News from training camp. Stone PTO and maybe forward PTO(Brett Ritchie?). Parsons out

[RedHawk12]

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

[Jeff Lebowski]

Treliving mentioned there could be experimentation with personnel combinations (but could change daily). I welcome that purely from the perspective of unlocking some offense.

When the games really matter find guys who elevate their play and play them a lot.

I don't want to see Gulutzan tactics of fourth line against opponent first line or wanting everyone to feel included.

CGY needs to win games not massage egos. No more pedigree or seniority based decisions please. If you win everyone is happy. Play guys who get the job done.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

I like this lineup-the only flaw in my opinion is that I really want to see Bennett at C-but what can you do?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by 868904

Robinson is not that good at fighting and he’s not really an NHL player.

Rinaldo is undersized for this role.

A few seasons ago, Ritchie scored 16 goals and had 34 points.

As long as his effort is there, he’s better than both Robinson and Rinaldo in every way.

I’ve always liked Ritchie, and hoped we could get him in a trade. He’s big, mean, and can move pretty well. As much as I like Robinson and Rinaldo, I agree-Ritchie could prove to be more useful.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

I'd switch Bennett and Mangiapane, but other than that, this looks solid.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

I posted this exact forward lineup in the bold predictions thread, I love it. Gives us a really strong top-9, and it allows the team to focus the Monahan/Gaudreau line on more offensive situations, like getting >60% offensive zone starts. Especially when you have Backlund who's line can still handle tough defensive matchups. All 3 lines should be able to provide tangible offense, and gives us matchup options for days.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

"hoping"

[AC]

^ Loubardias just now with Ryan Leslie on IG suggested he's expecting Tkachuk/Lindholm being paired together again.

Really wouldn't be surprised to see this top 6 as suggested with less clearly defined lines, rolling deeper 4 lines at even strength.
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think one has to look at the opponents' personnel especially in the most crucial position: centre.

CGY needs to put the best players at centre who are going to win that match up. When those lines go head to head who can be +1 in the corsi battle or however you want to slice it. Not break even, win. Everyone is sick and tired of watching CGY lose those battles and talk about lessons learned. These guys have to put up and no more excuses. Just ####ing win.

[Harry Lime]

Here's my go. Wildcard is Pelletier. I think that the smart plan is to roll all lines and pairings evenly and play the matchup game. Extra minutes doled out for special teams. It's a condensed season, so it makes sense to make use of the depth and keep everyone healthy.

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane (Defacto top line)
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo (easier matchups/Monahan and Leivo know each other)
Nordstrom - Backlund - Ryan (Nordstrom primary PK/Ryan moves to RW)
Lucic - Bennett - Dube (Best playoff line intact)
Simon

Hanifin - Andersson (New top pairing/save Gio!)
Giordano - Kylington/Nesterov (Kyl/Nester swap depending matchups)
Valimaki - Tanev (Tanev on Hughes duty again)


Markstrom
Rittich

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

I'm thinking this:
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Bennett - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Nesterov
Kylington

Markstrom
Rittich

Yes.

[Nelson]

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo
Lucic - Backlund - Ryan
Simon - Bennett - Dube

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by AC

^ Loubardias just now with Ryan Leslie on IG suggested he's expecting Tkachuk/Lindholm being paired together again.

Really wouldn't be surprised to see this top 6 as suggested with less clearly defined lines, rolling deeper 4 lines at even strength.
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Gaudreau - Monahan - Leivo

With the quote of trying a center at wing , I wouldn’t be surprised to see Monahan on right side with Lindholm line. They have tried both Bennett and Backlund at wing with not much success. Pretty sure I also read that ward wants Bennett at center.

[scobel]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

With the quote of trying a center at wing , I wouldn’t be surprised to see Monahan on right side with Lindholm line. They have tried both Bennett and Backlund at wing with not much success. Pretty sure I also read that ward wants Bennett at center.

Maybe they run:

Monahan Lindholm Leivo
Gaudreau Backlund Tkachuk
Dube Bennett Mangiapane
Lucic Ryan Simon/Nordstrom

PS: fun speculating on lines.

[djsFlames]

I do think one of Simon/Leivo (who each have shown somewhat of a Stempniak-like versatility) ends up clicking with Gaudreau and Monahan which results in us being able to spread the wealth out a bit through the lines.

We also know that they've been looking at using Lindholm at C, which I believe Treliving talked about early in the offseason.

Could result in having three strong lines.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I find this interesting. We hear Ward saying he thinks C is an important position, the team is deep at C, and it is a matter of finding the 4 guys that work. And presumably that means slotting some guys who can play C on the wing

(Apparently, also, CP really, really pretty badly wants Lindholm at C)

So I wonder what Geoff Ward learned from last year.

Backlund - I would hope Ward learned he is a C. The experiment with Lindholm at C and Backlund as a winger failed miserably, and when restored to C, Backlund was the best forward on the team. (It also scares me a bit that you could take Ward’s remarks and infer that a guy who plays C can be an effective winger - he saw firsthand that it wasn’t the case here)

Monahan - has only ever been a C. Not an overly physical player, one key strength is quietly getting open and sniping. Asked the coaches to help him round out his 2 way game. (You could argue he defers to Gaudreau as puck carrier too often which hampers that line, you could also argue that they need someone physical to create space.). No idea why anyone would expect him to be a better W than Backlund.

Lindholm - can play W or C effectively. Career year was as a W
(CP: “move him to C!”)

Bennett - an impact player as a C in the playoffs, not a significant contributor as a bottom 6 wing (then again, with a rotating cast of bottom 6, and with time as Janko’s winger). For whatever reason, linemates, or comfort level with the responsibilities of the position, he looked much better as a C. That Dube-Bennett-Lucic line was very good and if you break them up, it has to for a net improvement
Ward likes him at C and there is a case for him there


So what I am seeing in a lot of these posts is a dogged determination by a lot of posters to make Lindholm a C, no matter what it takes. And if you keep Monahan at C, it bumps Backlund to the third line, leaving Bennett as a bottom 6 winger

Also with respect to the new guys:

Josh Leivo - a guy who is in his prime age wise, has spent years trying to stick up with a NHL team, and was doing ok at about .5 ppg last year before getting injured. Average size, not an overly physical or highly skilled player. He is serviceable but unspectacular, no?

I mean he would probably be a bit better on the top line than Buddy Robinson, but really, if you believe in Mangiapane as a top 6, Leivo is in the conversation with Dube and Lucic for the last top 9 slot. Dube showed a lot in the playoffs, and is on an upward trajectory. Leivo is 4-5 years older than Dube and I think, given the choice, I have to see Dube in my top 9 right now

Simon - a responsible player with high compete, played a bit with Crosby, but has also been a generally 30 point guy. Seems like a bottom 6 guy

Nordstrom - Yeah. I think he is the C Ward is talking about.


Mang isn’t a top line W yet, having a career best 32 points in 68 games , but is also on an upward trajectory. Solid middle 6er with upside

If you think Johnny and Monny should play together and need additional speed, it could look a lot like last year

Gaudreau - Monahan - Mangiapane
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm
Dube - Bennett - Lucic
Leivo - Ryan - Simon / Nordstrom

If you think they need sandpaper, then you are looking at finding a way to really mix things up. Maybe you have Bennett, Lucic or (yikes, I know he played with Crosby, but are we really doing this here?) Simon play with them...

But yeah. I personally don’t see this obsession with Lindholm at C making sense as it takes a perfectly good winger and forces a guy who is better at C to the wing. I just don’t see the optimal mix of 12 skaters resulting from the trade offs


Tl;dr: I think it is Nordstrom that Ward is talking about

[shogged]

I think its less "CP has an obsession" and more that Ward has explicitly stated he wants Lindholm at C lol


https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...arkstrom-deal/

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by shogged

I think its less "CP has an obsession" and more that Ward has explicitly stated he wants Lindholm at C lol


https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...arkstrom-deal/

I know he has said he wants to see if that’s something he can do to get the best mix of 12 guys and I just was saying why I am not confident that it works because you get less out of other players

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I think one has to look at the opponents' personnel especially in the most crucial position: centre.

CGY needs to put the best players at centre who are going to win that match up. When those lines go head to head who can be +1 in the corsi battle or however you want to slice it. Not break even, win. Everyone is sick and tired of watching CGY lose those battles and talk about lessons learned. These guys have to put up and no more excuses. Just ####ing win.

I don't care about the other 46 games but I want to see Lindholm match up against McDavid because Backlund has been a disaster against him.

And if Tkachuk is with him on that line all the better

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Nelson

https://twitter.com/fan960steinberg/...287290369?s=21

“Can we play guys on wings that normally aren’t wingers? We want to know if guys can make that switch. We feel like we’re really strong at centre ice.”

Head coach Geoff Ward addressed new line combinations and a whole lot more to kick off training camp.

If:

(1) They won’t move Backlund to the wing because that experiment failed last season,
(2) They want Lindholm and Bennett at centre and
(3) There are four centre positions,

Then:

(4) He is talking about moving either Monahan or Ryan to centre.

I’m curious. Which would people prefer?

Ryan is better at most things a center is tasked with than Monahan.