Juggling the lines: Move Janko up?

[FanIn80]

How do you guys feel about:

LN1: Gaudreau Monahan Ferland
LN2O: Bennett Jankowski Tkachuk (offensive zone starts)
LN2D: Hathaway Backlund Frolik (defensive zone starts)
LN3: Brouwer Stajan Jagr

D1: Giordano Hamilton
D2: Brodie Hamonic
D3: Kulak Stone

PP1: Gaudreau Monahan Ferland Backlund Stone (or Brodie Backlund)
PP2: Bennett Jankowski Tkachuk Giordano Hamilton

SH1: Backlund Frolik Giordano Hamilton
SH2: Monahan Tkachuk Brodie Hamonic

OT1: Gaudreau Monahan Brodie
OT2: Bennett Jankowski Giordano
OT3: Tkachuk Backlund Hamilton

[Finger Cookin]

I think it doesn't matter what you label the lines. I think Bennett-Jankowski-Hathaway are likely going to stay intact as a line for a while, that they'll get the third most amount of ice time among lines, and that they'll probably get more offensive zone starts then not.

While we're talking about lineup and powerplay changes, move Gio up to the first PP unit in Brodie's place in the current set-up. In fact, move Stone up to play with Brodie 5 on 5 since they seemed to click last season and Brodie has been running so hot and cold. Kulak and Hamonic can be on the third pair. And don't touch the OT rotation that has been working insanely good.

[metroneck]

I don’t think 5v5 requires much change. Not sure what we’d gain there.

The PP, now that is a different story...

[bubbsy]

If it ain't broke.....

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

If it ain't broke.....

Not only not broke, but a '3rd line' that is playing fantastic. This is exactly what the Flames need.

[Toonage]

"We've just started seeing some success? Should we wreck it?"

[Erick Estrada]

I would eventually like to see Tkachuk play with more dynamic offensive players. I feel Frolik is kind of a boat anchor on that line offensively so it would be nice to get Tkachuk off that line. I feel Backlund and Frolik work well on a checking line but Tkachuk has more offensive potential that's being held back in that role. That said I would keep the 3rd line together as long as they are producing as they have been since Hathaway was called up. If that line drops off I wouldn't mind seeing Tkachuk and Hathaway swapped on the 2nd and 3rd line.

[djsFlames]

Dont know about 5v5 lines as others said but they can go ahead and completely change the PP lines and system, please and thanks.

[Hot_Flatus]

I absolutely love the idea of Tkachuk-Jankowski-Bennett as the second line in a few weeks if Bennett still looks to be trending in the right direction. I don't think this coaching staff has the backbone to try something that drastic mid-season, but to me it seems inevitable that it does happen at some point.

You know Backlund/Frolik will excel with just about anyone so why not shoot for the stars on the second line?

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I absolutely love the idea of Tkachuk-Jankowski-Bennett as the second line in a few weeks if Bennett still looks to be trending in the right direction. I don't think this coaching staff has the backbone to try something that drastic mid-season, but to me it seems inevitable that it does happen at some point.

You know Backlund/Frolik will excel with just about anyone so why not shoot for the stars on the second line?

Leave Bennett at left wing. Chucky has said he can play either wing.

[united]

Bennett - Jankowski - Hathaway are rocking a FF of 62.3% and xGF of 65.8% in their 64 minutes of 5v5 (10 games) together. Keep them rolling until they slow down.

Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik are at a FF of 59.5% and xGF of 59.0% in their 32 games together this season, all while playing the toughest forward competition on the team.

Given the Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik trio has a shooting percentage of 4.0% this season, you can see why some think they aren't playing good. But, unless you think the three of them collectively have the shooting accuracy of a lumbering defensive defenseman, you can expect a bit of puck luck to go their way by season's end.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I think those lines make sense. I think we should begin to look down the road at what this team will look like without Backlund, and what the future may hold. I figured we would see some movement on an extension for Backlund by Christmas, and it appears that deadline is going to pass, so it may be worthwhile exploring what this team will look like come the trade deadline, and moving toward next year.

[genetic_phreek]

I was at the game on Sunday and noticed they had Chucky playing with Johnny and Mony a few shifts. Didn't mind that at all actually.

If anything to juggle I'd just try swapping Ferly and Chucky.

Johnny and Mony like to slow down the pace and Chucky isn't a speedster so it works out. Ferly is more north/south style which works with Backs and Frols.

But outside of juggling, I'd say Brodie back with Stone should be the no brainer. They have way better chemistry.

[ricardodw]

The even strength lines for the whole of the Flames winning streak:

MATTHEW TKACHUK MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 23.67%
JAROMIR JAGR MATT STAJAN TROY BROUWER 20.71%
MICHEAL FERLAND SEAN MONAHAN JOHNNY GAUDREAU 18.93%
GARNET HATHAWAY MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 13.61%
MATTHEW TKACHUK SEAN MONAHAN JOHNNY GAUDREAU 4.14%
MATTHEW TKACHUK MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 2.96%
MARK GIORDANO MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 1.78%
MICHEAL FERLAND MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 1.78%
JAROMIR JAGR MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 1.18%
JOHNNY GAUDREAU SEAN MONAHAN MICHAEL FROLIK 1.18%


as weird as it is having monahan/Gaudreau as the 3rd line the defense was even more unexpected:

MICHAEL STONE BRETT KULAK 36.09%
TJ BRODIE TRAVIS HAMONIC 31.95%
MARK GIORDANO DOUGIE HAMILTON 23.67%
TRAVIS HAMONIC BRETT KULAK 2.37%
MARK GIORDANO TRAVIS HAMONIC 1.78%
TRAVIS HAMONIC MICHAEL STONE 1.78%
TJ BRODIE MICHAEL STONE 1.18%
MARK GIORDANO MICHAEL STONE 0.59%
DOUGIE HAMILTON BRETT KULAK 0.59%

[bubbsy]

What do the %'s indicate??

[bax]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

I was at the game on Sunday and noticed they had Chucky playing with Johnny and Mony a few shifts. Didn't mind that at all actually.



If anything to juggle I'd just try swapping Ferly and Chucky.



Johnny and Mony like to slow down the pace and Chucky isn't a speedster so it works out. Ferly is more north/south style which works with Backs and Frols.



But outside of juggling, I'd say Brodie back with Stone should be the no brainer. They have way better chemistry.

Brodie and Hamonic and really started to gel finally. I wouldn’t break that up. Also stone is the most sheltered defenseman on this team- even more than Kulak. He shouldn’t be expected to step in and start facing top competition with Brodie

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The even strength lines for the whole of the Flames winning streak:

MATTHEW TKACHUK MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 23.67%
JAROMIR JAGR MATT STAJAN TROY BROUWER 20.71%
MICHEAL FERLAND SEAN MONAHAN JOHNNY GAUDREAU 18.93%
GARNET HATHAWAY MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 13.61%
MATTHEW TKACHUK SEAN MONAHAN JOHNNY GAUDREAU 4.14%
MATTHEW TKACHUK MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 2.96%
MARK GIORDANO MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 1.78%
MICHEAL FERLAND MIKAEL BACKLUND MICHAEL FROLIK 1.78%
JAROMIR JAGR MARK JANKOWSKI SAM BENNETT 1.18%
JOHNNY GAUDREAU SEAN MONAHAN MICHAEL FROLIK 1.18%


as weird as it is having monahan/Gaudreau as the 3rd line the defense was even more unexpected:

MICHAEL STONE BRETT KULAK 36.09%
TJ BRODIE TRAVIS HAMONIC 31.95%
MARK GIORDANO DOUGIE HAMILTON 23.67%
TRAVIS HAMONIC BRETT KULAK 2.37%
MARK GIORDANO TRAVIS HAMONIC 1.78%
TRAVIS HAMONIC MICHAEL STONE 1.78%
TJ BRODIE MICHAEL STONE 1.18%
MARK GIORDANO MICHAEL STONE 0.59%
DOUGIE HAMILTON BRETT KULAK 0.59%

Do you really think that's a good way to summarize that?

Monahan and Gudreau are the third line?

Take them with Ferland 19% and that to them with Tkachuk 4% and then Frolik 1% and you get 24%, or just under the Backlund/Frolik combinations and ahead of the third and fourth lines.

You really make me shake my head sometimes.

Additionally some explanation would be nice. When? All situations?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Do you really think that's a good way to summarize that?

Monahan and Gudreau are the third line?

Take them with Ferland 19% and that to them with Tkachuk 4% and then Frolik 1% and you get 24%, or just under the Backlund/Frolik combinations and ahead of the third and fourth lines.

You really make me shake my head sometimes.

Additionally some explanation would be nice. When? All situations?

when you are making personal attacks you should be more certain of of your complaint

The even strength lines

The non-standard ice time was due to the 6-1 score and the Canucks had no lines that were worth matching.

[flamestar16]

I agree with the OT lines. I don't think Frolik should play in OT. There was a shift with Frolik, Backlund and Gio in Minny that was absolutely painful to watch. Not enough creativity or skill with that threesome. Jagr would be interesting.

[FanIn80]

Referencing my OP, I see LN2 and LN3 as both being “second lines,” but with LN2 getting the offensive zone starts and LN3 getting the defensive ones.

Also, I didn’t realize Bennett was playing on the left. I don’t know why, but I just always think of him as a RW.

I’ll update the OP to account for the above.