Predict the opening day line-up

[shogged]

I really hope we don't waste monahans talent on the 3rd or 4th line. If he's not playing 1st or 2nd line minutes, his time is better served in the OHL.

[Freeway]

Guessing lines is nuts, so I'll just put the 23-man roster.

Joey MacDonald
Karri Ramo

T.J. Brodie
Chris Butler
Mark Giordano [C]
Shane O'Brien
John Ramage
Kris Russell
Dennis Wideman

Sven Baertschi
Mikael Backlund
Lance Bouma
Mike Cammalleri [A]
T.J. Galiardi
Curtis Glencross [A]
Roman Horak
Jiri Hudler
Tim Jackman
David Jones
Brian McGrattan
Sean Monahan
Matt Stajan
Lee Stempniak

If either of Hudler or Cammalleri aren't cleared, the Flames keep Corban Knight or Max Reinhart up.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Stajan, Butler and Jackman do not make the team and are waived resulting in my excited delirium.

Don't see that happening. He's been the best center in camp hands down. Waiving a player who is proficient at a position that the team is already weak in is never going to happen, whether you like said player or not.

Butler and Jackman could legitimately be beat out for their position though, but I doubt it.

[Mattman]

Glencross/Stajan/Stempniak
Baertschi/Backlund/Cammillari
Galliardi/Monahan/Hudler
Horak/Reinhart/Jones

Giordano/Brodie
Russel/Wideman
Wotherspoon/Obrien

Ramo
MacDonald

[SeanCharles]

Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak
Hudler-Backlund-Jones
Baertschi-Monahan-Cammalleri
Bouma-Knight-Galiardi
Horak/McGrattan

Brodie-Giordano
Russell-Wideman
Butler-O'Brien
Smith

Ramo
MacDonald (If Berra has a good game tommorrow night he may steal Joeys spot)

I believe Horak would have to go through waivers if we sent him down. I dont want to risk losing him and he has earned a spot. Bouma kinda makes Jackman expendable in my opinion so this would be my forward line-up of choice for sure.

When it comes to the defense the one thing I'm pretty sure of is Butler and Smith are on the bubble but have 1-way contracts. Probably start the year here and will get moved later.

At that time Breen, Cundari, Sieloff, Wotherspoon and Ramage will get a chance to crack the line up.

The best part about this year is if fringe players like Smith, Butler, MacDonald struggle the Flames will have no problem trying to make a move to let one of the prospects get an opportunity.

[dissentowner]

This is what I would like:

Cammalleri/Monahan/Hudler
Baertschi/Stajan/Stempniak
Glencross/Backlund/Jones
Bouma/Knight/Galiardi
Horak/McGrattan

Wideman/Gio
Brodie/Smith
Russell/O'Brien
Butler

Ramo
Berra

Waive MacDonald and Jackman

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Guessing lines is nuts, so I'll just put the 23-man roster.

Joey MacDonald
Karri Ramo

T.J. Brodie
Chris Butler
Mark Giordano [C]
Shane O'Brien
John Ramage
Kris Russell
Dennis Wideman

Sven Baertschi
Mikael Backlund
Lance Bouma
Mike Cammalleri [A]
T.J. Galiardi
Curtis Glencross [A]
Roman Horak
Jiri Hudler
Tim Jackman
David Jones
Brian McGrattan
Sean Monahan
Matt Stajan
Lee Stempniak

If either of Hudler or Cammalleri aren't cleared, the Flames keep Corban Knight or Max Reinhart up.

I'd put Sieloff and Wotherspoon in the running with Ramage for the last spot on defence.

as for lines, I believe the first line will be Glencross, Stajan and Stempniak as these guys will go up against the other team's first lines. Power against power.

Russell will be given a shot as a top four defenceman. I think he'll run into trouble trying to break up the cycle though, so his first instinct is to clear the puck quickly.

[Da_Chief]

Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak
Baertschi-Backlund-D. Jones
Galiardi-Monahan-Hudler
Bouma-Jooris-Horak
McGratton
Cammi injured, Jackman traded

Giordano-Wideman
Brodie-Russell
Wotherspoon-Smith
O'Brien/Butler one wiaved, one #7

Ramo
Berra

[blender]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Don't see that happening. He's been the best center in camp hands down. Waiving a player who is proficient at a position that the team is already weak in is never going to happen, whether you like said player or not.

Have to agree. Though I'm not a big Stajan fan, he could be our best player at any position right now.

[kyuss275]

I really doubt Wotherspoon, Ramage or Sieloff have a shot in being on the roster. The flames would have put them in one of the final 2 pre-season games if they were close. Have any of the 3 played in pre-season games that were not split squad?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I really doubt Wotherspoon, Ramage or Sieloff have a shot in being on the roster. The flames would have put them in one of the final 2 pre-season games if they were close.

There is one final preseason game tomorrow.

[dino7c]

People still ragging on Stajan? sad considering he is our best player right now

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by dino7c

People still ragging on Stajan? sad considering he is our best player right now

Stajan is "our" best player?

That is sad.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Stajan is "our" best player?

That is sad.

has been the Flames best player in camp for me...debatable for sure but one of the best I can't really see any credible argument against it

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

There is one final preseason game tomorrow.

I saw the line-up and those 3 are not in the line-up. I guess things could change by tomorrow, but if they don't play, i can't see them making the team.

If flames were serious about any of the 3, they would probably like to see them in action against pre-season teams that are closer to the NHL line-up.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mattman

Glencross/Stajan/Stempniak
Baertschi/Backlund/Cammillari
Galliardi/Monahan/Hudler
Horak/Reinhart/Jones

Giordano/Brodie
Russel/Wideman
Wotherspoon/Obrien

Ramo
MacDonald

Depth wise its actually not bad...just no top end. Likely the worst 1st line in the NHL although I like how those guys play together so who knows

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Don't see that happening. He's been the best center in camp hands down. Waiving a player who is proficient at a position that the team is already weak in is never going to happen, whether you like said player or not.

Butler and Jackman could legitimately be beat out for their position though, but I doubt it.

Dare to dream!

[agulati]

Cammalleri-Backlund-Hudler
Glencross-Stajan-Stempniak
Baertschi-Monahan-Jones
Galiardi-Horak-Bouma
X- McGrattan, Jackman 1st Callup - Ferland

Giordano - Brodie
Wideman - Butler
O'Brien - Russell
Smith

Ramo
McDonald

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Depth wise its actually not bad...just no top end. Likely the worst 1st line in the NHL although I like how those guys play together so who knows

I don't know how there can be any debate about whether or not that is the worst 1st line in the NHL. Even on an average team that would be a 3rd line.

It is hands-down the worst, and it's not even close.

[stemit14]

I'm fine with glencross-stajan-stempniak being put up against the top lines of other teams since that is our best defensive line that is capable if shutting down other teams' skilled players. I think baertschi would be a great fit with cammalleri and backlund for the 2nd line and Monahan could centre jones and hudler. Should see some decent scoring from all 3 lines that way