Building The 2018/19 Flames Roster

[puckedoff]

Neal doesn't have a strong enough two-way game to play with Monahan & Gaudreau.
Need to put Lindholm up there and have Neal with Tkachuk and Backlund.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
I think they will try this early so Lindholm can take some draws. On paper Neal seems like a better fit, but I think they may think Lindholm could be a little like Hudler from a chemistry standpoint. He is a talented guy that could show more here.
Tkachuk-Backlund-Neal
Backlund isn’t dropping down the lineup yet. With these two wingers, this should be much more explosive than keeping him with Frolik. No more 3M, this line could be better.
Bennett-Jankowski-Frolik
Big year for all of these guys, and if they start slow, they might end up with fourth line minutes. Still, lots of upside with Bennett and Jankowski, with Frolik providing some steadying influence (assuming he isn’t shooting at our own net this year)
Rychel/Lazar-Ryan-Czarnik
No idea what that fourth line will look like, but there will be plenty of options and internal competition. I think Dube starts the year in the AHL. Hopefully Mangiapane or Foo push hard for a spot. Either way the fourth line has to be better than last year.

Dmen seem pretty set. Valimaki gets sent down for seasoning or until the injury bug bites.

[Nelson]

Peter Loubardias had some interesting comments about building the lineup arounds forward pairs. He thought Lindholm might play centre for Tkachuk and that they might keep Backlund and Frolik together. This is interesting. The lines could be:

Gaudreau - Monahan - RW
Tkachuk - Lindholm - RW
Frolik - Backlund - RW
LW - Jankowski - Czarnik

1RW candidates: Neal, Bennett
2RW candidates: Bennett, Neal
3RW candidates: Ryan
4LW candidates: Lazar, Rychel, Dube, Hathaway, Mangiapane, Foo

I like:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett
Frolik - Backlund - Ryan
Mangiapane - Jankowski - Czarnik

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Nelson

I like:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett
Frolik - Backlund - Ryan
Mangiapane - Jankowski - Czarnik

Oh yeah I really like that. Get that third line out at home for defensive zone face offs. The team definitely has more depth than it does high end talent. But I like it.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by Nelson

Peter Loubardias had some interesting comments about building the lineup arounds forward pairs. He thought Lindholm might play centre for Tkachuk and that they might keep Backlund and Frolik together. This is interesting. The lines could be:

Gaudreau - Monahan - RW
Tkachuk - Lindholm - RW
Frolik - Backlund - RW
LW - Jankowski - Czarnik

1RW candidates: Neal, Bennett
2RW candidates: Bennett, Neal
3RW candidates: Ryan
4LW candidates: Lazar, Rychel, Dube, Hathaway, Mangiapane, Foo

I like:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett
Frolik - Backlund - Ryan
Mangiapane - Jankowski - Czarnik

That's interesting, but I don't like pigeon-holing the lineup like that. Perhaps it's because I see Lindholm on the first line RW as a natural option due to his two way game. That said, Neal isn't too shabby. Also, Lindholm's 2-way effectiveness probably depends on whether he's playing C or wing

[Macindoc]

I like the idea of having a right-shooting and a left-shooting centre on each of the lines, if possible.

One possible configuration would be:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Bennett-Ryan-Neal
Tkachuk-Backlund-Czarnik
Frolik-Jankowski-Lazar

This configuration also puts some speed, some defensive responsibility, and some jam on each line, with the scoring pop distributed fairly evenly among the top three lines. It also allows the Flames to always have someone taking the draw on their strong side.

For the PP, add Tkachuk to the Monahan line for a net-front presence in a 1-3-1 configuration, and use the Ryan (reportedly a PP wizard) line in a standard 3-2 configuration for the second PP unit (I think it's harder to prepare for the PK when the two PP units have different configurations, and I think this is also the best use of the team's personnel).

PK1 would be Backlund-Czarnik (again, two different-handed natural centres for draws), and PK2 could be Janko-Lazar (which would again give you two different-handed natural centres) or Janko-Frolik.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Nelson

I like:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett
Frolik - Backlund - Ryan
Mangiapane - Jankowski - Czarnik

You have the exact same lines as I do - just with Bennett and Tkachuk switching wings.

So far from practice lineups we have the top line, 2/3 of the 2nd line (Peluso was on RW for some reason with Tkachuk - Lindholm) and assuming Backlund and Frolik stay together, 2/3 of the 3rd line.

[pepper24]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal
Dube - Jankowski - Frolik
Mangiapane - Ryan - Czarnik

Trade Bennett.

[red sky]

Bennett is better than EatBread and plays a heavier game. Not sure why you'd trade him.

[Poe969]

Bennette, Frolik and a late draft pick for Stone.

[pepper24]

Line ups in China and we'll see that change over pre-season but a good sense on how things could start in the regular season. Maybe Dube or Mangiapane can replace Hathaway with good showings on the 4th line. Top 2 lines are almost 1a and 1b. Bottom 6 looks really deep. I like our forward depth now. Lazar could see a lot of press box time as 13th forward.

Maybe Rittich is backup over Gillies. Maybe Glass could find that back up spot. Back up is a big question mark still but I think Rittich's to lose.

Don't see much changing for defence. Andersson or Prout as 7th.

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - James Neal
Michael Frolik - Derek Ryan - Austin Czarnik
Sam Bennett - Mark Jankowski - Garnet Hathaway

Extras: Anthony Peluso - Curtis Lazar - Morgan Klimchuk

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin - Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak - Michael Stone

Extras/7th Defenceman: Rasmus Andersson - Dalton Prout

Mike Smith
Jon Gillies

[VilleN]

I don’t think Andersson will be the 7th Dman, you want him getting minutes. Either he is on the 3rd pairing or he’s first call up.

[Icon]

~19min - Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Elias Lindholm
~17min - Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - James Neal
~12min - Dillon Dube - Derek Ryan - Austin Czarnik
~12min - Sam Bennett - Mark Jankowski - Michael Frolik
Anthony Peluso, Curtis Lazar

I think Dube makes the team. Looks like a well balanced offence to me!

[PugnaciousIntern]

Not sure if this was posted yet, but apparently the PP units from the first day practice:

"Czarnik, Ryan and Neal were on the second power-play unit with Backlund and Hanifin. Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk, Lindholm and defenseman Mark Giordano made up Calgary's first power-play unit."

https://www.nhl.com/news/calgary-fla...?tid=290456470

[savardandjokinen]

I wouldn't mind us having duos up front and then guys you rotate around until you find the perfect combination

I think the best duos would be these

Gaudreau-Monahan
Backlund-Lindholm
Ryan-Czarnik
Bennett-Jankowski

And a good starting roster could be like this

Gaudreau-Monahan-Neal
Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm
Frolik-Ryan-Czarnik
Bennett-Jankowski-Foo

[Enoch Root]

I think Bennett - Ryan - Czarnik would be interesting to see. Leaving Dube- Jankowski - Frolik.

Two offensive lines, two two-way lines

[wretched34]

Johnny-Money-Lindholm
Neal-Backlund-Czarnik
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Bennett
Frolik-Ryan-Dube

Line 1 - Lindholm will hopefully compliment the top line, providing a 2nd shot, as well as creativity. Also gives them a Right hand shot, who can take draws.
Line 2 - Neal is a natural LW, Czarnik a Right shot center who can play the right side, and brings the creative playmaking that can allow Neal to shoot first.
Line 3 - Tkachuk needs a shot on a more offensive line than Backlund/Frolik. Jankowski has show the ability to score, and score a lot when paired with skilled wingers. Bennett could benefit from having a skilled winger on the other side, so he can be more of a net front presence, rather than trying to carry the play himself.
Line 4 - Defensively responsible, but still.capable of chipping in, and shelters Dube.

Lines 2 and 3 could be deployed as 2A/2B, depending on the situation, give Janko's line more offensive zone starts and have Backlund and a Veteran Neal drive the plays out of their own zone.

[AC]

^Neal has talked in the past how switching to his offside is what made him a dangerous goal scorer. Don't think he'll be switching back to LW.

One thing to notice is that I’m a left-handed shot playing the right wing here. That might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually a huge deal. I started my career as a left winger, so I was always receiving passes with the puck outside my body, away from the net. If you’re a playmaker, you might prefer this. I didn’t know how big of a difference this made until I got traded to Pittsburgh.

Once I got used to it, I really elevated my game, because whenever I shot the puck on my forehand, the release point was closer to the net. I was a threat at all times, especially on one-timers. I ended up scoring 40 goals the next season. So whenever a guy switches wings, it has a lot of implications for how he plays.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...edators-sniper

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by AC

^Neal has talked in the past how switching to his offside is what made him a dangerous goal scorer. Don't think he'll be switching back to LW.


https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...edators-sniper

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that, and haven't seen him play enough to realize he had switched over entirely.

Wonder if Czarnik is comfortable on the left side? But then you have 2 guys on off wings.

Maybe Bennett up to the LW on Backlunds line, and Czarnik on Janko's RW.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by AC

^Neal has talked in the past how switching to his offside is what made him a dangerous goal scorer. Don't think he'll be switching back to LW.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en...edators-sniper

That is really interesting and he makes a good point, if that is where he prefers I am sure he won't be as happy moving to the LW and he was probably told he would be playing RW since that is lacking on this roster.

I wouldn't mind seeing this instead than:

Johnny - Mony - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Janko - Neal
Bennett - Backlund - Czarnik
Dube - Ryan - Frolik

A good 1st line, a dangerous 2nd line, a defensive but can be chip in 3rd line and solid 4th line who can play against anyone.

I think Janko could elevate his game to play with Neal and Chucky. It can still be seen as a 2A and 2B for Janko and Backlund's lines.

When Czarnik is on or Bennett, you move them around. We may see Czarnik or Chucky up with JG and SM. There are a lot of options for the coach and I am loving it.