Feb 17 practice. Bartkowski in? Jokipakka, Chiasson, Hathaway out?

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames lines today:
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik;
Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg;
Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer;
Bouma-Stajan-Hamilton

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Alex Chiasson is a notable odd man out as the team runs through forward lines. Hathaway the other extra forward. #Flames

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Bartkowski skating on the third pairing with Wideman today. Sure does look like he’ll be in tomorrow. #Flames

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Jokipakka is rotating in the pairings which suggests that Bartkowski plays on Saturday vs. the Canucks, his old team.

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames D pairings today:
Giordano-Hamilton;
Brodie-Engelland;
Bartkowski-Wideman.
Jokipakka extra.

[keenan87]

I think the only debate in this is Hamilton vs. Hathaway ... personally, I would rather play Hathaway. As for Wideman, at this point, might as well play our 5+ million dollar dman for the next 2 weeks to see if we can get any value for him at the deadline.

[Vinny01]

I like the look of those lines. Rather Hathaway for Hamilton but so glad Chaisson is sitting

[Muta]

Bartkowski-Wideman should be the name of a new horror flick.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Chiasson has slowly been heading to Gulutzan's dog house, and that penalty in the last game was the clincher.

[Fry]

Rather Hathaway in as well, seems like the team always wins when he plays.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Fry

Rather Hathaway in as well, seems like the team always wins when he plays.

They lost 5-0 to Arizona on Monday with Hathaway in the lineup. He made absolutely no difference in the game as well.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

They lost 5-0 to Arizona on Monday with Hathaway in the lineup. He made absolutely no difference in the game as well.

#SampleSize

[Travis Munroe]

Can Bouma, Hathaway or Hamilton play C? I really like Stajan for leadership and who he is as a person but would like to see Hathaway, Bouma and Hamilton together if possible.

Lines 1 and 2 have some serious skill
Line 3 is a heavy LA Kings style line that I think will feed off each others physical play. If Ferland can spark Brouwer to use his size it would be a beautiful thing.
Line 4 with Stajan out would just be complete pests and I suspect they would draw a lot of PIMS for their odd shift.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

They lost 5-0 to Arizona on Monday with Hathaway in the lineup. He made absolutely no difference in the game as well.

I think it is unfair to point out that game because I don't think there are many Flames players who made any positive difference in that game. I don't mind Hamilton but I think Hathaway brings energy and emotion to the game which and has helped the team more often than not.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I think it is unfair to point out that game because I don't think there are many Flames players who made any positive difference in that game. I don't mind Hamilton but I think Hathaway brings energy and emotion to the game which and has helped the team more often than not.

True, but he didn't that game and the team lost, which is why I pointed it out.

He hasn't had a lot of extra feistiness for some time now. It's hard to maintain that over a season, but if Hathaway is going to play, he has to play with an edge.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

#SampleSize

#DontUseHashtagsOnAForum

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by btimbit

#DontUseHashtagsOnAForum

#YouDidSoDidIDoTwoWrongsMakeARightNoBut3LeftsDo

[GoJetsGo]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg;

Been hoping we'd see this line get an extended look for a while. I know it was tried very briefly early on at times, but I think given a few games there might be some long awaited chemistry. I have always had the feeling Versteeg could click with those two similar to how Hudler did if given some time. Hopefully it pays off.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Been hoping we'd see this line get an extended look for a while. I know it was tried very briefly early on at times, but I think given a few games there might be some long awaited chemistry. I have always had the feeling Versteeg could click with those two similar to how Hudler did if given some time. Hopefully it pays off.

I know that it is fashionable to pit the line-up problems on the Flames's lack of a top-line winger to play with Gaudreau and Monahan, but I just don't buy it. For whatever reason they have not been as good this year and it is not because the third player on that line has been holding them back. Hopefully, Versteeg's return to the top line pays dividends, but for that to happen Gaudreau and Monahan need to be better. It starts there.

[Bar-Down]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames lines today:
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik;
Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg;
Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer;
Bouma-Stajan-Hamilton

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
#Flames D pairings today:
Giordano-Hamilton;
Brodie-Engelland;
Bartkowski-Wideman.
Jokipakka extra.

I actually really like those forward lines.

On defense I would swap Wideman and Jokipakka. But lets just hope Wideman is traded in 2 weeks. Maybe he can show something in his limited 3rd pairing role.

[Imported_Aussie]

I like that set of forward lines, with Hathaway and Hamilton rotating (which also keeps Bouma on notice).
The Chiasson experiment can be wrapped up now IMO. I thought he could fit somewhere, but it looks like that stretch in Dallas was the peak of his career. Fools gold.

I also like the first 2 D pairings, but that 3rd pair scares me. If Bartkowski's strength is rushing the puck, and Wideman's weakness is mobility/positioning, how often are those two going to be too separated on the ice?

[868904]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

True, but he didn't that game and the team lost, which is why I pointed it out.

He hasn't had a lot of extra feistiness for some time now. It's hard to maintain that over a season, but if Hathaway is going to play, he has to play with an edge.

I'm really starting to wonder whether the lack of feistiness is because of Gulutzan.

• Tkachuk started the year real feisty, but hasn't been that noticeable in this regard lately;
• Bennett started the same way and has a history of being super feisty and physical, but hasn't looked that way at all since taking a lot of penalties early in the season;
• Hathaway looked great, but like you say, in recent games, really hasn't been that noticeable and sat many games even after having played well.

I know both Tkachuck and Bennett took a lot of penalties early which hurt the team, which explains why Gulutzan would want them to "tone things down" a bit, but I find that there really isn't that "#### disturbing" and "feisty" element anymore in the Flames game anymore. I feel like Gulutzan may have told these guys to tone it down too much.

I really don't see Gulutzan as a fit with a Brian Burke type team. He seems to think along the lines of the anti-truculence crowd on this board.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Bartkowski-Wideman.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I know that it is fashionable to pit the line-up problems on the Flames's lack of a top-line winger to play with Gaudreau and Monahan, but I just don't buy it. For whatever reason they have not been as good this year and it is not because the third player on that line has been holding them back. Hopefully, Versteeg's return to the top line pays dividends, but for that to happen Gaudreau and Monahan need to be better. It starts there.

I didn't see anyone trying to place blame, rather, am stating that some chemistry with a RW may spark all involved.