Is the bottom six good enough

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by DiNaMo

A bit simplistic but the way I see it your success is dictated by lines roughly as follows:

1st line - 40%
2nd line - 30%
3rd line - 20%
4th line - 10%

Could the 4th line be better, sure but doesn't move the needle a great bunch overall

Last year for us it was closer to

1st line - 65%
2nd line - 20%
3rd line - 10%
4th line - 5%

With Kadri coming in, we finally have the depth on 3 lines. This is what we hoped Monahan would be able to come back and do, but he was at most times the liability on the 4th line it was that bad.

The fourth line will be more about chemestry, and we have 6 or 7 players that I’m sure Sutter will find a working combination with for energy, grit and defensively sound.

Our third line will always have two of Backlund/Dube/Coleman, where as last year it was a mixture of Monahan/Lucic/Ruzicka. Dube looked to take another step the second half of last season, hopefully he can continue on that tragectory combined with Pelletier making a case for the big team.

So in conclusion, our depth or bottom 6 is a large upgrade from last season.

[DoubleK]

I saw Brad in Penticton today, I think that means he thinks the bottom 6 is good enough.

[kehatch]

Our best 4 wingers are Huberdeau, Mangiapane, Toffoli, and Coleman. That leaves Dube, Lucic, Lewis, and Ruzicka/Rooney. Pelletier, Duehr, Schwindt, and maybe a dark horse or two are in reserve.

I expect we will see lots of combination in camp and there is a good chance someone like Coleman is paired with Backlund on the third pairing. But that bottom six is pretty meh on wing even if we stay healthy.

Maybe Ruzicka or Pelletier make a difference this year, or Dube finally finds another level. But the Flames could certainly use an upgrade on wing.

[Burning Beard]

It's fine. People on here always say play the kids but now seem to be saying we need more wingers brought in. Which one is it CP?

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

It's fine. People on here always say play the kids but now seem to be saying we need more wingers brought in. Which one is it CP?

Not sure if you are aware, but CP isn't a person. It's a group of people with different opinions.

It also isn't either or. You don't need to enter the season with a lack of depth at a position in order to "play the kids".

[Erick Estrada]

Lewis and Lucic are fringe NHL players but most teams have tweeners in their bottom 6. Backlund being moved to 3rd line center is massive.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Not sure if you are aware, but CP isn't a person. It's a group of people with different opinions.

It also isn't either or. You don't need to enter the season with a lack of depth at a position in order to "play the kids".

Thanks for the heads up man I honestly had no idea

[gvitaly]

Assuming both Backlund and Coleman are in the bottom 6, I'd take STL's, CAR's and TB's bottom 6 over ours, that's it. Maybe a case can be made for SEA/PIT depending on who plays in the bottom 6.

By that count our top 6 is in the top 3rd of the league. That's good enough for me, but can it be even better? Of course.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Thanks for the heads up man I honestly had no idea

But you addressed CP as though it were a single entity… seems like you needed the heads up.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Thanks for the heads up man I honestly had no idea

But you were the one that presented a sarcastic singular opinion attributed to an entire message board full of thousands of members.

[Enoch Root]

yes, the bottom 6 is good enough

[Jore]

Top 9 is among the best in the league, bottom line as presently constituted (lucic-rooney-lewis) will probably get kicked in more often than not

[Enoch Root]

Top 8 is rock solid with: Huberdeau, Lindholm, Kadri, Mangiapane, Toffoli, Backlund, Coleman, and Dube.

That leaves: Lucic, Lewis, Pelletier, Ruzicka, Rooney, Schwindt and Jones, along with the guys other AHL guys. My guess is Pelletier joins the top 9 (or they add a body) and you rotate the rest of these guys. Should have no trouble finding combinations that can give you a respectible 4th line.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Lewis and Lucic are fringe NHL players but most teams have tweeners in their bottom 6. Backlund being moved to 3rd line center is massive.

Backlund belongs as a 3rd C. There was a point in his career that he was a solid 2nd C, but that has passed.

I am glad the Flames get to play him where he can thrive.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Jore

Top 9 is among the best in the league, bottom line as presently constituted (lucic-rooney-lewis) will probably get kicked in more often than not

Top level players matter on championship teams though. Our top nine is solid, but not necessarily among the best in the league due to lacking at least one star scoring winger.

Acquire that and push everyone down one spot and we'd be right up there with the top 5 teams in the league.

[djsFlames]

If one-third of it is Backlund-Coleman, yes, it probably is good enough.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If one-third of it is Backlund-Coleman, yes, it probably is good enough.

I would say, if Pelletier is riding shotgun with Backlund-Coleman for most of the year, the third line has the chance to be elite with a crazy good blend of 200ft play and skill.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Backlund belongs as a 3rd C. There was a point in his career that he was a solid 2nd C, but that has passed.

I am glad the Flames get to play him where he can thrive.

???

Backlund was probably our best player against Edmonton. He was a very solid 2C last year.

[DJones]

Pelletier - Backlund - Coleman is an incredible 3rd line

I liked Lewis last year, he plays similarly and I'm happy with him on the 4th.

Looch/Ruzicka/Rooney/Lewis

I'd prefer to drop Looch and Rooney and find someone else but no big complaints.

[kehatch]

The Flames have the pieces to deploy a 1A and 1B line. For example Huberdeau-Kadri-Toffoli is a strong offensive line while Mangiapane-Lindholm-Coleman is a strong two way line.

Keeping your best 6 forwards in your top two lines gives you a lot of options, and a one-two punch most teams don't have the depth to handle.

But that leaves you TBD-Backlund-Dube on your third line. It also leaves you an injury away from having only one of those guys.