[Rumour] Friedman: Ducks really like Sam Bennett

[Enoch Root]

I like the idea of Brouwer on Backlund's line as well. I think he could do well there.

And I strongly believe that it's time for Tkachuk to move to another line to spread out the offense.

If Tkachuk and Bennett could develop some chemistry and give the 3rd line a boost, the Flames are a far better team.

[Yoho]

Tkachuk never has, and never will be a third line player.

[Matty81]

I think the way the flames are built it would make sense to have three roughly equal lines and roll them.

That slot with backlund and frolik is a perfect spot for a rookie and I think Janko should go there if he makes the team. Throw Tkachuk and Bennett together (with someone other than Brouwer) and you have the makings of a great 1C line. Someone who can hang onto the puck and make intelligent passes would be ideal, but even a big guy with good boardplay and some toughness like Ferland would turn that line into a real pain in the ass. I think Lazar could even be a fit as a right shot though i havent seen enough of him to assess talent

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Tkachuk never has, and never will be a third line player.

Neither is Kessel but he was playing behind Malkin and Crosby. Too much importance placed on line numbers and archaic labels. Eventually having that depth is what makes us a contender down the road.


Anaheim is a great example where they have Vermette/Cogliano as a "3rd line" but Kesler as their shutdown, two way guy.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Neither is Kessel but he was playing behind Malkin and Crosby. Too much importance placed on line numbers and archaic labels. Eventually having that depth is what makes us a contender down the road.


Anaheim is a great example where they have Vermette/Cogliano as a "3rd line" but Kesler as their shutdown, two way guy.

Kessel plays with Malkin for the most part.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Kessel plays with Malkin for the most part.

Sorry meant to specify last year's playoffs with the HBK line.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Sorry meant to specify last year's playoffs with the HBK line.

Regardless, you are 100% correct. No team/coach concerns themselves with 1st, 2nd or 3rd line labels. Like the outstanding Sutter quote "who was that?" when told the third line played well, and continued with 'yeah they're good' after learning who the reporter was talking about.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think the way the flames are built it would make sense to have three roughly equal lines and roll them.

Agreed

Originally Posted by Matty81

That slot with backlund and frolik is a perfect spot for a rookie and I think Janko should go there if he makes the team.

I don't like the idea of playing Backlund or Jankowski out of position so that line doesn't really work for me. Janko has to play centre IMO. He's more of a natural centre than Bennett is.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don't like the idea of playing Backlund or Jankowski out of position so that line doesn't really work for me. Janko has to play centre IMO. He's more of a natural centre than Bennett is.

It would mean either playing him over Bennett at centre or taking the fewest amount of minutes possible on the 4th line. Both options are even less desirable than playing Backs or Janko out of position, considering that you want Mark to have as much ice-time as possible.

I also don't see the concern with having Janko on the wing for a season, or at least to start the season. And seeing as how he's probably better at faceoffs than Backlund, I think he'd be a great replacement for Tkachuk on that line - either let Backlund cheat a little and get kicked out, or just have him take the draw then cross over.

[Freeway]

Jankowski is arguably the only natural center in the developmental pipeline now. It'd be counter-productive to move him to the wing just to get him in. More likely is Stajan moving to the wing to mentor him.

[TheScorpion]

^ Not saying I disagree with your idea to move Staj to the wing (like it, actually) but are Pollock, Dube, Lindstrom and Mattson not natural centres?

[Matty81]

I don't see a season at LW as somehow stunting Janko as a centre and I think the upside of learning the nhl from backlund and frolik is greater than having him on the 4th line with Bouma and Brouwer or some other combos of plugs where his offensive development actually could be stunted when he starts associating making a pass with a play dying and never receives the puck when he plays intelligently and moves into space. For me I'd like to see:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland/Lazar
Janko-Backlund-Frolik
Tkachuk-Bennett-Ferland/Lazar

The more I think about it the more I actually wouldn't mind Lazar on the first line for a trial. I think he has a very good shot and decent skating from what I've seen and defends his teammates a bit. There's no way he would be worse than Chiasson and a ferland bennett and tkachuk line would be amazing.

Roll those 3 lines with equal ice time and the flames would be formidable. The Kelowna Rockets took that approach a few years back when they had 9 good forwards and teams couldn't keep up from a conditioning and matchups perspective.

[Gaskal]

Given how the Flames seem content to roll three lines with the minutes distribution during the stretch drive, initial development of Jankowski in his natural position on the 4th line, at the sacrifice of significant minutes and roles, doesn't seem worth it.

Especially considering when you think about his age compared to the rest of our core (about par) and how little NHL experience he has in contrast.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

^ Not saying I disagree with your idea to move Staj to the wing (like it, actually) but are Pollock, Dube, Lindstrom and Mattson not natural centres?

Pollock -> ECHL
Dube, Lindstrom and Mattson haven't played a lick of North American pro yet.

I should phrase it: "Jankowski is the only established North American pro center".

[Roof-Daddy]

I'd have no problem with Jankowski playing a 4th line C role at the NHL level with 10-12 minutes per night next season. Especially if he has a solid combo of wingers to play with. He's big, fast and smart and by all accounts strong defensively. A player like that can and should be able to handle a 4th line role while learning on the fly at the NHL level.

If the Flames were to add a RW for the top line externally, I could see Ferland sliding all the way down to the 4th line and also hitting the ice for 10-12 minutes a night.

Ferland - Jankowski - Lazar
Ferland - Jankowski - Chiasson
Ferland - Jankowski - Hathaway

Any of those as a 4th line would IMO really allow GG to roll his lines from top to bottom and not have any lines that make you cringe, or get you routinely hemmed in your own zone. Especially if Tre can upgrade the bottom D pair with good skating, smart puck possession/moving Dmen.

[Flash Walken]

Likeliest scenario in my opinion is the knights take stajan which opens a spot for janko.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

If Jankowski legitimately makes the team I think its as a top 3 centre. And that only happens if we've got an injury or they decide to move Bennett to the wing.

What about the following

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Frolik-Backlund-Lazar
Bennett-Jankowski-Ferland

Man is that a lot of young players. Where Jankowski fits long term is still one of the more puzzling questions.

Reasons why I don't think they'll try Janko at wing
1. They don't have to. This isn't a 19 year old kid struggling at centre (like Bennett was). You don't have to move him to the wing and shelter him. He can play centre in the NHL and if he's not ready he'll continue to learn as a 1st line centre in the AHL.
2. Don't think his style really suits it. His strengths are playmaking, stick handling, vision, face-offs. You want those strengths down the middle with his size. I don't think he's physical or tenacious enough for wing to be a better fit

It's an interesting conundrum because he ideally doesn't fit if we're healthy and they want Bennett as a centre.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

If Jankowski legitimately makes the team I think its as a top 3 centre. And that only happens if we've got an injury or they decide to move Bennett to the wing.

What about the following

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Frolik-Backlund-Lazar
Bennett-Jankowski-Ferland

Man is that a lot of young players. Where Jankowski fits long term is still one of the more puzzling questions.

Reasons why I don't think they'll try Janko at wing
1. They don't have to. This isn't a 19 year old kid struggling at centre (like Bennett was). You don't have to move him to the wing and shelter him. He can play centre in the NHL and if he's not ready he'll continue to learn as a 1st line centre in the AHL.
2. Don't think his style really suits it. His strengths are playmaking, stick handling, vision, face-offs. You want those strengths down the middle with his size. I don't think he's physical or tenacious enough for wing to be a better fit

It's an interesting conundrum because he ideally doesn't fit if we're healthy and they want Bennett as a centre.

I think Bennett improved by leaps and bounds defensively as a center last year, and I really hope they keep him going that way but with better line mates. Having four strong two way pivots would allow the Flames to roll 4 lines that can match up with just about anybody. Would be invaluable IMO.

Gaudreau - Monahan - External option??
M Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Lazar
Ferland - Jankowski - Chiasson

Stajan gone in expansion?
Bouma dealt for a mid/late round pick?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Your lineup has Janko and Ferland too low in it. They aren't 4th liners IMO. Lazar is much more likely to be a 4th line centre/W than either of those two.

If Stajan leaves I'd have Bouma-Lazar-Hathaway as the grinding line.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Your lineup has Janko and Ferland too low in it. They aren't 4th liners IMO. Lazar is much more likely to be a 4th line centre/W than either of those two.

If Stajan leaves I'd have Bouma-Lazar-Hathaway as the grinding line.

Yeah, I just wouldn't have it as a traditional 8-9 minute grinding line, but a 4th line that plays 10-12 minutes and while it can grind, it can also play a puck possession game and score a bit.

I mean, that's a big, fast, physical line that doesn't handle the puck like a hot potato.

You're right though. Watching where Janko and Bennett go from here is going to be interesting. If they both succeed as NHL centers, it leaves the Flames with lots of options. Basically a great problem to have going forward.