Quote:
Originally Posted by crapshoot
The line of Lucic-Ryan-Bennett was really good tonight, albeit against a pretty bad team. Lucic and Bennett seems to have some pretty good chemistry going early on, and if they can keep clicking it could be a really good line over the course of the season. Lucic seems to be building off having quality linemates and he really looked like he was feeling it tonight. So far Lucic is pretty much what I was hoping he would be, he is not gonna move the needle too far in determining the Flames success this year, but he actually looks pretty good out there and he finds ways to contribute on pretty much a nightly basis.
As far as comparisons go, James Neal didn't have one single game as a Flame where he even looked remotely as engaged or where he influenced the outcome of a game in the way Lucic did tonight.
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this is where I disagree. Last night showed exactly what he can add to this team - playing 'heavy'. And it is exactly what they need more of from their bottom 6.
The Flames have a great transition game. They can generate offense in waves. And last year, guys like Ryan and Mangiapane showed that the bottom 6 can maintain the forecheck as well. But it would be great if they could wear down the D more.
Obviously, if he could score 20 goals, that would be a huge help, but beyond that, what the Flames need is some 'heavy' forechecking, to wear down the D. That will add more space for the other lines.
If Lucic and Bennett play like that with any kind of consistency, the Flames will be better than last year. There is no question that an engaged Lucic
can move the needle for this team.