The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Why do you have Honzek on the roster instead of Kirkland?

For me it would be two things:
1) I am hopeful that Honzek outplays Kirkland and earns the spot, which may or may not happen again but he did do it last camp
2) Kirkland plays C and Honzek plays W. If Zary is going to get an honest shot at C then Kirkland is #5 on the C depth chart (Kadri, Frost, Zary, Backlund, Kirkland)

If Honzek doesn't make the team then I would expect Lomberg to slot in, not Kirkland.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What's better for his development - playing 4th line winger minutes or playing a ton for a full season, in all situations, including at center in the AHL?

It seems like the assumption is that Kirkland is the 4th line center, taking on the Rooney role, at least to start the year.

In my mind it only makes sense if you balance out the minutes for the bottom 3 lines.

Backlund and Frost's lines would split shutdown duty against the other team's top lines. Kadri and Zary's lines would split offensive duty (with Kadri getting priority).

Actually, when I say it like that it makes me think about flipping the wingers:

Offensive lines:
Huberdeau-Kadri-Coronato
Farabee-Zary-Sharangovich

Shutdown lines:
Pospisil-Frost-Klapka
Honzek-Backlund-Coleman

[The Cobra]

Don't forget how good Kirkland is on shootouts.

He'll get the benefit of the doubt if its close.

[Kipper_3434]

Kirkland and lomberg should be the 13th and 14th forwards on a healthy roster.

[Vinny01]

I wonder if the Flames should start the year with Weegar on the left side and play him with Anderson to try and juice Rasmus numbers? Conroy was also unable to improve the left side despite trying for Miller, Hague, and Byram.

Weegar-Andersson
Bahl-Parekh
Hanley-Pachal

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I wonder if the Flames should start the year with Weegar on the left side and play him with Anderson to try and juice Rasmus numbers? Conroy was also unable to improve the left side despite trying for Miller, Hague, and Byram.

Weegar-Andersson
Bahl-Parekh
Hanley-Pachal

Conroy will do what he thinks is best for winning.

And separating them is likely best.

Playing Andersson on the PP with Parekh might be what might juice his numbers.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Conroy will do what he thinks is best for winning.

And separating them is likely best.

Playing Andersson on the PP with Parekh might be what might juice his numbers.

This team is heavy on the right side and weak on the left. I think Pachal and Parekh in the lineup over Bean and Hanley in the top 4 makes the team better.

Get Andersson with Weegar for 15 games and hopefully Rasmus could rebuild his value a bit after the -38 year? NHL is largely about what have you done for me lately.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I wonder if the Flames should start the year with Weegar on the left side and play him with Anderson to try and juice Rasmus numbers? Conroy was also unable to improve the left side despite trying for Miller, Hague, and Byram.

Weegar-Andersson
Bahl-Parekh
Hanley-Pachal

Last season Weegar got more offensive zone starts and more play time with Kadri and Huberdeau while Andersson got more defensive assignments with Backlund and Coleman.

You do not need to put Andersson with Weegar, what you need to do is put Andersson with forwards who will score at times when scoring is more likely (O-zone starts).

Bahl-Weegar
Kuznetsov-Andersson
Hanley-Pachal/Parekh

Parekh shouldn't start on the 2nd pair and we shouldn't expect him to play 82 games. If you look at a comparable player like Schneider on the Rangers (1st round selection in 2020) his first season as a 19-20 year old (D+2) was 43 games.

That is not to say that Parekh won't play 82 games, he may exceed expectations and do just that, but it would be irresponsible for that to be the plan.

As for Kuznetsov, you can put Hanley there with Andersson but I feel like Kuznetsov has the potential to be better than Hanley in short order. Also, Kuznetsov's defensive style may allow Andersson to take more offensive risks.

[WickerChicken]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I think Coronato is going to get that top line spot to start the season. Also, if you are pushing a youth movement then Hanley shouldn't be a lock for Weegar's partner.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Coronato
Farabee-Frost-Sharangovich (Snakebit line)
Pospisil-Zary-Klapka (Pest line)
Honzek-Backlund-Coleman (Shutdown line with the rookie-whisperer)
X: Lomberg

Bahl-Weegar (top coverage assignments, D zone starts)
Kuznetsov-Andersson (offensive assignment)
Solovyov-Parekh/Pachal
X: Pachal, Hanley

In the forward group I think you would essentially run with a top line and then 3 balanced lines behind. The second line would be really interesting as those guys all had poor production last year and need to help each other succeed.

In the D group, you need to put Bahl and Weegar on the shutdown assignments that Andersson had last year. Push Andersson into a more offensive role being deployed with the Kadri line and boost his stats to get the trade. Hanley can play 7th D and sub in for Kuznetsov or Solovyov as they adjust to the NHL and Pachal can split duty with Parekh until Andersson is traded. (As excited as I am about Parekh, most 19 year old rookie D do not play a full season. 50-60 games is a good target)

Ultimately, the team has too many bodies. Kirkland, Bean, and Miromanov would all need to go the Wranglers to start. Otherwise you are risking losing Kuznetsov on waivers in order to have more Bean.... which is not a good asset management decision IMO.

I really like these lines to start the season. I agree—we have too many players. Ideally, the team will move on those who no longer fit its needs or vision for the future, making room next year for younger talent and turning some existing assets into difference-makers. Right now, it feels like we have a roster of second, third, and fourth lines, which is to be expected in a retool/rebuild.