Predict the 2017-18 Flames Lineup

[SeanCharles]

Hanzel has some attractive skills but overall I think we're better off giving a younger mold of him in Jankowski the icetime we would him. We have depth at centre and Monahan, Backlund and Bennett have all improved at face offs, Jankowski, I've heard, is pretty good in the lower leagues in the dot too. I don't think we need another 3rd line player. We have alot of players that already fit the bill without enough space, we need another top 6 and I don't think Hanzel is ideally that.

When you have palyers like Monahan, Benny and a defensive stalwart in Backs down the middle with a 6'4" kid in Janks coming do you need to sign a guy like Hanzel?

Our biggest needs are obvious and another top 9 centre is not as desirable as plugging a hole somewhere else cause we have kids (Bennet, Jankowski) that can play there.

In short, although Hanzel intrigues me, I think we need to pass and focus on more important issues.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by 868904

Flames have lacked a good face guy since Conroy.

That's not true.. look at the face on this guy

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flamefan1

One of the last players we should consider trading on this team is Ferland. Players like Ferland are almost irreplaceable. The last 20 games of the season we finally used Ferland properly. 30 other teams would love to take Ferland on their team.

30 other teams certainly wouldn't be playing him on the top line

he is a very useful player, but not a top 6 on a good team

[Itse]

Originally Posted by dino7c

30 other teams certainly wouldn't be playing him on the top line

he is a very useful player, but not a top 6 on a good team

It's not that straightforward. Even if we did have more top forwards doesn't mean a guy like Ferland doesn't end up in the top 6. Spreading your best forwards to three lines instead of stacking them on two lines is after all pretty common.

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

30 other teams certainly wouldn't be playing him on the top line

he is a very useful player, but not a top 6 on a good team

Connor Sheary is a top line player on Pittsburgh. Could you honestly call him a top line player on ANY OTHER NHL team? Sometimes it's about how those players complement each other.

[Badgers Nose]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Jankowski-Bennett
Klimchuck-Stajan-Lazar

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Andersson
Kilington-Engelland

MAF
Gillies

[pgsieve]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Kovalchuk
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Jankowski-Bennett
Shinkaruk-Stajan-Lazar

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Kilington-Engelland

Miller
Gillies

[StanTheMan]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Landeskog-Bennett-Versteeg
Stajan-Janko-Lazar
F. Hamilton/Shink

Gio-D. Hamilton
Brodie-Franson
Kulak-Stone

[djsFlames]

Would be ecstatic to pick up Landeskog. With the Avs missing a lottery pick though you have to imagine Sakic would be swinging for the fences on that trade..

[SeanCharles]

Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Lazar
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Hathaway
Stajan/Chiasson

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Andersson
Kulak-Stone
Engelland

Bishop
Rittich

- Vegas takes Brouwer
- Trade Bouma as he's young and on the last year of his deal
- F. Hamilton and Bartkowski can be sent to the minors

I know it will probably never happen as 6 Stockton regulars would make the team but it would be somewhat exciting to see. Also in the above scenario we still have our top 6 defence and top 9 forwards that we had at the end of the season as a safety net.

The free agent pool isn't too exciting so the best way to fill some holes will likely be through trade.

I'm not huge on Bishop but I don't see Fleury here for some reason (Dallas seems more likely) and the Flames seemed high on him. If they can get a reasonable contract that isn't too lengthy I wouldn't be against it - 3yrs at around $20 million would be alright if he would accept it (Pipe dream in all likihood).

[David Struch]

After signing our RFA's to their minimum qualifying offers, the Flames would have nearly 15 million for a top 4 D man + #1 goalie.

*Ferland & Bennett each receive a raise of 2 million & 3 million.

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

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - ______
Kulak - Andersson
Bartkowski

______
Rittich

Salary Cap: 76 million
Bonuses/Buyout (Raymond) $1,570,000
Total Cap Hit: $61,135,317
Cap Space available: $14,864,683

Great Depth:
Hathaway, Klimchuk, Shinkaruk, Lomberg, Mangiapane
Wotherspoon, Kylington, Ollas-Mattsson, Healey
Gillies, Parsons

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by David Struch

After signing our RFA's to their minimum qualifying offers, the Flames would have nearly 15 million for a top 4 D man + #1 goalie.

*Ferland & Bennett each receive a raise of 2 million & 3 million.

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

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - ______
Kulak - Andersson
Bartkowski

______
Rittich

Salary Cap: 76 million
Bonuses/Buyout (Raymond) $1,570,000
Total Cap Hit: $61,135,317
Cap Space available: $14,864,683

Great Depth:
Hathaway, Klimchuk, Shinkaruk, Lomberg, Mangiapane
Wotherspoon, Kylington, Ollas-Mattsson, Healey
Gillies, Parsons

As it sits right now this is a pretty good guess at what the lineup will look like.
It is hard to say though. We probably won't have a good idea until after the dust has settled on July 1.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by David Struch

After signing our RFA's to their minimum qualifying offers, the Flames would have nearly 15 million for a top 4 D man + #1 goalie.

*Ferland & Bennett each receive a raise of 2 million & 3 million.

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

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - ______
Kulak - Andersson
Bartkowski

______
Rittich

Salary Cap: 76 million
Bonuses/Buyout (Raymond) $1,570,000
Total Cap Hit: $61,135,317
Cap Space available: $14,864,683

Great Depth:
Hathaway, Klimchuk, Shinkaruk, Lomberg, Mangiapane
Wotherspoon, Kylington, Ollas-Mattsson, Healey
Gillies, Parsons

If they can convince Vegas to take Brouwer they will have over $19M in cap space!

[Roof-Daddy]

Not to mention Ferland and Bennett aren't getting raises of 2 and 3 million.

[GioforPM]

Gaudreau - Monahan - _____ [spend found money when Brouwer is taken by LVGK]
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Tkachuk
Lazar - Stajan - Bouma
Klimchuk- Hamilton

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone [re-signed]
Kulak - Andersson
Bartkowski

MAF [somehow, or else Bishop I guess]
Gillies [I still like him better than Rittich plus I think the Flamnes are more invested in him]

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Not to mention Ferland and Bennett aren't getting raises of 2 and 3 million.

Maybe he meant raises to that amount. That's a bit more feasible.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe he meant raises to that amount. That's a bit more feasible.

More feasible, but still too much IMO.

$1.5 max for Ferland. I like him, but 15 goals and 25 points shouldn't get you more than that.

$2.5 max for Bennett on a short bridge deal.

IMO

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

More feasible, but still too much IMO.

$1.5 max for Ferland. I like him, but 15 goals and 25 points shouldn't get you more than that.

$2.5 max for Bennett on a short bridge deal.

IMO

Agreed but they might not bridge Bennett (as discussed in that thread). Would you give Bennett $3 on a long term gamble? Maybe.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

Connor Sheary is a top line player on Pittsburgh. Could you honestly call him a top line player on ANY OTHER NHL team? Sometimes it's about how those players complement each other.

Sadly we don't have Crosby to play with Ferland


If he is the top line RWer on this team they are going nowhere

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Lazar
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Hathaway
Stajan/Chiasson

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Andersson
Kulak-Stone
Engelland

Bishop
Rittich

- Vegas takes Brouwer
- Trade Bouma as he's young and on the last year of his deal
- F. Hamilton and Bartkowski can be sent to the minors

I know it will probably never happen as 6 Stockton regulars would make the team but it would be somewhat exciting to see. Also in the above scenario we still have our top 6 defence and top 9 forwards that we had at the end of the season as a safety net.

The free agent pool isn't too exciting so the best way to fill some holes will likely be through trade.

I'm not huge on Bishop but I don't see Fleury here for some reason (Dallas seems more likely) and the Flames seemed high on him. If they can get a reasonable contract that isn't too lengthy I wouldn't be against it - 3yrs at around $20 million would be alright if he would accept it (Pipe dream in all likihood).

This is pretty close to what I foresee as well, but I think it will be Shinkaruk in and they will let Mangiapane ripen more, at least right out of camp.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a free agent defenseman signed. Alzner seems to be the obvious target, but I am going to take a shot in the dark and say Kulikov.