Predict the opening day line-up

[_Q_]

I know there is one more pre-season game left, but by now, we should all have a decent idea about who will and won't make the team.

So, in your mind, who will make the team and what will the line-up look like?

Here's my stab at it:

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Cammalleri - Backlund - Hudler
Baertschi - Galiardi - D. Jones
Bouma - Monahan - Jackman
McGrattan & Horak extras

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russell
O'Brien - Butler
Smith

Ramo
McDonald

Beyond that, I think Monahan goes back to Juniors after the first 9 games and Ferland is brought in as an extra, while Horak takes Monahan's vacated spot on the fourth line.

[ComixZone]

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Baertschi - Monahan - Cammalleri
Hudler - Backlund - D. Jones
Bouma - Galiardi - McGrattan
Jackman

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
O'Brien - Butler
Smith

Ramo
McDonald

[Drury18]

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Cammalleri - Galliardi - Hudler
Baertschi - Backlund - McGrattan
Bouma - Knight - Horak

Jackman and Ferland extra

Giordano - Brodie
O'Brien - Russell
Wideman - Butler
Smith

Ramo
Berra

[kyuss275]

Can't really disagree with "Q" on who makes the team. The lines might be a bit different. The only player i can see being traded or put on waivers is Jackman and i doubt they will do it.

Those bottom 4 pairings are horrible, but accurate. Not sure what will be worse the Butler-SOB pairing playing 15 minutes or less, or, Wideman - Russell playing 17- 20 minutes?

I really think the flames will try and make a trade for someone that can play on the 2nd pairing. They could then put Brodie down on second pairing, rather than him going against the ellite talent in the league. He is going to be good, but he is not there yet.

[skudr248]

O brien and butler.. holy hell, I can already see myself yelling at the TV

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Cammalleri - Galliardi - Hudler
Baertschi - Backlund - McGrattan
Bouma - Knight - Horak

Jackman and Ferland extra

Giordano - Brodie
O'Brien - Russell
Wideman - Butler
Smith

Ramo
Berra

$4 million Jones does not make the team?

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

$4 million Jones does not make the team?

Keep forgetting we have two of them....

Jones in where McGrattan is.

McGrattan and Jackman extra's. Ferland goes to Abby.

[djsFlames]

Baertschi - Monahan - Cammalleri

(licks chops)

Lethal line.

[thymebalm]

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Cammalleri - Backlund - Hudler
Baertschi - Galiardi - D. Jones
Bouma - Horak - Ferland

McGrattan & Jackman extras

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russell
O'Brien/Butler/Smith

Ramo
Berra

On my team, Monahan makes the roster, but I just read an interesting article where Horak was saying this is his last chance to stick with the big club.

So, even though Monahan is better than Horak, it might be wise to keep maturing Horak at the NHL level since his window is closing, and bring up Monahan next season to join backlund/horak/stajan in the center ice rotation..

In truth. I hope we pick up one more 4/5/6 defender from trading some of our veteran forward depth. There are a lot of guys up front pushing for spots, and a big ? on the backend. If SOB/Butler perform well, it could be awesome, but better safe than sorry.

[stemit14]

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Baertschi - Backlund - Cammalleri
Hudler - Monahan - Jones
Galiardi - Reinhart - Bouma

Extras: Mcgrattan & Jackman

Brodie - Giordano
Wideman - Russell
O'brian - Butler
Smith

[codynw]

This isn't what I hope it looks like, just what I think it will look like (lines will likely be different, but players are probably pretty close)

Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Baertschi - Backlund - Cammalleri
Hudler - Galliardi - Jones
Bouma - Reinhart - McGrattan

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russel
Butler - O'Brien

Ramo
MacDonald

They need to move some veterans to make room for young guys. This leaves no room for Horak, Sieloff, Monahan, Knight, Ferland....... It's hard to rebuild when you have no roster spots for your prospects.

[_Q_]

I think Butler is a lot better than most of you give him credit for.

Is he a top 2 guy? Definitely not. #3/4? Possibly. Bottom pairing? Yes, and a good one at that. SOB on the other hand, from what I've seen, doesn't belong on an NHL roster.

[stemit14]

I think it sold be a great fit to try cammalleri on the right wing with baertschi on the left wing... Too many times baertschi is setting up guys with golden scoring chances and they don't have the finish to put the puck in the net. Cammalleri is the best goal scorer on the team so I think he should play with the best playmaker in baertschi.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I think Butler is a lot better than most of you give him credit for.

Is he a top 2 guy? Definitely not. #3/4? Possibly. Bottom pairing? Yes, and a good one at that. SOB on the other hand, from what I've seen, doesn't belong on an NHL roster.

SOB looked pretty good against the Rags actually. Our team needs some size and toughness. Stockpiling all these young, skilled kids will be a waste if they all get destroyed by big hits or are faced to play guys twice their size all the time. You need a guy like SOB in your lineup with young roster like this.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Cammalleri-Backlund-Jones (offense and power line)
Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak (two-way production line)
Baertschi-Monahan-Hudler (two gifted kids with the veteran line)
Bouma-Galiardi-Jackman (checking line)

Extras: Horak, McGrattan

This team will likely roll four lines, so there won't be a true order to them other than whoever is going well will get more time that night.

Brodie-Giordano
Wideman-Russell
SOB-Butler

Extra: Smith

Ramo-Berra

[killer_carlson]

Cammalleri - Backlund Glencross
Jones Horak Stempniak
Baertschi Monohan Hundler
Bouma Galliardi McGratton
Extra: Knight

Brodie Giordano
Russell Wideman
Obrien Smith
Extra: Wotherspoon

Ramo Berra

Stajan, Butler and Jackman do not make the team and are waived resulting in my excited delirium.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I think Butler is a lot better than most of you give him credit for.

Is he a top 2 guy? Definitely not. #3/4? Possibly. Bottom pairing? Yes, and a good one at that. SOB on the other hand, from what I've seen, doesn't belong on an NHL roster.

Butler:
Is he a top 2 guy? Definitely not.
#3/4? Definitely not.
Bottom pairing? Possibly.
SOB is no stud but at least he can play the agitator/semi-tough guy role. Butler brings nothing but negatives to the team and he's not even a prospect who *may* get better one day.

I hope to see SOB > Butler on opening night.

[Poe969]

is Cammy even going to be better by then? If he's not, it really leaves a hole up front for us.... I will come out and say that I"m not expecting much from this team but I think they'll be one of the most fun teams we've had the chance to watch in a while

[cannon7]

I'm surprised not to see Reinhart not on most lineups. I think he makes this team.

Knight looks like a bad contract so far, he's OK but I think expectations were much higher. I guess we'll see if they keep him as a Cervenka sort of experiment.

Bouma and Ferland look like they could fit on the fourth line, but I think they'll go with Jackman to start the season.

Horak hasn't really stood out as much as I'd hoped, his overall game is still solid but I think they are hoping for more offense. Probably starting the season in Abbottsford.

On D, I'd love to see one of the youngsters get a shot. Still not happy with Butler and not too keen on Smith.

Ramo is our starter.

[macrov]

Im going to assume we have no checking line to start the season. Run and Gun baby.


Cammalleri - Stajan - Stempniak
Glencross- Backlund - Hudler
Baertschi - Monahan- D. Jones
Galiardi - Reinhart- Horak

McGrattan, Jackman, Bouma, Knight extras

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Butler
O'Brien - Smith
Russell

Ramo
McDonald