For me, there are two or three story lines that interest me greatly as pre-season progresses, and the opening night roster is announced.
1) Which prospects make the cut.
IIRC, both Poirier and Shinkaruk are waiver-eligible. Although I am not very high on Shinkaruk, there may be the case where one (or both) of these prospects really impress during pre-season and get some attention. They are both recent 1st round picks. I would bet that they pass through waivers, but IF they impress Treliving has a decision to make. It will be a risk losing them.
2) Jankowski/Foo
I don't think either will start the season on the top line with Gaudreau - Monahan. I think the more realistic scenario is that they start with Bennett. Come on, the Flames have to give Bennett decent offensive talent to play with after all.
Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg
or
Versteeg - Bennett - Foo
That is what I expect to happen. Maybe if it is Jankowski he ends up pushing Bennett to the wing, but I would think that would come later in the season. I am just talking about the opening night roster (and once again, assuming no injuries).
The big dilemma for Treliving will be if Foo does so well that Treliving simply can't send him down, and Jankowski does as expected. I would expect that the lines will go something like:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Foo
Versteeg - Lazar - Brouwer
Stajan?
Does Stajan sit? I can't believe that Brouwer would sit - not with that contract. I would think that Brouwer works his way off the bottom line as well and has a bit of a bounce-back year. Stajan (along with Bouma) was scratched in favor of Lazar and Hamilton in the last playoff game. Does that become a thing if Lazar makes it? Ferland, Jankowski and Foo can all alternate on the top line - maybe even with Lazar. With that, Lazar:
3) How do the Flames fit Lazar into this picture?
The most obvious direct answer is Stajan, at least if you believe that the Flames want Lazar as a center. At which player's expense will be the question.
Flames have a lot of bodies. That's some pretty good depth right there. That last line looks like they could create really strong 4th line offensive numbers. That's a lot of depth scoring (at least if you believe that Jankowski and Foo translate, and especially so if you believe that Lazar isn't as unproductive as what he seemed like in Ottawa).
With how deep the forwards are and how deep the defence are, they should have no issues scoring goals. If Smith does well, they should also have no trouble keeping the GA down as well with that defence.
I do assume that given the bodies (and potential risk in waivers) that Foo will be sent down. It is just the easy move, and there are always injuries anyways.
This team is going to be pretty fast. I hope Gulutzan manages to modify the system a bit to take advantage of team speed. With so many defencemen able to make a really good first pass, and with Foo, Bennett, Backlund, Gaudreau, Lazar, and Jankowski (and Poirier, but more likely down the road). Should make for an exciting game.
What we do know is that Bennett should at least have line mates with good foot speed AND offensive abilities to keep up with him.
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