[News] Breaking down the NHL’s best and worst first lines this season

[Erick Estrada]

This story is behind the Athletic paywall but interesting the the Flames first line is not only the best but the best by a considerable margin. One wonders how good this team could be if they had a legitimate 2nd line.

https://theathletic.com/3097760/2022...this-season-2/

In dissecting the individual teams, Calgary jumps off the page. The Flames’ top line is NHL-best both offensively and defensively — a very rare combination. Johnny Gaudreau’s line has scored 43 goals and conceded just 11 — it’s completely bonkers, a pace that we haven’t seen from a top-line in a very long time. Given this, it’s no surprise that Gaudreau is in line to crack a three-figure points mark for the first time in his career and why Matthew Tkachuk is on pace for a 42-goal, 93 point campaign as well.

[kyuss275]

Yes one does wonder how good this team would be with a 2nd line. I have to presume flames have one of the worst, if not worst production 2nd lines in nhl.

[TheChief]

What is Brad doing ? Go out and get a top 6 forward...now. This could be our "Columbus" all in year of a few years ago. Lots of uncertainty around our best player staying beyond this season. Sutter is only signed for one more season beyond this, the time to acquire is this deadline, and hopefully sooner. I personally am hoping for Jared McCann, or in dream world scenario, JT Miller.

[CliffFletcher]

Most teams don’t put their top three forwards on the same line. According to comments by Sutter, the plan in the preseason was to try Tkachuk, Lindholm, and Coleman together, and Guadreau, Monahan, and someone else. Spread the wealth. But Monahan can’t cut it anymore, and Tkachuk lobbied to play with Gaudreau, so the the top three forwards were put together again.

The decline of Monahan and Backlund has left the forwards top-heavy.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Yes one does wonder how good this team would be with a 2nd line. I have to presume flames have one of the worst, if not worst production 2nd lines in nhl.

yes guess may depend how you define the lines and or production metrics- Mangiapane alone still has more goals that any player on a few teams, so possibly not but there is a steep drop off after line one for sure

[Macman]

Doesn't last year count as a year on Sutter's 2 year deal?

But yeah the top line has been really good, they need to shore up the depth and get ready to go on a big run.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Macman

Doesn't last year count as a year on Sutter's 2 year deal?

But yeah the top line has been really good, they need to shore up the depth and get ready to go on a big run.

3 year deal...and yes it does.

[Macman]

So it was a 3 year deal, I thought it was 2 myself and that's why I was wondering cause I saw a couple other posts saying it was 2 years.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by TheChief

What is Brad doing ? Go out and get a top 6 forward...now. This could be our "Columbus" all in year of a few years ago. Lots of uncertainty around our best player staying beyond this season. Sutter is only signed for one more season beyond this, the time to acquire is this deadline, and hopefully sooner. I personally am hoping for Jared McCann, or in dream world scenario, JT Miller.

How many trades have there been since Eichel trade? Have to think close to zero. For years now , for the most part trades happen near trade deadline and summer . Teams wanting to get rid of good players will wait it out . Not much Tre can do other than offer an overpayment right now to get it done.

[TheChief]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

How many trades have there been since Eichel trade? Have to think close to zero. For years now , for the most part trades happen near trade deadline and summer . Teams wanting to get rid of good players will wait it out . Not much Tre can do other than offer an overpayment right now to get it done.

I think we are closer to a scorched earth rebuild then some think depending on how the cards fall this summer.

[Enoch Root]

And some fans think the Flames don't have any elite players.

The top line has been the best line in the league all year - and it seems to be getting better.

[dino7c]

not to mention they have played 14 home games

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

How many trades have there been since Eichel trade? Have to think close to zero. For years now , for the most part trades happen near trade deadline and summer . Teams wanting to get rid of good players will wait it out . Not much Tre can do other than offer an overpayment right now to get it done.

I’m pretty sure he can will power a trade. If he would only try.

[Bonded]

Monahan had a rough game last one but if he can become a 2nd line center and Treliving gets another top RW, I think they'll get past the first round

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

...The decline of Monahan and Backlund has left the forwards top-heavy.

I think this is a premature conclusion.

Monahan and Backlund have more recently been among the team's best forwards, and the production is starting to increase. And this makes a lot of sense—recovery from major surgery can often take a very long time as it seems to have for Monahan, and Backlund typically plays his best hockey in the second-half.

[Classic_Sniper]

What a shame it took this organization until 2021 to put this line together when they’ve been teammates since 2016. This exact line was even tested out under Bill Peters in 2019 and despite being terrific together for a short stint, they were split up because this team had no depth and still doesn’t today. Now the duo’s sweetheart deals are over this season and they’re expecting massive paydays. One of them is a UFA and could be gone in a few months.

It truly is a crying shame. Who knows what direction this organization could’ve went if this top line was united earlier. They’ve built a legitimate second line right now and maybe the Flames could’ve already contended for the Cup the last couple seasons.

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

What a shame it took this organization until 2021 to put this line together when they’ve been teammates since 2016. This exact line was even tested out under Bill Peters in 2019 and despite being terrific together for a short stint, they were split up because this team had no depth and still doesn’t today. Now the duo’s sweetheart deals are over this season and they’re expecting massive paydays. One of them is a UFA and could be gone in a few months.

It truly is a crying shame. Who knows what direction this organization could’ve went if this top line was united earlier. They’ve built a legitimate second line right now and maybe the Flames could’ve already contended for the Cup the last couple seasons.

That's not really accurate. We only acquired Lindholm in 2018, and in 2018-19 our top-6 lines were excellent:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk (2021-22): 62.0% xGF%, 4.00 Goals/60
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm (2018-19): 54.0% xGF%, 3.79 Goals/60
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik (2018-19): 58.1% xGF%, 4.07 Goals/60


So really, the time range for this "problem" would be from some time in late 2019 to whenever it was in mid-last season that Sutter put this new line together. And that's only if you think those lines both deserved to be broken up immediately after the Colorado series, otherwise it narrows even further.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And some fans think the Flames don't have any elite players.

The top line has been the best line in the league all year - and it seems to be getting better.

Oh I’ve definitely known Tkachuk and Gaudreau were elite for a long time. I was one of the few who said Gaudreau was flat out under appreciated around here when there were endless pages and threads trying to boot him out of town.

The problem is, this could be the last season these guys are together and even if they are all re-signed, this team’s cap problems going forward will prevent them from adding necessary depth around them. If management didn’t burn so many assets and resources over the years for a bunch of quick fixes, maybe this team would have some more quality players ready to take over important roles rather than rely on expensive UFAs.

Like how helpful would a Noah Dobson and a Jordan Kyrou be right about now? They would’ve helped to solve some of the problem areas of this organization for years to come. But management pawned those picks off for Travis Hamonic and Brian Elliott.

[Strange Brew]

Teammates since 2018, not 2016.

I’m glad this is a line but it does give me reason for concern in the playoffs if they can’t add scoring depth.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by TheChief

What is Brad doing ? Go out and get a top 6 forward...now. This could be our "Columbus" all in year of a few years ago. Lots of uncertainty around our best player staying beyond this season. Sutter is only signed for one more season beyond this, the time to acquire is this deadline, and hopefully sooner. I personally am hoping for Jared McCann, or in dream world scenario, JT Miller.

That's a weird example, considering how Columbus completely destroyed it's future in exchange for a lousy second round exit.

The extent to which they sacrificed everything for short term gains was a terrible idea even back then.