https://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-105...ames-1.1170668
Nothing really earth shattering if you have been following what the Flames managment and coaching staff have been saying in interviews:
Summary:
He couldn't do the interviews with the GMs like last year because all the western Canadian teams did not participate in one tournament
Wouldn't be surprised if early on all of Tkachuk, Lindholm, and Neal get time at RW on Gaudreau and Monahan's line
Wouldn't read too much into who is going to China and who is staying.
Billy Peters will be doing a lot of mixing and matching. Will experiment with a lot of concepts.
With Monahan coming off wrist surgery, Lindholm might have the inside track on the 1st line RW spot because he can take faceoffs for Monahan.
If the Flames are down a goal, Neal would be the natural fit for #1RW to get a shooter.
Whichever of Neal or Lindholm is not on the top line will fall down to the 2nd line with Tkchauk and Backlund.
Should give the Flames top 6 a lot more "offensive pop and creativity" they didn't have last year
Lots of positions up for grabs in the bottom 6
Jankowski looks to be the favourite for 3rd line C. They like his development
but keep in mind Ryan who played for Peters and is good at faceoffs.
Will be a spirited battle, but have a lot more depth at 3C and 4C
Thinks it is going to be a fork in the road season for Benett
Would have pegged Bennett for real big things in the NHL.
Maybe this is the year he is going to bring the tenancity, goals, and creativity
3rd line LW spot is right there for him if he can nail it down but there is a lot of competition
Flames have a lot of high hopes for Czarnik (can play RW or C)
he will be looking for 3rd line minutes
Neal and Linholm likely push down Frolik to where he should be in the lineup.
Going to be battling Bennett, Czarnik, Ryan, and Jankowski for those 3rd line minutes.
Lots of compeition for the 3rd line. Everyone outside of Frolik can play center.
Leaves Hathaway and Lazar defending off challengers from youngsters.
Flames really want to see if Foo, Dube, or Mangiapane are ready to play in the NHL.
Peluso is limited.
Burke is gone from Calgary but the desire for Truculence is not.
Peluso is there as a 13/14 forward tough guy option if they need it.
Peters is going into camp with a wide open mind.
Especially in the bottom half of the lineup.
Top 4 of blueline is pretty set.
Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
They are going to miss Hamilton.
Hanifin is good for some of the offense Hamilton provided but he is not an offensive/scoring d-man the way Hamilton was
3rd pair you could pencil Kulak-Stone, but only pencil
Peters wants to see if the younger guys in the system are ready
primary guy is Andersson but Kylington and Valimaki will get long looks as well
Prout is kind of in the Peluso role for the defencemen - veteran size toughness option for the 6/7 spot
with the hole left by Hamilton Treliving might be looking for an upgrade on the 3rd pair of Kulak-Stone should it become available for the right price
Flames are confident that Smith will get the job done but he has to go out there and do it.
Gillies and Rittich will battle for the backup spot.
At the risk of overstating it, Peters doesn't owe anyone in the organizations anything and he is wide open to seeing what Rittich and Gillies do.
The feeling in Calgary is that this is the season they better take a big step forward.