Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
Flames need to round out the RW positions. I think they need one more power forward in the lineup as the team is still a bit small. I know of certain posters who will hate this idea, but I'd try Brett Ritchie on Managiapane-Backlund's RW; he's a similar type of player to Lucic and you hope he can give that line the same thing.
I think Derek Ryan would make a very good RW for Gaudreau and Monahan. He's right shot, he can alternate faceoffs with Mony, he's fast and quick enough to keep up with Gaudreau, he's good defensively and in limited time with Johnny, he's also shown some chemistry.
I don't really like any of the remaining players for the RW spot on Tkachuk and Lindholm's line. Leivo isn't quick enough, nor skilled enough. Simon and Norstrom aren't skilled enough. Matthew Phillips might work, but he makes the team real small and you really need Ritchie in the line up.
One guy who I think might make sense to acquire for the Tkachuk-Lindholm line is Virtanen. Big, strong, fast with a good shot. Not the quickest brain, but he'd be playing with two of the better defensive guys. The RW on this line needs to be able to get in quick on the forecheck and bump the puck to Tkahcuk and Lindholm, this suits his size and speed. Then he just needs to get into scoring position and wait for Tkachuk and Lindy to get him the puck. Virtanen has a great shot. Intensity and being engaged is also one of Virtanen's problem, no better linemate than Tkachuk to have him constantly engaged in physical play. I don't know if the acquisition cost is too high.
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I like the premise of the post (including the stuff I deleted just to safe space)!
Brett Ritichie on the Mangiapane-Backlund line:
I think that's a solid idea, but I don't think that he either has the smarts or the hands to make it work. Lucic works well on that line because he is smart, and he has always been a good defensive player with solid underlying metrics. Might be worth a shot. If it was Nick Ritchie, that would be great - but Brett doesn't have very many strengths. I think a better bet would be Robinson - he is a good skater, period - but for his size? That's basically an elite-skating big man. I think it is something you try on a shift-by-shift basis at first next time he is inserted into the lineup. I would like to say Rinaldo fits this premise as well - he definitely has the speed - but his hands don't seem to be close. Backlund is pure gold at propping up players and making them better than you can imagine, but I am sure that even he has limits.
Ryan with Gaudreau - Monahan:
I believe this was tried a few times with Peters. It didn't seem to work out at all. I think it is a good idea - Though Ryan is not exactly 'fast', he is mobile enough, and he is definitely smart enough, and that line does need a solid defensive RW'er - he ticks all the boxes except for size, and maybe that's why it never worked? I thought it was a terrible fit, and was just as terrible IIRC as Backlund was on that pairing. Maybe it was only tried when Gaudreau and Monahan weren't doing well, I don't know (and don't remember), but I remember that combo not doing well at all. I think Ryan is a great 4th line centre anyway, and he helps to keep the 4th line's head above water, so I am ok with his utilization. I think what the top line needs is someone fast, some grit to the game, preferably large so he can work well in the corners and (if needed) stick up for Gaudreau, but with decent hands. Ryan meets a lot of those requirements, and I thought he would have looked better than he did on the top line, but it didn't work out.
Tkachuk-Lindholm line:
I think Mangiapane is probably the answer here. However, I will say this about Leivo - he is coming around. I can see why he has produced at certain rates over the course of his career so far - he is skilled. Things haven't been working out for him, but I do think that he is improving and he really looks like to me a guy who is about to 'click'. However, terrible decision by Ward in the previous game to put him out for the PP and at the end of the game. He hasn't clicked yet (and he may never end up clicking). If the Flames can get him going in some way, there are holes that he can help plug on this team.
Virtanen:
Is really an awful player. Did you ever watch Mason Raymond in Calgary and wonder how the heck he ever scored what he did in his career? That's Virtanen. I think if you let him loose and give him solid opportunities, he could score 20 goals a season, but he is going to hurt you while doing it. He doesn't have a brain. He is fast, but he doesn't seem able to think fast enough. Have him skate up and use his shot off a cross-ice pass, and he will score for you, but just like we saw tonight, he seems lost out there all over the ice, and helps to keep his own team hemmed-into their defensive zone. I like his size, speed and physicality, and his shot is decent (not great, but decent) - but it all falls apart downhill after that. Virtanen to me is like the forward version of Dion Phaneuf - basically a perfect tool-set you want, but no toolbox. Worse yet, is that these are not stainless steel tools, and it is starting to rain. That's Virtanen to me.
I am ok with rotating Phillips into the lineup at some point (as I am with Gawdin, and to a lesser extent, Ruzicka), but I also do think that games are going to get more rough and physical. For now, I say rotate through the guys we have for now (including as you mentioned Ritchie, that we haven't seen yet).