Practice Notes Feb 26

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Bingo

How is one of the highest creating guys on the roster blocking others? He's playing third line LW and thriving.

Right now he isn't. But is he good enough to keep a guy like Coronato from taking his spot next year?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Right now he isn't. But is he good enough to keep a guy like Coronato from taking his spot next year?

Mangiapane isn't heading to the fourth line.

He's a play driving 200 foot hockey player that is a third liner at worst.

Coronato isn't a 200 foot guy per say and wouldn't replace Mangiapane with Backlund. Pelletier probably could some day.

Coronato is likely heading to the top six when he's ready.

I would guess Pospisil is the more likely 4th liner going forward.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm fine with middle six.

But currently he's bottom three.

He's a heads up player, not a goal scorer, but can keep a cycle alive and find those seams.

I think he will end up playing all over the lineup, where needed. As long as he's not relied on for goals, he's fine.

[stemit14]

Have to think Conroy is trying to avoid having wingers coming back as the major pieces in any of these trades. The flames are deep on the wings organizationally to the point they are already struggling to make space for guys like Coronato or Pelletier in the top 9. These are the guys that are signed for next year and have (mostly) played wing this season:

Huberdeau
Kuzmenko
Mangiapane
Coleman
Zary
Posposil
Hunt
Duehr
Coronato
Pelletier

I imagine several teams have tried to use wingers as a big piece in a trade with the flames and Conroy just doesn’t want to make this an issue for having space for the kids. I bet Toronto has offered Robertson and we know that New Jersey offered Holtz. I bet Conroy wants to see Coronato getting top six minutes and powerplay time next year and he doesn’t want to take on another winger that needs the same thing. Similar, I think he would ideally want Pelletier playing on a line with Coleman and Backlund.