Rank the Flames centers

[Lanny_McDonald]

Seeing all of the projected lineups recently has been a real head scratcher in trying to figure out where people saw players in the big picture. So I thought it might be of interest to rank the Flames centers and have people explain their rankings. The Flames current centers are Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Elias Lindholm, Mark Jankowski, Curtis Lazar, and Nick Shore (if signed). So who is ordered where, and why?

I see then as such.

Sean Monahan - number one for obvious reasons. He is the finisher to Gaudreau’s playmaker.

Elias Lindholm- a talented player who works hard at both ends of the ice. He’s good in the face off circle which is why he jumps up. I think he ends up on the wing though, and provides secondary scoring.

Mark Jankowski - the Flames have been waiting, and very patient, for a big skilled center to arrive. Jankowski is that guy. A responsible player in the defensive end, he also brings a great skill level missing in the middle for the Flames.

Mikael Backlund - a hard working center that is better in the defensive side if the puck than the offensive side. He doesn’t generate enough offensive to drive a line, nor does he have the skill to do so. He could be an elite third line center given opportunity to focus on that skill.

Sam Bennett - an enigma at this point in his career. No one is sure what Bennett is going to be because his game has not yet come together, he doesn’t look good at center, but he hasn’t proven himself on the wing either. I think he will shake out more on the wing, on either the second or third line.

Nick Shore - a 4th line energy guy is what I saw from him in LA. He didn’t get opportunity to show much in Calgary, so he’s a bit of a mystery. I’d like to see more of him, and preferably on the 4th line.

Curtis Lazar - as a center he makes a great winger. As a winger barely cuts it. He’s really like able but he just doesn’t do much out there. If he sticks around it will be a winger in the bottom line, and that is not a certainty at this point.

So, my lineup would be:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Bennett-Jankowski-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik
Lazar-Shore-Brouwer

If we do go out and sign Tobias Rieder, he slots into the Mangiapane spot on Backlund’s line. If we do sign Derek Ryan, he slots into the Shore spot in the 4th line.

What’s your ranking look like?

[Roof-Daddy]

If Lindholm and Jankowski are really better than Backlund then the Flames are set at center for the next 5-10 years.

Problem is they aren't better than Backlund right now. Luckily they are both 23 years old and can still get better, so it might be true by this time next year.

My ranking:

Monahan
Backlund
Lindholm
Jankowski

[Hot_Flatus]

If Backlund ends up as the Flames 3rd center at some point this season, the Flames are likely in the conversation of being one of the top 4-5 teams in the league. Especially if the team has Frolik on his wing making a true elite third line.

I think this is possible, however it is asking a lot from Jankowski at this point in his career but would hinge on the team's ability to bring in a bonafide top 6 scorer before training camp to take some offensive pressure off of the kid.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Vanek-Jankowski-Lindholm
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Mangiapane-Lazar-Reider
Brouwer

[Finger Cookin]

Monahan - a bona fide #1 center, despite people constantly hair splitting about whether he's "elite" or "true" or whatever

Backlund - a bona fide #2 center who's elite at driving the game and being deployed in challenging matchups every single shift

Jankowski - a promising #3 center who appears to have the tools to be a bona fide #2 center with more offensive upside. He's not ready to be a #2 at the moment though

Elias Lindholm - I don't know enough about him or whether he'll play much at center this year. I expect he's somewhere between Jankowski and Backlund? Time will tell

Bennett - not a centre at the NHL level

Shore, Lazar - replacement level centers, maybe a little less than that

[Enoch Root]

As it stands right now:

Monahan
Backlund
Lindholm
Jankowski
Bennett
Lazar
Dube

We shall see how much Lindholm plays C vs RW over the next few years, but that is how I would rank their abilities at C today.

However, every name below Backlund's is young and there is all kinds of room for growth. The Flames' future will be largely determined by which of those players progress, and by how much.

(Same thing is true with all of our young defensemen, and with our 3 young goalies)

[bigrangy]

Monahan
Backlund
Lindholm
Bennett
Jankowski
Shore
Dube
Lazar

I don't think much of Jankowski as a center though he is young and should improve with time. That being said, Bennett is not great either. I think they should both be wingers if the Flames could get a proper centerman for them.

[iloveicedhockey]

When I saw that peters had asked Chucky to work on right side skills in the off season, I too thought it would be to go on Janko and Bennett's line. It's reliant on Jankowski taking a stride forward to a fifty point potential guy but it'd certainly give Bennett
to skilled linemates we want to see him with.

If that line were to fulfill its potential (reasonably big if), they'd be an absolute nightmare to play against:feisty, can bang, good in the corners and in front, great play making and Janko's shot. Relies a lot of pieces falling into place though.

I like the OP lines, with Foo potentially supplanting Brouwer eventually, and mangiapane adding scoring to a resolute shutdown line.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by New Era

Seeing all of the projected lineups recently has been a real head scratcher in trying to figure out where people saw players in the big picture. So I thought it might be of interest to rank the Flames centers and have people explain their rankings. The Flames current centers are Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Elias Lindholm, Mark Jankowski, Curtis Lazar, and Nick Shore (if signed). So who is ordered where, and why?

I see then as such.

Sean Monahan - number one for obvious reasons. He is the finisher to Gaudreau’s playmaker.

Elias Lindholm- a talented player who works hard at both ends of the ice. He’s good in the face off circle which is why he jumps up. I think he ends up on the wing though, and provides secondary scoring.

Mark Jankowski - the Flames have been waiting, and very patient, for a big skilled center to arrive. Jankowski is that guy. A responsible player in the defensive end, he also brings a great skill level missing in the middle for the Flames.

Mikael Backlund - a hard working center that is better in the defensive side if the puck than the offensive side. He doesn’t generate enough offensive to drive a line, nor does he have the skill to do so. He could be an elite third line center given opportunity to focus on that skill.

Sam Bennett - an enigma at this point in his career. No one is sure what Bennett is going to be because his game has not yet come together, he doesn’t look good at center, but he hasn’t proven himself on the wing either. I think he will shake out more on the wing, on either the second or third line.

Nick Shore - a 4th line energy guy is what I saw from him in LA. He didn’t get opportunity to show much in Calgary, so he’s a bit of a mystery. I’d like to see more of him, and preferably on the 4th line.

Curtis Lazar - as a center he makes a great winger. As a winger barely cuts it. He’s really like able but he just doesn’t do much out there. If he sticks around it will be a winger in the bottom line, and that is not a certainty at this point.

So, my lineup would be:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Bennett-Jankowski-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik
Lazar-Shore-Brouwer

If we do go out and sign Tobias Rieder, he slots into the Mangiapane spot on Backlund’s line. If we do sign Derek Ryan, he slots into the Shore spot in the 4th line.

What’s your ranking look like?

Slotting Mangiapane with any role on the NHL roster calls into question your hockey acumen.

Hathaway/ Foo/ Dube /Mangiapane Pick one in that order of being on the NHL roster at all after the UFA or 2 that have been signaled.


Having Mangiapane as so close to making the current Flames roster gives credence to the Flames looking hard at Reaves and Derek Ryan.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Slotting Mangiapane with any role on the NHL roster calls into question your hockey acumen.

Hathaway/ Foo/ Dube /Mangiapane Pick one in that order of being on the NHL roster at all after the UFA or 2 that have been signaled.


Having Mangiapane as so close to making the current Flames roster gives credence to the Flames looking hard at Reaves and Derek Ryan.

Both inappropriate, and wrong.

Mangiapane was close last year - he had some useful shifts and useful games. It is entirely reasonable to suggest he will continue to grow this year (being all of 22). So no need for the insults.

[Strange Brew]

I haven’t seen much of Lindholm but if he could become a 60 - 70 point guy that can play both ends of the ice, Flames are golden. Would love to see him centering second line.

[EldrickOnIce]

Also like OP lines, though not rankings. Backlund is elite shutdown center

[kehatch]

Really have to question how anyone has Jankowski ranked ahead of Backlund or Lindholm. The guy had 25 points playing sheltered minutes. He had the worst possession numbers among Calgary centres. I like him. A lot. But in no world is he ahead of those guys.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

If Backlund ends up as the Flames 3rd center at some point this season, the Flames are likely in the conversation of being one of the top 4-5 teams in the league. Especially if the team has Frolik on his wing making a true elite third line.

I think this is possible, however it is asking a lot from Jankowski at this point in his career but would hinge on the team's ability to bring in a bonafide top 6 scorer before training camp to take some offensive pressure off of the kid.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Vanek-Jankowski-Lindholm
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Mangiapane-Lazar-Reider
Brouwer

Backlund Frolik and Tkachuk were not an elite 3rd line based on the 2017-18 season. High 2nd line minutes and 48 goals ... 13 of these goals on the PP. and a combined -41. It was Tkachuk carrying around a couple of aging veterans.

Maybe cutting their TOI by 3 minutes each will help Backlund / Frolik tandem.

The Flames moved directly from a Stajan extension situation to a Backlund extension.

[EldrickOnIce]

^ nonsense
Both Backlund and Frolik had historically (for them) low shooting %
The problem was finishing. It wasn't not generating.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

^ nonsense
Both Backlund and Frolik had historically (for them) low shooting %
The problem was finishing. It wasn't not generating.

agree... generating a shot on goal is not the same as scoring.

The Flames were in desperate trailing situations for a lot of seasons. A lot of their attempted shots were put the puck towards the net anything can happen. Knocks the heck out of shooting %.


The rationale on good shot suppression stats were based on the other team protecting a lead and dumping the puck deep rather than taking a chance on quick transition.

[EldrickOnIce]

No. It's not the same as scoring, but over the past 5 seasons Backlund has averaged over 10% shooting, with a low of 9.1%
Last season his shoot% was 6.5

I fully expect these pucks will go in more along the lines of his normal and that numbers will return to expected.

[soulchoice]

I am a firm believer that Backlund is our second best centerman. If need be, his offensive numbers would be much better. However he gets the tough matchups. Deploy him in an offensive capacity and he would excel as well. I think many underate his offensive talents.

Backs is one of few that seems to carry the puck in the zone and gain entry on a regular basis. Ability to use his body to protect the puck. Has great hands as well. It's just the mere fact he is relied on heavily to play the 200 foot game(defensive zone starts) which hurts his offensive numbers. In addition to being the one to shut down the other elite centres on other teams.

[DropIt]

Backlund is closer to Monahan than Lindholm/Jankowski are at this stage.

Monahan
Backlund
Lindolhm
Jankowski
Lazar
Bennett

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Backlund is closer to Monahan than Lindholm/Jankowski are at this stage...

I am not sure about that. I have:

Monahan
Backlund/Lindholm
Jankowski
Bennett
Lazar

[GranteedEV]

I believe Bennett is a better center than Jankowski. It's tough to compare to Backlund and Monahan, because those two have centered top six wingers (often two at a time) for consistent periods and he hasn't, but I do think overall Backlund is our best center in terms of the expectations of a role. It's impossible to rank Lindholm - not only has he played about as much center as Bennett in his career, but he did so on a completely different team. I do like Jankowski at center but I just think Bennett's better at the role shift-by-shift.

Beyond that,
Shore is excellent at the center position.
Dube looked excellent at center as well. I hope we keep him at the position in the AHL instead of trying to convert him to wing as I think there's something special about the way he sees the game, kind of a homeless man's Brayden Point.
Lazar is an awful center.