Lineup moving forward

[Heavy Jack]

The old ‘I can’t stay mad at you’ Homer’s rotten sub sandwich thing is happening to me again with this team and after the trades today it got me thinking about the roster moving forward. As a joke too (sorta, kinda) I’m half hoping to see at some point a Huby - Dube - Duehr line because reasons.

When I think seriously about it though I do believe a reshuffle of the top 6 could spark the new additions and I think the pace that Dube plays at with the straight lines he takes would match perfectly with Huberdeau who seems to force passes through the middle right now often to east/west movement. Give Kadri a look on wing who can take strong side draws and load up the first line, run with something like:

Kadri - Lindholm - Toffoli
Huberdeau - Dube - Pelletier
Mangipane - Backlund - Coleman
Ritchie - Ruzicka - Duehr
Lucic, Lewis

There is no reason to break up the MBC line and I think it would be smart to give Lucic and Lewis some time off down the stretch and run with a 4th line that is younger and energized to push for the playoffs, if we do make it the rest and recovery for Looch and Lewis would pay dividends if the Flames ended up pulling off a Sutter type run from an 8th seed position.

The D looks something like

Hanifin - Andersson
Weegar - Tanev
Zadorov - Stecher
Gilbert - Stone

Give Marky the bulk for the stretch run and see what happens here; Minny in two of the next 3 and the jets free falling mean that the Flames can make something here and man are they due for a 5 or 6 game win streak, if they can make that happen it could be a fun push to the finish… every time dammit!! They pull me back in lol!

How do you guys see it?

[kermitology]

Swap Lindholm with Dube, move Dube to the wing with Kadri at centre.

[kyuss275]

I don’t see stubborn Sutter changing top 6. Ideally lucic comes out for Ritchie , but I also don’t see Sutter taking out lucic until they are mathematically out.

That said lindholm should be playing with hubby and Pelletier

[Heavy Jack]

Dube - Kadri - Toffoli
Huberdeau - Lindholm - Pelletier

Looks good to me too, need to switch up the top 6 and the 4th line though for sure to try and generate a spark.

[Iceman57]

I say give the new guy a vote of confidence and throw him on the first line right off the bat. I'm actually intrigued to see a big body with those two, I feel they would create space and slot chances off the cycle. I just feel Dube will really compliment Hubby plus I'm hopeful this will prevent Kadri from going solo too much, he's no Big Z, lol. No reason to touch the Backlund line and why not try a high tempo, fast kid 4th line, Pelletier is surprisingly good defensively while Ruzicka and Duehr could be magic.


Ritchie - Lindholm - Toffoli
Dube - Kadri - Huberdeau
Mangipane - Backlund - Coleman
Pelletier - Ruzicka - Duehr

Lucic / Lewis (really doubt Sutter would ever do this)

Hanifin Tanev
Weegar Anderson
Zadorov Stecher

Gilbert / Stone

[Flames1217]

For myself, next year is far more important than the remainder of this season.

I look at the team and it feels like they lack an identity. The only line that even appears to have one is the Backlund line whereas the other lines feel like they have lack any purpose and don't know who they are on a nightly basis.

For me that is what needs solving.

Huberdeau and Lindholm should be playing together. They are the best offensive players on the team and Sutter split them up far too quickly. Take these last twenty something odd games and let them build chemistry. Let them figure out how they can impact the game positively together on a night to night basis.

Hate to say it but Mangiapane may need to go. This season he has been passed by Dube in terms of on ice impact. Pelletier is also quickly catching up. Mangiapane makes nearly 6 million whereas both Dube and Pelletier don't make that combined. Trading Mangiapane in the off-season for a comparable or better RW makes a whole lot of sense when you look at the long term picture. Ideally speaking you add on to Mangy to get a player like Konecny.

And lastly, for the love of God do not overspend on a 4th line.

Our defence is fine in my mind and hasn't been the problem this year.

Don't like our goaltending but we are in a transition period until Wolf comes up and is ready to be the #1.

Next year I would go with something along the lines of :

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli/Acquisition via Mangiapane trade
Dube-Kadri-Toffoli/Acquisition via Mangiapane trade
Pelletier-Backlund-Coleman
UFA-Ruzicka-Duehr

The UFA seen here can even be Ritchie if he performs well and is willing to accept a deal around 1 million.

Hanifin-Anderson
Kylington*-Weegar
Zadarov-Stecher
Gilbert

Markstrom
Vladar

I would also trade Tanev seeing as his value is likely as high as it will ever be. If Kylington doesn't come back you would need to trade for a top 4 defender. If ever Kylington doesn't come back I would also consider keeping Tanev.

If this doesn't work by the 40 game mark, completely blow it up.

[Nelson]

I want Ruzicka in too, but I think it might be too much to ask that he takes Lewis out.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Dube - Kadri - Toffoli
Huberdeau - Lindholm - Pelletier

Looks good to me too, need to switch up the top 6 and the 4th line though for sure to try and generate a spark.

This is what I want to see.

Dube - Kadri - Toffoli
Huberdeau - Lindholm - Pelletier
Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Ritchie - Lewis - Duehr

And when Coronato joins the team:

Ritchie - Coronato - Duehr

Or put Coronato on Backlund's line and move Coleman to the 4th line. but then I don't know who centers it

[bigrangy]

Lucic-Lewis-Duehr
Kadri-Rooney-Ritchie
Huberdeau-Ruzicka-Phillips
Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli

Mangiapane/Backlund/Coleman gets to rest since their backs are tired from carrying.

Zadorov-Stecher
Hanifin-Gilbert
Weegar-Andersson

Similar with Tanev.

Goalies whichever.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Lucic-Lewis-Duehr
Kadri-Rooney-Ritchie
Huberdeau-Ruzicka-Phillips
Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli

Mangiapane/Backlund/Coleman gets to rest since their backs are tired from carrying.

Zadorov-Stecher
Hanifin-Gilbert
Weegar-Andersson

Similar with Tanev.

Goalies whichever.

Lol which defenceman gets sent down so we can have 3 vet forwards in the press box?

[Savvy27]

I'm a big believer in loading up a first line with the best offensive players so they can generate a base level of offense reliably for the team. To me, that is Huberdeau, Kadri, and Lindholm (combined for 284 points last year, albeit three career years), so I would start there.

Huberdeau Kadri Lindholm
Mangiapane Backlund Coleman
Pelletier Dube Toffoli
Ritchie/Lucic Ruzicka/Lewis Duehr

I like the relationship between Pelletier and Huberdeau but they play the same position and we need way higher production out of Huberdeau.

Weegar Andersson
Hanifin Tanev
Zadorov Stecher

I'm pretty optimistic about Stecher helping out that bottom pair and I've enjoyed Weegar's game more since he was paired with Andersson.

[Brick]

I would like to see Connor Zary in the lineup.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Brick

I would like to see Connor Zary in the lineup.

If they fall out of the hunt, I think we'll see him

[1qqaaz]

The Flames have been such a healthy team for the past 7 years or so.

Though sometimes that's a bit of a curse, because other players don't get opportunities. I'd say this is the case for the goalies right now.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Dube - Kadri - Toffoli
Huberdeau - Lindholm - Pelletier

Looks good to me too, need to switch up the top 6 and the 4th line though for sure to try and generate a spark.

I love to see these lines as well.



One question has been circling in my head, the reason why Huberdeau and Lindholm haven't been able to develop chemistry. Could it be because Lindy used to having Gaudreau setting him up from behind the net and Huderdeau doesn't do that?

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The Flames have been such a healthy team for the past 7 years or so.

Though sometimes that's a bit of a curse, because other players don't get opportunities. I'd say this is the case for the goalies right now.

I don’t think they’re healthier than other teams, the medical staff just lets them play through injuries too much.

[SilverKast]

Well we suck so far, so how can this be any worse right? Might as well try something different because what we have so far isn't all that great.

They need to figure out what works with our top dollar guys for sure though. No point paying all that money if you're not going to put them in a position to succeed at least.