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Calgary4LIfe · 10-31-2020, 12:03 PM

I'm all for rolling 3 lines at equal time, especially this upcoming condensed season. Will save some wear and tear on players.

Backlund: I think he is extremely valuable on this team. Not only does he take the toughest assignments for the Flames (one of the toughest in terms of zone starts and quality of comp from what I remember in the entire NHL), but he produces while doing so, and he continually makes the players he plays with produce too. Bouma, Colborne, Bennett, Frolik, Mangiapane, and I do think that he helps Tkachuk too. Bouma hit his career best in Calgary - I mean best ever goal scoring season from the start of Juniors - AHL - NHL - AHL - career ever high in goals. That's something.

Monahan isn't as slow as I think he looks like out there. I do think that the Flames' system makes him look slower out there (ditto for Tkachuk). He didn't look particularly slow under Hartley or Peters' first year when the team played a more uptempo game. I do think that maybe he is bulking up too much (kid is huge now), and some players (like Iginla) slimmed down to increase their speed.

I love Bennett here, and I still believe that he can be a big asset on this team (even in the regular season). I wouldn't expect him to be "Playoff Bennett" during the regular season - if he tries, he is going to be in and out of the lineup all season long with injuries. What I do expect is that he will be generating more offence this year, and getting more comfortable with having stability in position, ice-time and line-mates for the first time since his rookie season. I do expect progression, but I don't think he should be given the keys to the 2C position. Let him get comfortable with 3C. Give him a good deal of rope there. Be patient with him. Make him earn the rest (and I bet he will eventually).

Lindholm didn't produce much while trying to replace Backlund. That line might have been good defensively, but they were rather poor offensively. I think it takes a special kind of player to be very strong defensively while also producing well offensively. Backlund is a bona-fide 2nd line centre production wise, and he is an elite defensive centre that probably earned a Selke or two in the past when you factor-in his usage - unbelievable that he produces at that rate. I would really hate to see what the Flames end up looking like without Backlund in the line-up, as suddenly the other lines have to start in the defensive zone more often, and will no longer have the luxury of easier match-ups. It is more difficult to produce when your focus - at least more of your focus - will need to be spent on shutting down the opposing team.

I am 100% ok with the lineup as it stands today, and I just hope that Ward is tailoring a system to get this team to play with a bit more speed. I don't think there are any obvious holes on the roster.

If Lindholm becomes a centre and there are no moves being made, I do not want Bennett to be the 4th line centre. He isn't going to develop much in that position.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Bennett - Backlund - Leivo
Lucic - Ryan - X (whichever earns that spot)

Switch around all the RW'ers until there is a combo that works. Backlund still gets all the tough assignments, but Lindholm takes SOME of them as well, leaving the Gaudreau-Monahan pairing with the bulk of the offensive zone starts. Ryan's line is also more than capable defensively as well, and should be better this season with whomever the new addition will be on that line. They can definitely go up against solid lines and help with shutting down - Lucic is good defensively.

I think the Flames have a lot of flexibility in their line-up. I actually think that there is more flexibility now than ever. I would rather keep the centres as they are now - Monahan, Backlund, Bennett, Ryan - but a Lindholm that isn't so focused on defence and buried in zone starts might work out as a centre too. If so, I am all for it, as I think "Pairings" on forwards is more important than having 3 guys with chemistry.

10-31-2020, 12:03 PM	#4075
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I'm all for rolling 3 lines at equal time, especially this upcoming condensed season. Will save some wear and tear on players. Backlund: I think he is extremely valuable on this team. Not only does he take the toughest assignments for the Flames (one of the toughest in terms of zone starts and quality of comp from what I remember in the entire NHL), but he produces while doing so, and he continually makes the players he plays with produce too. Bouma, Colborne, Bennett, Frolik, Mangiapane, and I do think that he helps Tkachuk too. Bouma hit his career best in Calgary - I mean best ever goal scoring season from the start of Juniors - AHL - NHL - AHL - career ever high in goals. That's something. Monahan isn't as slow as I think he looks like out there. I do think that the Flames' system makes him look slower out there (ditto for Tkachuk). He didn't look particularly slow under Hartley or Peters' first year when the team played a more uptempo game. I do think that maybe he is bulking up too much (kid is huge now), and some players (like Iginla) slimmed down to increase their speed. I love Bennett here, and I still believe that he can be a big asset on this team (even in the regular season). I wouldn't expect him to be "Playoff Bennett" during the regular season - if he tries, he is going to be in and out of the lineup all season long with injuries. What I do expect is that he will be generating more offence this year, and getting more comfortable with having stability in position, ice-time and line-mates for the first time since his rookie season. I do expect progression, but I don't think he should be given the keys to the 2C position. Let him get comfortable with 3C. Give him a good deal of rope there. Be patient with him. Make him earn the rest (and I bet he will eventually). Lindholm didn't produce much while trying to replace Backlund. That line might have been good defensively, but they were rather poor offensively. I think it takes a special kind of player to be very strong defensively while also producing well offensively. Backlund is a bona-fide 2nd line centre production wise, and he is an elite defensive centre that probably earned a Selke or two in the past when you factor-in his usage - unbelievable that he produces at that rate. I would really hate to see what the Flames end up looking like without Backlund in the line-up, as suddenly the other lines have to start in the defensive zone more often, and will no longer have the luxury of easier match-ups. It is more difficult to produce when your focus - at least more of your focus - will need to be spent on shutting down the opposing team. I am 100% ok with the lineup as it stands today, and I just hope that Ward is tailoring a system to get this team to play with a bit more speed. I don't think there are any obvious holes on the roster. If Lindholm becomes a centre and there are no moves being made, I do not want Bennett to be the 4th line centre. He isn't going to develop much in that position. Gaudreau - Monahan - Dube Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane Bennett - Backlund - Leivo Lucic - Ryan - X (whichever earns that spot) Switch around all the RW'ers until there is a combo that works. Backlund still gets all the tough assignments, but Lindholm takes SOME of them as well, leaving the Gaudreau-Monahan pairing with the bulk of the offensive zone starts. Ryan's line is also more than capable defensively as well, and should be better this season with whomever the new addition will be on that line. They can definitely go up against solid lines and help with shutting down - Lucic is good defensively. I think the Flames have a lot of flexibility in their line-up. I actually think that there is more flexibility now than ever. I would rather keep the centres as they are now - Monahan, Backlund, Bennett, Ryan - but a Lindholm that isn't so focused on defence and buried in zone starts might work out as a centre too. If so, I am all for it, as I think "Pairings" on forwards is more important than having 3 guys with chemistry.