[GDT] Flames @ Stars, 6:30 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[direwolf]

Some of you people need to step away from the ledge. Unless he suddenly turns into an offensive dynamo, Stewart on the 1st line probably won't last beyond the 1st period. Gulutzan is simply giving him a chance to shine right out of the gate on his new team. That's all. My guess is if it doesn't work out after a few shifts, he'll be demoted to the 3rd line.

[Braden]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I hadn't heard that, do you have a link? I'd heard he works out at the same place Stajan and Versteeg do. I believe he mentions it in his interview with the Fan 960 yesterday.

Mentions it in the 5th paragraph
http://www.nhl.com/flames/news/stewa...ne/c-296422280

[tkflames]

^Re Bennett back on the checking line....

I am not a fan of this move, but Bennett has not been on a checking line all year. The 3M is our "checking line". They face the hardest competition. What Bennett and Janko are supposed to learn is to produce consistently. Bennett has not been brought in to be a passenger on a scoring line. Bennett is being groomed to run his own producing line that other players want to be on. Whether or not he reaches that potential is a different story, but letting him milk points as a passenger on the first line to drive up his next contract is how you end up paying a German winger $8.5M after one season and maintain a team scoring depth of one line....

[JohnnyTitan]

Man, you guys all wanted a 1st line RW at the trade deadline.

It looks like Tre got us one for free!

[transplant99]

On a different note;

Just caught the end of a Hitchcock interview from earlier today, where he is absolutely raving about how good and smart Tkachuk is. Not as a 20 YO player, just as an NHL player.

Pretty big praise from a guy that knows a thing or two about good players.

Should be somewhere on the 960 website.

[Red]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Some of you people need to step away from the ledge. Unless he suddenly turns into an offensive dynamo, Stewart on the 1st line probably won't last beyond the 1st period. Gulutzan is simply giving him a chance to shine right out of the gate on his new team. That's all. My guess is if it doesn't work out after a few shifts, he'll be demoted to the 3rd line.

I guess some of you need to get off the high horse. We are not on the ledge, just not fans of a waiver pick up getting handed top line assignment in game 1 at the cost of a home grown player just begging to get better opportunity to take off. Just not very encouraging for Bennett or other young players trying to brake out.

[Heavy Jack]

I’ve always referred to the line role that 3M line is playing as ‘the shutdown line’ as they routinely see the oppositions top lines and are tasked with shutting them down.

1st line - Top line
2nd line - Shutdown line
3rd line - Checking line
4th line - energy line

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by tkflames

^Re Bennett back on the checking line....

I am not a fan of this move, but Bennett has not been on a checking line all year. The 3M is our "checking line". They face the hardest competition. What Bennett and Janko are supposed to learn is to produce consistently. Bennett has not been brought in to be a passenger on a scoring line. Bennett is being groomed to run his own producing line that other players want to be on. Whether or not he reaches that potential is a different story, but letting him milk points as a passenger on the first line to drive up his next contract is how you end up paying a German winger $8.5M after one season and maintain a team scoring depth of one line....

Fair point, but the expectation for Bennett to be able to carry a line at this stage by himself is not realistic. He has been given a constant flow of non-NHL caliber linemates in his time in Calgary. He and Janko were great, until Janko hit that rookie wall (understandable growing pains), and then Bennett started trending backwards to his frustrated/penalty taking version of himself, which is something he needs to outgrow (and I believe he will).

The biggest pain from the inaction yesterday on trade deadline day was that the 3rd line really could use someone to help push Janko over the hump and to keep Bennett going. You can't just plop players on the ice and scream "succeed!!" at them and hope it works. Right now that 3rd line is:

Bennett - needs someone talented to play with right now
Jankowski - hitting the rookie wall
Hathaway - hasn't been effective at the NHL level for more than a month

Adding someone better than both Janko and Bennett to that line could have been a huge "get" for the team. Hopefully Stewart takes off on that first line, and Ferly gets to go on the 3rd...except Ferly hasn't exactly shown to be a play driving player himself either.

Also, I don't think Bennett was leaching points while he was on the 1st line. He was an effective player all over the ice.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Some of you people need to step away from the ledge. Unless he suddenly turns into an offensive dynamo, Stewart on the 1st line probably won't last beyond the 1st period. Gulutzan is simply giving him a chance to shine right out of the gate on his new team. That's all. My guess is if it doesn't work out after a few shifts, he'll be demoted to the 3rd line.

See I thought this about Chiasson and he was on that line for half the season

[Heavy Jack]

So I’ve remained silent about Stewart till now - didn’t really want him but am happy to cheer for him now and wish him the best success as it will relate directly to team success.

He’s gonna pot 2 goals tonight parking himself in front of the net and being a pain in the arse.

5-2 Flames

Stewart x 2
Monahan
Hamilton
Backlund

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by tkflames

^Re Bennett back on the checking line....

I am not a fan of this move, but Bennett has not been on a checking line all year. The 3M is our "checking line". They face the hardest competition. What Bennett and Janko are supposed to learn is to produce consistently. Bennett has not been brought in to be a passenger on a scoring line. Bennett is being groomed to run his own producing line that other players want to be on. Whether or not he reaches that potential is a different story, but letting him milk points as a passenger on the first line to drive up his next contract is how you end up paying a German winger $8.5M after one season and maintain a team scoring depth of one line....

The style of play janko and Bennett have been asked to play is more a checking line style... dump and chase and forecheck. A very north south style. I agree that 3m is our true checking line in terms of who they play against but it’s more forcing Bennett to play a style that doesn’t suit his skill set as well as playing up front.

In the past two games Bennett was hardly a passenger on the top line and drive play much more than Ferland did.

I do agree that he is being groomed to run his own line but trying to learn how to do that while being limited in using all your best skills and limited minutes is detrimental to the organization both short and long term.

It’s mostly the really poor messaging to the entire group that hey, this guy shoots right and scored some goals once upon a time when he played with Paul Stastny he hasn’t warned anything but he goes straight to the top line because of how he holds his stick.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I’ve always referred to the line role that 3M line is playing as ‘the shutdown line’ as they routinely see the oppositions top lines and are tasked with shutting them down.

1st line - Top line
2nd line - Shutdown line
3rd line - Checking line
4th line - energy line

To me, checking line and shutdown line have always been synonymous. To me a third line has always been one which you put your younger developing guys who need more than fourth line minutes on. They get favorable zone starts and hopefully provide offence.

[PugnaciousIntern]

I can't imagine that Chris Stewart will stick on the first line for the entire game. But I don't think that this is the time for experimentation

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

The style of play janko and Bennett have been asked to play is more a checking line style... dump and chase and forecheck. A very north south style. I agree that 3m is our true checking line in terms of who they play against but it’s more forcing Bennett to play a style that doesn’t suit his skill set as well as playing up front.

In the past two games Bennett was hardly a passenger on the top line and drive play much more than Ferland did.

I do agree that he is being groomed to run his own line but trying to learn how to do that while being limited in using all your best skills and limited minutes is detrimental to the organization both short and long term.

It’s mostly the really poor messaging to the entire group that hey, this guy shoots right and scored some goals once upon a time when he played with Paul Stastny he hasn’t warned anything but he goes straight to the top line because of how he holds his stick.

Yeah, I'm sure that's what they are told. If handedness was the only reason, why was Ferland there? Why wasn't Brouwer or Hathaway?

Also, Jankowski and Bennett simply don't dump and chase. GG doesn't coach dump and chase.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I’ve always referred to the line role that 3M line is playing as ‘the shutdown line’ as they routinely see the oppositions top lines and are tasked with shutting them down.

1st line - Top line
2nd line - Shutdown line
3rd line - Checking line
4th line - energy line

Kerr was talking about this type of line structure on the Fan yesterday, and I think made some good points. He was effectively saying that this structure is dead, and with the modern NHL Lines 1-4 need to be able to score.

On our team:

1st Line - doing it's job. Johnny is 2nd in points, Monahan is what - Top 10 in goals? Ferly has been a nice 3rd wheel - which is required because you can't ice 3 stars on a line and hope for depth elsewhere in a cap system.

2nd Line - Tkachuk and Backlund do their part, but Frolik's lack of offensive ability hurts this line from really taking a step to that Jr. Bergeron/Marchand level of effectiveness. I hope Frolik bounces back next year to a .5PPG player or better, as this year he's below .4PPG.

3rd Line - Bennett and Jankowski are a nice tandem, and natural improvement will help here - but Hathaway doesn't have the tools, and it's outright just mean to the kids to play them with Brouwer. This RW spot needs an upgrade.

4th Line - This is the last year we roll it the way it is in my eyes. Stajan is on the way out, and I'd be surprised if Brouwer is here next year given the awful performance he's delivered in years 1 and 2 of his contract. Shore could be a cool addition, and Lazar's speed and hustle is an asset. Adding someone who can play with pace and can provide offence would be big. Does Eatbread take the step forward next year? Does Dube impress? There's no room for overpaid "fat cat" veterans on this team anymore.

[jlh2640]

Sure try it. But if it looks sloppy then get Bennett back up there.

[Heavy Jack]

I don’t think that’s it at all.. this has nothing to do with him being righthanded.

Remember how some say that Ferland is only a 20 goal guy because of Monahan and Gaudreau (and Monahan is really only as good as he is because... you get the point) Bringing a guy in who is looking for a spark in his game and having play with Johnny/Mony could prove to be just what the doctor ordered for Stewart’s game - GG already mentioned how Chris will likely be moved around here until he finds the best fit but while the top line RW in Ferland is gone why not help a guy like Stewart out and help him ease into the team. He gets to go out now and play a simple game - get the puck, give the puck, go to the net; I think eventually he finds his way onto the right side of Bennett/Jankowski but for right now this is a good way to welcome him into the fold.

I’m looking forward to his debut here actually and wish him the best success as mentioned.

And for all the GG bashing - I’ll admit that I have through the year bashed him as well - the guy has his team 10 games above .500 in an absolutely crowded western conference especially the pacific division and well within reach of home ice in the playoffs... we should be giving him some credit for that.

[PugnaciousIntern]

My concerns from the initial waiver-wire pickup still hold true...I'm still willing to be patient but first-line duty is certainly testing me.

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

My main concern is not the acquisition cost (obviously none) but in utilization of him over a better performer. Given the trials with Brouwer's excessive usage, I'm hesitant, but am willing to see how this pans out.

I must qualify this post with the fact that I have barely seen the guy play this year, and that I am not a huge supporter of GG (although not on the 'fire him now!' boat).

[badradio]

Stewart is on the top line because he shoots right. Bennett shoots left. GG is obsessed with this, to a fault.

[YourMother]

Damn. Can't believe the negativity here lately. We're fighting an entertaining battle for a playoff spot, try to enjoy it. Finding a reason to stand on the ledge each and every game is going to put some of you in an early grave if that's how you live your life. Let's give Stewart a shot and try to find some positives with the team you love tonight. Go Flames Go.