2015/2016 - Predict the starting lineup

[Crumpy-Gunt]

If granlund doesn't make the team after his performance and colborne going down...that's unfair imo. Raymond and bollig may need to go

[hockey.modern]

Would like to see sometime this season.

Kulak-Brodie

[thymebalm]

Things shaking out like this for me with updated info

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Frolik - Bennett - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Jooris
Bollig - Stajan - Jones
xGranlund

Giordano - Hamilton
Wideman - Russell
Engelland - Kulak
xWilson

Hiller
Ramo
xOrtio

I have one too many players. Easy moves on Forward and D for demotions to save Ortio, but not a long term solution.

.

Part of me suspects the demotion / call-up process for the Sieloff and Morrison was to see just how long it would take to bring up a player from the minors. It's a new town and they might want to test their system before the season starts.

[Enoch Root]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Jones
Bollig - Stajan - Jooris
Byron, Granlund

Giordano - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Kulak - Engelland

Hiller

[getbak]

Looking at the Flames' schedule, during the first three weeks of the season, the Flames have 5 home games plus 2 road games in Vancouver and Winnipeg. They also have two full days between every game except for a back-to-back with the Winnipeg road game and a home game against the Oilers.

They don't have any significant travel until they go to New York after the Detroit game on the 23rd.


If there's any time when it's relatively safe to carry only 6 defencemen, the first three weeks of this season is it.

[SeanCharles]

Start of season:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Ferland-Bennett-Frolik
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Bollig-Stajan-Jooris
Byron/Granlund

Gio-Hamilton
Russell-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland

Ramo
Ortio
Hiller

When healthy:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Ferland-Bennett-Frolik
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Colborne-Stajan-Jooris
Bollig/Byron

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Kulak-Wideman
Engelland

Ortio
Ramo

Trade: Hiller, Smid
Waive/trade: Raymond

Pipe Dream?

[Mattman]

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have released defenceman Ryan Wilson from his professional try-out.

Calgary has 27 players remaining at training camp (3x goalies, 8x defencemen, 16x forwards).

Assuming Treliving hasn't got a trade in the works for Hiller or Ramo and it'd be dumb to waive Ortio. (8x defencemen, 16x forwards/20 spots)

Smid and Brodie are on IR right and aren't technically using a spot right? (6x defencemen, 16x forwards/20 spots)

There's the obvious ones like Gio, Mony, Huds, Johnny, Hamilton, Frolik and Bennett. (4x defencemen, 11x forwards/13 spots)

You got the veterans and the players who've really pushed for a spot to earn it like Bouma, Backlund, Russel, Wideman, Jones, Stajan, Ferland, Jooris, Colborne, Kulak and Engelland. (4x forwards/2 spots)

So you've got Bollig, Raymond, Granlund and Byron left fighting for 2 spots on the roster. Bollig hasn't shown anything too terrible during pre-season so I think he gets one spot. (3x forwards/1 spot)

Now you have 1 player who plays just wing (Raymond), 1 player who plays just center usually (Granlund), and 1 player who can play wing or center (Byron). *Anyway this shakes out I see one of Granlund or Byron making the team and Raymond being moved*

Raymond + Granlund OR Byron + AHL defenceman for Mid draft pick + B- player (because)

Hiller OR Ramo moved in a separate trade.

[Samonadreau]

I honestly cant see anyone picking up Raymond with his cap hit, even if you try to add pieces. Not even BT can pull that off. Other problem with that is you would have to keep him in the big leagues for a bit and pray he puts up some points cause nobody is gonna want him on or after waivers at this point.

[JoelOtto29]

Opening night:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Jooris
Bollig - Stajan - Jones
Byron, Raymond

Gio - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Kulak - Engelland

Hiller
Ramo
Ortio

[GioforPM]

With the guys I see realistically staying and then arranging the lines how I want:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jones
Byron-Stajan-Jooris
Bollig/Raymond
(I think Granlund deserves it but suffers from waiver-proof disease)

Gio-Hamilton
Russell-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland
(I'd consider switching Russell and Kulak if Engelland needs more experienced help).

Hiller/Ortio
Ramo

[YourMother]

Judging by most of these mock line-ups, it looked like everyone still assumes Hudler will flank Johnny and Mony? I know Hartley was mixing up the top line a bit during the pre-season, but are we pretty sure we're keeping those 3 in tact?

[Poe969]

I guess it depends on how chemistry goes the first couple of games. I could see Hudler with Bennett just because he's such a smart player and has a lot to teach. Bennett could learn a lot like the other 2 did but if that top line has the same chemistry as they did to end the season, it'd be hard to break them up.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I guess it depends on how chemistry goes the first couple of games. I could see Hudler with Bennett just because he's such a smart player and has a lot to teach. Bennett could learn a lot like the other 2 did but if that top line has the same chemistry as they did to end the season, it'd be hard to break them up.

I hesitate on breaking them up for chemistry, but over and above that, Hudler and Gaudreau are assisted by Monahan being a great two way player.

I think Bennett needs to either play third line or second with a better defensive winger than Hudler. He could play with Frolik on RW. There's really not a great defensive LW on the team to play with Hudler and Bennett, IMO.

[Bourque's Twin]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Bouma - Backlund - Jones
Bollig - Stajan - Jooris
xByron, xRaymond

Giordano - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Engelland - Kulak

Ramo
Hiller
xOrtio

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by getbak

Looking at the Flames' schedule, during the first three weeks of the season, the Flames have 5 home games plus 2 road games in Vancouver and Winnipeg. They also have two full days between every game except for a back-to-back with the Winnipeg road game and a home game against the Oilers.

They don't have any significant travel until they go to New York after the Detroit game on the 23rd.


If there's any time when it's relatively safe to carry only 6 defencemen, the first three weeks of this season is it.

This year with the heavy home schedule the expectations are so much higher .

The likely starting lineup has Frolik, Bennett, Ferland, Hamilton and Kulak that were not here last year... 5 out of 18 ..

The missing guys from last year are Glencross, Raymond, Brodie, Colbourne Diaz, Smid

Last year the Flames started with 1 game at home and 6 on the road... They were a surprisingly good 4-3.

The injured players were very important in last years start: Brodie had 27 minutes in the 3 road wins (the other was Edmonton). Colbourne was around 17 minutes a game.

[Bunk]

From Derek Wills: Flames Practice.

Bold move, but I always thought Smid had first line forward upside.

Gaudreau-Monahan-SMID
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Jones

Giordano-Hamilton
Russell-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland

Goaltenders:
Ramo
Ortio
Hiller

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Bunk

From Derek Wills: Flames Practice.

Bold move, but I always thought Smid had first line forward upside.

Gaudreau-Monahan-SMID
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Jones

Giordano-Hamilton
Russell-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland

Goaltenders:
Ramo
Ortio
Hiller

A little early to be drinking , no?

[Enoch Root]

dp

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Gaudreau-Monahan-SMID
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Jones

Giordano-Hamilton
Russell-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland

Goaltenders:
Ramo
Ortio
Hiller

(putting Hudler back in) these are the same lines we saw last game, right?

I think we can safely assume that's the lineup for Wednesday night unless someone isn't ready to go.