Constructing the 2016/2017 Calgary Flames

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

I wonder if...

Shinkaruk - Bennett - Brouwer 2nd line

Ferland - Backlund - Frolik 3rd line

...would work out. A little more offence concentrated on the 2nd line and a little more experience/shut down/ checking on the 3rd line. I think Shinkaruk would blossom better with Bennett as a center rather than Backlund. The same goes for Tachuck if he makes the team (which I doubt).

I think you have to view them as 2a 2b lines.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

I wonder if...

Shinkaruk - Bennett - Brouwer 2nd line

Ferland - Backlund - Frolik 3rd line

...would work out. A little more offence concentrated on the 2nd line and a little more experience/shut down/ checking on the 3rd line. I think Shinkaruk would blossom better with Bennett as a center rather than Backlund. The same goes for Tachuck if he makes the team (which I doubt).

This is the ideal middle six for the upcoming season. The only player that would be in over their head would be Shinkaruk, and since that line will be heavily sheltered anyways, it should be safe. Tkachuk would battle for that spot in camp, but I expect him to either play 1RW with John and Sean or else play in London this year.

The problem with this middle six though is that there's nobody left to play on the top line. Chiasson is a question mark, Vey is bad, Poirier is probably a bust (hopefully not?), Pribyl will be in Stockton rehabbing after surgery, etc. Freddie Hamilton didn't look completely terrible there last year but that's not what he's on the team for. Re-signing Hudler for a year wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. The Flames would need to move out some cap unless he came back super cheap though.

off-topic: does anyone think Bouma could do well with Bennett, say a Bouma-Bennett-Brouwer third line? He's being paid like a 3rd liner, might as well deploy him like one. I almost don't want to play Ferland with Backlund in case he gets the Backlund Bump in a contract year haha.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I don't understand the posters thinking that getting rid of Engelland is a good idea. He's the only one who provides some big physical play to our defence and also to our team. We're trying to get bigger and tougher to compete against the big teams and some want to get rid of our biggest and baddest player because his scoring stats suck.

"Big and Bad" was McGrattan's claim to fame too, doesn't mean he was all that useful.

I would rather have Kris "Advanced Stats Hate Him" Russell, Dennis "produces offensively even if he's a 32 year old deer in the headlights in his own zone" Wideman, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Jyrki Jokipakka. I'm sure there could be a fit for Engelland somewhere (bottom pair beside Kulak or a 20 year old rookie Kylington) but there really isn't one next season. Wotherspoon nor Jokipakka nor Smid are good fits with Engelland stylistically. Hamilton nor Wideman should be playing the left side (and Wideman-Engelland is also a brutal pair). Engelland cannot survive the competition quality Giordano and Brodie face. So what's left other than a pressbox D being force fed minutes for being "Big and Bad"?

[flamesforcup]

Sort of off topic but i have a question. Lets say at Wideman has played like he did in the 14/15 season and at the deadline the flames are in a playoff spot by 1 point. Do u keep him and lose him for nothing and help your chances of making it or trade him for a return?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by flamesforcup

Sort of off topic but i have a question. Lets say at Wideman has played like he did in the 14/15 season and at the deadline the flames are in a playoff spot by 1 point. Do u keep him and lose him for nothing and help your chances of making it or trade him for a return?

Keep him.

It's a different story if the team is bad but Wides is good.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Shinkaruk - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Virtanen - Stajan - Yakupov
Ferland - Bouma - Chaisson

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wideman - Engelland

Elliot
Johnson

I think we need to be realistic in that Monahan and Gaudreau aren't signing. Gaudreau to the Oilers for Yakupov and Monahan to the Canucks for Virtanen helps out everyone. Oh God, I'm sorry

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Shinkaruk - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Virtanen - Stajan - Yakupov
Ferland - Bouma - Chaisson

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wideman - Engelland

Elliot
Johnson

I think we need to be realistic in that Monahan and Gaudreau aren't signing. Gaudreau to the Oilers for Yakupov and Monahan to the Canucks for Virtanen helps out everyone. Oh God, I'm sorry

Now you've done it. Paging the mods...

[CliffFletcher]

It helps to think in terms of pairings. That's the way most teams group forwards these days. These are established pairings up front:

Gaudreau-Monahan
Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Stajan

Management has said they want to put Bennett in a position he can succeed, playing with a veteran. So I see the other forward pairing as:

Bennett-Brouwer

That leaves Ferland, Chiasson, Bolig, Shinkaruk, Pribyl, Tkachuk, Poirier, and Hathaway to fight it out for the remaining four forwards spots. The third forward on each line will be filled by whoever meshes well or plays a role on the line. So the third forward on the Gaudreau-Monahan line probably won't be one of the top six forwards on the team. It may be Chiasson, because he's strong on the boards. Or it may be Shinkaruk because he thinks the game quickly.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

"Big and Bad" was McGrattan's claim to fame too, doesn't mean he was all that useful.

I would rather have Kris "Advanced Stats Hate Him" Russell, Dennis "produces offensively even if he's a 32 year old deer in the headlights in his own zone" Wideman, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Jyrki Jokipakka. I'm sure there could be a fit for Engelland somewhere (bottom pair beside Kulak or a 20 year old rookie Kylington) but there really isn't one next season. Wotherspoon nor Jokipakka nor Smid are good fits with Engelland stylistically. Hamilton nor Wideman should be playing the left side (and Wideman-Engelland is also a brutal pair). Engelland cannot survive the competition quality Giordano and Brodie face. So what's left other than a pressbox D being force fed minutes for being "Big and Bad"?

McGrattan was useful at the time just as Engelland is useful now.

You forget that he played with Brodie the previous season after Giordano went down and was able to hold his own against top competition on a playoff team. He may not look that great to the casual eye but he gets the job done although yeah I don't like him playing the left side partnered with Wideman. Keeping him on the right side partnered with any of Giordano, Brodie, Wotherspoon, or Kulak works for me. Not too sure about Jokipakka just because I haven't studied him much.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Shinkaruk - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Virtanen - Stajan - Yakupov
Ferland - Bouma - Chaisson

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wideman - Engelland

Elliot
Johnson

I think we need to be realistic in that Monahan and Gaudreau aren't signing. Gaudreau to the Oilers for Yakupov and Monahan to the Canucks for Virtanen helps out everyone. Oh God, I'm sorry

I agree but we also would be best to look at moving Brodie for Klefbom.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by flamesforcup

Sort of off topic but i have a question. Lets say at Wideman has played like he did in the 14/15 season and at the deadline the flames are in a playoff spot by 1 point. Do u keep him and lose him for nothing and help your chances of making it or trade him for a return?

Absolutely, definitely, 100%, no question in my mind: trade him.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Absolutely, definitely, 100%, no question in my mind: trade him.

Even if we have to retain half! Do it!

[ricardodw]

two things that I would contribute to the situation:

1. Gaudreau was not a very good player on the road. Monahan and Gaudreau were not at the level where they can carry a less talented forward. You only succeed if your best players play up to their potential. GG should not allow the Flames to be dominated on the road. I look that he will power up the top line with either Brouwer or even Bennett getting road time with Monahan and Gaudreau or he will play road hockey and have 4 checking lines... Break up Gaudreau (-17 on the road)and Monahan (-15 on the road) and win some road games on the PP.

2. Hartley thought that Russell and Wideman was better defensively than Hamilton. It will be interesting to see if GG uses Wideman and/or Engelland to shelter Hamilton.

[Jacks]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Frolik - Backlund - Chiasson
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland
Bouma - Stajan - Hathaway
Bollig

Injury Call ups
Shinkaruk
Hamilton
Prybyl

Defence is tough, we have too many RH's. I know Brodie prefers the right side but it would be interesting to try as a 1a/1b (or 2a/2b if you prefer).
Brodie - Hamilton
Giordano - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland
I think Wideman could handle top 4 minutes if he had a stud to help cover his weaknesses.

[Loudog]

Can someone remind me who Wideman played with most of 2014-2015?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Loudog

Can someone remind me who Wideman played with most of 2014-2015?

Russell

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Originally Posted by Loudog

Can someone remind me who Wideman played with most of 2014-2015?

Johnny Hockey?

[Mister Yamoto]

Gaudreau.............Monahan............Chiasson
Bouma.................Backlund............Frolik
Ferland.................Bennett.............Brouwe r
Bollig....................Stajan..............Hath away

Giordano.......Hamilton
Brodie..........Engelland
Jokipakka......Wideman

Elliot
Johnson

Smid, Wotherspoon, Vey