Let's talk about the 2022-23 lineup

[Enoch Root]

Just bumping this to include the PTOs and see what things look like at this point...

Guys we can write in ink (ignore the line combos):

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Kadri - Dube
XXXXXXX - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - XXXXXXX - Lewis

Assuming 13-14 forwards (I bet they just go with 13) there are 3-4 spots available, to be filled from this group:

Rooney
Eakins
Milano
Ruzicka
Pelletier
Schwindt
Klapka (added as a wild dark horse for the more aggressive bettors)

And I won't be surprised if there is one more name added to the mix before camp.

So how do you think it shakes out? I'll say they start with 13, and that includes Rooney (4th C), Milano (3rd line LW) and Ruzicka (13th forward).

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Just bumping this to include the PTOs and see what things look like at this point...

Guys we can write in ink (ignore the line combos):

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Mangiapane - Kadri - Dube
XXXXXXX - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - XXXXXXX - Lewis

Assuming 13-14 forwards (I bet they just go with 13) there are 3-4 spots available, to be filled from this group:

Rooney
Eakins
Milano
Ruzicka
Pelletier
Schwindt
Klapka (added as a wild dark horse for the more aggressive bettors)

And I won't be surprised if there is one more name added to the mix before camp.

So how do you think it shakes out? I'll say they start with 13, and that includes Rooney (4th C), Milano (3rd line LW) and Ruzicka (13th forward).

Looking that this list I wish Treliving didn't sign Rooney to $1.3 mil. The rest of the players probably get less than that and I'd love to see Eakins in over Rooney, especially if you can save some cap.

I'd love to see a 4th line with Klapka and Lucic. I think Klapka gets sent down but I bet he plays quite a few games with the Flames this year

[TheIronMaiden]

The Flames were pretty lucky with injuries last season. I don't mind that they have lots of options in the bottom 6.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Looking that this list I wish Treliving didn't sign Rooney to $1.3 mil. The rest of the players probably get less than that and I'd love to see Eakins in over Rooney, especially if you can save some cap.

I'd love to see a 4th line with Klapka and Lucic. I think Klapka gets sent down but I bet he plays quite a few games with the Flames this year

At some point there will be injuries. Rooney is, at the very least, a totally capable NHL player. There will be points in the season where the Flames will need Rooney, for the very simple reason that he's capable of standing his ground as an NHL calibre centre.

[GioforPM]

Most likely order IMO: Ruzicka, Rooney, Milano (subject to physical), Pelletier.

[cral12]

Flames Cap/Roster Master, Ryan Pike:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1571976261072998400

https://twitter.com/user/status/1571967150914686976

https://twitter.com/user/status/1571875185657257985

[colbym72]

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by colbym72

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

And where do you propose we get one?

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

And where do you propose we get one?

I am not saying I have a solution. I am just talking about a gap I see that most championship teams seem to have.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by colbym72

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

Counterpoint is we have relatively young defensemen who could still develop into gamechangers offensively.

Valimaki - 23 (obviously huge camp for him)
Hanifin - 25
Andersson - 25
Kylington - 25
Weegar - 28

I think there's a high likelihood we see all of the above (barring trades or demotions to the A) get a shot on the PP early this season. I agree there isn't a standout favorite to take the "Flames #1 Offensive Defenseman" title, but it really could be any of them, and that to me is more promising than assuming 1 guy's the guy and it backfires.

The other part of this discussion is the Flames haven't had a real offensive threat from the blueline for a few years now. Gio's Norris year was probably the most recent, beyond that it's been a while.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by colbym72

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

There's only a few of those guys in the league.

I'm just super stoked we have one of the deepest Top 6 in the league.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by colbym72

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

It would be awesome to have a player like Fox, but you have to draft players like that to have them on your team.... oh wait.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by colbym72

My one concern with the defense is we do not have a definitively elite defenseman. Weegar could be close. I think we have a lot of really good defenseman but no one that is a gamechanger offensively.

Originally Posted by cral12

There's only a few of those guys in the league.

I'm just super stoked we have one of the deepest Top 6 in the league.

Just for fun I pulled the top 100 Defensemen by points for the 2021/22 season off NHL.com.

3 teams had 5 players fall inside the top 100.
Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota.
The cup champ Avalanche had 4.

Then I broke it down to top 10, 20, 30 etc.
The Avs had 2 top 10 point producing defenders, Makar at # 2, and Toews at # 9.
The Flames had 0.
The Flames had 1 in the top 20, Andersson, ranked #19,
2 in the top 30, Hanifin ranks # 21.
3 in the top 60, Kylington ranked # 55.
Tanev ranked # 66, and Big Z came in at #93.

Add Weegar (# 26) to that, and the Flames go into the 2022/23 season with 3 top 30 point producing D-Men, 4 inside the top 60, and 6 top 100 point producing D-Men.

While none may be elite Offensively, there are realistically 10 or fewer of those in the NHL, so I'm pretty excited to have a d-core that has 3 top 30 point producing d-men, and every single one of the top 6 inside the top 100.

[Monahammer]

We need a Michael Bunting this season.

[saillias]

Roster looks pretty good to me, potentially still a 100 point team and a playoff contender. Just not sure if it's a Stanley cup contender. That last SCF had some pretty heavy star power on both sides. Here I see some star power, and a lot of pretty good. It's a slight difference, hope I'm wrong or there's some surprise break out or internal growth.

[FBI]

Plus we didn't do much when we had our clear cut #1 D guy, so I like this much better..

[dissentowner]

I am thinking:

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

Hanifin/Weegar
Kylington/Tanev
Zadorov/Andersson

Markstrom
Vladar

Rotate those three D pairs almost equally.

[Steve Bozek]

Unless Dube and Mangiapane improve over last year, the forwards are not going to be as good as last year. Huberdeau and Kadri are not an improvement over Tkachuk and Gaudreau (and a healthier Monahan). Although coming off career seasons their age suggests Kadri and Huberdeau are not going to be building on last year’s season. Consequently, I think offense is going to be weaker this season.

On the other hand, Weegar strengthens the defence a bit over Gudbranson, but apart from the injuries (especially Tanev’s) during the playoffs, the defence last year was excellent, so I don’t see a slightly improved defence making up for what I see as a decline in the production by the forwards.

I’m still not completely sold on Markstrom, but if Vladar improves over last year, maybe the goalies will carry the Flames to a division win - a fairly big “if”.

Hate to be a pessimist, but that’s the way I see it.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

On the other hand, Weegar strengthens the defence a bit over Gudbranson,

A bit? Understatement of the year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Unless Dube and Mangiapane improve over last year, the forwards are not going to be as good as last year. Huberdeau and Kadri are not an improvement over Tkachuk and Gaudreau (and a healthier Monahan). Although coming off career seasons their age suggests Kadri and Huberdeau are not going to be building on last year’s season. Consequently, I think offense is going to be weaker this season.

On the other hand, Weegar strengthens the defence a bit over Gudbranson, but apart from the injuries (especially Tanev’s) during the playoffs, the defence last year was excellent, so I don’t see a slightly improved defence making up for what I see as a decline in the production by the forwards.

I’m still not completely sold on Markstrom, but if Vladar improves over last year, maybe the goalirs will carry the Flames to a division win - a fairly big “if”.

Hate to be a pessimist, but that’s the way I see it.

I agree with the bold. However, someone is going to graduate to 1st line RW (likely Toffoli), and will increase their production as a result. Dube is still progressing, and is going to get a larger role this year. With Kadri carrying a lot of weight, Backlund and Coleman might get some lighter assignments and are likely to generate more offence than the 3rd line did last year. And the D, as a group, will be better at transitioning the puck.

The 4th line sill likely continue to be an offensive wasteland.