I believe I have stated a few times that a guy like Hathaway should be utilized on the PK before the Flames finally threw him out there (competent coaching). Hathaway was tenacious enough and a good enough skater to be a natural fit, and he was indeed very good.
At any rate, I have always felt that your bottom 6 are the ones that should be utilized on the PK. Sure, Lindholm and Backlund are both VERY good PK'ers, but I would rather keep them fresher (and not have to use Neal on the top line for every shift after the PK, as I believe that line was completely neutralized from scoring last season).
Mangiapane is tenacious and quick enough - mould him into a 'Byron' type. I think he would be good at it. Dube seems like a natural fit with his acumen and his speed/tenacity. Jankowski is really good on the PK because of his skating (so underrated) as well as his smarts and his long reach. Ryan is so good with his FO ability and his smarts.
Save the top 6 for the PP, and to keep them more fresh out on the ice. It doesn't matter as much in today's NHL if your bottom 6 is undersized, but they have to be quick, they have to be tenacious, they have to be smart and they have to provide good minutes on the PK. Of course this is just my opinion, but I do think this is important.
Neal was terrible last season because he wasn't tenacious Maybe he was always gassed out (though even at the beginning of games at the start of his shifts, I don't ever recall him being effective either).
That's why I wasn't a big fan of the Duchene and Nylander options as trade/FA targets for the team. I want a certain amount of tenacity in conjunction with other skill-sets that players possess. Frolik is probably moving on, but he is absolutely tenacious at chasing that puck and impeding the opposing teams' breakouts. Backlund is tenacious. Tkachuk is tenacious on the forecheck (would like to see a bit more on the backcheck at times).
Ryan I felt was not nearly tenacious enough - dare I say he was at times even timid out there in the first 1/3 - 1/2 of the season. Suddenly he just became more tenacious out there and I think he had a hell of a 2nd half.
Gaudreau I found to be so much more tenacious out there this season. I thought was was way too passive under Gulutzan, especially on the backcheck. Gaudreau has been a much improved player under Peters, and I think it shows because he is way more committed to expending his energy all over the ice, not just offensively. Lindholm was incredibly tenacious at times, and at other times I found him lacking, especially towards the end of the season.
At any rate, I would have:
Mangiapane - Jankowski on PK1
Bennett - Ryan on PK2
Would like to see how the rest of the bottom 6 shake out to figure out PK3.
I want a team full of guys with non-stop motors in all zones. Guys that don't give up on plays. I think the Flames for the most part have that, and the guys that aren't are usually productive enough that it doesn't matter so much. I think that is why a guy like Neal stood out so much last season. I can't say that I am hopeful that his off-season training will do much to fix his game this upcoming season, but I do hope that people who think it will turn around are proven right.
Will be interesting to see how this roster shakes out.
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