What does your bottom 6 look like?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Gaudreau-Monahan-Bennett
Tkachuk-Backlund-Stewart
Frolik-Jankowski-Ferland
Versteeg-Shore-Lazar
Brouwer/Stajan

I would like to see something like this when healthy. I have a feeling that stewart will come out hot- I think he would fit better than Brouwer did on that line and Backlund can cover some of his deficiencies to maximize his impact. Meanwhile Frolik and Ferland add a lot of punch to that 3rd line for Jankowski to feed off of, and steady shore can centre the rejuvenated spark plug curtis lazar with a pinch of offense from Versteeg.
Brouwer/ Stajan to plug holes when necessary.

Until the injuries work themselves out:

Frolik-Jankowski-Lazar
Brouwer-Shore-Hathaway
Stajan

I think we should move Frolik down to the bottom 6. He is good enough to prop up a 3rd line a bit, but not really good enough to be a legit top 6 threat.

Even if Frolik isn't good enough to be a second liner (debatable as a 40 point guy) why is Stewart a legit top six threat? He only cracked 40 once, 8 years ago, and hasn't seen 30 points in 5 years.

I would, however, use Stewart on the right side of a power play, because he has a really good RH shot.

[Bingo]

Also have to consider Stajan's games played.

He has 12 more games to 1000 and I would think that's pretty important to the team to see it in Calgary colours.

Could be wrong but wouldn't be surprised.

I don't mind Stajan on the left side of a Shore Brouwer line though. With the number of guys getting waved these days it's nice to have Bennett relieving Monahan and Stajan relieving Shore on two of the lines.

[ComixZone]

How I'd like to see it:

Bennett - Monahan - Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Stajan - Shore - Lazar

...how we undoubtedly see it:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Stewart
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Brouwer
Ferland - Stajan - Shore

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Also have to consider Stajan's games played.

He has 12 more games to 1000 and I would think that's pretty important to the team to see it in Calgary colours.

Could be wrong but wouldn't be surprised.

I don't mind Stajan on the left side of a Shore Brouwer line though. With the number of guys getting waved these days it's nice to have Bennett relieving Monahan and Stajan relieving Shore on two of the lines.

I've said a bunch of times that Stajan could be pretty effective on a wing. Shore has the younger legs for the C position, too. As for being waived, Brouwer isn't bad at faceoffs on the right side, Shore is probably better.

ETA: Shore will play wing, though, at least for a few games. Much easier on a new team.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

How I'd like to see it:

Bennett - Monahan - Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Stajan - Shore - Lazar

...how we undoubtedly see it:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Stewart
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Brouwer
Ferland - Stajan - Shore

I hate that you are probably right. The only change to this that they might make is stewart and ferkland but I really don’t see gulutzan leaving Bennett on the first line despite it giving us our best possible top 6.

If he can leave him there after Ferland comes back and then if shore can take Brouwers spot on the PK I think you could ultimately see Brouwer Stajan Hathaway all rotating on the fourth line

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

How I'd like to see it:

Bennett - Monahan - Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Stajan - Shore - Lazar

...how we undoubtedly see it:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Stewart
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Brouwer
Ferland - Stajan - Shore

Stewart isn't going to the top line. The candidates for top line RW are, in order, Ferland, Bennett, Tkachuk, Versteeg, Brouwer, Frolik, Stewart, Mangiapane, Shore, Hathaway. You might switch the top two depending on how GG saw the last two games.

[The Boy Wonder]

I wish Ferland wasn’t injured as it would really benefit the entire team if he developed some chemistry with Stewart and janko or Brouwer and janko (we know that doesn’t work but still) and then they ensure that they have the best possible skilled top 6 lined up each game.

I am slightly worried about a couple things

1) if everyone in this bottom six continues to play underwhelming hockey, and the coaching staff just rotates guys in there will be no chemistry development because there are currently (counting Ferland despite his minor injury) 9 guys competing for 6 spots and then when Hrivik and versteeg back we’ll be carrying almost 2 full sets of bottom 6 forwards

2) if some chemistry develops it’ll likely be forced for too many games and I just don’t trust this coaching staff to time the appropriate personnel changes properly.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Ferland back in:

Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Lazar - Stajan/Shore - Brouwer


Versteeg gets off IR:

Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Versteeg - Stajan/Shore - Brouwer

This is mine as well

[IgiTang]

Outside of Bennett finding his scoring touch, Ferland 20G-14A 34 pts - likely able to hit 30-20 for 50 pts, or close to... Isnt going to be bumped to the 3rd or 4th line. I just dont see it.

Again, unless Bennett goes on a tear while Ferland is down. If Bennett is simply meh, I think you see a 3rd line of

Bennett - Janko - Rotating RW of Brouwer/Versteeg/Stewart depending on the opponent.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Even if Frolik isn't good enough to be a second liner (debatable as a 40 point guy) why is Stewart a legit top six threat? He only cracked 40 once, 8 years ago, and hasn't seen 30 points in 5 years.

I would, however, use Stewart on the right side of a power play, because he has a really good RH shot.

He's not, but if you had read the post you quoted I actually justify why I put stewart there. It wasn't a slight to Frolik, more a compliment in that I think he can boost a line on his own whereas stewart cannot.

[Fan in Exile]

What I like about the situation is that it gives the Head Coach a lot of different options to work with. Unfortunately GG tends to stick to one idea for a long time even when it doesn't seem to be working. I'd like to see a regular rotation of guys until and unless it's clear you have some combinations that are really working. A good head coach can really make this work. We'll see what GG does with it. He's slowly shown more and more signs of adaptability. If the Flames don't put it together here, make the playoffs and have a strong showing once they get there, I think he's reached the end of his road with the club.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Outside of Bennett finding his scoring touch, Ferland 20G-14A 34 pts - likely able to hit 30-20 for 50 pts, or close to... Isnt going to be bumped to the 3rd or 4th line. I just dont see it.

Again, unless Bennett goes on a tear while Ferland is down. If Bennett is simply meh, I think you see a 3rd line of

Bennett - Janko - Rotating RW of Brouwer/Versteeg/Stewart depending on the opponent.

I really wouldn’t say Ferland is «#likely#» to hit 30 goals with 19 games remaining. I would say 24 - 25 would be a reasonable hope at this point.

And really I think in just the two games since Bennett has been up there it is evident that the ceiling for what that line can do is higher with him than with Ferland. The problem is that I think the coaching staff feels that Bennett is needed on the third line if the flames have any hope of being able to roll 3 effective lines. Ferland unfortunately isn’t even close to the same skilllevel, hockey sense or overall game as Bennett and I think that would be the reason to move Bennett back down to the third line.

Ferland is not s better hockey player than Bennett in any way but he may be a better fit on the top line from s total team perspective.

Id love to see Ferland drive play on the third line as he is much better suited to s third line role but I fear that a third line featuring Ferland and janko would just get buried if left to their own devices every game

[RyZ]

Ferland - Jankowski - Stewart
Lazar - Shore - Brouwer

However, Im sure the Flames will let Stajan get to 1000 games before even considering taking him out of the line up.

[bigrangy]

Even with the acquisitions at the deadline, Stajan is still 100% a top 12 forward on this team. I don't know if he is in the Flames top 4 centers but he definitely should find some spot to fit in the bottom six.

[cgydom88]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Brouwer - Jankowski - Stewart
Stajan - Shore - Lazar

day to day: Ferland
IR: versteeg

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Stewart isn't going to the top line. .

Wrong again, Einstein.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Even if Frolik isn't good enough to be a second liner (debatable as a 40 point guy) why is Stewart a legit top six threat? He only cracked 40 once, 8 years ago, and hasn't seen 30 points in 5 years.

I would, however, use Stewart on the right side of a power play, because he has a really good RH shot.

Lol this looks pretty funny in retrospect

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Stewart isn't going to the top line. The candidates for top line RW are, in order, Ferland, Bennett, Tkachuk, Versteeg, Brouwer, Frolik, Stewart, Mangiapane, Shore, Hathaway. You might switch the top two depending on how GG saw the last two games.

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Lol this looks pretty funny in retrospect

Yeah, I know.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Wrong again, Einstein.

that guy is such an idiot

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yeah, I know.

That's ok, it's difficult to predict coaching mistakes of this magnitude.