Quote:
Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack
I'm going to be optimistic and assume that Mony's surgeries are all 100% successful and he starts opening night pain free. but based on how good the top line was without him (yes in garbage no playoffs time), does he even get his original spot back ever again?
if we're returning with Mony the 2nd liner going forward, what are the realistic expectations? 25 goals, 50 points? I can't imagine his ceiling being too much higher without an elite setup winger.
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I'm intrigued by a Mangiapane-Monahan-Coleman second line. Won't be as flashy as Gaudreau-Monahan, but the league has figured that duo out already.
This would be a more "industrious" line but could work as both Mangiapane and Coleman play a faster, more up tempo game which could offset or even supplement Monahan's "slower" game. If Monahan can put together a 25 goal, 50 point campaign on the second line with these two, I think the Flames are in good shape.
Throw in a shutdown 3rd line of Dube-Backlund-Pitlick that can also score some and a 4th line "CRASH and SMASH" line of Lucic-Lewis/Gawdin-Ritchie/Lewis and it could work out.
And if the team is around a playoff spot at the deadline with all that cap space (existing and accumulated), Flames could pick up a big contract for cheap that other teams with less space wouldn't be able to.