With Sutter I do not see 4 equal lines rolling.
With Pitlick I see him on the Backlund line and it will be used as a pure checking line. It will likely start most games.
It will be labelled the #3 checking line. Get ready to see them going up against Karlsson, Petterson and McDavid.
The Flames will only need 6 Top-6 forwards to complete an actual top-6.
Right now the top-6 are Tkachuk, Mangiapane, Monahan, Gaudreau, Lindholm
The Flames wanted Hyman but he was too pricey so expect some other over priced UFA to be in the top-6
Lucic will be on the 4th line along with Ritchie and asked to be proactively truculent. If Lucic gets moved up for a shift on a top line it will be a clear sign that someone shouldn't have slashed Johnny or otherwise physically intimidated him or Tkachuk wrote a cheque that Lucic needs to cash.
Right now the best defensive forward will get to play on the checking line and the best offensive forward will get to play in the top-6
Pelletier Zary and Dube are all trying out for these 2 spots. With Dube having a chance to hang onto a 4th line spot.
No more BS with replacement players playing in the top-9 and ruining 3 lines.
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