Player Utilization

[Harry Lime]

This gets brought up in multiple threads, so I thought that I would start one based solely on this as an ongoing discussion. This could be about lines and pairings on the big club, or players in the AHL that are not getting a deserved shot. That also falls in line with those players in the NHL who are over/under utilized in terms of icetime or assignment.

Sean Monahan
I think that this player has made strides on the defensive side of the game, to fit in more with Sutter's system. He is solidly average. The knock on him now is that his point production is at an all-time low. On this site, and on the FAN960, there is a common thought that Monahan's value is negative in terms of a trade.

IMO, Monahan is being used in way that does not utilize his skillset. When I watch him play, he often is working the boards low or making quick passes or dumps to the corner on the offensive side. These are the actions of a player who does not trust his linemates to have the offensive capability to either take a pass, or dish one out to the middle of the ice (where Monahan is most effective). The fact that he is anywhere close to a 0.50 pt/game pace is a minor miracle. He needs linemates who are not an offensive black hole.

Coleman - Monahan - Mangiapane

Micheal Backlund

He is a solid third line centre and a mentor to younger players. He will be a coach in some capacity when his playing days are over. His most frustrating trait is his inability to take a pass in motion. It bugs the heck out of me.

He is good on the rush, good forechecking and backchecking. Good coverage. He screams shut down third line centre with some pop. The second line centre position needs more offensive flair in order to take pressure off of first line production. A second line that scores opens up the ice for the first line. The kind of consistency that Backlund brings is great, but that is not what the second line needs, especially with Coleman doing the same job from the wing, and Mangiapane throwing out passes that require the centre to have better hands.

Lucic - Backlund - Dube

As an aside, I actually see Dube as a longterm centre, and if Monahan fails in a second line role, I would swap him and Dube directly instead of promoting Backlund back to the second line.

[wretched34]

Looking at Monahan's line combinations and stats, a trio of Dube-Monahan-Mangiapane have played 23:50 together. In that time, they've scored twice, and been on the ice for 0 against. they've outshot their opposition 19-4 and have a 68.3 CF%.
Monahan's uptake in Defensive awareness, paired with Dube and Breads tenacity, with all 3 having great offensive awareness makes them a hard line to match up against for another teams middle or bottom 6.

I'd personally like to see:
Pitlick waived, Pelletier Called up

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Coleman/Tkachuk
Pelletier-Backlund-Tkachuk/Coleman
Dube-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Richardson-Ritchie/Lewis

[dissentowner]

I see these as a major stretch to try and make excuses for a couple of players that are not pulling their own weight for different reasons. Monahan is done, there is a reason Sutter has him playing 4th line. He is slower, his wrist shot is mediocre now, he doesn't engage at all physically, and he just basically floats and takes up space. The Flames are going to have to buy him out at the end of the year, the only reason he has points at all is because he gets PP time. As for Backlund, using the word consistency when it comes to his game is bizarre. He is streaky as they come, usually poor for the first part of the year and then excellent in the latter half. Hopefully that happens as per usual as the Flames could really use good Michael Backlund right now.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I see these as a major stretch to try and make excuses for a couple of players that are not pulling their own weight for different reasons. Monahan is done, there is a reason Sutter has him playing 4th line. He is slower, his wrist shot is mediocre now, he doesn't engage at all physically, and he just basically floats and takes up space. The Flames are going to have to buy him out at the end of the year, the only reason he has points at all is because he gets PP time. As for Backlund, using the word consistency when it comes to his game is bizarre. He is streaky as they come, usually poor for the first part of the year and then excellent in the latter half. Hopefully that happens as per usual as the Flames could really use good Michael Backlund right now.

While not wrong, these are our # 2 and 3 centers. It is what it is

We get you think Monny is done. You let us know anytime his name is brought up. But the team has the players they do right now and has to try to figure out a way to get more out of lines 2-3-4

Who do you recommend plays center for our 2nd and 3rd lines?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I see these as a major stretch to try and make excuses for a couple of players that are not pulling their own weight for different reasons. Monahan is done, there is a reason Sutter has him playing 4th line. He is slower, his wrist shot is mediocre now, he doesn't engage at all physically, and he just basically floats and takes up space. The Flames are going to have to buy him out at the end of the year, the only reason he has points at all is because he gets PP time. As for Backlund, using the word consistency when it comes to his game is bizarre. He is streaky as they come, usually poor for the first part of the year and then excellent in the latter half. Hopefully that happens as per usual as the Flames could really use good Michael Backlund right now.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

While not wrong, these are our # 2 and 3 centers. It is what it is

We get you think Monny is done. You let us know anytime his name is brought up. But the team has the players they do right now and has to try to figure out a way to get more out of lines 2-3-4

Who do you recommend plays center for our 2nd and 3rd lines?

Line 1: Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Line 2: Mangiapane - Dube - Coleman
Line 3: Lucic - Monahan - Backlund
Line 4: Pitlick - Ruzicka - Ritchie

and yeah, Line 1 and 2 get played a lot more than lines 3 and 4.

Monahan and Backlund are not having good seasons and they generally aren't trending well. Put some time (and linemates) into Dube and see if we can't form a solid line with him as the centre. Damn shame that we had the answer to your question for line 2 in Sam Bennett, but dealt him away because he was never given a proper opportunity - don't make that mistake with Dube.