Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Well for starters it's not really an idea is it. Simply stating, the Flames should consider Yakupov is no more an idea than "the Flames should consider McDavid or Cosby at centre" given none of these players play for us, and no suggestion was made on how we could acquire said player.

Without that info, it's much less an idea as its a random statement and it leads to all sorts of things like people then filling in the blanks on the "how" which results in what seems like ignorantly dismissive comments like "good lord no".

Well he did ask for a trade and the Flames are desperate for a RW. The only thing we can offer the Oilers is Wideman @50% retained and a prospect to offset the "potential" of Yakupov and possibility he may return to being a 20g scorer. Maybe a former first rounder like Poirer or Klimchuck

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by FBI

Scorp I think there is about 0% chance Pribyl is in our starting lineup since he is injured and has never played on small ice yet.

-- True. I wasn't thinking the start of the year when I slotted him in... though to be fair "Starting Lineup" is in the thread's very title. Maybe in February.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Shinkaruk
Ferland - Jankowski - Vey

(Stajan Bollig/Chaisson)

Gio - Brodie
Hamilton - George
Wideman - Engelland

(Nakladal)

-

Thats my fav lineup..

But I think we will see..

-

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

(Vey, Bollig)


Gio - Brodie
Hamilton - George
Wideman - Engelland

(Wotherspoon/Kulak/PTO)

[AltaGuy]

Whenever I look at our forward depth I am reminded that we are in a rebuild yet. Our depth just doesn't inspire much confidence in me. Although I feel like it looked significantly better two years ago.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

Whenever I look at our forward depth I am reminded that we are in a rebuild yet. Our depth just doesn't inspire much confidence in me. Although I feel like it looked significantly better two years ago.

I think many of us assumed depth was being developed organically and that it would just be a matter of time when prospects would take on this role. However, guys like klimchuk, poirier, shinkaruk, still seemingly need more time. Guys like Bouma, ferland haven't established their nhl level roles yet either. At least Bouma seems like your obvious forechecking strong ok 4th line winger, but what's ferland exactly?

Camp has been disappointing for me from this perspective. Some very obvious forward spots are open yet no one seems to have pushed to grab a spot. I still feel tkatchuk should go down this season and would want to see more of Jankowski with nhl lineman es and opposition before making that call.

The fact that Higgins looks like he make the team at this point further illustrates this point for me...

[Da_Chief]

Gaudreau unsigned
Monahan injured

It will be a tough October.

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

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Jokkipaka-Engelland
Grossman

Elliott
Johnson

Doesn't look attractive at all.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Can you (or anyone else) elaborate on why this is a bad idea? Other than Yakupov being a Greaser and likely having his development hobbled by that organization, of course.

It's not the best idea I've heard, but it is far from the worst.


.

Cons: No 200ft game, low hockey IQ (won't be able to keep up with Geuadreau or Monahan). Theoretically good player that doesn't put up points, never a good sign.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Gaudreau unsigned
Monahan injured

It will be a tough October.

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

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Jokkipaka-Engelland
Grossman

Elliott
Johnson

Doesn't look attractive at all.

Monahan is expected back before the end of the pre-season, Friedman is confident Gaudreau will get signed before too long and Tkachuk will get his 9 game audition unless he really underperforms in the first couple games.

Also, you have Stajan in your forward lineup twice. Is the first line supposed to be Shinkaruk instead?

Furthermore, why would Gulutzan split up Gio & Brodie when they've always worked so well together?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Other than Brouwer, any of the other RWS have a skill-set that would be absolutely terrible alongside Monahan and Gaudreau. Frolik is the best choice amongst bad options.

Frolik is a worse choice than Ferland/Tkachuk IMO

[Flamenspiel]

Whats going on with Shinkaruk? Is he basically penned in for a role, sink or swim?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Frolik is a worse choice than Ferland/Tkachuk IMO

It actually drives me nuts that several Flames fans are suggesting Frolik on the top line. It really shouldn't bother me as much as it does.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I think many of us assumed depth was being developed organically and that it would just be a matter of time when prospects would take on this role. However, guys like klimchuk, poirier, shinkaruk, still seemingly need more time. Guys like Bouma, ferland haven't established their nhl level roles yet either. At least Bouma seems like your obvious forechecking strong ok 4th line winger, but what's ferland exactly?

Camp has been disappointing for me from this perspective. Some very obvious forward spots are open yet no one seems to have pushed to grab a spot. I still feel tkatchuk should go down this season and would want to see more of Jankowski with nhl lineman es and opposition before making that call.

The fact that Higgins looks like he make the team at this point further illustrates this point for me...

I feel this way too. The Flames have had a steady injection of high end skill through high picks (and a lucky 4th round pick) but depth players are not developing as you would hope.

[AcGold]

Stajan, Wideman and Bollig ruin our depth with the 10 mill cap hit. Just imagine what depth we could afford on a yearly basis if those guys were gone.

[Par]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

Whenever I look at our forward depth I am reminded that we are in a rebuild yet. Our depth just doesn't inspire much confidence in me. Although I feel like it looked significantly better two years ago.

When we get Nolan Patrick, our depth will look better.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Cons: No 200ft game, low hockey IQ (won't be able to keep up with Geuadreau or Monahan). Theoretically good player that doesn't put up points, never a good sign.

Sounds pretty much like Sven Baertchi

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by Par

When we get Nolan Patrick, our depth will look better.

Ummm....we are NOT placing last this coming season.

[belsarius]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Higgins - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Hamilton - Stajan

(Chaisson, Bollig)


Giordano - Brodie
Hamilton - Jokkipaka
Wideman - Engelland


I think Ferland starts on the wing of the top line but expect it to be a revolving door.

Hamilton has shown he deserves a few games in that fourth line center spot as it's time for Stajan to move to the wing and rotate out with Bollig depending on the match-up.

Shinkaruk probably becomes the first call-up.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by edslunch

I feel this way too. The Flames have had a steady injection of high end skill through high picks (and a lucky 4th round pick) but depth players are not developing as you would hope.

That's on the Flames inability to draft forwards and amateur scout them. I think we should've been able to fill those middle six roles with the following guys or equivalent picks:

Howse
Borjorklund
Bennett
Gordon
Holland
Arnold
Reinhart
Granlund
Baertchi
Gordon
DeBlouw
Jankowski
Harrison
Klimchuck
Poirer

Of those names we have Granlund/Shinkaruk, Gaudreau, and Ferland, possibly Jankowski. So that's 4/17 forward picks in those draft years? Not to mention amateur scouting guys like Hanowski, Agostino, Pollock, Byron, Colborne, Shore, Knight, and Horak. So really, our scouting staff is like 4 for 25 in picking talent.

Considering you only get 7 picks a year and could only trade a one or two free agents for picks a year, that's not very good odds of building a roster that can accommodate injuries and compete for a championship.

IMO, the Flames drafted way too many defensemen between the years of 2008 to 2013, which happens a to be the time frame of players now on the team. Which is no surprise that the Flames have some good D pushing like Morrison, Kulak, and Wotherspoon for a single spot

[Toonage]

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

Giordano-Brodie
Wotherspoon-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Wideman
- Engelland

Elliott-Johnson

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Par

When we get Nolan Patrick, our depth will look better.

Originally Posted by jaikorven

Ummm....we are NOT placing last this coming season.

You don't have to be last place to get 1st OA. But a big, right handed skilled forward is just what the doctor ordered for the Flames:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Nolan
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Shinkaruk - Backlund - Frolik

No longer are you having to try and juggle around guys like Vey, Chiasson, Pribyl, Ferland and whoever in your top 9