This years starting lineup

[Funkhouser]

My best guess:

Glencross...Backlund...Hudler
Raymond...Stajan...Jones
Gaudreau...Monohan...Colborne
Bouma...Reinhart...Bolig

Byron & McGratton can step in for injury/underperformance
Baertschi, Granlund, Wolf and Ferland are the first call-ups

During the year I think Glencross will be resigned after overperforming in a contract year; Hudler will be moved and Jones will play himself off the team - opening a couple holes for the youngsters.

[codynw]

McGrattan played 76 games last year, and Bollig was good enough to play in all 82 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. What makes anyone think either of them will be healthy scratches this year?

[Fighting Banana Slug]

As intriguing as it is to place Gaudreau/Baerschi in the lineup at the expense of McGrattan/Bollig/Jones from a talent perspective, I can't see that happening either. The young guys will get a chance, but likely only though injuries or dreadful performance. Personally, I am hopeful Glencross and Jones improve from last year and help replace the Cammi production, which will potentially leave Gaudreau/Baerschi in the AHL at the start of the season.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by codynw

McGrattan played 76 games last year, and Bollig was good enough to play in all 82 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. What makes anyone think either of them will be healthy scratches this year?

The league in General is moving away from super heavyweight goons and when not punching someone in the face McGrattan was terrible when on the ice. As the team improves and there are less guys for McGrattan to punch out he should be phased out of the line-up. He seems like a good locker room guy and can still be useful for certain games but he should be spending more time in PB than in games.

Bollig sitting doesn't make much sense as he is an effective player and has a wider range of potential opponents out there.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Read Only

The league in General is moving away from super heavyweight goons and when not punching someone in the face McGrattan was terrible when on the ice. As the team improves and there are less guys for McGrattan to punch out he should be phased out of the line-up. He seems like a good locker room guy and can still be useful for certain games but he should be spending more time in PB than in games.

Bollig sitting doesn't make much sense as he is an effective player and has a wider range of potential opponents out there.

The team didn't improve that much though (arguably got worse with Cammalleri leaving). I think McGrattan will still play at least 70 games next season. Maybe in 2015-16 he starts to sit in the pressbox a little more often, but I think he'll still get to play in most of the games next year.

And Bollig is definitely going to play, no way he sits out.

[Read Only]

I don't think we have improved in talent but the depth has improved since last year and we now have guys that could legitimately challenge for a regular NHL spot.

With Raymond, Hudler, Glencross, Colborne, Bouma, Bollig, Jones looking like sure things to fill 7 of the 8 winger spots on the team and now Byron, Reinhart, Baertschi, Gaudreau all looking like they could legitimately play 82 NHL games their isn't as much space for McGrattan as when Gaudreau was in college and Reinhart/Baertschi needed more AHL time.

[Flames89]

What has Baertschi done to deserve a starting lineup role? Did he not take a step back last year, looking more and more of a one-dimensional soft, yet skilled, European?

[FBI]

He got an established NHL number so that means he will be in the lineup

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Flames89

What has Baertschi done to deserve a starting lineup role? Did he not take a step back last year, looking more and more of a one-dimensional soft, yet skilled, European?

Not sure if that is directed at me but I said could play at the NHL level not deserve a starting spot.

What he did for me to say that is have a ton of natural skill and have experience of playing a full season of professional hockey.

I would have him behind the 3 other guys mentioned in terms of likelihood but he does have the talent that with a good camp it wouldn't be out of place to have him on the Flames next year.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Flames89

What has Baertschi done to deserve a starting lineup role? Did he not take a step back last year, looking more and more of a one-dimensional soft, yet skilled, European?

Pure speculation on my behalf, but I think one of the big reasons Ward is gone is due to the handling of Baertschi last year. Sven was sent down to work on his 200 foot game, and Ward followed that up by switching him from the LW to the RW - which saw Sven struggle GREATLY. So not only did he struggle with confidence at the start of the year, but he had to learn a new position with a new dynamic. It didn't work. Once Ward put Sven back on the left side, Sven exploded. If you go back and listen to Ward talk about it, and then look at Sven's stats following being switched back to LW, I think it's fair to say that Sven struggled in changing his position and responsibilities.

With how Sven finished the season, I think he's got momentum on his side and, assuming he puts in a hard summer of work, will have a very strong camp and a good chance at making the team.

I also never really liked calling Sven a one-dimensional player. Heck, even go back and look at the Monahan highlight reel that AC put up on youtube - Sven is a good backchecker. He struggles with defensive board battles, but I thought he put good pressure on the opposition otherwise. He has a very smart stick and with a bit more tenacity could be a very good player. Also, at the same time - we shouldn't be labeling or counting out a 21 year old. Look at Mikael Backlund's development - it took him until 24/25 to become a good NHL player. Sven's got a long career ahead of him - the Flames have a responsibility not to mishandle him.

We love to mock Edmonton for mishandling their prospects, but I'd argue the way Feaster and Weisbrod handled Baertschi was much worse than anything Edmonton has done to their young players.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Pure speculation on my behalf, but I think one of the big reasons Ward is gone is due to the handling of Baertschi last year. Sven was sent down to work on his 200 foot game, and Ward followed that up by switching him from the LW to the RW - which saw Sven struggle GREATLY. So not only did he struggle with confidence at the start of the year, but he had to learn a new position with a new dynamic. It didn't work. Once Ward put Sven back on the left side, Sven exploded. If you go back and listen to Ward talk about it, and then look at Sven's stats following being switched back to LW, I think it's fair to say that Sven struggled in changing his position and responsibilities.

With how Sven finished the season, I think he's got momentum on his side and, assuming he puts in a hard summer of work, will have a very strong camp and a good chance at making the team.

I also never really liked calling Sven a one-dimensional player. Heck, even go back and look at the Monahan highlight reel that AC put up on youtube - Sven is a good backchecker. He struggles with defensive board battles, but I thought he put good pressure on the opposition otherwise. He has a very smart stick and with a bit more tenacity could be a very good player. Also, at the same time - we shouldn't be labeling or counting out a 21 year old. Look at Mikael Backlund's development - it took him until 24/25 to become a good NHL player. Sven's got a long career ahead of him - the Flames have a responsibility not to mishandle him.

We love to mock Edmonton for mishandling their prospects, but I'd argue the way Feaster and Weisbrod handled Baertschi was much worse than anything Edmonton has done to their young players.

Amen.

[bubbsy]

i won't go as far as to blame ward/feaster/burke/baertchi himself, for his disappointing year last year.... however, i'm hoping more for sven making it impossible for the team to cut him in camp than any other player (yes that includes bennet/gaudreau)...

[savardandjokinen]

Glencross- backlund- hudler
Raymond- monahan- jones
Byron- stajan- colborne
Bollig- bouma- mcgrattan
Wolf-knight

Giordano- Brodie
Russell- Wideman
Smid- engelland
Cundari

Hiller
Ramo


AHL:

Gaudreau- granlund- poirier
Baertschi- reinhart- agostino
Hanowski- Arnold- ferland
Van Brabant- jooris- elson
Tousignant bancks

Wotherspoon- sieloff
Acolaste- ramage
Kulak- culkin
Breen

Ortio
Thiessen

[FBI]

I think we lost Breen recently..

[ForeverFlameFan]

Our lineup would look a lot better if we were able to move D. Jones and resign Stemps or Setoguchi.

[Poe969]

Didn't Breen sign with the bruins?

Those line ups look sad. When you look at them you can't realistically think they'll score a lot of goals but you just hope they show the same effort as last year.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FBI

I think we lost Breen recently..

And to add, Been would not be the seventh man on the AHL line up. More likely on the first pairing. But its all irrelevant now lol.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by FBI

I think we lost Breen recently..

Haha I was confused with billins however I think billins chose the khl

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by dammage79

And to add, Been would not be the seventh man on the AHL line up. More likely on the first pairing. But its all irrelevant now lol.

That was in my thought process but knowing that the flames don't think much of breen it makes me wonder a bit

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Didn't Breen sign with the bruins?

Those line ups look sad. When you look at them you can't realistically think they'll score a lot of goals but you just hope they show the same effort as last year.

YES that's where he went, sorry I'm so tired...