[Rumour] LeBrun: Flames to add secondary scoring. Friedman: A lot of people think Toffoli

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by NewFan

My thought is, if you want to improve your team, which part is the weakest of this time?
For me it's the third line. And one of the top paid forward is on that line.
If we want to bring high priced player and to improve top 6, we need to rid some salary.
If you think bottom 2 lines doing their job okay, the I think we can find much cheaper player to do Monahan's current role.
May be we can sign Eric Staal after the Olympics for playoffs.

We also have a team that is rolling and playing physical consistent hockey and scoring a ton of goals while giving up very few. Do we want to make changes to completely disrupt this teams chemistry? I don’t want that. Add a good rw and play him in Ritchie spot and keep Ritchie for depth or if we play a big physical team in playoffs. Add a rw and kerp everyone else doesn’t disrupt this team very much but could be a huge add to an already good team

Figure out monahan in the summer. He should go imo but the time isn’t now. If we are adding and removing too many players history shows high end trade deadline acquisitions often don’t produce as much on new team. This team is good enough if you add a toffolli to the mix

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Our weakest line is Monahan, Dube line. Specially Monahan. At the moment he is not scoring and not good at clearing the puck. If we could replace Monahan and Ritchie and bring real 3rd line Centre that can shut down other's top line and scoring winger to score here and there.

Worst offensive black hole on the team, nobody has been able to figure out where he is half the time and the other half is spent as he goes side to side in the center zone before dumping it in. Sees the game brutally.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

How can his stats be pretty darn good when he has 7 points in 44 games?

Advanced stats. They’ve been shown over and over by Bingo among others but the narrative keeps getting in the way.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Worst offensive black hole on the team, nobody has been able to figure out where he is half the time and the other half is spent as he goes side to side in the center zone before dumping it in. Sees the game brutally.

Dube seems to have lost all of his confidence/swagger he seemed to be starting to show as he was given more games last year.

Now if he carries the puck into the zone, every time it's a curl back towards the blueline to look to pass it off instead of trying to drive past the dman.

I'm actually hoping for his sake that he has a nagging injury or something because if this is what he is now while 100%, he's not going to be a NHLer, nevermind a Flame for long.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Advanced stats. They’ve been shown over and over by Bingo among others but the narrative keeps getting in the way.

Monahan's on ice impacts/results have been fine when playing with other top 9 forwards, and when he's actually gotten away from any of Lewis, Richardson, and Ritchie this year.

When he's not been on the ice with one of those three he has:

TOI: 290 Minutes
Corsi For: 56.4%
High Danger Chances: 59.6%
xGF: 56.55%

GF: 11
GA: 14

Shooting Percentage: 7.05%
Save Percentage: .898%

So really Monahan has been good when not played with the 4th line guys / healthy scratches. And a bit unlucky with a .968 PDO in that time.

It was the same story for Backlund and Coleman too, when they were bouncing around the 2nd and 3rd line with weird combinations their PDO was terrible and they couldn't finish. Suddenly they finally stick with Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman and the puck actually started going in the net again for all three of them.

It's funny what happens when you actually put three skilled players on a line together, instead of trying to force 4th liners into your middle 6 and trying to spread out the talent.

[FlamesAddiction]

Monahan has been doing well with the role given to him. Like Trevor Lewis said, Darryl Sutter gives you a role to play and you can take it or leave it. Monahan is showing great professionalism by taking his role to heart.

It also can't be understated that the recovery from his surgery is a long term thing. He might have more to give at some point.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Monahan has been doing well with the role given to him. Like Trevor Lewis said, Darryl Sutter gives you a role to play and you can take it or leave it. Monahan is showing great professionalism by taking his role to heart.

It also can't be understated that the recovery from his surgery is a long term thing. He might have more to give at some point.

That line needs a playmaker - Monahan's strength was finishing not carrying the puck up the ice and distributing. Dube is fast and a good forechecker. The line needs someone to dangle a bit and set things up. Would love to see Phillips be given a chance to do that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Burner

That line needs a playmaker - Monahan's strength was finishing not carrying the puck up the ice and distributing. Dube is fast and a good forechecker. The line needs someone to dangle a bit and set things up. Would love to see Phillips be given a chance to do that.

Yeah there’s no dangler, though I think Monahan’s actual passing is OK. Dube seems to stick handle his way into trouble as opposed to getting out of trouble. He certainly has speed and a hard shot.

I’m not sure they actually need a dangler but they do need a relatively high IQ player. Even Lucic would be an improvement.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah there’s no dangler, though I think Monahan’s actual passing is OK. Dube seems to stick handle his way into trouble as opposed to getting out of trouble. He certainly has speed and a hard shot.

I’m not sure they actually need a dangler but they do need a relatively high IQ player. Even Lucic would be an improvement.

Agreed. I hope Sutter tries that, though the fourth line has been effective in the three man unit.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by agulati

Agreed. I hope Sutter tries that, though the fourth line has been effective in the three man unit.

Lucic makes the 4th line good. I’d leave him and trade for the 3rd line guy or try an AHLer.

I’d like to see a guy who plays with some jam over a dangler though. I’m loving the push back this team has. Come playoffs this team for once isn’t soft. Toffolli is a good skill player but he isn’t soft either

[Strange Brew]

Lucic is a true 4th liner, leave him there IMO.

Pick up two more top 9 forwards by the deadline and this team is going places. And I agree with the "jam" comments. And as much as scoring would be sexy, give me some speed, jam able to play both ends of the ice. Those types of players can make up for Monahan's deficiencies.

[bigrangy]

I only today realized Andrew Copp is a UFA. Having a good season so far and fits the size+good at faceoffs that I imagine would be desired in a 3C.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by The_Rug

Monahan is the type of player that needs to give the puck to someone else, and unfortunately for him, his options right now are awful. Dube and Ritchie can't do anything (I think Dube needs some confidence, Ritchie needs to get away from this team). A skilled winger on that line would be the spark Monahan needs.

Well there’s the catch, because he’s not a distributor either. He’s the shooter, so needs to play with playmakers.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I only today realized Andrew Copp is a UFA. Having a good season so far and fits the size+good at faceoffs that I imagine would be desired in a 3C.

HE would be awesome but doubt Winnipeg would let him go - he does everything well - kills penalties, moves up and down the line up, very well spoken and a leader

[transplant99]

Yup....if it is Tofolli, he would seem to check a lot of boxes,

He can play the big heavy game that Ritchie plays, but he is 100 times better offensively.

Truly feels like its a perfect fit on the ice.

[Mathgod]

Monahan + Dube + 1st + 2nd for Giroux as a rental. Would Philly do it?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Monahan + Dube + 1st + 2nd for Giroux as a rental. Would Philly do it?

Philly would....Giroux wouldn't.

[Mathgod]

Why wouldn't he? The Flames clearly are a contender as they've proven over these last 8 games. Markstrom is among the league's best goalies, this top line is by far the best 200ft line in the NHL, and this defensive corps is rock solid. Just need a bit more scoring punch and this team is as good as anyone.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Why would the Flames??? Ugly.

[Mathgod]

Improves offense this year and gets Monahan off the books for next year. Two birds with one stone.