goals against them.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Said it before already, lots of overreacting here!

 

[ManofSteel55]

Said it before already, lots of overreacting here!

Welcome to the internet, you must be new here.

 

[blankall]

Calgary's blueline looks pretty easy to play against. They have three good defensemen, and a pile of question marks that are either slow as molasses, make poor decisions, or haven't learned to play defense. For some, it's all three.

They also have one of the best defensive coaches to ever play the game. Even in Sutter's short time last season, he managed to vastly suppress chances against.

 

[blankall]

Flames are going to be the ugliest team in hockey.
There's not even a question about it anymore.

One of two things, and only one of two things will happen:

1) They are going to be a ~20th place team that doesn't score many goals, gets blown out a lot, but beats up on bad teams in the Pacific.
2) They are going to be a ~10th place team that doesn't score many goals, protects leads, makes life miserable on teams, and annoys other teams' fans.

Side note:
1) Team is going to be absolutely boring to watch.
2) Markstrom will play about 70 games this year.
3) The Saddledome is going to be a top 1-2 least favourite trip for most teams. The pound of flesh toll will be demanded.

The Flames top line was all above appg once they adjusted to the Sutter system. The second line is vastly improved with Coleman.

I don't see how Gudbranson being a #6 dman changes that.

 

[Volica]

The Flames top line was all above appg once they adjusted to the Sutter system. The second line is vastly improved with Coleman.

I don't see how Gudbranson being a #6 dman changes that.

They also lost Giordano, who was arguably their best offensive defenceman; and replaced him with Zadorov and Gudbranson; who combined will likely not hit 20 points.

 

[Khrox]

They also lost Giordano, who was arguably their best offensive defenceman; and replaced him with Zadorov and Gudbranson; who combined will likely not hit 20 points.

Boy you're gonna eat crow when they combine for 21 points

 

[topshelf15]

Boy you're gonna eat crow when they combine for 21 points

I forgot they had Zadorov too...That defense will be nasty around the net,however I hope the crosscheck crackdown doesnt have them in the box too much

 

[Larry Hanson]

Flames building a mega goon beef squad.

Just wait until 5 of them combine and tranform into a Mega Goon

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Said it before already, lots of overreacting here!

If anything, we're underreacting to this.

 

[blankall]

They also lost Giordano, who was arguably their best offensive defenceman; and replaced him with Zadorov and Gudbranson; who combined will likely not hit 20 points.

Giordano only had 26 points last year. He's not the offensive powerhouse he used to be.

 

[1865]

By your logic any player who who signs a decent NHL level contract that you don't approve of isnt a good player ....you dont have to like it , buts its a decent signing.

He played for us last season, he isn’t a decent signing. He’s a replacement level, league minimum contract signing for $2m. It’s not life ending, but it isn’t decent.

 

[vcanuck]

He is a good fighter, but Gudbranson hated sticking up for he rookies in his time with the nucks. The few times he did he was kinda forced to lol.

He is denial, he thinks he's still that 3rd overall player and tries to play like a skilled player lol.

Hes an icing king. That guy under pressure is hilarious to watch.

 

[Jerkbait]

He played for us last season, he isn’t a decent signing. He’s a replacement level, league minimum contract signing for $2m. It’s not life ending, but it isn’t decent.

Played for pitt and ducks and preds and managed to come out of thsy mmar as a plus player on some meh teams. Size grit and can play PK and clear net . As a 5th 6th or insurance D its a decent signing if nothing more than adding that size to the back end.

 

[grapes55]

Not sure how I'm underrating them? Calgary is more than capable if having those exact things too

I thought you were emphasizing that grit was the main reason they made it far, but by comparing them to Calgary I see what you're saying.

 

[Bubbles]

McDavid when he heard he gets to play Gudbranson 4 times:

 

[ManofSteel55]

McDavid when he heard he gets to play Gudbranson 4 times:

I think this is the same reaction he had when he found out he gets to skate around Zadorov 4 times too.