Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[Flame19,289]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Ferland - Backlund - Chiasson
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Stajan - Jankowski - Bouma
Extras: Shinkaruk, Bollig
(1st call-up: Hathaway)

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wotherspoon - Wideman
Engelland
(LTIR: Smid)

Elliott
Johnson

I think if Tkachuk & Bennett mesh well and progress nicely, we will see the third line become the 2nd line by mid-season.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

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

Jankowski is a playmaking centre. I don't see the point of trying to convert him to a winger, doesn't suit his game, skills and playstyle. He should be in the AHL learning to be and produce like a top two line centre

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Jankowski is a playmaking centre. I don't see the point of trying to convert him to a winger, doesn't suit his game, skills and playstyle. He should be in the AHL learning to be and produce like a top two line centre

Lots of rookie centers start on the wing and Backlund and Frolik are pretty good linemates. I think the idea is for the vets to mentor him. Then the team can move him to the center once he's adjusted to NHL.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by DropIt

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

Because I wouldn't want our best defensive winger in Frolik taking on the easy minutes & assignments on a sheltered scoring line. Can Chiasson be good enough defensively to replace Frolik on Backlund's line? Possibly, but why risk breaking up a pair that have obvious chemistry? I feel it kills multiple birds with one stone if he started out taking on easier minutes with Bennett / Tkachuk. They'd all be getting better linemates to play with, plus room to score and build confidence.

I think the opposite was done to Sam this past season; if veterans were indeed concerned over Bennett's usage by Hartley last season (hinted at by Millions), I suspect a primary reason behind it was the line he was put on - rather than the lack of OT ice time, etc.

It's great to learn the defensive side of the game, yes. It's great to give Sam more ice time as a winger rather than a lower-line center - also understandable. But doing so by putting him as a winger on Backlund and Frolik's line - the most savage and brutal of the assignments and deployments issued (As a rookie!) - really makes me question whether it was worth it for his long-term development. Bennett's finest games played last season were when he was playing at center. I can't imagine we'll be seeing him playing wing again, ever.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Itse

Lots of rookie centers start on the wing

Those are highly drafted, but raw and physically underdeveloped eighteen/nineteen year olds out of Junior, in cases where they can't be sent down to the minors to refine their play at the position. Junior is a pretty crappy place for elite players to develop fine details, so teams take their chances, and also enjoy the fruits of the offensive skill those kind of guys get, as a bonus.

That's different from an almost-fully-physically-developed 21 year old with AHL eligibility. The AHL is the best developmental league in the world, and prospects can be called up with flexibility. The weight room, heavy responsibilities, and actual game experience with skilled wingers thst Janko accumulates there are invaluable. Anyone proposing he be used as a Joe Colborne is doing him a disservice. He should be used as a Backlund, Bennett, or Monahan when one of those guys gets hurt. Look at Edmonton, it was only a month in when McDavid got hurt and Draisaitl got the call up. That month in Bakersfield was huge for Draisaitl's development.

[genetic_phreek]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Nichushkin
Poirier - Bennett - Brouwer
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Stajan - Chiasson
x - Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wotherspoon - Engelland

Elliot
Johnson

Bouma, Wideman, and prospect is part of package trade to Dallas for Nichuskin (RFA)

on the bubble: Shinkaruk, Hathaway

[bigrangy]

Another lineup I mocked up today. It's speculated that Tampa wants to move Filppula, and that they need a RH puck-moving d-man. So I traded Wideman for him.



The rest is fairly self-explanatory, re-sign the RFA's, sign Nakladal, throw em together, compete for the cup.

Engelland and Smid's disastrous cap hits come off the books, allowing the Flames to sign one of Elliott or Bennett. Money for the other one will have to be manufactured somehow, but Bouma/Stajan should be a little more tradeable after next season.

There's a potential hole at #4D, but I maintain that Dougie should be good enough to drag around a Kevin/Spoon and still succeed. I think a Brodie-Dougie, Gio-Nakladal top 4 would also work very well. I really like the composition of the forward group. The top 6 is nasty in a good way and that Ferland Backlund Chiasson line will be incredible. The 4th line even looks less terrible than it normally does in my mocks.

[GreenLantern2814]

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

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Wideman
Engelland

Elliott
Johnson

[Vinny01]

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

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Wideman
Engellend

Elliot
Johnson

[Par]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Gaudreau - Monahan - Nichushkin
Poirier - Bennett - Brouwer
Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Stajan - Chiasson
x - Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wotherspoon - Engelland

Elliot
Johnson

Bouma, Wideman, and prospect is part of package trade to Dallas for Nichuskin (RFA)

on the bubble: Shinkaruk, Hathaway

I like this, a lot, just one thing, I don't think Poirer and Jankowski are on the big next year.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer
Frolik-Backlund-Chiasson
Bouma-Stajan-Vey/Hathaway
Vey/Hathaway, Bollig

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Engelland
Nakladal

Elliott
Johnson

Get rid of Wideman this summer if possible

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I think the opposite was done to Sam this past season; if veterans were indeed concerned over Bennett's usage by Hartley last season (hinted at by Millions), I suspect a primary reason behind it was the line he was put on - rather than the lack of OT ice time, etc.

I'd take what Millions says with a giant grain of salt. We can't be skeptical of some of the things he says (e.g. Johnny wanting to move back home sooner than later), then turnaround and use other things as likely (not saying you specifically have ever been skeptical).

[Reggie Dunlop]

Build two strong forward lines and toggle Johnny Hockey back and forth between them. The Flames need to better utilize his talent in road games.

Tandems going forward

Brouwer/Monahan +

Tkachuk/Bennett +

[djsFlames]

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

Giordano - Brodie
Kevin - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman
Wotherspoon, Gaudreau

Eliott
Johnson
Gaudreau

[puckedoff]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Bouma
Tkatchuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Poirier - Backlund - Frolik
Stajan - Djanko - Chiasson
Bollig
Ferland

Gio - Brodie
Jokipaka - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman
Nakladal

[fastpuck]

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

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Nakladal-Wideman
Engellend

Elliot
Johnson

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Flame19,289

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Ferland - Backlund - Chiasson
Tkachuk - Bennett - Frolik
Stajan - Jankowski - Bouma
Extras: Shinkaruk, Bollig
(1st call-up: Hathaway)

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Wotherspoon - Wideman
Engelland
(LTIR: Smid)

Elliott
Johnson

I think if Tkachuk & Bennett mesh well and progress nicely, we will see the third line become the 2nd line by mid-season.

I get that Hathaway can be a decent 4th liner, but I don't know if he'll be the first call-up. I think there's a pretty good chance that one of the younger prospects heavily outproduce Hathaway at the AHL level. Might be tough for management to call-up Hathaway over a more productive forward, unless it's to replace Stajan/Bolig.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Gaudreau monahan jankowski
Tkachuk backlund frolik
Shinkaruk bennett Brouwer
Ferkland bouma chiasson
Stajan bollig

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I'm going to predict a more outlandish line-up for poops and gigs.

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

1. I think Bennett's game is well suited to the wing. He's tenacious defensively don't get me wrong, but his energy can also be spent in a more offensive, forechecking type role. Also am a fan of Backlund as our shutdown centre for years to come AND think Jankowski is going to step in and develop on the 3rd line at 22 similar to Monahan at 18.

2. Tkachuk is going to make it and they are going to want him developing some chemistry with Bennett ASAP. It's not Oiler style because he's going to be ready.

3. Shinkaruk has proven himself in the AHL and had some glimpses in the NHL. Calgary boy is going to come to camp ready and be motivated (hopefully more-so than every other Calgarian to play for us of late).

[SeanCharles]

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

Giordano-Brodie
Wideman-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Engelland

Elliott