D pairs to start the year.

[Flaming Horse]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Flames have 20 reg season games to get it ironed out. I don't much like the hype around the team league wide though. To me it always ends in disaster when the rest of the world thinks our team is good.

Just like in 2019 and last year when both the media and fans were overhyping the team. I didn't believe it in 2019 or last year. I just did not believe in the old core like others did. After the Avs series I knew the old core was not good enough to go deep. I have more faith in this group but I am still skeptical. The group is definitely good enough in net and on defence but I still have some questions about the forward group. There still seems to be some foundation issues. Time will tell and we will give this new group some time to gel and find some chemistry.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Flaming Horse

Just like in 2019 and last year when both the media and fans were overhyping the team. I didn't believe it in 2019 or last year. I just did not believe in the old core like others did. After the Avs series I knew the old core was not good enough to go deep. I have more faith in this group but I am still skeptical. The group is definitely good enough in net and on defence but I still have some questions about the forward group. There still seems to be some foundation issues. Time will tell and we will give this new group some time to gel and find some chemistry.

I think if Dube can take another step and Toffoli can keep up with Lindholm and Huberdeau we should be looking pretty good.

Gut feel is Dube will look good with Kadri and Mangiapane. I have my doubts on Toffoli. I think he’s going to be our weak link.

[TheSkinner]

Originally Posted by Flaming Horse

Just like in 2019 and last year when both the media and fans were overhyping the team. I didn't believe it in 2019 or last year. I just did not believe in the old core like others did. After the Avs series I knew the old core was not good enough to go deep. I have more faith in this group but I am still skeptical. The group is definitely good enough in net and on defence but I still have some questions about the forward group. There still seems to be some foundation issues. Time will tell and we will give this new group some time to gel and find some chemistry.

So if you are skeptical, and pick the flames to not win the Stanley cup you are right 31/32 (97%) of the time. Maybe that math is too simple and you consider the flames one of 10 contenders for the cup... right 90% of the time they don't win. its really easy to be skeptical and "right" about that. lets be in the 3-10% that believes this is our year. I think its way more fun that way. Why go into the season with reservations? This is our team. Lets go!

[foshizzle11]

I don't know, this doesn't seem that hard to figure out.

I think we will see the following for opening night.

Tanev - Weegar
Anderson - Hanifin
Zadorov - Stone

Mackey is the 7th.

I'm not sure if the rest will be in the AHL or sitting a lot, but until Kylington comes back I don't think we see much changing from this group. Stone out for Mackey ever 3 or 4 games depending on how he is playing. Not that I don't like Stone but I really wish we gave these younger guys a chance to play in the bottom pairing on a regular basis. Damn Stone keeps on creeping in and beating these guys though.

[topfiverecords]

I’m surprised some people have Valimaki in the top 6. He hasn’t even earned a spot in the top 9.

Kylington’s spot is down to a battle between Stone, Mackey and Meloche. I’m not certain that the spot will go to the preferred on ice player but maybe down to contract status, waivers and the AHL makeup. I could see Mackey getting the #6 ice time. Stone released for now. Meloche #7 for now unless they’re certain he’d clear waivers then I see Stone gets a contract and is #7.

[Ashes]

Weegar - Tanev
Hanifin - Anderson
Zadorov - Meloche

After hearing Sutter talk about Gudbranson and how impactful he was to the Flames PK system, and then hearing about Meloche and how they wanted him to study Gudbranson and replicate some of what he brought, I think Meloche may be given more opportunity than I previously thought. Swap in Stone if we need more offense, or if Meloche isn't working out then Mackey gets an opportunity as a more stay-at-home option. I think a defense oriented player (Meloche or Mackey) matches up better with Zadorov on a pair.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

I don't know, this doesn't seem that hard to figure out.

I think we will see the following for opening night.

Tanev - Weegar
Anderson - Hanifin
Zadorov - Stone

Mackey is the 7th.

I'm not sure if the rest will be in the AHL or sitting a lot, but until Kylington comes back I don't think we see much changing from this group. Stone out for Mackey ever 3 or 4 games depending on how he is playing. Not that I don't like Stone but I really wish we gave these younger guys a chance to play in the bottom pairing on a regular basis. Damn Stone keeps on creeping in and beating these guys though.

This will never happen.
No way the team is going to play Tavev, Anderson, and Hanifin on their off side.
Meloche is 25, Mackey is 26. They will both be given a chance to play and be longterm parts of the club before Stone at 32 plays in the #6 slot.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1578503696748773376

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by shutout

This will never happen.
No way the team is going to play Tavev, Anderson, and Hanifin on their off side.
Meloche is 25, Mackey is 26. They will both be given a chance to play and be longterm parts of the club before Stone at 32 plays in the #6 slot.

Not sure if serious. I’m pretty confident that list wasn’t intended to be side specific.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

https://twitter.com/user/status/1578503696748773376

Not surprising. He will clear