The Future Outlook of our Forward Group?

[Bar-Down]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hoffman
Tkachuk - Backlund - Bennett
Frolik - Jankowski - Ferland
Versteeg - Shore - Lazar
Hathaway

Gio - Hamilton
Andersson - Hamonic
Kulak - Stone
Wotherspoon

Smith
Gillies/Rittich

- Trade Brodie for Hoffman
- Buyout Brouwer
- Hire Sutter/Quenville/Vigneault

- Make playoffs, win the cup

[Harry Lime]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Bennett
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Ferland
Klimchuk-Backlund-Frolik
Hathaway-Shore-Lazar
Veteran Dude

Giordano-Hamilton
Hanifin*-Hamonic
Kulak-Andersson
Wotherspoon

Smith
Rittich

Obviously the dream scenario is trading Brodie, Stone and Gilles in a three way with Carolina for Hanifin. Maybe Carolina gets Hoffman from Ottawa.

Klimchuk gets a look on a line that he would fit like a glove.

Wotherspoon gets a one way, because he deserves it.

Brouwer bought out. It just didn't work.

The line combinations make actual sense because there is a new coaching staff.

Cup.

[kyuss275]

Can Bennett even play rw? Do posters realize that he has been playing lw on top line and johnny has been playing off wing.

[Harry Lime]

I admit I cut and pasted the lines and then shuffled. Yeah, Johnny right, Bennett left.

[Roof-Daddy]

The forward group is going to need big internal growth from the likes of Jankowski and Bennett or they will continue to struggle scoring goals.

1. Gaudreau
2. Monahan
3. Tkachuk

4. Backlund
5. Ferland

6. Frolik
7. Bennett
8. Jankowski
9. ?????

Frolik is what he is, and he's useful, but those other two need to find another level or two PLUS we need to another solid winger for the top 9. Whether that be internally or via trade or UFA I don't know, but they need to find a guy somewhere.

Pipe dream they land Tavares as a UFA.

More realistically they snag one of Kane or JVR and hope he doesn't flop like Troy Brouwer did.

The 4th line should be easy enough to fill, but apparently it's not as easy as you'd think because the 4th line has been a problem in Calgary for a long damn time.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think we have a really solid young core, just not good veteran pieces to surround them.

Imagine signing Kovalchuk with the money that we have tied on Stajan and Brouwer... That would make a difference for sure. We need to sign better UFAs. I've been happy with Frolik, but for the most part we suck at signing UFA's. And sometimes, the issue is signing too many players that we don't have room for players on the farm to have a crack at the lineup. It's only been recent that we've been doing that.

[442scotty]

Next fall I expect to see Dube, Mangiapane starting with Gawdin as a wild card to start.

Gone: Stajan, Versteeg, Hathaway, Glass, Stewart. Hopefully a buyout of someone else whose name I need not mention

[bubbsy]

Forward is a position where we have little to no organizational depth, at least at the AHL level . The only real quality that is still left there with the potential to produce in a bottom 6 capacity are foo/mangiapane and to a much lesser potential the likes of klimchuk/shinkaruk.

Dube was a late cut this past camp and I wouldn't be shocked to see him battle for a bottom 6 spot thus coming camp.

Long story short, there's maybe some prospects for bottom 6/depth but not much as far as actual offense contributors.

In my eyes this is how the this group ideally transition to an actual playoff team next season :

Gaudreau - Monahan - tkatchuk/Bennett
Tkachuk/Bennett - ??? -???
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Dube/mangiapane/Hathaway - Jankowski - Lazar

This of course is not realistic, as with the Backlund contract, we simply can't afford a true offensive 2nd line center and a scoring winger.

Therefore, I suppose we'll be looking at ;
Gaudreau - Monahan - tkatchuk/Bennett
Tkachuk/Bennett - Backlund -???
Ferland - Jankowski - Frolik
Dube/mangiapane - Lazar - Hathaway

In this case, I expect the flames to pay a hefty price (Brodie + fox + Gillies) to get a prime winger.

As an aside, If Bennett is not getting a solid top 6 role handed to him right from the start, then just trade him. He isn't going to develop his offensive game with 3rd line teammates and playing time.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Ultimately this team will go as far as Bennett and jankowski can take them. The rest of the players we kinda know what we’ll get. Whether we get over the next threshold or not pretty much boils down to whether they progress and develop or not. That’s probably why Benny is so polarizing on here. Some see him as the key to our success. Alternatively, if he can’t get there he may be our demise. No pressure kid!

[djsFlames]

Bennett - Monahan - Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Backlund - Hoffman (trade) / Grabner (ufa)
Dube - Jankowski - Frolik
Ferland - Shore - Brouwer
Lazar, Mangiapane

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Ultimately this team will go as far as Bennett and jankowski can take them. The rest of the players we kinda know what we’ll get. Whether we get over the next threshold or not pretty much boils down to whether they progress and develop or not. That’s probably why Benny is so polarizing on here. Some see him as the key to our success. Alternatively, if he can’t get there he may be our demise. No pressure kid!

Completely agree with this post. Bennett is really our ace of spades.. If he hits his potential we have a beast of a 50-60 point physical forward that all teams hate playing against. I like you believe that us becoming a true contender depends on what type of player Bennett becomes within the next two to three seasons.

[DJones]

One good UFA winger and the continued development of Jankowski and Bennett and I'm happy.

[Joborule]

I would consider trading Ferland honestly. His stock could be the highest it'll be, and he isn't a player that carries the team. He may be able to yield pieces that can help for the future. Trading a defensive piece or two could draw in a player that could replace him.

Basically, I think this off season Treliving should be busy in a 'reshuffle' or whatever you want to call it to try to boost the team roster for next season as much as he can, while still building for the future.

[browntrout]

team needs a major shakeup......

marner for Hamilton?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by browntrout

team needs a major shakeup......

marner for Hamilton?

I don't think you move Hamilton

Untouchable:Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Hamilton

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I would consider trading Ferland honestly. His stock could be the highest it'll be, and he isn't a player that carries the team. He may be able to yield pieces that can help for the future. Trading a defensive piece or two could draw in a player that could replace him.

Basically, I think this off season Treliving should be busy in a 'reshuffle' or whatever you want to call it to try to boost the team roster for next season as much as he can, while still building for the future.

I agree. Ferland is very, very streaky. Consistent is what you want.

If any GMs value him based on his hot streaks, you have to consider cutting bait. He needs stints on the 4th line to remind him he has to work the be on the top lime

And he has reached the age where most players peak.

Thanks for your service, Ferly.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I don't think you move Hamilton

Untouchable:Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Hamilton

Brodie is the guy they have to move imo. They need to move a Dman for a top 6 forward this summer. Andersen has been ready for a while. He won’t look out of place with the big club on the blue line. Brodie gets you a decent offensive forward.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Brodie is the guy they have to move imo. They need to move a Dman for a top 6 forward this summer. Andersen has been ready for a while. He won’t look out of place with the big club on the blue line. Brodie gets you a decent offensive forward.

Exactly! Brodie should have been moved at the start of the season. As soon as they traded for Hamonic I said that was the time to then trade Brodie. It was a repeat of when the Flames brought in Bouwmeester. The move in itself was good, but the team was out of balance. The correct move would have been to bring in Bouwmeester and then trade Phaneuf immediately for help up front. Instead the team waits and runs one of their best assets into the ground. Come this year, we see the exact same thing happen.

It has been as obvious as the nose on Tim Hunter's face that TJ Brodie was not a good fit in the philosophy this team was employing. He was the original square peg being thrust into the round hole. They should have moved him during the summer for a scoring forward and had the confidence that one of the kids on the farm would step up. But Treliving and his stupid "over-cooking" mentality makes it almost impossible for that happen. Now we are stuck with an asset that is going to be that much more difficult to move. I think the trade possibilities are still out there (Ottawa and Buffalo) but it is going to cost us more gold to improve the team. Brodie needs to be moved, and the Flames are in a very good situation to support the loss on the blueline. Brodie has to go to improve the team all around.

[MrMike]

I was the biggest Bennett supporter and waiting. Trying him everywhere. Patience. Center. Third line, first line.

He doesn't fit in here. No one does. We are soft. Slow. Are only real star is a tiny playmaker with no support.

I've given up all good for this team this year, Tkachuk can't grind a win out of every game.

Biggest supporter of Monahan as well. Yes. I know. Clinch goals. But all he is is a sniper. Invisible if he isn't scoring.

Our blue line is supposed to be our biggest strength, and that is also where we have the deepest prospects. There us a depressing future ahead for this team

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Our blue line is supposed to be our biggest strength, and that is also where we have the deepest prospects. There us a depressing future ahead for this team

With what you said in the first half, it doesn't mean it'll result in the second half if Treliving can use his assets accordingly. If he isn't hesitant, and willing to make drastic changes this off season with the back end, it could give the team a chance to still trend upward.