So, how will the forward lineup look like when fully healthy?

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by 420since1974

Assuming everyone continues to play at this level, and there are no trades or further injuries, I see the forward lines looking like this:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Bennett - Backlund - Hudler (I'd still like to see Bennett center this line)
Bouma - Granlund - Frolik
Colborne - Stajan - Jones

Colborne over Jooris?

[Geeoff]

This discussion is premature. Backlund and Jones haven't been injured yet.

[thymebalm]

My Fully Healthy Forward Group:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Frolik-Bennett-Hudler
Granlund-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Stajan-Jooris
xColborne
xxRaymond
xxxBollig

[Enoch Root]

Gaudreau - Bennett - Ferland
Granlund - Monahan - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Colborne - Stajan - Jones

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

My Fully Healthy Forward Group:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Frolik-Bennett-Hudler
Granlund-Backlund-Jones
Bouma-Stajan-Jooris
xColborne
xxRaymond
xxxBollig

My sentiments exactly...I find Jooris can be good for a handful of games and then disappears so I'd switch him in and out with the x's depending on the team. Much more balanced scoring in that lineup.

[Bingo]

Its just amazing what a single change to a roster can do, the domino effect is amazing. Ferland as the best option on the top line (and likely becoming a "key" piece soon but that's another discussion) pushes both Hudler and Frolik down to the second line. With Bennett having "the night" that line looks dangerous as hell. Then Backlund who's playing some of his best hockey of his career moves down to the third line and Stajan who has been a rock is on the fourth line.

That's impressive depth

The Flames are one top six winger short of a pretty well built upper hockey club. Fun to see.

[Demetric]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Drouin-Bennett-Frolik
Bouma-Granlund-Jooris
Raymond-Stajan-Jones
Bollig

Hudler + Backlund + Colborne = Drouin

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Its just amazing what a single change to a roster can do, the domino effect is amazing. Ferland as the best option on the top line (and likely becoming a "key" piece soon but that's another discussion) pushes both Hudler and Frolik down to the second line. With Bennett having "the night" that line looks dangerous as hell. Then Backlund who's playing some of his best hockey of his career moves down to the third line and Stajan who has been a rock is on the fourth line.

That's impressive depth

The Flames are one top six winger short of a pretty well built upper hockey club. Fun to see.

Who are your 3 top 6 wingers? There is Gaudreau and Hudler.

Then which 2 of Ferland Bennett Frolik do you not consider a top 6 winger?

[Poe969]

I think he meant Hudler won't be part of the team moving forward or that if we had another skilled winger, Frolik could move to the third line and we could role out 2 high offensive lines, one good all around line and a more shut down/energy line.

[gvitaly]

Ferland has been doing great, but I don't see Ferland as being consistent enough for Hartley to keep the first line. Frolik is our swiss army knife and he will play throughout the lineup, but I assume that he will be the one that will get the most ice time playing first line RW.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Frolik
Bennett-Backlund-Hudler
Bouma/Ferland-Granlund-x
Bouma/Ferland-Stajan-Jones
xJooris
xColborne
xRaymond
xBollig

*At the end of the day, as Bob likes to remind us, we are dealing with human beings. A large part of the lineup will be written in pencil, and change each game depending on who is going and what advantage our coach is trying to get.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think he meant Hudler won't be part of the team moving forward or that if we had another skilled winger, Frolik could move to the third line and we could role out 2 high offensive lines, one good all around line and a more shut down/energy line.

Yeah exactly ... Hudler out, mystery guy in

I don't see NHL top six in a salary cap world as 4 Gaudreau's and 2 Monahans. Nobody has that.

You hope you have two star centers, and two star wingers, and then two more wingers that are better than third line guys but not elite.

Adding Ferland into that latter group (not elite but now top six) really gives the Flames up in a team build as they have less pieces to find.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Ferland has been doing great, but I don't see Ferland as being consistent enough for Hartley to keep the first line. Frolik is our swiss army knife and he will play throughout the lineup, but I assume that he will be the one that will get the most ice time playing first line RW.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Frolik
Bennett-Backlund-Hudler
Bouma/Ferland-Granlund-x
Bouma/Ferland-Stajan-Jones
xJooris
xColborne
xRaymond
xBollig

*At the end of the day, as Bob likes to remind us, we are dealing with human beings. A large part of the lineup will be written in pencil, and change each game depending on who is going and what advantage our coach is trying to get.

Frolik on the top line does also make that line very responsible.

I would also love to see what a Bennett - Backlund - Ferland line can do, but it pushes Hudler to 3 and Jones to 4.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Hudler
Bouma - Backlund - Jones
Jooris - Stajan - Colborne

Actually gets me pretty excited. Ferland and Bennett together could be a wrecking ball. Has that been tried?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Ferland has been doing great, but I don't see Ferland as being consistent enough for Hartley to keep the first line. Frolik is our swiss army knife and he will play throughout the lineup, but I assume that he will be the one that will get the most ice time playing first line RW.

Possible, but I hope you're wrong.

I think the Flames are really high on Ferland, and I think they do see him as that top line Lucic powerforward. The sample size is small, but the two games together have shown a good 6-10 instances of Ferland fighting off a check in the corner and then shuffling the puck over to Gaudreau. If that continues to work that line is deadly as it gives Gaudreau that extra chance to make something happen (most of his work is done carrying it on the rush)

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Split98

Frolik on the top line does also make that line very responsible.

It could also be a good learning experience for Gaudreau and Monahan. Last season they had learned a lot of the more offensive details from Hudler's game. I think time with Frolik will polish a lot of their defensive game.

[Poe969]

Monahan and Gaudrea are both defensively responsible to the point where they're never really the goats so I think putting Frolik on there wouldn't be terrible, it might stifle their offensive ability.

[heep223]

If Ferland can stay consistent, he will be a mainstay on the top line. He's exactly what the other two need. Even if physicality and digging out pucks is his strength, he has good hockey sense and skill, and perhaps most importantly has the speed to keep up with them. Also as an added bonus he can be mean when someone takes liberties with the other two guys. Huge fan.

[Imported_Aussie]

Here are my lines, with an explanation

Gaudreau - Monaham - Ferland

This line already looked good, and when you think about it, what Gaudreau and Monahan need more than anything is a guy who can win puck battles, get the puck to them, finish if needed. Colborne was tried, but didn't fit. I think Ferland can fit. He is not the 3rd best forward, but he is the best complimentary player to the top tandem.


Bennett - Backlund- Hudler

For now, I prefer Bennett on the wing - it gives him more freedom and he can be transitioned over when the Flames have more capable top 6 wingers, allowing Backlund to cycle down to the 3rd line centre.

Colborne - Granlund - Frolik

This line will change, but for now, is the best 3rd line. Ideally, Backlund slides down and Granlund plays wing, but with Granlund not the best faceoff man, having Colborne on his wing helps. Frolik will make these two look better.

Bouma - Stajan - Jones

This line will be responsible and have the ability to chip in the odd goal. Allows the Flames a good matchup line for defensive zone draws.

ex. Jooris

A good utility guy on a low salary. What you want as a 13th forward.

One of Bollig or Raymond must go. If both, then recall Grant


Now, the way I hope the team trends:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
TOP 6 LW - Bennett - Hudler/TOP 6 RW
Granlund - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Grant
ex. Jooris

There aren't players in the system ready to make that jump to top 6, but Frolik can slide up if a guy in the system is ready to be started on the 3rd line. Also, as much as I want Bennett to move over to centre, if a guy like Jankowski wows everyone in camp, keeping Bennett at LW with Backlund centering the second line would allow for a young guy to start at Centre.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Gaudreau - Monaham - Ferland

mmm, Monaham

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Here are my lines, with an explanation

Gaudreau - Monaham - Ferland

This line already looked good, and when you think about it, what Gaudreau and Monahan need more than anything is a guy who can win puck battles, get the puck to them, finish if needed. Colborne was tried, but didn't fit. I think Ferland can fit. He is not the 3rd best forward, but he is the best complimentary player to the top tandem.

[Poe969]

good think it's not monoham. Imagine a pig with mono?!?!?! Now that would be one lazy pig as our first line center!