Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by AcGold

There's going to be some surprises at camp. I would wager money Jankowski makes the team.

I'll take this bet. $20 Janko doesn't win a spot out of training camp.

[Mister Yamoto]

Gaudreau..............Monahan...............Chaiss on
Bouma.................Backlund................Frol ik
Ferland.................Bennett.................Br ouwer
Bollig....................Stajan.................. Hathaway

Giordano.......Hamilton
Brodie...........Engelland
Jokipakka.....Wideman

Elliott
Johnson

Smid, Wotherspoon, Vey

Wildcards

Shinkaruk, Tkachuk, Jankowski, Hamilton, Kulak

[MarkGio]

Jankowski has to be better than Backlund or Bennett at centre, otherwise he's playing wing or centering the top line in Stockton. He's not going to be playing 4th line centre minutes in the NHL when there's good minutes for him in the AHL

[FBI]

anyone have their starting lineup predictions with Gaudreau holding out? *ducks*

[pgsieve]

Going into camp, I thought I'd take a look and try my predictions now that things are "more" predictable.

Forwards

First I'll take a look at what I consider to be locks:

Gaudreau................ Monahan ................ __________

________................ Backlund................. Frolick

________................ Bennett................... Brouwer

________................ Stajan..................... __________

LW: 3 Spots available, choices include:


- Shinkaruk
- Tkachuk
- Bouma
- Ferland
- Bollig
- Higgins (PTO)
- Poirier
- Mangipane
- Klimchuk
- Pollack
- Devane (PTO)


RW: 2 Spots available, choices include


- Chaisson
- Priblyl
- Hathaway
- Carroll
- Vey



C: 0 Spots available, choices include

- F. Hamilton
- Jankowski
- Hathaway



Predicted Lineup:

Gaudreau................ Monahan ................ Chaisson

Shinkaruk ................ Backlund................. Frolick

Tkachuk…................. Bennett................... Brouwer

Bouma……................. Stajan..................... Hathaway

Extras: Bollig, Ferland

Explanations:

RW: I think there will still be a lot of juggling this year for the top spot on the right side. Opening day has Chaisson taking the reins because of the new coach connections, but I could easily see Hathaway jumping up, Ferland jumping in (if he finds his game), and even Vey (previous coach connections) getting a call up. The fourth line spot will juggle as the first line spot moves.

LW: This has the most area of interest for me, as we have a lot of serviceable guys without a clear cut winner. I have Shinkaruk and Tkachuk penciled in on 2nd and 3rd line. Shinakruk was the closest outsider for a lock for me given his performance last year. I’ve penciled in Tkachuk based on the fact that I really don’t see him going back for another year of junior. If he was eligible for the AHL, it would be a different story. Brouwer gets to look after the “kids” line with sheltered minutes. The last spot on the left side is a three way tie for me being Bouma, Ferland, and Bollig (to a lesser extent). Bouma gets the spot at this point based on his contract and Ferland gets sent a message that he needs to be better. Bollig is an extra and does whatever it is that Bollig does. It would take Tkachuk to have a pretty bad camp for things to change for me. If he does, Ferland will slot back in

C: I don’t really see a spot unless Stajan is bought out. I’m personally a fan of having Stajan on the fourth line and would prefer to have him as another veteran to lead the kids. That being said, he could be sent down to the AHL and Hathaway can slot over and Ferland can move to the right side.

Wildcard Scenarios:
- Does anyone see a scenario where Bouma is bought out?
- How about Mangipane making the team?
- Will Poirier finally do something?

Defence:

Giordano ……………… Brodie

Hamilton ……………… Jokipakka

_______ ………………. ________

To fill the gaps:


- Wideman
- Wotherspoon
- Engelland
- Anderson
- Culkin
- Kylington
- Morrison
- Kulak
- Kanzig


Predicted Lineup

Giordano ……………… Brodie

Hamilton ……………… Jokipakka

Wideman ………………. Engelland

Extras: Wotherspoon

Explanations:

Boring, boring, boring! As much as I’d like to see Wotherspoon, Anderson, Kylington, or anyone else take Wideman’s spot, I just don’t see us being able to get out of that contract. If Wideman finds his game, it might be a classic Treliving deadline dump, but that would be it. Anderson and Kylington will have to spend another year in the AHL waiting for a spot.

Goalies:

Elliott
Johnson

Explanation:

None.

[Vulcan]

Poirier is a RW mostly.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by FBI

anyone have their starting lineup predictions with Gaudreau holding out? *ducks*

With Gaudreau:

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

Giordano-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wideman-Engelland

Elliott
Johnson

Without Gaudreau:

Bollig-Monahan-Brouwer
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Tkachuk-Bennett-Shinkaruk
Bouma-Stajan-Chiasson
Hamilton/Hathaway

Brodie-Hamilton
Giordano-Wideman
Jokipakka-Nakladal

Elliott
Johnson

[TheScorpion]

Wut? Why do the defense pairings change without Gaudreau? Why is Bollig on the 1st line?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wut? Why do the defense pairings change without Gaudreau?

For more offense.

Why is Bollig on the 1st line?

For schadenfreude.

[djsFlames]

Too bad Versteeg went for a PTO with Edmonton. Looking at our right side now again, an extra option with upside for that wing would be helpful. But again players on PTOs elsewhere can be signed by other clubs so who knows. He is from Lethbridge.

Seems like the 1st line RW is going to be a rotating door. Might as well have some decent options at our disposal. Not sure Chiasson would theoretically help there much. I mean if Brouwer ends up paired with Bennett.

[hockey.modern]

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

You pretty much nailed the roster. Janko might find his way in there smewhere

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

alright - how much?

You should get down serious odds if you are making that bet. He is a 3 to 1 dog to make it IMO.

[DJones]

Tried a few months ago. May as well try again.

Gaudreau.......Monahan.......Ferland
Shinkaruk.......Bennett........Brouwer
Stajan...........Backlund.......Frolik
Hamilton........Bouma.........Chiasson
Hathaway/Bollig

Giordano......Hamilton
Brodie......Wideman
Jokkipakka..Enegellend

Shinkaruk and Ferland are the big question marks. If Tkachuk makes the team, Shinkaruk will start in the AHL. Jankowski will be the next call up.

Brodie is stuck with Wideman just because he can handle it the best and I don't want Wideman and Engellend. Getting Nakladal back would solve a lot of problems.

[FBI]

Getting more of a feel of what might happen here..

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

Gio - Brodie
Hamilton - Jokkipakka
Wideman - Engelland
Kulak

Elliott
Johnson

Looking like F. Hamilton might make it too though.

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by FBI

Getting more of a feel of what might happen here..

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

Gio - Brodie
Hamilton - Jokkipakka
Wideman - Engelland
Kulak

Elliott
Johnson

Looking like F. Hamilton might make it too though.

Looks about right to me with wild cards being Freddie and Janko

[Moneyhands23]

So many ppl have johnny in their starting line up...

Doubt it!

Lol. Sorry I couldn't resist

[420since1974]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Chiasson
Ferland - Bennett - Brouwer
Stajan - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Hamilton - Vey
Bollig, Higgins

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Wideman
Jokkipakka - Engelland
Wotherspoon or Kulak

Elliott
Johnson

[Finger Cookin]

I'm not crazy about the top 6 options this year after the two forward pairings we can expect. I think Frolik and Brouwer need to play in the top six as a result.

Bouma can swing between the 3rd and 4th lines, and Stajan can play LW letting Hamilton center the 4th.

I hope one of Wotherspoon, Cullin, or Kulak starts on the second D pair with Hamilton.

[A Shot Wide]

Yeah I agree, is it crazy of me to think Wotherspoon or Kulak on the 2nd pairing with Hamilton would help spread some depth through the 3 pairings? Jokipakka on the 3rd with Wideman/Eng seems like it could create 3 solid pairings, assuming Spoon/Kulak show they can hang and Wideman has a bounce back year.