Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
1. Centre depth seems to be an issue. Backlund in an ideal world would be a fantastic #3.
2. Right after the playoffs Bill Peters talked about moving Lindholm to centre.
Which leads me to imagine the following lines.
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Bennett-Monahan-Czarnik/Dube/Mangiapane
Dube/Mangiapane-Backlund-????
1. This puts Gaudreau with our two most skilled players who have some grit. It puts Gaudreau with our best power forward, our two best net crashers, two of our best forwards along the boards. IMO this line maximizes Gaudreau and puts two skilled players who have the grit and physicality that Gaudreau completely lacks.
2. This asks Monahan to be the man on his line and step up and lead. This might allow Monahan to stop deferring to Gaudreau and to round out his game. Gives a good offensive opportunity to whichever of Bennett, Mangiapane, Czarnik or Dube who make that line.
3. This slots Backlund in at 3rd line centre which allows Peters to have an elite two way checking line while still constructing two scoring lines
Problem? Can’t really fit Neal in
Thoughts? Bill Peters know what we have in Gaudreau-Monahan and Tkachuk-Backlund. It’s time to find some other combos that won’t be as easily neutralized in the playoffs
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Some good thinking here but whenever they tried putting Tkachuk with Gaudreau (obviously with Monahan) it didn't really work - or work as well with Lindholm on the right side.
Do you think Gaudreau and Tkachuk have chemistry? On the surface it seems they should given they are, IMO, the top two skilled players on the team (each also with incredibly high IQ).
This analysis might be completely basic but I think for Gaudreau to really shine he needs a give and go type player - Like Hudler and Lindholm - quick hands, open space guys that can read what he's trying to do and then get to those spots on the ice. And this is the confounding thing because Tkachuk can do that too but again it never really took off when Tkachuk moved up to the top line.
In the middle of the ice, you need a centre who can control the puck. A guy who can receive any pass and not bobble it, who can make those deep routes defensively get the pass from the D and then attack through the middle and gain the zone. You don't have to be super dynamic or super fast just highly skilled with great hands. Think of Kopitar: when he's on the ice the Kings always go up the middle through him, he takes the passes, skates the middle and distributes.
That was the problem with CGY top line. The play went up the wing and relied on Johnny breaking down the opponent's defensive structure and creating offense. Monahan would just try to find those spots. If the opponent closed Johnny down there wasn't a give and go support close by to negate the high pressure on Gaudreau.
Whatever the realignment CGY has to improve how they continue their skill, possession game in the face of heavy pressure and guys skating through our skilled puck carriers. They have to counter that.