Is the bottom six good enough

[Sandman]

I'm sure Backlund and Coleman will make up 2/3 of one of the best 3rd lines in the league. Depending on whether or not Tre can pick up another top-6 forward, Dube might be the LW on that line. Not worried at all about our 3rd line.

To revive a convo that went on in another thread, I would love to see Ben Jones or Cole Schwindt take a spot on the 3rd line and push Rooney to the 13th forward spot. Jones is already considered a good defensive forward, who plays with speed and a big chip on his shoulder. The difference between Rooney and him is that Jones has shown skill, and some offensive chops in the past. Schwindt is much the same, but is bigger than Jones, and alas-not as good of a skater. Both are young, character players.

[butterfly]

I thought Lewis was good in the playoffs. Lucic seemed to get 9 goals early and disappeared the rest of the year, save for that Colorado game when he fought MacDermid.

If they had 3M Frolik with Coleman and Backlund, it would be amazing.

[Kipper_3434]

We will see. I'm not sure "bottom 6" is much of a grouping to judge the team by. Pretty much the entire top 9 is likely to be restructured. There's lots of potential to have 3 very good lines

[dammage79]

It probably will be . There's enough FW depth to tinker with and find something that will work.

I wonder how many PTOs the Flames will sign honestly.

[GS Skier]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

We will see. I'm not sure "bottom 6" is much of a grouping to judge the team by. Pretty much the entire top 9 is likely to be restructured. There's lots of potential to have 3 very good lines

Pretty darn good point.

Were strong down the middle. We have two really talented wingers and a few solid wingers and could always use more however IMHO too many fans post 4 lines as if they are carved in stone from game 1 to 82 and of course that never happens.

If I'm not mistaken most teams, Calgary included, will play 15-17 different forwards or more this year. From short term and long term injury call ups to the trade deadline where every 1,000,000 clear of the cap you have at the start of the season translates to 5,000,000 at the deadline!

Just a few years ago our "4th line" was Matt Stajan and whoever they played on his wings and it was a revolving door with Stajan the one constant.

4th line wingers are plug and play or they should be. The cream can rise to the top when play offs start.

[DoubleK]

I'd like to see a RHS bottom 6 forward brought in on a $1M or less deal.

[memphusk]

I would rather see a young player force his way on.

[bluejays]

The Flames are taking the approach of St.Louis where they won a few years ago. Aside Huberdeau (and arguably not even him), there isn't a superstar on the team, but rather a lot of guys who will grind it out to win as a team. I can't think of a modern team aside from St. Louis who has made it work, so it is risky. Ownership decided to give it another 3 years or so, and given what Treliving had to deal with, the immediate need to win today they have a decent team. Lucic himself isn't the problem but I do wonder how he slows down his linemates as his first steps are a little slow until he gets going. I'm not a fan of Lewis at all, but I'd hope that he would be an easy replacement at the deadline.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by fleury

The Flames are taking the approach of St.Louis where they won a few years ago. Aside Huberdeau (and arguably not even him), there isn't a superstar on the team, but rather a lot of guys who will grind it out to win as a team. I can't think of a modern team aside from St. Louis who has made it work, so it is risky. Ownership decided to give it another 3 years or so, and given what Treliving had to deal with, the immediate need to win today they have a decent team. Lucic himself isn't the problem but I do wonder how he slows down his linemates as his first steps are a little slow until he gets going. I'm not a fan of Lewis at all, but I'd hope that he would be an easy replacement at the deadline.

At the end of the day, you need a goalie to show up. It doesn’t matter if Markstrom can’t figure it out.

If you don’t have a stacked team, you need to play a good team game and your goalie needs to stand on his head.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

He wasn't really underwater in Vancouver (at least, not recently). His defensive results were excellent last year.

I like effective defensive hockey players. Derek Ryan was awesome. I don't like players whose reputation as defensive players surpasses their actual capabilities in their own zone. Trevor Lewis used to be a great defensive player ... last year, he was run over.

Tyler Motte has been a negative relative CF% player all but one season in his career.

A negative relative xGF% player every year in his career.

He doesn't drive play at all.

If Lewis is similar but with cup experience, and part of what Darry's trying to accomplish I don't see the upgrade.

[GS Skier]

The thread is about the bottom 6 and we know OR assume we know the "3rd line" based on a Backlund/Coleman pair should be just fine thanks.

My answer to the 4th line is as I posted above. Lucic and Lewis played full seasons.

The 4th line in a year we finished 3rd best on D and won the division was as follows.

Rudzicka 8 goals in 28 games
Ritchie 3 Goals in 41 games
Richardson 2 goals in 27 games
Jarrnkrok 17 games
Pittlick 25 games
Carpenter 8 games
Gawdin 2 games
Duehr 1game

Grand total for 8 guys who filled 2 positions was 13 goals. Adam scored 8 of them.

Bottom 6 is a meaningless thread as 4th lines are important however the wingers are the most replaceable pieces on any team.

[bluejays]

No doubt. Markstrom can be great or not. I don't know what happened last playoffs as his worst was probably the worst I've ever seen from a goalie, so I hope he has it sorted. From his time in Vancouver I'm going to guess it was a one time problem (whatever it was) as he has a decent track record.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

At the end of the day, you need a goalie to show up. It doesn’t matter if Markstrom can’t figure it out.

If you don’t have a stacked team, you need to play a good team game and your goalie needs to stand on his head.

You mean the guy that was a Vezina nominee?

Yeah sure hope he doesn't mail it in this year!

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Tyler Motte has been a negative relative CF% player all but one season in his career.

A negative relative xGF% player every year in his career.

He doesn't drive play at all.

If Lewis is similar but with cup experience, and part of what Darry's trying to accomplish I don't see the upgrade.

Motte can skate and he hits a lot. One of those guys that look a lot better than he produces. Most fans however like him. I heard few negative.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bingo

You mean the guy that was a Vezina nominee?

Yeah sure hope he doesn't mail it in this year!

Yes and yes

[DiNaMo]

A bit simplistic but the way I see it your success is dictated by lines roughly as follows:

1st line - 40%
2nd line - 30%
3rd line - 20%
4th line - 10%

Could the 4th line be better, sure but doesn't move the needle a great bunch overall

[browna]

Yes.
Lewis showed his worth many times over the year and the Dallas series.Nevermind Sutter trusts him implicitly, as well as other vets.

And, come trade deadline there will be plenty of options for decent bottom 6 forwards like Jarnkrok was this year, to bolster.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by fleury

The Flames are taking the approach of St.Louis where they won a few years ago. Aside Huberdeau (and arguably not even him), there isn't a superstar on the team, but rather a lot of guys who will grind it out to win as a team. I can't think of a modern team aside from St. Louis who has made it work, so it is risky. Ownership decided to give it another 3 years or so, and given what Treliving had to deal with, the immediate need to win today they have a decent team. Lucic himself isn't the problem but I do wonder how he slows down his linemates as his first steps are a little slow until he gets going. I'm not a fan of Lewis at all, but I'd hope that he would be an easy replacement at the deadline.

What is a superstar if Huberdeau isn’t one? Or Lindholm for that matter. Throw Markstrom in there too.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by VilleN

What is a superstar if Huberdeau isn’t one? Or Lindholm for that matter. Throw Markstrom in there too.

Second in scoring, second in Selke, second in Vezina? What a bunch of bums.

[ComixZone]

I think the top-9 is good enough, but the 4th line as drawn up today with Lucic - Rooney - Lewis is not a line I’d like to see.

Lucic - Ruzicka - Rooney is a touch better.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Pelletier - Kadri - Mangiapane
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Ruzicka - Rooney

That’s probably the most “balanced” lineup we can ice this year. You view it as pairs and it’s Lindholm/Huberdeau, Kadri/Mangiapane, Backlund/Coleman, Ruzicka/Lucic and the other forwards can float around.

There’s no doubt that penciling in Pelletier as a middle-six forward may be asking a lot, so I’m certainly hoping we can bring in a Rodrigues or Milano to help round things out.