Predict the 2017-18 Flames Lineup

[Wolfman]

If Ferly is our 1st line RW, I'm taking the year off next year.

[Roof-Daddy]

If a top line RW upgrade can't be brought in somehow, I'm actually warming up to the ida of playing Tkachuk on his off wing with those two. Either that or have Gaudreau flip to his off wing.

Then have Jankowski play left wing with Backlund and Frolik, 3M line V2.0 if you will. Good way for a rookie to break into the NHL.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik

[FanIn80]

I think this is what I would like to see:

[Tkachuk] [Monahan (A)] [Gaudreau]
[Frolik] [Backlund (A)] [Bennett]
[Ferland] [Jankowski] [Versteeg]
[Chiasson] [Stajan] [Lazar]
[Bouma]

[Giordano (C)] [Hamilton]
[Shattenkirk] [Brodie]
[Stone] [Engelland]
[Andersson]

[Bishop]
[Gillies]

[MikeMc]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

If Ferly is our 1st line RW, I'm taking the year off next year.

Out of curiosity why? He was the best fit at that spot at the end of this year. Or is it more you're hoping for a free agent to fill that spot.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Taking a team to the Finals is exactly what I want from a goalie im paying big money.

3/4 really good seasons and that cant really be sanely disputed.


A 0.916 save % in the reg season and a 0.921 in the playoffs combined with 53 wins is not a sub par season no matter what way you want to spin it.

It wasnt a stellar vezina quality season but he more than got the job done.

If we woild have hsd goaltending like that this season we likely would havd hsd home ice in round 1 and certainly wouldn't have been swept in round 1

Elliot had a season like that a year ago and took the Blues all the way to the Conference finals. Look how that turned out for us. If these goalies were as good as you're saying, their current teams would not be letting them go.

I'll pass on Bishop. Time to try something different and go with a younger goalie with the potential to evolve. The Flame are fools if they blow their cap space and put all their stock behind another older starter that was jettisoned from a highly successful franchise.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Elliot had a season like that a year ago and took the Blues all the way to the Conference finals. Look how that turned out for us. If these goalies were as good as you're saying, their current teams would not be letting them go.

I'll pass on Bishop. Time to try something different and go with a younger goalie with the potential to evolve. The Flame are fools if they blow their cap space and put all their stock behind another older starter that was jettisoned from a highly successful franchise.

Elliott has never had a season where he started 60+ games. Your comparison doesn't work.

[Fire]

The Flames should look to move Stajan in order to make room for Jankowski or another prospect that's ready to move into the line-up.

Stajan only makes $2 million in actual dollars next season so he might have enough value for a team that struggles to hit the salary floor. If the Flames can't get a late draft pick or if he isn't picked up in the expansion draft then buying him out is the best option imo.

At first I didn't think buying him out would make much sense but it will only adds $666,667 to the cap in 2018-19 and saves $1.4 million in cap space in 2017-18. More important than the cap savings next season is opening a spot for a younger player.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I think this is what I would like to see:

[Tkachuk] [Monahan (A)] [Gaudreau]
[Frolik] [Backlund (A)] [Bennett]
[Ferland] [Jankowski] [Versteeg]
[Chiasson] [Stajan] [Lazar]
[Bouma]

[Giordano (C)] [Hamilton]
[Shattenkirk] [Brodie]
[Stone] [Engelland]
[Andersson]

[Bishop]
[Gillies]

Why move Frolik to LW when Bennett prefers LW?

Leave Bennett as 3C, Janko at 2LW, Frolik at 2RW

Edit; And please no Shattenkirk.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Jankowski is a playmaking centre. His style is less conduscive to the wing than Bennett's. And unlike Bennett it's not junior vs NHL for him so we don't have to play him out of position as he breaks in, he's already far more developed than Bennett was. Jankowski's strengths suit the centre ice position and I think it makes zero sense to play him out of position.

And yes, that means it's hard to fit him into the lineup barring injury. IMO he may force Bennett to the wing as Bennett's style of game is much more suited to the wing than Janko's

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Jankowski is a playmaking centre. His style is less conduscive to the wing than Bennett's. And unlike Bennett it's not junior vs NHL for him so we don't have to play him out of position as he breaks in, he's already far more developed than Bennett was. Jankowski's strengths suit the centre ice position and I think it makes zero sense to play him out of position.

And yes, that means it's hard to fit him into the lineup barring injury. IMO he may force Bennett to the wing as Bennett's style of game is much more suited to the wing than Janko's

I don't think there's any chance they move Bennett to the wing after refusing to do so this year.

Especially not for a rookie, as polished as Jankowski may be he's still a rookie.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

If Ferly is our 1st line RW, I'm taking the year off next year.

I had wondered going into the playoffs if Ferland was being deployed sub optimally on the top line.

Now, I really like him as a player and was in the camp that saw him having great skills and potential. Furthermore he was the best option CGY used on the top line this year.

However his performance in the Canucks series showed what a game impacting physical weapon he could be in the playoffs. I was thinking should they drop him down so he can play that same game against Bieksa and green Ducks D. The obvious consequence is who replaces him on top line.

For the past series, where would he have been most valuable?

Others may disagree but I didn't feel CGY brought that momentum changing physicality. Ferland was a missle against the Canucks (7-8 hits/ game) and intimidated or at least got in the heads of Canucks and that didn't happen against the Ducks. Why? Ferland was on the top line (he was counted on to produce and he played well - but we lost his physicality) and no one else provided that element they way he could.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

We'll agree to disagree on Bishop, but good new:. We can get it for 3 million cheaper with Scott Darling.

He just put up two (great?) seasons playing 30 games each. Poised to take a starter role, and similar numbers to Bishop at half the price.

If Darling is that great why don't the hawks just keep him? lord knows they need cap space

[Harry Lime]

Likely Jankowskis the fourth line centre and stajan moves to the wing and plays the injury support role.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by dino7c

If Darling is that great why don't the hawks just keep him? lord knows they need cap space

Crawford has a NTC / NMC
Not saying Darling is the answer, just not sure Bishop at 5 x $6M minimum is either. It's going to take that for Bishop, no?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Crawford has a NTC / NMC
Not saying Darling is the answer, just not sure Bishop at 5 x $6M minimum is either. It's going to take that for Bishop, no?

modified right? he gives them a list of teams...there are options if they really wanted to

[EldrickOnIce]

Yes, modified. Details unknown. If that list is short, there probably aren't many options.
What are they usually?
10 no go?

[djsFlames]

I'll also be disappointed if Ferland is the best option they have for the 1RW next season. We need another weapon on the top line. If teams can clog up Gaudreau's space, we need the other winger to be skilled enough to make something out of nothing as well. Ferland compliments alright, but he doesn't create by himself unless he can force the odd turnover. We need it so that the line can do damage whether or not Gaudreau can find space. Someone that can play at their skill level.

1RW / 4D / stopgap G - there are options out there for all three.

Get it done.

[dino7c]

yeah probably 10 or so but we don't know

Its not often a player won't work with a team if they decide to go another direction....especially in goal

"so we are gonna make Darling the starter this season, you will likely be a backup unless you accept a trade to X destination where you will be a starter"


this is all assuming the Hawks are as high on Darling as some on here are

[Samonadreau]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Oshie
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland
Stajan - Lazar - Hathaway
Hamilton

Gio - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone
Kulak - Andersson
Bartkowski

Bishop
Rittich

[Strange Brew]

A top line winger would be nice but priority wise it definitely comes after goalie and D.

This team has no NHL goalies signed next year.
Our top 4 D signed for next year includes Matt Bartkowski.
As for trade chips, the Flames have no 2nd or 3rd round pick in the upcoming draft and no extra picks in any other round. And arguably not a lot of organizational depth from which to make trades.
Approximately $22 million in cap space from which to sign/promote 10 players needed to fill out the NHL roster.

If for some reason Treliving is not coming back, a new GM would need some time to come up with a game plan. Would be nice to see the Flames commit to their GM or if they're not prepared to do so, they might want to put their new plan in motion.