Predict the 2017-18 Flames Lineup

[indes]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Williams - Scoring
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik - Tough Matchups
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland - Energy/Scoring
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer - Energy/Matchups
Hathaway

Looks pretty damn good to me. Should really be pushing for the division if we sign Williams and get top 20 goaltending.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by indes

Gaudreau - Monahan - Williams - Scoring
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik - Tough Matchups
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland - Energy/Scoring
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer - Energy/Matchups
Hathaway

Looks pretty damn good to me. Should really be pushing for the division if we sign Williams and get top 20 goaltending.

Versteeg?

[indes]

Originally Posted by timbit

Versteeg?

Damnit.

[Par]

Originally Posted by indes

Gaudreau - Monahan - Williams - Scoring
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik - Tough Matchups
Tkachuk - Bennett - Ferland - Energy/Scoring
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer - Energy/Matchups
Hathaway

Looks pretty damn good to me. Should really be pushing for the division if we sign Williams and get top 20 goaltending.

I like these lineups, if there was a way to get rid of Brouwer, maybe loan him to a league in Europe. I also Foo was promised a spot(that is why he signed here), could be wrong.

[Enoch Root]

By all accounts (and past history), Foo was not guaranteed a spot.

However, the Flames likely said that there are open spots and all he has to do is earn one.

I believe he will earn the spot beside Johnny - and if so, it will be glorious

[Enoch Root]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Foo
Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Versteeg
Ferland - Stajan/Jankowski - Lazar

or, if we signed Williams...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Williams
Frolik - Backlund - Versteeg
Tkachuk - Bennett - Foo
Ferland - Stajan/Jankowski - Lazar
Brouwer/Bouma

[Par]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

By all accounts (and past history), Foo was not guaranteed a spot.

However, the Flames likely said that there are open spots and all he has to do is earn one.

I believe he will earn the spot beside Johnny - and if so, it will be glorious

You are probably right. It is good we signed Foo, he reminds of Justin Williams(plays the same style.)

[Makarov]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Radulov
Tkachuk-Bennett-Ferland
Versteeg-Backlund-Frolik
Stajan-Jankowski-Lazar

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Oduya-Andersson

Smith
Lack


Prosper.

[JohnnyTitan]

OK - I can honestly say I haven't ever tried one of these but thought I'd throw out this mix-up...possibly to stir some conversation.

Tkachuk - Monahan - Ferland
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Gaudreau - Bennett - Versteeg
Stajan - Lazar - Brouwer
(2 of Foo / Hamilton / Hathaway)

Thought Process:
- No #1, #2, #3 lines. Just a top well-balanced top-9

- Monahan is awesome...but passive. Those two will get him involved! And no doubt could hold it's own against any line

- Janko gets gifted the best spot for a rookie to play. I know, I know....toughest defensive match-ups against toughest competition yadda yadda yadda. Tkachuk was fine last year. Every other player in that spot has got the "Backlund Bump". (Ferland, Bouma, Colbourne come to mind). And Janko is a defensive specialist anyway. He will become a center next season! Give him a "Sheltered" year and learn from a future Selke Center.

- After hearing Gully this AM on the radio, I think the Flames would rather spend their UFA dollars on a #5 D-Man. This would allow for that. And I think I like that approach.

- Bennett Breakout !!!

- Gotta be one of the best 4th lines in the league, no? Stajan played some wing at the end of 2016 and was quite good as I recall. Perfect role for Lazar to really start his Flames career?

[JohnnyTitan]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Gaudreau-Monahan-Radulov
Tkachuk-Bennett-Ferland
Versteeg-Backlund-Frolik
Stajan-Jankowski-Lazar

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Oduya-Andersson

Smith
Lack


Prosper.

That is pretty awesome. If we can afford it -> get 'er done! Somehow you magically shipped-off Brouwer though.

[CaptainYooh]

Honestly, I don't understand why so many people are hoping to break the MMM line and see Tkachuck out of it. For the first time in a while, we've had a solid 2nd line. Why break what's working???

[DJones]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Honestly, I don't understand why so many people are hoping to break the MMM line and see Tkachuck out of it. For the first time in a while, we've had a solid 2nd line. Why break what's working???

3rd line was ####.

Moving Tkachuk to the 3rd line will be a bigger addition than the subtraction of him on Backlunds line.

Net Gain.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Honestly, I don't understand why so many people are hoping to break the MMM line and see Tkachuck out of it. For the first time in a while, we've had a solid 2nd line. Why break what's working???

Even though the 3M line was lights out, I think many people believe that a number of players can succeed with Backlund and Frolik. I think Ferland, Lazar, Versteeg, or even Jankowski could do well there. If so, it allows Tkachuk to move around the lineup and make other lines better.

I'd love to see:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Versteeg
Hathaway - Lazar - Brouwer

All 4 lines can do damage.

Then,
Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Oduya - Andersson

Smith
Lack

[Benched]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Foo
Lazar-Stajan-Brouwer
Jankowski

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Andersson
Spoon

Smith
Lack

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Even though the 3M line was lights out, I think many people believe that a number of players can succeed with Backlund and Frolik. ...

This is very arguable though. Again, this was the first season Backlund played so well consistently. Hard to argue that Tkachuck wasn't the primary catalyst/reason for that.

[DJones]

Stealing someone elses but;

Tkachuk - Monahan - Ferland
Gaudreau - Bennett - Versteeg
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Stajan - Lazar - Brouwer

With those top three lines and our top 4 Calgary will be a nightmare to matchup against. I don't even know which line will be best.

[FanIn80]

What would it look like if today's buyouts were to make room for Joe and Marleau?

Gaudreau Monahan(A) Bennett
Tkachuk Backlund(A) Frolik
Marleau Thornton Versteeg
Ferland Jankowski Lazar
Stajan

(Trade Brouwer for pick and/or #5/6 D?)

Giordano(C) Hamilton
Brodie Hamonic
Kulak Stone
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack

Edit: Super-redonkulous chance of this happening, but jeebus, that would be a pretty crazy 3 F lines and top-5 D.

[Vinny01]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Sharp
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Lazar
Ferland-Jankowski-Brouwer
Stajan

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone

Smith
Lack

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Gaudreau-Monahan-Sharp
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Versteeg
Stajan-Jankowski-Brouwer

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone

Smith
Lack

Poooor Lazar.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Gaudreau-Monahan-Sharp
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Versteeg
Stajan-Jankowski-Brouwer

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone

Smith
Lack

I'd make the last line Lazar-Stajan-Brouwer and if Janko forces their hand, they find a way to get rid of Stajan. I also don't see Kulak as the #6, I think they'll end up putting a guy with a higher up side like Anderson there.