Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Lines when Colborne/Backs/Raymond are all back

JJ1532 · 11-17-2014, 05:24 AM

I'm also surprised by people wanting to flip Raymond. I would have him as our second veteran winger behind Hudler and get rid of Glencross personally.

I think the Flames have 2/3 hard decisions to make and they are: Do they send Sven down? Because if they do, I have the feeling this could be the final nail in his coffin. He seems like a confidence player who needs to be loved. I think if he goes back to Addy, that will be the final straw for him and we may well see a trade request slapped in.

This is my roster:

Raymond-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Backlund-Hudler
Byron-Jooris-Baertschi
Bouma-Stajan-Glencross

Press box: Bollig, Granlund

Send Reinhart and Ferland back down to Addy for a start. Then, I really would waive Jones, McGrattan and Setoguchi, not that doing it to the latter is controversial in any way.

We have Bollig and Engelland as our fighting guys if necessary, so McGrattan is surplus to requirements. Setoguchi, well nuff said. Jones has improved and is producing, but I just think all 4 of our injured players are better than him and when push comes to shove, he has to be the one to make way. He is the one that is easily the most replaceable. Unless of course you want to go for trades involving Glencross or Stajan.

Glencross on the 4th line isn't ideal, but I can't see anywhere to slot him. I think Raymond along with Hudler is the best sniper at the club, so he has to go on the top line. I don't think its a stretch to say that had Raymond been fit for the whole season, he would easily be our top goalscorer at this point. His goalscoring, Colbornes creativity and Monahans all round game would make a complete first line I think.

Johnny and Hudler stay together with the returning Backlund on the second line. Then, if Backlund goes down again, Granlund draws in to replace him. The 3rd line is playing too well together to split up now. A nice combination of speed, energy and creativity, plus all 3 could pinch a goal you feel. As I said above, I'd also be worried about sending Sven down. 4th line, Stajan and Glencross probably wouldn't take kindly to only playing 7-ish minutes a night, but others have passed them in the system. They can go with the productive Bouma and add some grit to the bottom line. Also, if they step on the ice with our 3rd defensive pairing, I'd wouldn't be so worried as i am when those 2 combinations(4th forwards and 3rd defenders) are on the ice together at the moment.

So like I said, the decisions they have to make are: How far down the pecking order does Glencross go? Does he fall as far as the 4th line?

Do you risk sending Sven back down and that finishing him mentally with the Flames?

Do you look for trades involving Glencross or Stajan, because there is a real log jam developing and when deciding which log needs to be removed to solve the blockage, those 2 are the first 2 I'd pick. Oh and all that being said, this problem will likely not develop too much because as these players return, others will get injured, so as to leave us most probably 14 fit bodies at most out of the 18/19 odd we have in and around the system at the moment.

11-17-2014, 05:24 AM	#58
JJ1532 First Line Centre Join Date: Dec 2013 Exp:	I'm also surprised by people wanting to flip Raymond. I would have him as our second veteran winger behind Hudler and get rid of Glencross personally. I think the Flames have 2/3 hard decisions to make and they are: Do they send Sven down? Because if they do, I have the feeling this could be the final nail in his coffin. He seems like a confidence player who needs to be loved. I think if he goes back to Addy, that will be the final straw for him and we may well see a trade request slapped in. This is my roster: Raymond-Monahan-Colborne Gaudreau-Backlund-Hudler Byron-Jooris-Baertschi Bouma-Stajan-Glencross Press box: Bollig, Granlund Send Reinhart and Ferland back down to Addy for a start. Then, I really would waive Jones, McGrattan and Setoguchi, not that doing it to the latter is controversial in any way. We have Bollig and Engelland as our fighting guys if necessary, so McGrattan is surplus to requirements. Setoguchi, well nuff said. Jones has improved and is producing, but I just think all 4 of our injured players are better than him and when push comes to shove, he has to be the one to make way. He is the one that is easily the most replaceable. Unless of course you want to go for trades involving Glencross or Stajan. Glencross on the 4th line isn't ideal, but I can't see anywhere to slot him. I think Raymond along with Hudler is the best sniper at the club, so he has to go on the top line. I don't think its a stretch to say that had Raymond been fit for the whole season, he would easily be our top goalscorer at this point. His goalscoring, Colbornes creativity and Monahans all round game would make a complete first line I think. Johnny and Hudler stay together with the returning Backlund on the second line. Then, if Backlund goes down again, Granlund draws in to replace him. The 3rd line is playing too well together to split up now. A nice combination of speed, energy and creativity, plus all 3 could pinch a goal you feel. As I said above, I'd also be worried about sending Sven down. 4th line, Stajan and Glencross probably wouldn't take kindly to only playing 7-ish minutes a night, but others have passed them in the system. They can go with the productive Bouma and add some grit to the bottom line. Also, if they step on the ice with our 3rd defensive pairing, I'd wouldn't be so worried as i am when those 2 combinations(4th forwards and 3rd defenders) are on the ice together at the moment. So like I said, the decisions they have to make are: How far down the pecking order does Glencross go? Does he fall as far as the 4th line? Do you risk sending Sven back down and that finishing him mentally with the Flames? Do you look for trades involving Glencross or Stajan, because there is a real log jam developing and when deciding which log needs to be removed to solve the blockage, those 2 are the first 2 I'd pick. Oh and all that being said, this problem will likely not develop too much because as these players return, others will get injured, so as to leave us most probably 14 fit bodies at most out of the 18/19 odd we have in and around the system at the moment.