Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Will the Flames be Structured Differently than the General Line Structure?

ForeverFlameFan · 05-09-2014, 11:18 AM

We always here about the general "Top 6, Bottom 6" for the forwards and the "Top 4, 5/6" for defenseman.

Do you think the Flames will make more of a top 9, bottom 3 for forwards and a top 2, bottom 4 for defenseman?

In a few years, we have so many prospects who have proven themselves, so I will make a few lines (in no particular order as the top line):

Top 9

Baertschi- Backlund - Hudler

Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne

Granlund/Klimchuk - S. Reinhart/Bennett/Draisaitl/Stajan - M. Reinhart

Bottom 3

Bouma/Ferland - Arnold/Knight - McGrattan

Top 2

Giordano - Brodie

Bottom 4

Not sure on pairings for the 'bottom 4' so just going to list some ('?'s are unsure on their status the future):

Russell
? Wideman
Smid
Breen
? Butler
Kanzig
Wotherspoon
? Cundari
Kulak
Culkin
Dougherty/Glover/Sanheim (hopefully with our 2014 2nd pick)

Aside from the lines I came up with, my question is do you think we'll be able to have more of a top 9 rather than a top 6 with the talent that we can have in a few years? Do we have the ability to roll out a 3rd line with similar minutes to the 1st and 2nd line, and have a bottom 3 with McGrattan leading the way?

In regards to defense, do you think that Brodie and Giordano will be a lock as the top 2 for a number of years, and then the 3/4 and 5/6 defenseman are fill ins with players that have either moved up in the Flames' system or will we sign a few UFA's with our "bottom 4" core?

EDIT: I guess we have to think about the 2015 draft as well, that will be a stronger draft with better NHL ready players than this one. Future is bright for the Flames.

05-09-2014, 11:18 AM	#1
ForeverFlameFan Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NC Exp:	Will the Flames be Structured Differently than the General Line Structure? We always here about the general "Top 6, Bottom 6" for the forwards and the "Top 4, 5/6" for defenseman. Do you think the Flames will make more of a top 9, bottom 3 for forwards and a top 2, bottom 4 for defenseman? In a few years, we have so many prospects who have proven themselves, so I will make a few lines (in no particular order as the top line): Top 9 Baertschi- Backlund - Hudler Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne Granlund/Klimchuk - S. Reinhart/Bennett/Draisaitl/Stajan - M. Reinhart Bottom 3 Bouma/Ferland - Arnold/Knight - McGrattan Top 2 Giordano - Brodie Bottom 4 Not sure on pairings for the 'bottom 4' so just going to list some ('?'s are unsure on their status the future): Russell ? Wideman Smid Breen ? Butler Kanzig Wotherspoon ? Cundari Kulak Culkin Dougherty/Glover/Sanheim (hopefully with our 2014 2nd pick) Aside from the lines I came up with, my question is do you think we'll be able to have more of a top 9 rather than a top 6 with the talent that we can have in a few years? Do we have the ability to roll out a 3rd line with similar minutes to the 1st and 2nd line, and have a bottom 3 with McGrattan leading the way? In regards to defense, do you think that Brodie and Giordano will be a lock as the top 2 for a number of years, and then the 3/4 and 5/6 defenseman are fill ins with players that have either moved up in the Flames' system or will we sign a few UFA's with our "bottom 4" core? EDIT: I guess we have to think about the 2015 draft as well, that will be a stronger draft with better NHL ready players than this one. Future is bright for the Flames. Last edited by ForeverFlameFan; 05-09-2014 at 11:28 AM.