Who plays on that top line with Sean and John?

[JohnnyTitan]

Originally Posted by DJones

Everything works out a lot better if Tkachuk or Jankowski can start in a top 6 spot.

Or even if Poirier surprises and locks down a top-9 spot.

We for sure have a #1 line, but after that I see a 2a and 2b. Along with "Pairs", Treliving has also mentioned "Top-9" and never "Top-6" over the past year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Probably going to see several guys get a look up there. Hopefully a younger guy with upside cements himself in there because he establishes himself as a legit top 6 NHL forward.

Chaisson, Pribyl, Shinkaruk, Poirier, Tkachuk, Janko....

Any of those guys taking that spot by force would be fantastic, amd would go a long ways to having this rebuild ultimately be successful.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by DJones

Everything works out a lot better if Tkachuk or Jankowski can start in a top 6 spot.

This.
If not those two Shinkaruk. The Flames need some forward prospects to graduate. Either that or for other players to progress into a top 6 RW roll ie Bouma or Ferland.

[JohnnyTitan]

Does anyone miss Colborne?

Going through this exercise..it doesn't seem like we'd be any closer to solving this puzzle if he was still here. Same for Jooris.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

Or even if Poirier surprises and locks down a top-9 spot.

We for sure have a #1 line, but after that I see a 2a and 2b. Along with "Pairs", Treliving has also mentioned "Top-9" and never "Top-6" over the past year.

Poirier would be ideal. I keep forgetting about him. I have no idea if he's ready to make the jump though.

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by Stupid

I think it's why Brouwer is on the team. He has the mass our top line has been lacking and has scoring ability along with his two way play. It'd be a well balanced line I think.

It's likely his spot to lose.

I'm with Stupid.

[Red Menace]

I think it's very possible that the RW on the top line will actually be our 7th or 8th best Fwd.... I think they are going to spread out the talent.

[Always Earned Never Given]

We need a Ron, a Don or other «on's» for Sean and John. This way we'd have an «ON LINE»

Closest we have is Chiasson so who knows....Ok, I'm OFFLINE now!

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I think it's very possible that the RW on the top line will actually be our 7th or 8th best Fwd.... I think they are going to spread out the talent.

That's the beauty of it. Sean-John are starting to get good enough that they can carry their own line, they just need a "passenger" that can keep up and not hurt them. Hopefully down the road the same will be said of the Tkachuk-Bennett pair. Then you have the Backlund-Frolik pair anchoring a solid third line.

That should be a very solid 6 to build a top 9 around.

Brouwer, Chaisson, Ferland, Shinkaruk, Poirier, Bouma, Pribyl, etc will hopefully be enough of a pool to find the other 3 to fill out the top 9 successfully.

[DoubleF]

Monahan - Brouwer
Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Stajan
Bouma - Chiasson

Seems like a more balanced top 9 and gives Bennett better veteran support. 4th line gets weaker.

[Plaedo]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Monahan - Brouwer
Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Stajan
Bouma - Chiasson

Seems like a more balanced top 9 and gives Bennett better veteran support. 4th line gets weaker.

If we are looking at veteran support for Bennett I would say Brouwer is the best bet. It might be a toss-up between him and Frolik, as they have very comparable point production per regular season game, with Brouwer edging Frolik out (Frolik - 0.464, Brouwer - 0.480). Plus he has been the better goal-scorer over his career. Also, Brouwer seems to me to be a stronger leader vocally (this is subjective). Both Frolik and Brouwer won Stanley Cups with Chicago in different years, but Brouwer has gone much deeper in the playoffs, more often, with 3 different teams, and obviously knows what it takes to win playoff rounds. Brouwer has 60 more playoff games, more than any of the listed options by far for Bennett's wing (Stajan has much less than both Frolik and Brouwer, unsuprisingly).

While Stajan's age and even total number of games played in the NHL make him a veteran, I don't think they make him a "better veteran support."
And don't get me wrong, I think Stajan is a class act and still very much underrated, as he has always accepted the role given to him and tried to help the team, but Brouwer on Bennett's wing could pay dividends through finishing Bennett's playmaking, and also mentoring the young centre.

[EVERLAST]

Sam Bennett please.

This guy is turning into the most underated, underappreciated player ive ever seen.

Im so impressed with this guy. He hits everyone, strips pucks away, goes hard to the net, battles in the corners, never takes a shift off ....he shys away from nothing.

The puck never seems to die on his stick he has great vision and combined with Johnny and Sean WOW.

The only thing is I dont want to see them stack one line with all our best as I want to see these guys all play well together and so if Glen throws lines into the blender it doesnt matter.

If these guys are intimate with all different linemates with or without injuries which are bound to happen.

3 Zone 5 man unit possesion style system sounds great I just want to see it.

if they can have success without other teams catching on to quickly itll be great.

Gone are the days of dump and chase and riverboat gambler hockey .

[Stay Golden]

Brouwer would provide more muscle on that line and they desperately need that. Frolik would offer a bit more skill but I prefer him on line 2. That combo clicked well. I think it is Brouwer's position to lose. Eventually Tkachuk will play along side MG.

[dissentowner]

I think Chiasson ends up there. Gully had him in Dallas's system and knows that despite his struggles in Ottawa where he was misused the guy actually has a hard accurate wrister. When he came up in Dallas and was used on the top line he had 6 goals in 7 games. Obviously he won't produce that high but I think with Johnny feeding him pucks he can net at least 20 on the top line while hitting along the boards and digging picks out. The other big reason to put him there is he is a pretty tough guy and can hold guys accountable for taking liberties on Johnny.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

One of Brouwer, Chiasson or Tkachuk IMO.

[FlameZilla]

It sure would be nice if Pribyl turned out to be a capable top 6 forward. He sure has a lot of positive attributes.

The veteran Brouwer may be asked look after the youngsters Bennett & Tkachuk. Frolik is best on a shutdown, 2-way line with Backlund. Chaisson has untapped potential and could be really useful, but I suspect he'll start on a crash & bang line with Ferland. I think that leaves the 1st line RW spot open to one of Pribyl, Shinkaruk, Poirier or some miracle Treliving acquisition.

Gaudreau Monahan Shinkaruk/Pribyl/Poirier
Tkachuk Bennett Brouwer
Bouma Backlund Frolik
Ferland Stajan Chaisson

[polak]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think Chiasson ends up there. Gully had him in Dallas's system and knows that despite his struggles in Ottawa where he was misused the guy actually has a hard accurate wrister. When he came up in Dallas and was used on the top line he had 6 goals in 7 games. Obviously he won't produce that high but I think with Johnny feeding him pucks he can net at least 20 on the top line while hitting along the boards and digging picks out. The other big reason to put him there is he is a pretty tough guy and can hold guys accountable for taking liberties on Johnny.

This is very optimistic thinking. He only had 13 goals and 38 points when he play 79 points with the Stars in his best season. Considering the price we paid for him, that type of production is exactly what I expect. Barring a miraculous turn around, I'll just pencil us in for another lottery pick if he's on our top line. If we have another revolving door of bottom 9 players in that spot again then that's exactly where we'll be.

[frodo_t_baggins]

Wideman

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Plaedo

While Stajan's age and even total number of games played in the NHL make him a veteran, I don't think they make him a "better veteran support."
And don't get me wrong, I think Stajan is a class act and still very much underrated, as he has always accepted the role given to him and tried to help the team, but Brouwer on Bennett's wing could pay dividends through finishing Bennett's playmaking, and also mentoring the young centre.

Sorry, bad wording. I agree Brouwer is best for Bennett.

I was assuming that most other options (if not putting a random plug on 1RW), would leave Bennett with someone like Chiasson or Jooris or Hathaway on his wing, especially if Stajan is left as the 4C. That's what I meant by "better veteran support". Brouwer > Frolik > Stajan for options on Bennett's RW for sure, but most suggestions weren't really offering him any of those 3 options without putting holes in the top 6.

[yourbestfriend]

It's probably brouwer's to lose, but having said that, I don't think they necessarily need a brouwer type player on that line to be successful.

Hudler probably gives up 4" and 30lbs on brouwer, yet he was still extremely effective. That line didn't really get pushed around either. Furthermore, I honestly don't think it matters that we have a RS on the top line either. A left shot on the RW is great at 5vs5 as the player is already in position to shoot without having to change body position. Jonny (LS) passing to the C and RW who both have onetime options is extremely practical. Hudler was a huge beneficiary of this.
A RS for the flames is more important for the PP, as we don't really have an effective shooting option from the left side.
Jonny-Monny are good enough where the RW who plays with them just needs to be smart enough and keep up. I personally like shinkaruk, he's smart, can finish and make plays. Just depends if he's ready to play full time next year.

We shouldn't be worrying about who plays with Jonny-Monny, they're fine, we should worry about putting talented players with Bennett.
I think a Tkachuk-Benett-Brouwer line would be insane.