Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I tend to agree, but when the Flames are healthy I think they have three pairs of players which play in the top six: Monahan with Gaudreau, Lindholm with Tkachuk, and Backlund with Mangiapane. The first pair has been great; but the second and third looked MUCH better before Dube was out of the lineup, and Mangiapane was shifted to the top line. I maintain that Lindholm and Tkachuk have missed Dube, and also think that Backlund has really missed Mangiapane. There is the potential here to ice a 1A-1B-2 set of lines with Mangiapane sliding back down to play with Backlund.
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This.
Ward wants to roll 4 lines, and he wants to continue to use the Backlund line in a defensive role.
BUT you can't have Backlund facing the other teams top 6 if his wingers are Bennett and Lucic.
Putting Mangiapane there gives the team more flexibility and balance for how they can utilize the lineup and opens up Gaudreau/Monahan for easier matchups too.
Gaudreau+Monahan have done a good job proping up Simon and he's been a good fit there.
Tkachuk+Lindholm need to prove that they can do the same now and that they can still be just as dominant with Leivo on their wing (unless Dube returns).
That allows Mangiapane to drop to the Backlund line and suddenly you have a really strong possession line there again.