Predict the 2017-18 Flames Lineup

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Lazar
Hathaway - Jankowski - Brouwer
Stajan

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Stone - Andersson
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack

I think this is darn close. Decent chance Lazar and Brouwer get swapped. I suspect on of the goons (Glass / Cramarrosa / Gadzic) will be the 14 forward. I also think Kulak ands up in over Anderson (and likely as the 7D behind Bartowski).

I am not saying I want any of that to happen. Just thst I think thst is what will happen.

[Gaskal]

I'd like to think we're eyeing signing Jagr if neither Lazar or Hathaway give inspiring performances in the last two preseason games. Lazar on 4th line, Hathaway to Stockton, and Jagr on Bennett's RW.

[savardandjokinen]

Gaudreau Monahan Ferland
Tkachuk Backlund Frolik
Versteeg Bennett Brouwer
Lazar Stajan Jankowski
Hathaway Hamilton

Giordano Hamilton
Brodie Hamonic
Stone Kulak
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack

[Spartan2]

Gaudreau Monahan Ferland
Tkachuk Backlund Frolik
Versteeg Bennett Brouwer
Lazar Jankowski Stajan

Hathaway Hamilton

Giordano Hamilton
Stone Brodie
Andersson Hamonic
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack

[Stay Golden]

I think Bartkowski will be on a short leash. Versteeg should be on line 3 but I think coach G will give Jankowski a good look on 3rd line. He might even alternate Bennett and Jano at center. Brouwer on 3rd line only because his pay and they want to get him back to the STL version.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Brouwer
Versteeg - Stajan - Lazar
Hathaway

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Stone - Bartkowski
Andersson

Smith
Lack

[dissentowner]

What I think we will see:
Gaudreau/Monahan/Ferland
Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik
Versteeg/Bennett/Brouwer
Stajan/Jankowski/Lazar
F. Hamilton

Gio/Hamilton
Brodie/Hamonic
Bartkowski/Stone

Smith
Lack

What I want to see:
Gaudreau/Monahan/Tkachuk
Bennett/Backlund/Frolik
Versteeg/Jankowski/Ferland
Hathaway/Stajan/Brouwer
Lazar

Gio/Hamilton
Brodie/Hamonic
Stone/Andersson

Smith
Gillies

[CGY12]

Hoping to see this:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer
Hathaway

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Stone - Andersson
Bartkowski

Smith
Gillies

I really hope they don't saddle Jankowski on the 4th line, would really like to see him play with a guy like Versteeg who's creative and smart. I think him on the wing makes sense to ease him (less d-zone responsibility).

From other peoples account Anderson looks to have been the best of himself, Bartkowski and Kulak. So I hope he gets the 6th spot.

Lack just doesn't seem like he has it and Gillies time to slowly be integrated into the league may be now.

[FanIn80]

Jankowski is a Center. He's about as Center as it gets. He's literally a prototypical Center. Centers are valuable assets. Good Centers are very valuable assets. Very good Centers are irreplaceable assets.

Mark Jankowski is a good Center on his way to becoming a very good Center. He should not play anywhere but in the middle of a line, between two wingers and in front of two defencemen.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Jankowski is a Center. He's about as Center as it gets. He's literally a prototypical Center. Centers are valuable assets. Good Centers are very valuable assets. Very good Centers are irreplaceable assets.

Mark Jankowski is a good Center on his way to becoming a very good Center. He should not play anywhere but in the middle of a line, between two wingers and in front of two defencemen.

Unfortunately this sticks him on the 4th line though with the Flames, unless they go back on their statement of Bennett being at C this year.

Only other option really would be to go with something like:

Gaudreau - Bennett - Monahan
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Jankowski - Ferland
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer
Hathaway/Hamilton/Glass

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Jankowski is a Center. He's about as Center as it gets. He's literally a prototypical Center. Centers are valuable assets. Good Centers are very valuable assets. Very good Centers are irreplaceable assets.

Mark Jankowski is a good Center on his way to becoming a very good Center. He should not play anywhere but in the middle of a line, between two wingers and in front of two defencemen.

I agree with you. And yet I think he's also an offensive centre. And offensive centres shouldn't be stuck on the 4th line.

At this point I'm not sure which is less ideal, having him as a 4th line centre or having him as a top 3 line winger. It's an interesting conundrum. It'll be interesting to see how the organization handles him when our centres are healthy.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Icon

Unfortunately this sticks him on the 4th line though with the Flames, unless they go back on their statement of Bennett being at C this year.

Only other option really would be to go with something like:

Gaudreau - Bennett - Monahan
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Jankowski - Ferland
Lazar - Stajan - Brouwer
Hathaway/Hamilton/Glass

I really like that idea (at least as an experiment). Unfortunately, I haven't seen any indication that this is even on the radar.

[Strange Brew]

I am totally fine with Jankowski centering the 4th line. Let him work his way up the depth chart.

[FanIn80]

If we absolutely had to move him up, I would rather put Bennett on the wing than Janko.

[gunnner]

Outside the box idea, let Janko and Bennet each play 40 games as third line center with Versteeg or brouwer on the right side. Rotate every other game at C. Let Stagan center the 4th line.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Jankowski is a Center. He's about as Center as it gets. He's literally a prototypical Center. Centers are valuable assets. Good Centers are very valuable assets. Very good Centers are irreplaceable assets.

Mark Jankowski is a good Center on his way to becoming a very good Center. He should not play anywhere but in the middle of a line, between two wingers and in front of two defencemen.

I fully agree with you. I guess its a question as to who has the higher ceiling at center this year? Bennett or Jankowski? Because I think we can both agree that Monahan and Backlund aren't playing the wing.

The thing about moving a center to wing and vice versa is, it is much easier for a center to play the wing vs. putting a natural winger in the middle. Thus I think it isn't such a bad thing to put Jankowski on the wing. Wingers often have to take draws (when guys get kicked out of the circle) and cover for the center in the d-zone (1st forward back) anyways.

I think there is more value to him playing with better line mates and being put into more scoring situations, which will help him develop confidence at the NHL level, vs. putting him in the middle on the 4th line with guys who don't produce much offensively.

So I still stick to my stance of a 3rd line of:

Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg

[Vinny01]

D appears to be set with Bartkowski or Kulak getting the 6/7 slots unless they decide Anderson deserves the 6 spot and they don't care if it is 2 righties on the bottom pair.

As for forwards here is my guess.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer
Stajan-Jankowski-Lazar
Hamilton, Hathaway

What I would like to see

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Bennett-Versteeg
Jankowski-Backlund-Frolik
Hathaway-Lazar-Brouwer
Stajan, Hamilton

[jg13]

Gaudreau Monahan Ferland
Jankowski Backlund Frolik
Tkachuk Bennett Versteeg
Hathaway Stajan Brouwer
Lazar Hamilton

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Stone - Bart
Andersson

Smith
Lack

Bennett needs to get away from plugs like Brouwer and Jankowski should be given a shot on the wing.

[Teroy]

Starting to have concerns about who is making decisions on who makes the team. How Brower, Gazdic, Hamilton, Hathaway, Bartkowski, Kulak, Glass or Lazar make us a better team is beyond me.

[TheScorpion]

I mean, every team has to have some depth guys. Who would you rather have take those spots?

[Teroy]

Several of the players that were sent down. Depth players should have potential. I fail to see how any of those I mentioned will get any better. If you think that tonight's lineup is an improvement over last year I disagree.