This years starting lineup

[Poe969]

I just hope he doesn't turn into another Chara. I think Kanzig made Breen expendable though for some reason in managements eyes.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I just hope he doesn't turn into another Chara. I think Kanzig made Breen expendable though for some reason in managements eyes.

I can't see breen turning into a chara and the thing is that kanzig is younger so they think he has the potential

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I had high hopes for Breen, but he did not look like an NHL player based on an admittedly a small sample size the last couple of years. Not too worried he turns into Chara.

[heep223]

Breen looked horrible the few times I did see him play. Not just "not ready for the NHL", but horrible.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

The real question is, how are we going to find our "elite", first line talent? Bennett is still likely 2-3 years away from being with the big club, as well as our 1st round draft pick next year will be 1-2 years IF development trends positively. Looking at the proposed lineups on here the big question is we have zero 1st line talent. Alot of the guys would be good 3rd maybe 2nd line depth guys on a contending team. Which is good we have those guys, but we need to acquire some elite talent somehow. Im not patient enough to draft and develop our own lol its tough

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by RoughRiderRowdy

The real question is, how are we going to find our "elite", first line talent? Bennett is still likely 2-3 years away from being with the big club, as well as our 1st round draft pick next year will be 1-2 years IF development trends positively. Looking at the proposed lineups on here the big question is we have zero 1st line talent. Alot of the guys would be good 3rd maybe 2nd line depth guys on a contending team. Which is good we have those guys, but we need to acquire some elite talent somehow. Im not patient enough to draft and develop our own lol its tough

hmm, so you aren't confident in at least one of the following developing into a top line player in the next 2-3 years?
- Monahan
- Bennet
- Gaudreau
- Baertchi
- Poirier
- Klimchuk
- 2015 1st round pick

As an organization, i think the flames are happy with their "balls in the pot" prospects that may turn out to be first line players.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by RoughRiderRowdy

The real question is, how are we going to find our "elite", first line talent? Bennett is still likely 2-3 years away from being with the big club, as well as our 1st round draft pick next year will be 1-2 years IF development trends positively. Looking at the proposed lineups on here the big question is we have zero 1st line talent. Alot of the guys would be good 3rd maybe 2nd line depth guys on a contending team. Which is good we have those guys, but we need to acquire some elite talent somehow. Im not patient enough to draft and develop our own lol its tough

That's exactly right. I feel our future talent are going to be first liners luckily, I feel hudler is the only one of those who has some if very little potential for 60 points

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

hmm, so you aren't confident in at least one of the following developing into a top line player in the next 2-3 years?
- Monahan
- Bennet
- Gaudreau
- Baertchi
- Poirier
- Klimchuk
- 2015 1st round pick

As an organization, i think the flames are happy with their "balls in the pot" prospects that may turn out to be first line players.

I didnt say that, but thanks for putting the words in my mouth i appreciate the generosity. When we say "top line player", does that mean after 2-3 years of development, they IMMEDIATELY jump into the lineup opening day of a season and tear it up?? theres adjustments and growing pains just like every other prospect. Also, people dont seem to understand that a top line player needs to play with other top line players, to infact be a proper "top line player", if that makes sense.

Realisticly, these guys will need at least one full NHL season with low-mid production getting their feet wet til they will be coined "top line players".

-3 Seasons IF everything goes well.

-Lets face it, the biggest "development" issue for all of our perceived "first line players", is strength and conditioning. Or, maturing into a man's body. This takes time you guys and cant be taught

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

That's exactly right. I feel our future talent are going to be first liners luckily, I feel hudler is the only one of those who has some if very little potential for 60 points

Great post i agree. And that being said, Hudler was 3rd line on a stanley cup winning team in Detroit. We need to bring in some elite talent

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by RoughRiderRowdy

Great post i agree. And that being said, Hudler was 3rd line on a stanley cup winning team in Detroit. We need to bring in some elite talent

Maybe hiller is a trade asset for a team in need of a 1b for a at least second liner

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by RoughRiderRowdy

I didnt say that, but thanks for putting the words in my mouth i appreciate the generosity. When we say "top line player", does that mean after 2-3 years of development, they IMMEDIATELY jump into the lineup opening day of a season and tear it up?? theres adjustments and growing pains just like every other prospect. Also, people dont seem to understand that a top line player needs to play with other top line players, to infact be a proper "top line player", if that makes sense.

Realisticly, these guys will need at least one full NHL season with low-mid production getting their feet wet til they will be coined "top line players".

-3 Seasons IF everything goes well.

-Lets face it, the biggest "development" issue for all of our perceived "first line players", is strength and conditioning. Or, maturing into a man's body. This takes time you guys and cant be taught

take it easy, wasn't jumping down your throat, apologies if that is how it was perceived.

I don't see any reason to go out hunting for top end talent at this stage of the rebuild. I am happy that they kept around some veterans in all positions to show guys that will push themselves into the line up in the coming year or 2 (the stajans, raymonds, bolligs, mcgrattons, giordano, widemans, heck engellands, and hiller). I think we'll see some of the prospects stepping into top line duty within a year or two. I also believe that the flames will make a plunge on the market (trade or FA) to add high end talent when they feel they have enough assets to start rounding the corner.

The LA kings are a prime example of that. ~5 years ago they had an unreal prospect pool and plenty of young studs on the NHL roster. However, they really turned the corner when they started using their plethora of assets to bring in guys like richards, carter, even penner (who did help them get the cup).

Flames are getting there, but no need to rush the next step of the rebuild, in my opinion.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

Maybe hiller is a trade asset for a team in need of a 1b for a at least second liner

Absolutely. Could possibly put a contender at the deadline over-the-top

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

take it easy, wasn't jumping down your throat, apologies if that is how it was perceived.

I don't see any reason to go out hunting for top end talent at this stage of the rebuild. I am happy that they kept around some veterans in all positions to show guys that will push themselves into the line up in the coming year or 2 (the stajans, raymonds, bolligs, mcgrattons, giordano, widemans, heck engellands, and hiller). I think we'll see some of the prospects stepping into top line duty within a year or two. I also believe that the flames will make a plunge on the market (trade or FA) to add high end talent when they feel they have enough assets to start rounding the corner.

The LA kings are a prime example of that. ~5 years ago they had an unreal prospect pool and plenty of young studs on the NHL roster. However, they really turned the corner when they started using their plethora of assets to bring in guys like richards, carter, even penner (who did help them get the cup).

Flames are getting there, but no need to rush the next step of the rebuild, in my opinion.

Good post. I think we stay the course, just made the point that im worried about our first line talent the next 1-2. Mainly the latter part

[CsInMyBlood]

Bollig-Bouma-McGrattan
Baertschi-Backlund-Byron
Glencross-Monahan-Raymond
Hudler-Stajan-Colborne

Giordano-Brodie
Wideman-Smid
Engelland-Russell
Wotherspoon

However the lines play out, I really hope Hartley DOES NOT play Glencross and Backlund with each other again. It just doesn't work and they don't compliment each other at all.

[Monahan23]

FORWARDS

Jiri Hudler ($4.000m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / David Jones ($4.000m)
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($0.925m)
Paul Byron ($0.600m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / Mason Raymond ($3.150m)
Lance Bouma ($1.000m) / Max Reinhart ($0.618m) / Brandon Bollig ($1.250m)
Bryce Van Brabant ($0.913m) / Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)

DEFENSEMEN

T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Dennis Wideman ($5.250m)
Kris Russell ($2.600m) / Deryk Engelland ($2.917m)
Keaton Ellerby ($1.000m)

GOALTENDERS

Jonas Hiller ($4.500m)
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)





FORWARDS

Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Bill Arnold ($0.888m) / Aaron Palushaj ($0.600m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Markus Granlund ($0.768m) / Emile Poirier ($0.894m)
Michael Ferland ($0.612m) / Corban Knight ($0.900m) / Kenneth Agostino ($0.845m)
David Wolf ($0.868m) / Josh Jooris ($0.925m) / Ben Hanowski ($0.851m)
Turner Elson ($0.565m) / Corey Locke ($0.600m) / Austin Carrol ($0.600m)
Garnett Hathaway ($0.600m) / Grayson Downing ($0.600m)

DEFENSEMEN

Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) / Sena Acolatse ($0.700m)
Patrick Sieloff ($0.894m) / Danny Syvret ($0.600m)
Mark Cundari ($0.660m) / John Ramage ($0.690m)
Brett Kulak ($0.657m) / Ryan Culkin ($0.657m)

GOALTENDERS

Joni Ortio ($0.605m)
Brad Thiessen ($0.550m)

[doctajones428]

Glencross - Backlund - Hudler
Raymond - Monahan - Colborne
Gaudreau - Stajan - Jones
Bollig - Bouma - McGrattan
Setoguchi, Byron

Giordano - Brodie
Smid - Wideman
Russell - Engelland
Diaz

Ramo
Hiller

Baertschi as the first call up

Edit:

OUT: Wotherspoon
IN: Diaz, Setoguchi

[Monahan23]

People, Wotherspoon won't be the 7th defencemen and prospects like Granlund or Reinhart won't be the 13th/14th forward. Prospects won't sit in the presser.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

People, Wotherspoon won't be the 7th defencemen and prospects like Granlund or Reinhart won't be the 13th/14th forward. Prospects won't sit in the presser.

Well that depends. I can think of a few defencemen (Giordano, Pardy) who started out playing 7th defenceman and with Wotherspoons ability to be sent up and down with no problems he can be sent down for a few games if he isn't getting a playing opportunity. I could see him replacing Smid, Engelland, Wideman or Russell on a rotating basis.

You are also not considering injuries and if you don't want a prospect like Granlund as an extra forward, name a vet that we have that will replace him. Granlund could be sent up and down to get playing time if needed as well.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by Monahan23

People, Wotherspoon won't be the 7th defencemen and prospects like Granlund or Reinhart won't be the 13th/14th forward. Prospects won't sit in the presser.

Then who will the 7th Dman be? Cundari, Seiloff, Lamb and Ramage are prospects too.

I can easily see Wotherspoon getting more games in than Engelland.

[FBI]

Gaudreau - Stajan - Jones
blah

seems like such a waste