Spooky Halloween Practice Notes

[FlamesAreOne]

@Fan960Steinberg

#Flames lines and pairings at practice Monday:

Huberdeau-Kadri-Mangiapane
Lucic-Lindholm-Toffoli
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Lewis-Ruzicka-Ritchie
Rooney

Weegar-Tanev
Hanifin-Andersson
Zadorov-Stone
Mackey

Markstrom
Vladar

[FBI]

Well that’s… different

[Paulie Walnuts]

Yikes Lucic shouldn't be that high up in the lineup.

[getbak]

They really need one more top-6 winger. Come on, Bradley.

[btimbit]

I would have liked to just see Kadri and Lindholm swapped, then Ruzika and Rooney, sure.

But I trust Sutter, I won't complain

[ComixZone]

We are certainly missing a top-6 winger, that’s for sure.

Lindholm’s strengths are defensive game and strong finishing ability. I don’t see Toffoli ever being a fit for his line, and Lucic is certainly less than ideal. Lindy with Chucky and Johnny worked so well because Lindy would help recover the puck in the defensive zone, and Chucky and Johnny would break it up the ice with Lindy trailing and finding open ice. As bad as Lindholm has looked this season, it’s also that they haven’t found a combo of players that play that way - and I don’t think it’s wise to try and make Lindy change his game. Tree needs to acquire another strong transition winger that can lead the rush up the ice.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

This tells me that Sutter is happy with his d-pairings, but not so happy with his forwards.

Probably more of an exercise in a new possible combination of lines should they look flat anytime in the future. I wouldn't expect to see this in the next game.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Seeing Rooney being the odd man out is strange as well he hasn't really done anything to stick out in a negative manner on the line.

[rogermexico]

The one thing that's really struck me with Lucic this season is how great he is at carrying the puck up the ice. It feels like he's probably the second best forward (after Kadri) at taking the puck deep into the O zone. If that line sticks it will be interesting to see what that opens up for Lindholm and Toffoli.

[red sky]

Line changes!

Like that first line. Less so the second line.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Seeing Rooney being the odd man out is strange as well he hasn't really done anything to stick out in a negative manner on the line.

Could be they just want to get the youngster some games.

[_Q_]

I think if we go with this next game, Sutter will deploy the Backlund line as the second line and the Lindholm line as the third line.

[Savvy27]

Interesting shake up. Unfortunately, it really illustrates that they are one forward short.

I'm fine with the Lucic promotion as he's been carrying the puck and passing really well this season so far. Hopefully he can go on another production run like he did early in the season last year and buy some time to accumulate cap space.

The Dube-Backlund-Coleman line is going to be really good, I think. So much speed and competitiveness, along with more talent than they had with Lewis there.

Finally, Huberdeau with Kadri and Mangiapane is an awesome line. Mang should be scoring more and unfortunately Huberdeau and Toffoli/Lindholm just didn't click.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I wouldn't expect to see this in the next game.

The next game is against Seattle, so it might be a good game to experiment with some things.

[Monahammer]

I do not love those lines but whatever. Trust in Sutter.

[sa226]

I don't think Sutter has been happy with Rooney for whatever reason.

I don't get the Lucic promotion, but he has played well to start the season. I'm guessing they want more speed on the Backlund line.

If it were up to me, Lewis would sit. Rooney would play wing with Backlund. Dube and Lucic remain in their spots.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I think if we go with this next game, Sutter will deploy the Backlund line as the second line and the Lindholm line as the third line.

Yeah I think so too, that makes a lot more sense to me

[DoubleK]

I hope Vladar gets a start this week.

Like the shake up of the forward lines. It's still early in the season and will probably take 15~20 games for the new guys to get comfortable with the new teammates, learn their tendencies, etc.

[Erick Estrada]

Sutter not happy with Rooney I assume. Not a fan of Lucic in the top 6 but it's probably temporary.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I hope Vladar gets a start this week.

Darryl said he wants him to get at least one game a week.

They have 7 games in the first 12 days of November, so I'd expect him to get at least 2 of those. Likely either tomorrow against Seattle or Thursday against Nashville, then one of the back-to-backs next week against either the Islanders or Devils.