Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

So you are saying that you expect that the Flames will challenge for the SC this year?

There is no more room for even a 3-4M UFA addition.... other than a goalie if Elliott does not work out or would rather be with another team.

I am saying that if this Flames team is not in the top 4-6 in the West this year that I don't see the way forward.... it would take an exceptional event to make them better.....such as Kylington and/or 1 of the 22 year old 1st round picks developing a lot more than they have shown. or adding another TOP-6 draft pick

Nice try. Your post referred to 4-6 years, not "this year". So even if they do add another top 6 this year, the window you posited is still wide open.

As for development, yeah, some of those guys will make the team and contribute, over the more expensive present contracts. You don't think Jankowski is capable of a 4th line C role over Stajan, at a far cheaper price? You don't think Kylington, Andersson, Kulak, Culkin, etc. can handle even a bottom pairing at some point? I do.

[TheoFleury]

I wish I could see 4-6 years into the future like Ricardo. It would be a neat skill to have, but I would use it for more dastardly things than interneting.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

It was a decent interview. The thing that struck me was that he thought camp was "chunky", "disjointed". Good reason for that, with Johnny and the World Cup, but I thought it was pretty telling that he sees a fair bit of work to be done.
Of course he never gave up much information, but it is pretty clear they are working on things.

Monahan injured practising on his own; only played one preseason game
Backlund hurt back from the world cup
Frolik world cup
And of course the Gaudreau contract cloud hovering over all of it

Camp definitely wasn't as fun this year from a fan perspective

[bubbsy]

man, that ricardodw post is painful. I don't even quite understand the point being made, is it that with the contracts set in, this is the best the flames will be with this group, so they best be close to winning this season?? That's just so short sighted and un-thought out.

There will be a time that wideman, stajan, bollig, raymond, engelland contracts come off the books.

Some of that money will go to the goaltending, but it's foolhearted to think it won't be used to try to upgrade other areas of the roster. Not to mention, trades and further asset management (please go check the NTC/NMC of the guys under contract, there's plenty of flexibility there) should the roster need larger changes to compete.

It also takes a view that one of the youngest teams int he league, won't see substancial improvements directly through organic growth of the kids. I'd expect tkachuk, bennet, and some of the lesser blue-chip guys hit their best years over the period of the contracts of our best players. That could be any of jankowski, shinkaruk, gilles, poirier, kylington, andersson, kulak, ferland, etc.

WIth the gaudreau signing, the flames have definitely established a "window". Not for winning the cup, but the window of the core. the great news is that they are young enough that when this window completes, and even if they don't win, the core aren't 35 and limited assets, the team could easily change directions near the end of the window.

My opinion, rip it as you may, but i just fail to see how many flames fans are disappointed this morning. The entire core is locked up, there aren't any outliers as far as overpaid (caphit), longterm guys in there. The management have set themselves up to be able to be flexible given how the coming years play out. I just hope we see less raymond, engelland type contracts handed out. I do take some consolation that they could have done the easy and more "obvious" thing in signing some of this year's RFAs, but they did some solid calculations when deciding to let good players like Colborne (he's a decent middle 6 player in the league now) walk for nothing.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Is this a SC winning line-up? This is pretty much as good as the Flames will be on paper over the next 4-6 years.

the short term bad contracts (Wideman, Stajan,Engelland) are balanced out (absorbed) by the short term value contracts (Bennett,Elliott/Johnson, Jokipakka) and just keeping this crew together will have the Flames near the cap.


The Flames organizational depth is frighting....

Other teams spare parts are looking better than the players being developed by the Flames. If the Flames need a call up do they call someone up from Stockton or trade a 7th round pick for another teams B level prospects- reference to Freddie Hamilton.

Players developed in the organization only Kulak will be on the team (and in a fringe role). He is only 1 of 3 players on their ELC. (Bennett/Tkachuk). EDit: Ferland and Backlund along with Gio and Brodie were also developed by the Flames...

If Tkachuk does not exceed all expectations of a 6th round pick overall the Flames will have 2 journeymen players on the top 2 lines.


The 1st round picks Poirier, Klimchuck, Shinkaruk, Jankowski were not able to force their way into the lineup with reasonable openings.

The 2nd round pick defensemen that are rated as the best Flames prospects were not even ready for a hard look at the NHL level.

[Finger Cookin]

Thanks for quoting his bs for the rest of us who ignore him. You're performing a wonderful public service.

[Roof-Daddy]

Just don't read it. It isn't hard lol

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Just don't read it. It isn't hard lol

Neither is not quoting it. lolol

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Neither is not quoting it. lolol

Oh, well I'm just going to go ahead and quote whatever I want. I guess you're going to have to just find a way to deal with it.

[mrdonkey]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg
Tkachuk-Bennett-Brouwer
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Stajan-Chiasson
x: Hamilton, Bollig

Gio-Brodie
Kevin-Hamilton
Engelland-Wideman
Grossmann

Elliott/Johnson

Thinking Kulak gets sent down. Hope I'm wrong, but I don't see any other reason why they would keep Grossmann around this long.

[JurassicTunga12]

Final prediction
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Kris Versteeg
Matthew Tkachuk - Sam Bennett - Troy Brouwer
Micheal Ferland - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Lance Bouma - Matthew Stajan - Alex Chiasson
Freddie Hamilton

Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie
Jyrki Jokipakka - Dougie Hamilton
Deryk Engelland - Dennis Wideman
Brett Kulak

Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson

[gilligans_off]

I think we could see some slight movement if things start slow. Wouldn't surprise me to see Brouwer and Versteeg swapped to test it out.

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Kris Versteeg/Brouwer

Matthew Tkachuk - Sam Bennett - Troy Brouwer/Versteeg

Micheal Ferland/Bouma - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik

Lance Bouma/Ferland - Matthew Stajan/F.Hamilton - Alex Chiasson

Freddie Hamilton/Stajan


Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie

Jyrki Jokipakka - Dougie Hamilton

Deryk Engelland - Dennis Wideman

Brett Kulak/Grossman

Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson

[sureLoss]

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan said Brodie will start the season on the left side with Engelland. Giordano will be with Wideman.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan said Brodie will start the season on the left side with Engelland. Giordano will be with Wideman.

Can't say I agree with Gulutzan on this one.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Who plays with Hamilton? Kevin?

[Roof-Daddy]

So Hamilton is technically on the 3rd pair?

Behind Wideman?

Not a fan.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan said Brodie will start the season on the left side with Engelland. Giordano will be with Wideman.

Wow, this I really don't like. Who is our top pairing? Who gets the most minutes?

I really hope this doesn't last very long.

So far I have liked all the signings BT has made, except the Grossman signing today. I will sit back and watch 10 games before really judging what Gulutzan has done so far with this team.

[Mattman]

Very intresting to see what our starting lineup was in previous years.

2014-15
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...tarting+lineup
2015-16
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...tarting+lineup

[TheoFleury]

They are trying to spread out the talent. Engelland-Wideman would be a tire fire of epic proportions.

[hockey.modern]

Looks like this is the opening roster for tomorrow night:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Hamilton - Stajan - Chiasson
Versteeg

Giordano - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland
Jokipakka - Hamilton

Elliott
Johnson