Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[locsofblu]

Soooooo I was playing NHL 16 and all of a sudden it just hit me.
Tkachuk-Bennet-Chaisson line. TCB..AMIRITE AMIRITE AMIRITE.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Par

I can dream, but serious, with Johnny and Sean still not signed, I think there is something going on.

Likely contract negotiations.

[Par]

We have been so focused on Tkachuk making the team, that we have kind of forgot about Hunter Shinkaruk, does Hunter Shinkaruk make the team or not?

[DJones]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

Soooooo I was playing NHL 16 and all of a sudden it just hit me.
Tkachuk-Bennet-Chaisson line. TCB..AMIRITE AMIRITE AMIRITE.

I just don't see how Bennett doesn't get a veteran winger. Either Brouwer or Frolik

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Par

We have been so focused on Tkachuk making the team, that we have kind of forgot about Hunter Shinkaruk, does Hunter Shinkaruk make the team or not?

I don't know what forum you've been following but tons of people talked about him and have Shinkaruk pencil-ed in on the opening roster.

I think unless Poirier is a world beater in camp Shinkaruk makes the team.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Par

We have been so focused on Tkachuk making the team, that we have kind of forgot about Hunter Shinkaruk, does Hunter Shinkaruk make the team or not?

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I don't know what forum you've been following but tons of people have Shinkaruk pencil-ed in on the opening roster.

Yeah, Just went back and skimmed the last few pages to make sure I wasn't going crazy. Almost every mock lineup has Shinkaruk included.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Par

We have been so focused on Tkachuk making the team, that we have kind of forgot about Hunter Shinkaruk, does Hunter Shinkaruk make the team or not?

Shinkaruk is going to be battling for 1 of 3 spots on the wings with Ferland, Pribyl, Chiasson most likely. I'd expect the one guy that loses out on this battle to have to win a spot as an extra and stay up against Hathaway, Hamilton and maybe Poirier if he can show better than he has thus far I'm the NHL.

I'd say he has a fairly good chance at being on the opening night roster looking purely at results thus far in the NHL.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Shinkaruk is going to be battling for 1 of 3 spots on the wings with Ferland, Pribyl, Chiasson most likely. I'd expect the one guy that loses out on this battle to have to win a spot as an extra and stay up against Hathaway, Hamilton and maybe Poirier if he can show better than he has thus far I'm the NHL.

I'd say he has a fairly good chance at being on the opening night roster looking purely at results thus far in the NHL.

Ferland and Chiasson will be on the opening day roster.

Guys on 1-way contracts are almost guaranteed to make the opening day lineup no matter how bad they play (Setoguchi for example) and are generally given tons of chances to succeed (Raymond for example). A UFA that was just signed on a 1-way is 100% guaranteed to make the opening day roster. Otherwise the management looks like complete idiots for giving him that 1-way.

That makes the opening day roster pretty much set. Monahan, Bennett, Backlund. Stajan, Gaudreau, Bouma, Ferland, Bollig, Brouwer, Frolik, Chiasson and one more. (Shinkaruk, Pribyl, Tkachuk and I guess Jankowski are the competition for this spot. My guess is Shinkaruk wins out.)

Then again injuries in camp are pretty common.

(The big question isn't really who plays on opening night, but who is still on the roster in December. Bollig and Stajan are at risk of playing themselves out of the lineup, and Ferland and Bouma were both really bad last season. Especially with a new coach it's hard to predict how the season will go.)

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don't want to quote dissentowner's whole post but it's hard to select portions on my phone. RE: Jankowski on the 4th line, I really don't see them doing that. Jankowski's upside is a top two line centre and he'll best achieve that by playing 1st line minutes in the AHL or top 3 line minutes in the NHL. I don't think starting him on the 4th would be good unless we're trying to stunt his development. I really think he needs to dominate the AHL first before moving up.

I do not disagree with this. But what about Jankowski on the wing with Backlund/Frolik instead of Stajan?

[Bourque's Twin]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Elliot
Johnson

I think Tkachuk is going to make the team. He's mature and he's considerably bigger than Shinkaruk, who I think is his main competition. I think Bollig becomes a usual healthy scratch, Bouma is replaced by Shinkaruk whenever he's injured, and my long shot prediction is that Stajan gets beat out by Jankowski at some point during the season.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I do not disagree with this. But what about Jankowski on the wing with Backlund/Frolik instead of Stajan?

Sounds perfect to me. If Jankowski can crack the lineup, playing with those two will help his transition into the NHL for sure.

We saw how Bennetts game really ramped up on Backlund wing. We saw how Colbornes game took off on Backlund wing. Boumas bank account also nods at Mr. Backlund.

The main concern would be the tough match ups that line faces every night. By all accounts Jankowski has a strong two way game, so maybe it really could be a solid fit.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Sounds perfect to me. If Jankowski can crack the lineup, playing with those two will help his transition into the NHL for sure.

We saw how Bennetts game really ramped up on Backlund wing. We saw how Colbornes game took off on Backlund wing. Boumas bank account also nods at Mr. Backlund.

The main concern would be the tough match ups that line faces every night. By all accounts Jankowski has a strong two way game, so maybe it really could be a solid fit.

What you are really seeing is the well documented "Backlund Bump" where he makes everyone (EVERYONE) he plays with better. It would be nice if he had another possession player on his wing instead of dragging anchors around all the time. Who knows which Janko is

[Par]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Elliot
Johnson

I think Tkachuk is going to make the team. He's mature and he's considerably bigger than Shinkaruk, who I think is his main competition. I think Bollig becomes a usual healthy scratch, Bouma is replaced by Shinkaruk whenever he's injured, and my long shot prediction is that Stajan gets beat out by Jankowski at some point during the season.

I think Jankowski plays the most of the season in the AHL(but he will beat out Stajan at some point), if Shinkaruk and Tkachuk are ready, then I really hope that room is made for both of them(trading Bouma). Bollig will be the extra forward but I really hope the younger guys get a chance F.Hamilton in this case. On D I think Wideman stays at least until the trade deadline(not the best but we are stuck), I really hope Jakub Nakládal is signed, there will be injuries.

[OmegaV4]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Jankowski - Backlund - Chiasson
Bouma - Stajan - Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Elliot
Ocho Cinco

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I just dont see Jankowski taking Ferlands spot or Tkachuk taking Shinkaruks spot. I think Ferland and Shinkaruk both start on the big team barring injury. To be honest I think there is a chance Bollig or Bouma dont make the team or sit in the pressbox so a kid can have a 9 game try out. But that is one spot. The question becomes who's that kid gonna be. I think its probably going to be Jankowski over Tkachuk if it comes down to that but it will all depend on penticton/pre season performance/camp. I'd love to see Jankowksi really impress and make the team. My gut feeling is that spot basically belongs to Pribyl or he will make it his. I'm fine with Tkachuk going back to the OHL and being the main guy for London and tearing up that league one more time, putting some weight on and improving his skating a bit. Maybe its best for Jankowski to to go Stockton and get top 6 minutes there.

I think this season we may only have 1 rookie on the team with Pribyl to start. Unless there are injuries in camp (very likely) or someone makes the team on d as well, like a Wotherspoon or a Kylington, that would be cool.

I also feel like our 4th line should be a younger, more speedy forechecking line and we should get rid of Bollig. Bouma Stajan Ferland is a trio that can actually play hockey. With all due respect to Bollig I think we'll be fine with just Engelland for a veteran enforcer type presence.

I think it will be

Gaudreau Monahan Brouwer
Shinkaruk Backlund Frolik
Pribyl Bennett Chiasson
Bouma Stajan Ferland

Bollig

Gio - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Nakladal

Elliot
Johnson

I'd be pleasantly surprised if a rookie not named Pribyl made the team out of camp this year. But barring injury or trade I just cant see it with the lack of positions available after the Shinkaruk/Brouwer/Chaisson/Pribyl acquisitions/signings.

[Gaskal]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Shinkaruk

Brodie - Hamilton
Gio - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Itse

Ferland and Chiasson will be on the opening day roster.

Guys on 1-way contracts are almost guaranteed to make the opening day lineup no matter how bad they play (Setoguchi for example) and are generally given tons of chances to succeed (Raymond for example). A UFA that was just signed on a 1-way is 100% guaranteed to make the opening day roster. Otherwise the management looks like complete idiots for giving him that 1-way.

That makes the opening day roster pretty much set. Monahan, Bennett, Backlund. Stajan, Gaudreau, Bouma, Ferland, Bollig, Brouwer, Frolik, Chiasson and one more. (Shinkaruk, Pribyl, Tkachuk and I guess Jankowski are the competition for this spot. My guess is Shinkaruk wins out.)

Then again injuries in camp are pretty common.

(The big question isn't really who plays on opening night, but who is still on the roster in December. Bollig and Stajan are at risk of playing themselves out of the lineup, and Ferland and Bouma were both really bad last season. Especially with a new coach it's hard to predict how the season will go.)

Good point about one ways, totally forgot about that.

Certainly paints an even tougher task for Shinkaruk or Tkachuk to make the team.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Southern_Canuck

Not that Anton Rodin makes a HUGE difference, however if he translates his SHL scoring to the NHL - and with Eriksson there as well - Vancouver's scoring issues might not be as bad as last season. (Don't forget Philip Larsen's potential help on the powerplay)

Daniel – Henrik - Eriksson
Rodin – Sutter - Virtanen
Baertschi – Horvat – Hansen
Burrows – Granlund – Dorsett
Etem

Edler – Tanev
Hutton – Gudbranson
Sbisa – Larsen
Tryamkin, Pedan

Miller
Markstrom

S_C

No, it doesn't help. They're still God awful.

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Shinkaruk

Brodie - Hamilton
Gio - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland

From your lips to God's ears. I'd this lineup is productive I would be ecstatic.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Shinkaruk

Brodie - Hamilton
Gio - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland

Dont see how Chiasson is going to beat out Frolik for #2 RW...

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Shinkaruk
Bouma - Stajan - Chiasson

Brodie - Hamilton
Gio - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland

[MarkGio]

Here's some bold predictions

1) Tkachuk gets sent back to juniors

2) Chiasson gets placed on waivers

3) Poirer and Kylington have great camps

4) Flames sign Gaudreau and Monahan to about 6 each, and Flames use that extra space to sign Versteeg to a cheap contract

5) Flames trade Engelland

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Versteeg
Poirer - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Ferland

Brodie - Wideman
Giordano - Hamilton
Kylington - Jokipakka