Monahan+Gaudreau - Gio+Brodie or Bennett+Gaudreau - Gio+Hamilton - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Vinny01 · 08-30-2015, 10:43 AM

Last year the Flames were able to Benefit from having some solid pairings that appeared poised to be together for years.

The Brodano pairing as many fans likes to call them started a season earlier in 13-14 and were regarded as one of the better D pairings in the league. Last season there was a legit argument to say this was the best pair in hockey.

It took a while but once Backlund was healthy Hartley was able to move Monahan onto the Gaudreau-Hudler line and one that unit was put together they really took off. Monahan hit 31 goals and 62pts and Johnny had 24 goals and 64pts to lead rookies in scoring.

A couple of players will be joining the Flames this year that could change these dynamic pairings and I want to know your opinion on this.

First Dougie Hamilton was a huge add for the Flames. A 22 year old RHD who played tough minutes and produced in Boston last year. He is the Flames 2nd highest paid Dman (first next season) and is massive part of the future. The Flamea have 3 right hand shots in their top 6 now and it could make sense to pair Dougie with Gio right away. Brodie would likely pair up with Wideman and Russell could play with Engellend. There is also the Smid factor and if he returns perhaps he bumps Engellend out and Hamilton plays with Russell on the 2nd pair? Lastly Hartley could decide to play Brodie with Dougie to have a young pair that could play together for the next 10 years?

Up front enter Sam Bennett the highest draft pick Calgary has ever had. We all know how last year went for Sam and with a summer of training under his belt he is poised to come in and challenge for a top 2 center role next year. Monahan is a big body that can play a heavy 2way game but also has great smarts and offensive instincts. Bennett has dynamic speed and skill while playing a gritty in your face type of game. Gaudreau is the Flames offensive catalyst he is a true playmaker with elite IQ and vision.

I am going to predict by the end of the season Bennett will be on the same line with Johnny and Dougie will be paired with Gio

kyuss275 · 08-30-2015, 10:49 AM

Are you thinking Johnny - Bennett- Frolik ?

I agree that Dougie will be with Gio come the end of the year.

Greybeard · 08-30-2015, 10:54 AM

Maybe Brodie Hamilton as left right shots. A pairing that could be together a long time. Then Gio with Wideman?

Finger Cookin · 08-30-2015, 10:56 AM

I'm really not married to specific line or defensemen combinations at this point. There's a lot of good options with this roster, and I trust the coaching staff to figure it out after training camp and then adjust if necessary. It will probably be at least Game 2 of the regular season before I start second guessing them.

handgroen · 08-30-2015, 10:59 AM

say no to brodano.

the pairing itself is fine, maybe the best in the league. the term 'brodano' is not.

Finger Cookin · 08-30-2015, 11:00 AM

Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Giordie

Mony · 08-30-2015, 11:02 AM

At the beginning of this season, I would like to stick with Gio-Brodie for now, and like the poster above, I think they should start trying out Giordano-Hamilton on the top line towards the half/end of the season so that it is a proper L-R handed pairing and Hamilton can start getting those top line minutes we see for him in the future. Switch back and forth between Brodie.

Brodie-Hamilton of course is our top line of the future but we simply can't sit our best defenceman who would've won the Norris on anything other than the top line until he begins to regress. I predict we will see Brodie-Hamilton start to take shape in the coming years as Gio slows down.

For the start...
Giordano-Brodie (L/L) - just amazing chemistry.
Russell-Hamilton (L/R)
Wideman-Engelland (R/R)

further along the season or in quick glimpses/snapshots...
Giordano-Hamilton (L/R) - give Hamilton a taste of the top line together with Gio, mentor him and let him learn, which pushes Brodie down -
Brodie-Wideman (L/R) - pushing Brodie down could make the depth throughout better since he's our 2nd best dman
Russell-Engelland (L/R)

Insert prospects and players pushing for spots as we see fit.

I think eventually Sam will be our #1 tenacious, flashy center but this year he should be eased in like Sean was and given third and second line minutes (either as a center or a left wing). Eventually I'd like to see him in the top line with Johnny to his left and Sean as our stable, second-line center.

So in closing, this year it should for the most part be Mony Hockey and Brodano. Haha, Mony Hockey. It sounds dumb but at the same time it's great.

Vinny01 · 08-30-2015, 11:06 AM

Not sure who the RW will be on the Bennett line possibly Frolik maybe Hudler?

Mony · 08-30-2015, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Not sure who the RW will be on the Bennett line possibly Frolik maybe Hudler?

See, I really really wanna see Hudler with Bennett because he worked magic with tutoring Johnny last year, but that top line of Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler was great last year. They've got fantastic chemistry.

I also know I want Backlund with Frolik for the monster possession purposes. Could be a great shutdown line. Bennett-Backlund-Frolik? Start Bennett on wing and it works perhaps.

GGG · 08-30-2015, 11:12 AM

Not looking it up but weren't a lot of the Monhan/gaudreau/hurdler goals on the PP. so you could break up that line even strength and keep the together for the PP

I think longer term Monahan/frolik become the shutdown line and Gaudreau / Bennett the scoring line.

Next year you put bennet wherever his play dictates. Sheltered third line to star and move up from there.

handgroen · 08-30-2015, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greybeard

Maybe Brodie Hamilton as left right shots. A pairing that could be together a long time. Then Gio with Wideman?

exactly what i was thinking quite honestly. the gio-wideman pairing will scare the bejesus out of some fans, but i like wideman more than most, and brodie-hamilton would be the shutdown pairing. This would leave us the incredible luxury of having gio-wideman, (two 50ish pt veterans) as our 3-4 pairing. i don't know how any team is going to be able to deal with that match up wise.

only thing is, brodie is very on the record about preferring to play the right side. (this shouldn't bother anybody as he is a god damned surgeon with his backhand pass.) hard to argue with the player about where he feels most comfortable, and i want brodie feeling comfortable. this would leave russel-hamilton as our second pair which i am also ecstatic about.

it's really an embarrassment of riches, basically it's an argument over who our number 4 d-man should be. wideman who had a hell of a year last season and is still very much an offensive producer. or russel who is a hell of a player and much better than most people give him credit for.

feels good man..

Gaskal · 08-30-2015, 12:02 PM

On top 6 forward duos:

Short term I think it will be Johnny/Mony, Bennett/Ferland.
Eventually I think it'll be Johnny/Sam and Klimchuk/Mony.

On defence I'm thinking:
Gio - Wideman
Brodie - Hamilton

Gio - Wideman was kinda bad before when Wideman hadn't stepped up his game like he had. But now, they should be a very solid pairing next year if Hartley decides to give them a go. Plus, Brodie shies away from shooting often; Gio and Wideman can both crank it. You'd have the added benefit of TJ developing some early chemistry with Hamilton, who I think will be his defence partner down the run.

Vinny01 · 08-30-2015, 12:11 PM

I wouldn't be shocked in 2-3 years we see a all2913 first round line with Klimchuck-Monahan-Porier.

I think the top line starts out the same as last year and likely the same for the top pairing. I love monahan and think he is a number 1 centre on most teams but I think Bennett will be our top guy fairly soon. Bennett has a higher offensive ceiling and more dynamic skill set. Johnny will work with either player but will settle with the guy who is number 1. Also I could see Monahanthrust back to a defensive role if Backlu d goes down which is likely given Backs history.

As for the D if Hartley is into the L-R pairings then I see Gio and Dougie getting a look as early as training camp

MisterJoji · 08-30-2015, 12:28 PM

If it ain't broke ...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler were absolutely dynamite, do not break them up.

Gio - Brodie was arguably the best pair in the league, both in terms of defense and offense, don't touch that chemistry.

Yanda · 08-30-2015, 12:35 PM

Bennett has not earned that ice time. Always earned never given.

Enoch Root · 08-30-2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

If it ain't broke ...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler were absolutely dynamite, do not break them up.

Gio - Brodie was arguably the best pair in the league, both in terms of defense and offense, don't touch that chemistry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yanda

Bennett has not earned that ice time. Always earned never given.

/thread

Gaskal · 08-30-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

If it ain't broke ...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler were absolutely dynamite, do not break them up.

Gio - Brodie was arguably the best pair in the league, both in terms of defense and offense, don't touch that chemistry.

So after all this talk from both Treliving and Hartley about Frolik & Hamilton giving them "options" up and down the lineup, you're content with little lineup changes? I understand chemistry is important, but there will be inevitable slumps, and that's when some line juggling will happen. Bet on Hartley doing a lot of experimentation during camp/preseason.

Vinny01 · 08-30-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yanda

Bennett has not earned that ice time. Always earned never given.

I agree I think it will take a lot longer for Bennett to bump Monahan off the Gaudreau line than Hamilton to slide into the top pairing.

If Backlund or Monahan get injured then I see Bennett moving to the Johnny line. The only other way it happens early is if Bennett looks so impressive the coaches feel they have to pair him with Johnny.

I don't see Hartley putting 2 RHD together (he did do it with Diaz-Engellend at times last year). I see the D looking one of 2 ways if no one like Wotherspoon forces his wagon the team.

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Smid/Wotherspoon-Wideman

Or

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Russell-Engellend

It could go many different ways I suppose but looking at that depth it is amazing. It could be better if we didn't have bothSmid and Engellend making a combined $6.4M on the cap for the next 2 years. Hope we can move one of them

IgiTang · 08-30-2015, 12:50 PM

I read "Brodano" and instantly thought yeeesh.. training camp can't start soon enough...

Vinny01 · 08-30-2015, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

If it ain't broke ...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler were absolutely dynamite, do not break them up.

Gio - Brodie was arguably the best pair in the league, both in terms of defense and offense, don't touch that chemistry.

The top line was pretty weak in the playoffs outside of a couple games. 7 combined points in the first 5 games of round 1 then blew up with 10pts in game 6. I agree start that way (up front) but let's not talk like this line was invincible