Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[Hot_Flatus]

With some shrewd trades, drafting, and free agent signings this would be my opening day lineup: (assumes a buyout of the Wideman contract).

Gaudreau - Monahan - Boedker
Nylander - Bennett - Shinkaruk
McGinn - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Colborne
Hathaway/Ferland

Giordano - Brodie
Hamilton - Nakladal
Engelland - Jokkipakka
Wotherspoon

Elliot
Ortio

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Gaudreau-Monahan-Shinkaruk
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Free agent-Bennett-Ferland
Stajan-Grant-Bouma
Bollig-Hathaway

Gio-Brodie
Kevin-Hamilton
Engellend-Wideman
Nakladal

Reimer
Ortio

I think this is the most likely outcome out of all of these. It's fairly conservative. It's not the strongest team, but it's practical.

Good job JJ.

[Par]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Gaudreau-Monahan-Shinkaruk
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Free agent-Bennett-Ferland
Stajan-Grant-Bouma
Bollig-Hathaway

Gio-Brodie
Kevin-Hamilton
Engellend-Wideman
Nakladal

Reimer
Ortio

Out of all the line ups predictions, I like this the best, it is conservative and most likely the line ups come opening night, although, I think if Gillies is exempt from the draft, then I think they will make a package and go after a top line forward(likely a winger) and a good start goalie(may or may not happen) but this line up by JJ looks like may be lineup come opening day. But I do have a question , why is Bennett the third line centre? lot's of people have this, why? And who is Kevin with Hamilton(sorry I should know this but don't)?

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Gaudreau-Monahan-Shinkaruk
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Free agent-Bennett-Ferland
Stajan-Grant-Bouma
Bollig-Hathaway

Gio-Brodie
Kevin-Hamilton
Engellend-Wideman
Nakladal

Reimer
Ortio

I also think this is a realistic lineup. Hope we have something in Shinkaruk. Like that Backlund is listed as 2nd line center and that Bennett is listed as a center. I like Stajan moving to the wing. Actually I like the whole idea of Stajan moving

I would take just about anybody over Bollog - Jooris for sure and probably any number of Stockton guys.

Like the D lineup.

[foshizzle11]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Shinkaruk
Ferland - Bennett - Brouwer (Big RW, UFA)
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Hathaway
Jooris/Bollig

Giordano - Brodie
Hamilton - Nakladal
Engelland - Jokkipakka
Smid

Reimer (would prefer Bishop but since Stamkos likely won't re-sign in Tampa, they have the money to keep him)
Ortio

Trade Wideman for picks or anything you can get at the draft/summer.

Send our 1st round pick back to juniors or Europe if they that is where they are from.

I wouldn't mind if we didn't sign Jooris and if we traded Bollig away or Stajan. I doubt we can keep Grant. I hope they give Jankowski his 9 games or whatever it is to start the season and he sends Stajan to the press box for the season, it would be great to have Stajan on the wing if Bob wants him in the lineup to help mentor him if that was possible. With the energy that Bouma and Hathaway bring, it would be great to have a centre that can keep up with that energy but still be responsible defensively, not sure Jankowski can do that just yet and I don't think Stajan is mobile enough to do that anymore.

Our 2nd and 3rd lines are more like 2A and 2B lines, whoever is producing better should get to play more. I would think that the Backlund line would get more defensive zone starts than Bennett's line and that is fine.

I hope they can do more in the off season but I don't see much happening besides bringing in a UFA goalie and a UFA middle 6 player. We will still be missing a top line RW come the new season IMO. I hope we can sign Okposo but not sure BT will throw enough money his way to get him to move out West.

[spennywalks]

Gaudreau - Monny - shinkuruk
colborne - backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - UFA
Bouma - Stajan - jooris
Bollig/hathaway

Gio-Brodie
Hamilton - jokipakka
Nakladal - engelland
Wideman

I don't really see a way that the flames will be able to move Wideman but hopefully they can find a way to get rid of the cap hit as i think he has been passed on the depth chart.

I would really like to see Jankowski lineup with bennett on his left wing. I think that as much as people want bennett to be a centre his game is way more suited for the wing at the NHL level. The way he drives the net and can take the puck into the zone with speed i think he can be way more effective offensively from the wing. I think Bennett would benefit from playing with Jankowski who is a defensively responsible but still has good offensive instincts and skills. Jankowski has the body of an NHL centre and i really think he is going to become a very good every day player for this team even as early as next year.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by Par

Out of all the line ups predictions, I like this the best, it is conservative and most likely the line ups come opening night, although, I think if Gillies is exempt from the draft, then I think they will make a package and go after a top line forward(likely a winger) and a good start goalie(may or may not happen) but this line up by JJ looks like may be lineup come opening day. But I do have a question , why is Bennett the third line centre? lot's of people have this, why? And who is Kevin with Hamilton(sorry I should know this but don't)?

Just think if we sign a middling free agent to play on the wing and Ferland operates on the other side, they are inferior to Colborne and Frolik. I'd be looking to Backlund's line to be the primary secondary scorers, not Bennett's. I'd look to them to take the tough defensive assignments. Hey, by the end of the season, they could have switched roles, but going into the season, Backlund's trio would be my 2nd line. However, we could sign another Frolik type player and our 1st rounder comes straight into the team, which would mean we have 2 interchangeable middle 2 lines.

Kevin is Jokipakka's nickname, so I just use that all the time, I like it.

[Heavy Jack]

On my phone and no capgeek + so much that would have to happen = dont even know if/how this is possible but Id love to see this lineup:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lucic
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Liane
Stajan - Jankowski - Ferland
Bouma

Gio - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Nakladal - Engelland
Wotherspoon

Riemer
Ortio

Get rid of/Bury: Bollig/Jooris/Raymond/Wideman/Smid (lol)

[Par]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Just think if we sign a middling free agent to play on the wing and Ferland operates on the other side, they are inferior to Colborne and Frolik. I'd be looking to Backlund's line to be the primary secondary scorers, not Bennett's. I'd look to them to take the tough defensive assignments. Hey, by the end of the season, they could have switched roles, but going into the season, Backlund's trio would be my 2nd line. However, we could sign another Frolik type player and our 1st rounder comes straight into the team, which would mean we have 2 interchangeable middle 2 lines.

Kevin is Jokipakka's nickname, so I just use that all the time, I like it.

Thanks for explanation JJ, people talk about getting a right winger for the Monahan line but I think we need a winger for Bennett, if we can get Bennett a good winger then that will give us two potential first lines, moving a young good centre up and down the lines can really hurt his confidence, The Monahan line already has a lot of skill up there, they just need a big strong forward that can open up space for them and protect them. I think Bennett comes into camp in great shape and 5-10 pounds heavier and ready to go, it is the last year of his RFA year and he will likely, want to sent out a good message, for his UFA year(same goes for Ferland). I think Troy Brouwer(he would be good for this young team as well, lots of playoff experience as well, if he comes in and play on the Monahan, helps them and puts up 40+ points, that would be awesome) would be a good fit for the Monahan line(Lucic would be a great fit but he would be expensive and we could lose him to the expansion draft(we don't the rules yet).

I think getting a top 3 pick this year would go a long way, getting Matthews or one of the Fins can solve the problem of who plays with Bennett but I will not hold my breath with that one, if we don't get a player that is ready then go after Troy Brouwer(ideally for the Monahan line) and one of Loui Eriksson or Milan Lucic(ideally for the Bennett line) and sign them with a NTC or NMC(I think one player from each team with a NTC or NMC will be exempt from the expansion draft).

As for a goaltender, just go after Reimer, there is no need to to give up assets, other than cap space and we may lose him to a expansion draft(if Gillies is not exempt).

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

On my phone and no capgeek + so much that would have to happen = dont even know if/how this is possible but Id love to see this lineup:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lucic
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Liane
Stajan - Jankowski - Ferland
Bouma

Gio - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Nakladal - Engelland
Wotherspoon

Riemer
Ortio

Get rid of/Bury: Bollig/Jooris/Raymond/Wideman/Smid (lol)

Isn't Lucic a LW?

Replace him with Okposo and we have a winner.

[jlh2640]

Gaudreau Monahan Shinkaruk
Janko Bennett Colbourne
Bouma Backlund Frolik
Ferland Stajan Hathaway
Grant Jooris

Brodie Hamilton
Gio Wideman
Jokipaka Wotherspoon
Engelland


Ortio
Ramo

Smid INJ, Raymond AHL, and obviously no UFA goalie yet or wingers.
Maybe Tkachuk, Reimer or an Okposo could make a difference but we will see.

[Badgers Nose]

Lots of people see Shinky as 1RW? I hope you guys are right, but seems very early to me.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Lots of people see Shinky as 1RW? I hope you guys are right, but seems very early to me.

Yeah I think he didn't look completely out of place but I don't necessarily see him as NHL ready for next season.

[FlamesNation23]

My dream scenario would be:

Gaudreau – Monahan – Backes
Lucic - Bennett - Laine
Shinkaruk - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan – Ferland
Hathaway

Giordano - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Engelland - Nakladal
Wotherspoon

Andersen
Ortio

[gvitaly]

Gaudreau – Monahan – Stempniak Pribyl
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bennett - Martin(Matt)
Bouma - Stajan/Grant – Hathaway
Bollig
Stajan/Grant

Giordano - Brodie
Engelland - Hamilton
Jokipakka - Wideman
Nakladal
Smid(LTIR)

Johnson(Chad)
Ortio/Ramo

[Roof-Daddy]

1. Gaudreau (7.500) - Monahan (6.000) - Radulov (5.000)
2. Colborne (2.500) - Backlund (3.575) - M Frolik (4.300)
3. M Ferland (0.825) - Bennett (0.925) - D Pribyl (0.925)
4. L. Bouma (2.200) - M Stajan (3.125) - Hathaway (0.690)

Extra - Bollig (1.250) - F Hamilton (0.800)

1. Giordano (6.750) - Hamilton (5.750)
2. TJ Brodie (4.650) - Engelland (2.916)
3. Jokipakka (0.900) - Nakladal (1.000)

Extra - Wotherspoon (0.900)

1. Remier (4.500)
2. J Ortio (0.800)



Wideman traded
Raymond buried (2.200)
Smid on LTIR

Roughly $70 million against cap (with Smid on LTIR)

[Par]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

1. Gaudreau (7.500) - Monahan (6.000) - Radulov (5.000)
2. Colborne (2.500) - Backlund (3.575) - M Frolik (4.300)
3. M Ferland (0.825) - Bennett (0.925) - D Pribyl (0.925)
4. L. Bouma (2.200) - M Stajan (3.125) - Hathaway (0.690)

Extra - Bollig (1.250) - F Hamilton (0.800)

1. Giordano (6.750) - Hamilton (5.750)
2. TJ Brodie (4.650) - Engelland (2.916)
3. Jokipakka (0.900) - Nakladal (1.000)

Extra - Wotherspoon (0.900)

1. Remier (4.500)
2. J Ortio (0.800)



Wideman traded
Raymond buried (2.200)
Smid on LTIR

Roughly $70 million against cap (with Smid on LTIR)

No thank to Radulov, I don't want him near anywhere this team.

[genetic_phreek]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Frolik
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Poirier
Stajan - Backlund - Colborne
Ferland - Arnold - Jankowski
Bollig/Bouma

Giordano - Engelland
Brodie - Hamilton
Jokipakka - Wideman
Wotherspoon

Murray
Ortio

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wideman traded

What do you propose we trade Wideman for that has us take back or retain zero salary?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

1. Gaudreau (7.500) - Monahan (6.000) - Radulov (5.000)
2. Colborne (2.500) - Backlund (3.575) - M Frolik (4.300)
3. M Ferland (0.825) - Bennett (0.925) - D Pribyl (0.925)
4. L. Bouma (2.200) - M Stajan (3.125) - Hathaway (0.690)

Extra - Bollig (1.250) - F Hamilton (0.800)

1. Giordano (6.750) - Hamilton (5.750)
2. TJ Brodie (4.650) - Engelland (2.916)
3. Jokipakka (0.900) - Nakladal (1.000)

Extra - Wotherspoon (0.900)

1. Remier (4.500)
2. J Ortio (0.800)



Wideman traded
Raymond buried (2.200)
Smid on LTIR

Roughly $70 million against cap (with Smid on LTIR)

I'm intrigued with Radulov so this lineup is interesting. But for it to fit under the cap, would need to trade Wideman with no salary coming back. I don't believe that is possible.