[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Stajan/Horak-D. Jones
Cammalleri-Knight/Horak-Stempniak
Bouma-Galiardi-Jackman
McGrattan

Something along those lines you can switch around the wingers on the top 2-3 lines to your liking.

I see a similar top nine, but I think you really had to work to get Bouma on the roster. I think we'll see a roster something more like this:

Cammalleri-Stajan-Stempniak

The UFA line. All of these guys will most likely be traded during the season so it makes sense to get them playing together, giving them as many opportunities to score and inflate their points, and increase their value as the season plays out. Probably the best mix we have for a true top line as well.

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler

A solid line that gives Backlund top six minutes and two solid veterans with scoring ability to play with. Has a good mix of skill and hustle that should be a solid second line.

Bartschi-Horak-D. Jones

Kind of like the second line but flips the small player to the opposite wing. Give Bartschi a big body to play with and Horak a couple guys that should be able to score. This line gets sheltered minutes which should allow the young guys to develop some confidence in generating offense while not having a lot of pressure to play really strong in their own end.

Galiardi-Knight-Jackman

Here's your crash and bang line. Galiardi slides into his usual wing position. I'm not sure why you would slot him in as a center except to get Bouma into the lineup? Galiardi has been a winger and is horrible in the faceoff dot. They're bringing in Knight because of his faceoff abilities, so he'll likely start on the 4th line to prove his abilities. He's one of the few guys I think may play up the roster without a trade.

B. Jones, McGrattan

These are the extras unless the team wants to give a guy like Granlund a roster spot. McGrattan is there for his fists and Jones is there because he can play up the lineup without hurting you. They may put Granlund in this slot and let him float throughout the lineup as the injury fill in. The Flames may have their hand forced in this regard because of Granlund's out clause to go back to Finland. Once he goes, he's gone for the season, so they may elect to keep him and use him as the taxi squad player. He has a lot more to offer than Bouma. Another wild card is Reinhart. He could use some time in the AHL to improve his offense, but of course that would only work if the Heat played him in an offensive role and played him with some talented players.

Knight is more NHL ready than Reinhart IMO. Stajan could be moved to make room for guys like Knight, Horak, and Monahan. B. Jones is almost guaranteed to lose his spot.

Some awfully strong statements with very little to support it. What makes Knight more NHL ready than Reinhart? Knight hasn't even taken a shift in the NHL or against NHL level players. Why is B. Jones guaranteed to lose his spot, especially to a guy that didn't play last year? I would think that Bouma is going to have to prove that he can still play after his lost year. What good will he had built up may still be there but he's still going to have to prove he can play at the NHL level. If this team is really a developing meritocracy then Bouma has to earn his spot over guys who played last year.

Not sure why you doubt that. The 4th line is usually composed of grinding, physical, speedy, role players. Under Feaster's watch they've said they were looking for grit. Bouma's injury is pretty much why we signed Begin last year. They definitely had Bouma pencilled in for that spot last year. And Feaster has gone out of his way to say Bouma is still in their plans going forward. He is a prototypical 4th line grinder and one of the only young ones in our entire system.

Well, there is Hanowski and Ferland as options as well. Bouma is probably the closest of the bunch, but his year away from the game could be a killer. He could already be well down the depth chart before camp opens up solely on the fact that he didn't play last season.

It isn't a simple matter of other players merely pushing others down the lineup. The 4th line still has an identity and certain types of players do not fit that identity. There are a limited number of players who Bouma is competing against for that role. The wingers that make sense include Jackman, McGrattan, Galiardi and Bouma. Stempniak is too skilled for the 4th line unless we're a contender and I think D. Jones is in the same boat. Hudler, Cammalleri, Baertschi would make no sense on the 4th line due to their size and style of play.

I look at Galiardi, Jones, Jones, Jackman, Hanowski and Ferland as all viable options for the 4th line and could see them being pushed down to that level if certain players step up in training camp and we have a couple good surprises. I'm not discounting Granlund and Reinhart from being players who make pushes in camp and force some moves.

I guess we'll agree to disagree on how Feaster and Hartley will build a lineup going forward.

We're allowed to. I think this board would be awfully boring if we all agreed on everything.