Line Combinations

[boogerz]

Given all the talk in GDTs and other unrelated threads about what the Flames can do to get out of their offensive funk, what are your proposed line combinations (forward and/or defense) to mix things up?

Post 'em here and assume that Treliving doesn't make any trades between now and the end of the 2022 calendar year.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Sutter roll this if Huberdeau is going to be back within the next week or so:

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

[bubbsy]

My opinion is that, generally speaking, forward lines 2-4 are fine and each have a identity and role.

Line 1 is fundamentally flawed due to personnel. There's no one on the top l I NE (huberdaeu, Lindholm, toffolli) who are good at being the puck carrier up the ice and to gain the offensive zone. They are also not strong dump and chase players. Essentially, thd flames don't have anyone there to replace gaudreau's ability to carry the puck into the offensive zone with speed.

Now, we have 2 centers that can play this role in kadri and backlund. However, though kadri can do this, his effectiveness seems higher with guys like mangiapane, that are able to get grimey and muck things up in the offensive zone (not huberdaeu's fort). Backlund is good at carrying the puck up the ice with speed, but he's not a first line player I suppose.

I would be willing to try a huberdaeu/backlund pair at this point though. Lindholm is not working there at all. I also think this has been a eye opener in just how much of Lindholm's offensive output as a flame was thanks to elite wingers, that are no longer here.

Maybe something like:

Huberdaeu - backlund - Lindholm
Mangiapane - kadri - tofolli
Coleman - Ruzicka/Rooney - Lewis
Ritchie - Ruzicka/Rooney - lucic

Unfortunately, everyone was so concerned about getting the top line going, they messed up the good vibes the other lines were feeling early on.

[scobel]

Huberdeau Lindholm Coleman ( Coleman to help with the forecheck and responsible)
Dube Backlund Mangiapane (They always seem to play well together)
Rucizka Kadri Toffoli ( lots of energy with Kadri, Rucizka seems to draw attention due to his size opening up Toffoli a bit for his shot)
Lucic Lewis Ritchie
Rooney

Hanifin Anderson
Kylington Tanev ( hopefully soon)
Zadorov Weegar ( this may not be the best combo as both seem to need to play with a more stable partner in the d zone)

[Kasi]

I think it’s less about line combinations at this point and more about how they’re deployed. Is there a way the Flames can try to focus less on dump ins and board battles and shots from the perimeter and up the danger of the chances? I also think each line needs someone who can carry the puck. We have Kadri and Backlund but who else? Would Phillips be a person capable of picking up some of the load?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Huberdeau - Kadri - Phillips
Mangiapane - Lindholm - Toffoli
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Ruzicka - Lewis/Ritchie

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Kasi

? Would Phillips be a person capable of picking up some of the load?

In my opinion "no", he would be easy to knock off of the puck

I also don't think he would be the 1st forward to be recalled...

once healthy, the Flames should keep playing these and hope chemistry will occur

Huberdeau / Lindholm / Tofolli
Mangiapane / Kadri / Dube
Coleman / Backlund / Lewis

Personally, if they had cap space. A trade is the best option...

However that is next to impossible to generate

[_Q_]

Huberdeau - Kadri - Lindholm
Toffoli - Backlund - Coleman
Mangiapane - Dube - Ruzizcka
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis

[Naitix]

I would be interested to see this for a couple of games, hard to predict where Phillips would work best but when your team is struggling to score goals, bringing up a player who leads the league in goals might be a good idea.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Phillips
Dube - Kadri - toffoli
Mang - Backlund - Coleman

Phillips being easy to knock off the puck should not matter as much on that line as Huberdeau has very strong board play and Lindholm is great on the forecheck. Phillips is fantastic off the rush and would help those two play faster and attack faster, I also think Phillips would be able to sneak behind coverage and receive Huberdeau passes. It could also not work at all but I would be interested to try it out.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Naitix

I would be interested to see this for a couple of games, hard to predict where Phillips would work best but when your team is struggling to score goals, bringing up a player who leads the league in goals might be a good idea.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Phillips
Dube - Kadri - toffoli
Mang - Backlund - Coleman

Phillips being easy to knock off the puck should not matter as much on that line as Huberdeau has very strong board play and Lindholm is great on the forecheck. Phillips is fantastic off the rush and would help those two play faster and attack faster, I also think Phillips would be able to sneak behind coverage and receive Huberdeau passes. It could also not work at all but I would be interested to try it out.

Sure but its a different league...I mean Toffoli would absolutely dominate the AHL. I'm not against a call up but I think people need to temper expectations a bit here

[SeanCharles]

Scenario 1, same lineup:

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Dube-Kadri-Toffoli
Coleman-Backlund-Lewis
Lucic-Rooney/Ruzicka-Ritchie

Scenario 2, call up from farm:

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Zary-Toffoli
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Lewis-Richie

[Cain]

I've thought the flames actually are playing pretty well in the games I have watched, and would expect them to have a better record than where they sit currently.


That said, if Philips is a UFA after this year, we've spent all this time letting him develop to the point of him being an offensive force in the AHL, including being the actual leader at the moment...give him an extended look with an opportunity to play on one of our top lines. Nothing to lose at the moment, and maybe we give ourselves the chance to enjoy the success that our long term commitment towards Philips has become?

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Huberdeau - Kadri - Toffoli

Mangiapane - Lindholm - Dube

Coleman - Backlund - Phillips

Scrubs - Scrubs - Scrubs

I think Kadri has been the Flames’ best centre this year, and it’s his turn to try to make the top line work.
I’d like to see Lindholm and Mangiapane together, because they are (IMO) our best playmaking center and best finishing winger.
And it returns Backlund to his most successful role: babysitting the team’s next up-and-coming prospect, and allowing them to succeed at the NHL level.

[Toonage]

No scrubs.

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Sure but its a different league...I mean Toffoli would absolutely dominate the AHL. I'm not against a call up but I think people need to temper expectations a bit here

I do not have expectations for Phillips to lead the NHL in goals, just saying that when we struggle to get goals out of our top 9/top 6, a guy that leads the AHL in goals MIGHT be a better option than Trevor Lewis or Coleman. Plus after watching Phillips for 3 seasons I am sure that he can offer exactly what the Flames are lacking. The biggest question if he can transfer his skills into the NHL but if you do not give him that chance, you won't ever know

[Samonadreau]

Last time we changed forward lines, the team played like dog shirt. We went back to original lines and the team played 10x better, just didnt get the Wins. I think the lines used in NY/NJ give you the best chance to win. Given the team doesnt call anyone else up.

[dissentowner]

I think those of you pencilling in Phillips are doing some wishful thinking. As brilliant as Sutter is at coaching I don't see him giving the guy a chance.

[Mathgod]

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli (they were just starting to form some chemistry before the line shakeups and then Huby got injured)
Phillips-Kadri-Mangiapane (hoping Phillips brings more to this line than Dube has)
Ritchie-Backlund-Coleman (I have a feeling these 3 could work well together)
Dube-Rooney/Ruzicka-Lucic (Dube could some speed to this line but is wasting minutes in the middle 6)
Lewis

[GranteedEV]

Honestly Flames need to get younger and faster. In many ways they resemble the 2015-16 Penguins before they sent half their roster out and called up their AHL team.

Huberdeau - Backlund - Phillips
Mangiapane - Kadri - Lindholm
Coleman - Ruzicka - Toffoli
Dube - Zary - Schwindt

(Kylington - Tanev)
Zadorov - Weegar
Hanifin - Andersson
Stone

I'm not the GM or coach though so realistically not expecting anything close.

[Parallex]

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

Yes... Lindholm gets pushed out of the C position. This can ve revisited later in the season but right now he needs a kick in the butt and he needs to be able to do something right... so we're going to move him to the wing so he can focus on getting his offense back. I like Kadri with bread so Backlund works the C position with Hubby and Lindholm.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Parallex

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

Yes... Lindholm gets pushed out of the C position. This can ve revisited later in the season but right now he needs a kick in the butt and he needs to be able to do something right... so we're going to move him to the wing so he can focus on getting his offense back. I like Kadri with bread so Backlund works the C position with Hubby and Lindholm.

Lindholm-style defensively strong wingers are still highly valuable. Prime Marian Hossa and last year's Valeri Nichshkin are two that come to mind.

It's not an insult to him to move back to the position he was so successful in back in 2018-19.