Flames Analysis: Forwards

The Calgary Flames have recalled Dustin Boyd and Brandon Prust from their minor league team. The Omaha AkSarBen Knights are currently 8-0-1 and are one of three AHL teams to still be unbeaten in regulation. Boyd is also tied for the AHL scoring lead with 13 pts in 9 games.

The Rookies

Their recall from the minors should light a fire under some of our (a)pathetic veterans such as Amonte, Friesen, Lundmark and Richie!

Boyd is probably a short-term call-up... just cause the expectations of him are a lot higher. He's expected to become a number one centerman for the flames and I believe he needs more time to improve in the minors first. Though, he''s probably quite capable of centering the 4th line regularly for us right now, possibly the 2nd, but not the 1st. And he won't learn to be a number one centerman with the limited ice-time he'll get with the big team. However, that is up in the air. Cause if he does take over the 4th line center position. I believe he could still get quality ice-time to be effective and still work towards becoming the number one center of the future.

Prust should be ready for a long-term stay. He's projected to be a checking-line winger and or energy-line winger with potential for some second-line duty. He's not huge, but he'll fight anyone. He plays like Yelle where he'll sacrifice his body for the play. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and plays all-out every shift which is something we have lacked this year from our forwards. I personally think he is better than Richie and Lundmark. Though, not as skilled offensively as Lundmark, at least he won't disappear for long periods of time like Lundmark does.

Nystrom is also still with the team currently... still hasn't been sent down to the minors from the onset of training camp. However, he's still out with an injury... but is listed as day-to-day. Another hard-working player that plays with his heart on his sleeve. Likened to be the next Yelle with more of a offensive ability (kinda like Nilson). If Nystrom gets healthy and is cleared to play... I think the line of Nystrom - Boyd - Prust would be awesome to watch.

The Veterans
Busts - Not Reaching Expectations - Disappointments
Richie has been useful as a 13th forward due to his ability to play all 3 forward positions, but is expendable due to a lack of skill and size. Lundmark has done nothing to prove to anyone that he isn't anything BUT a first round bust. Friesen is inconsistent but has shown glimpses of excellence (great speed, great work along the boards, great forechecking, great backchecking)... same with Amonte and Huselius. But all three are being paid too much for what they are actually bringing to the team right now and none of them are reaching their expectations. Amonte is not scoring cause he can't seem to keep the puck on his stick long enough to do anything with it, and the times that he seems to be able to actually hold on to the puck... he shoots 5 feet wide or passes 5 feet ahead of the intended teammate. Huselius... what can you say about him? He's always been inconsistent. Too much skill and not enough hockey smarts. He stickhandles as well as anyone in the league and his ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone is awesome to watch... but he rarely shoots and always loses the puck before he can find someone open to pass to (precisely because he is unwilling to shoot regularly - the opposition plays the pass instead of worrying about him shooting). Tanguay falls under the bust category not because his expectations were too high, but because he is simply playing too tentatively out there which leads to inconsitency for someone of his skill calibre. He needs to regain that confidence and start skating and playing with more of an edge. Similar to Huselius where he looks for the pass too often and needs to look towards the net more and crash the net more. All these players listed above need to improve or face the possibility of being benched and replaced by the rookies just called up. Huselius and Tanguay are the only 2 out of that list that I don't see being sat out because they are still producing and creating chances... but just arn't reaching their expectations.

Reaching Expectations
Yelle was playing well before he was injured. Nilson has stepped his game back up from a poor season last year (poor in terms of offense - he still led the team in +/-) and still hasn't gotten the points per say this season, but the chances that he has created this season are akin to when he played with Nemo and Donovon... but Amonte and Friesen as his linemates currently arn't helping any... and McCarty and Lundmark before that didn't help any either. McCarty is playing to expectation as an energy line winger and "heavy-weighter" though he clearly does not belong in that weight class.

Lombardi and Kobasew have been a plus for the team this season... though consistency is still something that is lacking from both of them. They are dominant in 2/3 of the games which is an improvement from the 1/3 of the games from the past season. But they are playing to where most expected them to be this season. They are adding secondary scoring and are using their speed to their advantage in the New NHL... but consistency is the biggest issue.

Langkow has been playing well as far as I can tell. He's a quiet kinda player that doesn't draw too much attention to his play. But he's still getting points and creating chances. In my opinion... he isn't a number one centerman... but until Boyd or Lombardi steps up and proves that they CAN be that number one centerman, Langkow will continue to anchor that position. But I believe he thrives best as the 2nd line centerman. Highly reliable though.

Iginla has been playing well considering he usually has a slow start to the season. Seems to be adapting as the season goes on to the New NHL. Confidence seems to be building and should continue to improve. Especially if the rest of the team gets going and supports Iginla up front.

Trade would be nice... but the players we want to give up or can give up are not worth anyone good. And getting someone good would require us to lose someone we NEED like (Iginla, Regehr, Phaneuf, Kipper) or a prospect (Boyd, Nystrom, Prust, Taratukin, Chucko).