Flames Disfunctional Line-up

[Goriders]

I think a big issue Treliving's going to have is rearranging the line-up. I honestly think we have a number of quality young players now. More than most people give us credit for. But if you look at the current line-up and the guys knocking at the door we have surplusses in certain areas and shortages in others.

We have a surplus of centers (Stajan, Monahan, Backlund, Colborne, Bouma, Byron, Granlund, Reinhart, Arnold, Knight) and I'm guessing we're going to be adding another one today. We have so many centers a number of them were playing wing last year. This is what puzzled me when they resigned Stajan. I'm guessing they did that to mentor the young guys. But it didn't help eleviate the log jam. I'm also guessing if there are any trades in the near future that one of the above group will be leaving. My guess would be Backlund. Just because he's the most developed right now. But I'm also guessing he's not goign to be a good fit in a year or two if Monahan, Colborne and who ever we draft today keep developing.

The other area that is borderline rediculous is on the wing. I think we have roughly 9 left wingers that have legit chances to play with the big club in the next year or two (Hudler, Glencross, Gaudreau, Beartschi, Wolf, Poirier, Klimchuk, Agostino, Ferland). I'm assuming they will also resign Westgarth. Pretty sure Galiardi will not be back. Also guessing Cammalleri will be gone. Hudler can play right wing, which helps. But this is the other group that could have some trade bait. My guess would be Baertschi, Hudler and Glencross at the end of the year.

Right wing has the opposite issue. No real true right wingers. Hudler is interchangeable. But after that it's fairly weak. (Jones, McGratten, Hanowski). Pretty sad. I'm guessing some of the centers or left wingers are going to be converted to right wing because of this. Probably guys like Byron if resigned and Reinhart. I think this is our biggest roster need. No trade bait here. We don't even have enough to field a team.

We seem to have a fairly good defensive core and some proopects coming up. But a lot of them seem to come from the same mold. Wideman, Brodie, Russell and Billins all seem to be puck moving non-physical d-men. Giordano and Smid are probably our only truly physical d-men. Maybe Wotherspoon. But they're not overly large players. My guess is they'll probably move one of the puck movers. I'd guess Wideman would be the one that doesn't fit. I'm also predicting that they will pick up an older physical d-man in free agency. Murray, Orkpik, Mitchell or someone like that.

In net we seem to be not too bad with prospects comig up. Ramo played well before he got hurt, Ortio looked alright when he got a chance. MacDonald could be a bridge guy until guys like Gillies show up. We will need another goalie if MacDonald is not resigned.

Should be interesting to see what happens at the draft today. Another center that's borderline ready could compound an already existing issue. But right wing is by far the biggest problem right now. I'm guessing there will be a few moves before the start of the season to try and re-balance things.

But having said al lof this. If we have a good draft today I think we'll probably have the most promising group of young prospects I'm seen in the last 10 years. Mainly because we've never actually had any promising young players. Hopefully enough of them can develop in the next few years so that we don't have to pick in the top handful every year like the Oilers.

[Day Tripper]

Originally Posted by Goriders

We have a surplus of centers

Holy ****, how did that happen?

[Miniac]

Poirier can play RW. I don't see Glencross staying with the Flames after this season. He should be traded by trade deadline. Maybe traded today?

[ForeverFlameFan]

I feel that our team will be a top 9, bottom 3 team in forwards, and a top 2, bottom 4 in defense.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

Holy ****, how did that happen?

surplus of bottom line centers unfortunately.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Right wing has the opposite issue. No real true right wingers. Hudler is interchangeable. But after that it's fairly weak. (Jones, McGratten, Hanowski). Pretty sad. I'm guessing some of the centers or left wingers are going to be converted to right wing because of this. Probably guys like Byron if resigned and Reinhart. I think this is our biggest roster need. No trade bait here. We don't even have enough to field a team.

You forgot this guy:

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by nik-

surplus of bottom line centers unfortunately.

Some 2nd and 3rd liners in there for sure.

Add in today's draft pick (potentially), Monahan could be a number 1, and the center depth at the top end is starting to look good too.

A past weakness has the potential to start turning into pretty good strength here soon.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Miniac

Poirier can play RW. I don't see Glencross staying with the Flames after this season. He should be traded by trade deadline. Maybe traded today?

Poirier is a right wing. He's a left handed shot but he's consistently played his off wing.

Back to the OP.

We have a surplus of centers (Stajan, Monahan, Backlund, Colborne, Bouma, Byron, Granlund, Reinhart, Arnold, Knight) and I'm guessing we're going to be adding another one today. We have so many centers a number of them were playing wing last year. This is what puzzled me when they resigned Stajan.

Centers become wingers all the time, it happens a lot as players move from junior to pro and from the AHL to the NHL. Only four center spots on an NHL team but 8 wing spots. It's easy for a center to become a winger but almost impossible for a winger to move to the center position and become effective in that new role. A lot more skating and plenty more responsibility playing down the middle.

Bouma, Byron, Reinhart, Colborne aren't centers anymore, they're wingers. I could see Granlund and one of Arnold/Knight making the move to the wing as well if they want to be NHL players.

Nothing wrong with adding as many centers as possible. When Colorado drafted MacKimmond1st overall last year they already had Statsny, Duchenne and O'Reily listed centers. They ended up moving MacKimmon to the right wing and O'Reily to the left wing to form two solid top lines.

Collect as many centers as possible, let the cream rise to the top and stay at that position, move other guys to the wing.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Some 2nd and 3rd liners in there for sure.

Add in today's draft pick (potentially), Monahan could be a number 1, and the center depth at the top end is starting to look good too.

A past weakness has the potential to start turning into pretty good strength here soon.

Well yes, we have them, I just think the the surplus is the lower end guys. We don't have an LA Kings problem

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by nik-

surplus of bottom line centers unfortunately.

Not really.

Top two line potentials: Monahan, Backlund, Granlund, Jankowski and probably 4th overall

That's five cracks at getting two top line centres. I'd say that's pretty awesome depth.

Bottom two line potentials: Colborne, Reinhart, Knight, Arnold

Actually may have more potential top end centres than bottom end ones after this draft.

[troutman]

I don't worry about positions. The roster is made over significantly every year.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You forgot this guy:

I have a feeling this guy is going to be the next fan favourite.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Makarov

You forgot this guy:

...Who am I watching, Ferland?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by saillias

...Who am I watching, Ferland?

Poirier

[Gaskal]

[Enoch Root]

Hudler, Jones and McGrattan play RW

As do Poirier, Ferland, Reinhart (at times), Wolf, and Hanowski.

Arnold and Gaudreau could play there as well

I would think the chances of at least one RW being called to the podium this weekend is pretty high.

Then there is possible trades

I really don't see much of a problem

[StrykerSteve]

Poirier is a RW.

[Timbo]

With a rebuild you end up with spare parts. Our GM has quite the challenge ahead of him.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Not really.

Top two line potentials: Monahan, Backlund, Granlund, Jankowski and probably 4th overall

That's five cracks at getting two top line centres. I'd say that's pretty awesome depth.

Bottom two line potentials: Colborne, Reinhart, Knight, Arnold

Actually may have more potential top end centres than bottom end ones after this draft.

If the Flames do it the way I'm hoping they do it, we should be stocked down the middle. And when you're stocked down the middle, you're stocked down the entire forward group.

Monahan and one of Reinhart/Bennett/Draisaitl leaves the Flames potentially strong. Factor in another high pick next year with franchise players available at the top and we're looking good. Add in long shots with potential in Jankowski and Granlund and we could be laughing.

I realize that's a lot of potential and what ifs but when we add a guy with Monahan today it's looking strong already.

[Enoch Root]

A lot of what-ifs, but it IS only one year into a rebuild.

To have as many prospects as we do at this point is pretty impressive.