2015/2016 - Predict the starting lineup

[FBI]

Dang yeah I had jones with stajan and bouma but then thought I liked ferland a lot more. So yeah jones in and Byron out then.

Originally Posted by tvp2003

A quick resource to see who is under contract next year, remaining contract years, and UFA/RFA status: http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=97763



Jones traded?

[alan21]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lucic
Bennett - Backlund - Hudler
Bouma - Stajan - Jones
Ferlund - Jooris - Colborne
Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
Schlemko - Englland

Ramo
Ortio

[Murph]

I love this game...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Loui Eriksson
Colborne - Bennett - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Jones
Ferland - Stajan - Jooris

Bollig, Granlund, Shore, Poirer all get ice time

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
Eric Gelinas - Engelland

Schlemko, Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio

Bruins have up and coming right wingers in Pastrnak and Smith who need ice time. They need to clear some space as they have to fit 3 forwards, 4 defensemen and a goalie under the cap with $10M in space. I think Eriksson gets moved to create that space and we have the pieces the Bruins might want - Some combination of Poirer, Granlund, Jankowski, Klimchuk, and the 2015 2nds would get it done I think.

Rumours have Gelinas being traded for an NHL ready young forward (something we have an excess of), and he fits what we need on defense (big, young, NHL ready). I think we make good trading partners with the Devils.

Neither move weighs us down going forward salary cap wise, as Eriksson only has two years @ $4.25M left on his deal and Gelinas is an RFA.

Looking at that line-up, barring injury, the biggest question mark going forward is in goal.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Murph

Rumours have Gelinas being traded for an NHL ready young forward (something we have an excess of), and he fits what we need on defense (big, young, NHL ready). I think we make good trading partners with the Devils.

I would love Gelinas, he would be a perfect #5, but I think it would cost way too much to acquire him. Poirier+ or Klimchuk+ would be the asking price and I don't know if that would be a great move.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I would love Gelinas, he would be a perfect #5, but I think it would cost way too much to acquire him. Poirier+ or Klimchuk+ would be the asking price and I don't know if that would be a great move.

I wouldn't have a problem moving Klimchuk+ for him depending on the +, but I think trading Poirier could look quite foolish in a few years.

[savardandjokinen]

WHAT ABOUT BAERTSCHI? Nvm I forgot

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Fire

I wouldn't have a problem moving Klimchuk+ for him depending on the +, but I think trading Poirier could look quite foolish in a few years.

If I'm the Devils I'm asking Backlund+Klimchuk or Colborne+Klimchuk given the embarrassing state of their forwards, they may even want a pick added to that as well. Not sure if it would be worth it from CGY's POV as Gelinas has a lot of work to do in his own end before he could be considered a good 2 way defenseman. Agreed on Poirier, I really hope he isn't moved before guys like Granlund, Shore and Klimchuk, he seems to have the highest ceiling out of all of our forward prospects.

[Fire]

FORWARDS
Gaudreau(0.925m) Monahan (.925m) Hudler (4m)
Bouma(2.25m?) Backlund (3.5m?) Colborne (1.275m)
Ferland (1.0m?) Bennett (.925m) D. Jones (4m)
Jooris(1.0m?) Stajan(3.125m) Shore (0.9m)
Bollig (1.25m) Granlund (.767m)

Forward Cap Hit: $25.842

Trade Raymond (3.15m)
Trade/Don’t-resign Byron

DEFENSE
Giordano (4.02m) Brodie (4.65m)
Russell (2.6m) Wideman (5.25m)
UFA/Trade (3m?) Engelland (2.916m)
Schlemko(1.0m?) Wotherspoon (.925m)

Question Mark: Smid(3.5m) Career over?

Don’t re-sign Potter. Sign Diaz if Smid’s career is done and if they don’t feel Wotherspoon is ready.

Defense Cap Hit: $27.86


GOALIES
Hiller (4.25m)
Ortio (0.6m)

Goalie Cap Hit: $4.85m

Total Cap Hit: ~$58.55m

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by FBI

This was a fun thread over the summer last year with some of you guys making impressive predictions such as picking up hiller, and Raymond etc.

Here's my super early take:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Justin Williams
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Ferland
Byron - Shore - Jooris
Bollig, Raymond

Gio
Mike Green
Brodie
Russell
Engelland
Wotherspoon
Diaz

Really hope somehow Raymond is gone next year.

I'd move Hudler to the second line left wing and put Bennett or a UFA right winger/center that's a big body, can skate, and go east/west up there with Gaudreau and Monahan. As good as Hudler is for the Flames, he was small and mostly invisible on the top line during the playoffs.

Yeah, I totally agree with getting rid of Raymond. That was a totally useless signing and a waste of a spot on the lineup.

[ricardodw]

small forwards -Gaudreau , Hudler,
power forwards - Ferland, Bouma, Colborne, Jones
2-way forwards - Monahan, Bennett, Backlund, Stajan

that's 10 out of 14 spots that are set and would take a trade or injury to change

There is room for one more small forward unless unless it is Bennett's spot. Bennett is more aggressive than a regular small forward but is 20 lbs light of being a power forward.

That leaves 4 spots open .... under one-way contracts Raymond, Bollig

Players that will be playing somewhere in the NHL this year: Jooris, Shore, Byron, Granlund

Players needing a shot - Arnold, Porier

The Flames will not be adding a UFA or a major players through trade up front

On Defense Gio-Brodie-Russell-Wideman ----- Engelland

Full stop. Wootherspoon is likely the worst best prospect in the league. Ie other teams have a lot of D-men in their organization that are more NHL ready than Wootherspoon.

Schlemko is a UFA.... will the Flames overpay for him to be their #7/8 d-man as insurance if one of the top 4 puck moving d get hurt?

They need a Smid replacement .... someone with size who can break the cycle , kill penalties and play 10-12 minutes a game and 18+ if required.... basically another Engelland..

top UFA targets - Francois Beauchemin, Cody Franson, Mike Green.

Guys like Pardy and Harrison that got buried in the Jets defense depth would have got some serious minutes with the Flames when Smid and Gio went out.

The Flames are also in a position with forward depth to make a value for value trade young high potential forward for young high potential D-man

[HelloHockeyFans]

Love making lineups...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Shore - Ferland
Bollig - Stajan - Jones
Jooris, Poirier

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russell
Engelland - UFA
Schlemko
Diaz

Hiller
Ortio

Ramo leaves as UFA, Wotherspoon traded (don't think coaching staff is as crazy about him as CP seems to be looking at the lack of opportunities given to him and limited ice-time when forced to put him in), Raymond traded.

[FlamesFanFromBC]

Backlund, Jooris, Bouma and Ferland are all re-signed and on opening day roster

Ramo, David , and Potter do not return, sign elsewhere

Raphael Diaz is re-signed as UFA

Bennet, Poirier and Wolf make opening day roster

[Funkhouser]

Some good ideas here!

Forward
Gaudreau Monahan Hudler (why mess w a good thing?)
Ferland Stajan Jones (great second/shutdown line)
Bouma Bennett Colborne (responsible defensively with upside, shelters Bennett)
Byron Granlund Jooris (energy line)
Bollig & Shore (extras)

I don't see us adding any free agents up front. I see Backlund moving for defensive depth and Jones traded at the deadline or walking as a UFA


Defence
Brodie Giordano
Russell Wideman
Petry Engelland
Schlemko

Like Jones, I see Wideman perhaps getting moved as an upcoming UFA. I see us signing a #4D like Petry who can fill-in for injury in the top-4 (plus I want to see him destroy the Oilers). Smid is gone.


Goal
Hiller
Ortio
Ramo walks


Prospects
I see Arnold, Morrison, Hathaway, Elson and Poirier (ranked in-order) pushing for jobs this year. I think Wotherspoon and Wolf are moved

[Ryan Coke]

I think Backlund needs to be pushed down the depth chart to at least 3rd line. I like him, but he does not have enough offence to be a #2 guy and have this team take the next step.

If the flames see Bennett as a center going forward I think they should give him his time to develop there.

With Stajan-Backlund-Shore-Jooris for the bottom 2 center spots we are good there.

[Dan403]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Ferland
Porier - Shore - Jooris
Bollig

Raymond - gone for a 5th

Gio / Brodie
Russell / Wideman
Engelland / Morrison
Schlemko

Wotherspoon - Full season in minors

Ramo / Ortio

Hiller - Traded (Ramo signed to keep him out of Edmonton's oily mitts)

[dammage79]

FW:

Hudler-Monahan-Gaudreau
Colborne-Bennett-Tikhonov
Ferland-Shore-Bouma
Bollig-Stajan-Jones
Granlund, Poirier.

D:
Gio-Brodie
Widedog-Russell
Erhoff-Engelland
Schlemko, Wotherspoon

Hiller
Ortio.

[mhsyyc]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Belesky - Bennett - Colborne
Bouma - Backlund - Ferland
Bollig - Stajan - Jones
Jooris, Poirier

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russell
Engelland - Oduya
Schlemko
Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio

[hummdeedoo]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler

Bouma - Backlund - Jones/UFA-trade

Byron - Bennett - Colborne

Jooris - Stajan - Ferland

Bollig,Shore

Potential for Trade Raymond, Jones,Backlund

Just don't see Raymond fitting in anywhere. Jones could be replaced for a better 2nd line option.
Backlund would seem to bring the most for trade at the center position.


Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Russell
Engelland - XXXX
Schlemko
Diaz


Ramo
Hiller

Tough decision about the Goalies. Maybe sign Ramo and start with Ortio in Adirondack and once you are sure about Ortio make a trade.

Ortio

Oh yeah... Ortio's one way contract. Even more complicated than I thought.

[CN10]

My guesses for the 23 man opening night roster. I would like to see the Flames target a 3/4 pairing D and a top 9 RW in free agency.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund (RFA) - Stafford (UFA)
Bouma (RFA) - Stajan - Jones
Ferland (RFA) - Colborne - Raymond
x: Bollig, Jooris (RFA)

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
Oduya (UFA) - Engelland
x: Schlemko (UFA)

Ramo (UFA)
Hiller

[Fire]

For all those who think Ortio will not be in the starting line-up must be expecting him to crap the bed big time during training camp, otherwise it doesn't make any sense. Keeping both Ramo and Hiller in the NHL over Ortio would be travesty on multiple levels. In order for the Flames to make the next step a good #1 goalie will be needed. No guarantees Ortio will be that goalie but you need to give him the chance.