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Old 02-26-2020, 01:14 PM   #1
cupofjoe
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Default 2020 Potential Playoff Lineup vs 2019 Lineup

Maybe I am a glass half-full guy, but I like our potential playoff lineup this year compared to last year.

Lucic >> Neal
Dube > Frolik
Rinaldo / Reider = Hathaway
Forbort / Gustafsson >> Fantenberg
This assuming Hamonic can go if not

Gustafsson < Hamonic
Forbort >> Fantenberg

Rittich / Talbot = Smith (2019 Playoff version)

I am predicting that the division end up with Vancouver / Calgary in 2nd and 3rd and matchup for the first round. I think we match up well against the Canucks.


2019

Gaudreau Monahan Lindholm
Tkachuk Backlund Frolik
Bennett Jankowski Neal
Mangiapane Ryan Hathaway

Quine Lazar Czarnik

Giordano Brodie
Hanifin Hamonic
Fantenberg Andersson

Kylington Prout Stone Valimaki

Smith
Rittich

2020

Gaudreau Monahan Lindholm
Tkachuk Backlund Mangiapane
Lucic Ryan Dube
Bennett Jankowski Reider

Rinaldo Quine Czarnik Robinson

Giordano Brodie
Hanifin Andersson
Hamonic Forbort/Gustafsson

Kylington Stone Valimaki

Rittich
Talbot
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:16 PM   #2
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I like the Flames' chances to win a round or two this year.

I don't see any Colorados in the Pacific and even then I'm not convinced last year wasn't a fluke.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:36 PM   #3
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Obviously you'd rather have the 2019 version of Giordano, Gaudreau, and Monahan than this year's version thus far.

I do agree with your main point though. Defensive and forward depth looks much better. The bottom line guys are all of much higher quality than last year's team. The 2020 versions Mangiapane, Andersson, Rittich, and Tkachuk are all significantly improved too.

First step is to secure a playoff spot though. The Flames have unfortunately placed themselves in a playoff race in admittedly not so great Western conference, but one with a lot of mediocre depth. IE: The top end out side of STL/COL may not be great, but the number of bubble caliber teams is high.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:45 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by TheScorpion View Post
I like the Flames' chances to win four rounds this year.

I don't see any Colorados in the Pacific and even then I'm not convinced last year wasn't a fluke.
Fixed your post.
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Old 02-26-2020, 01:48 PM   #5
Textcritic
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Obviously you'd rather have the 2019 version of Giordano, Gaudreau, and Monahan than this year's version thus far...
I personally don't want much to do with the 2019 vintages of Gaudreau and Monahan:

Johnny Gaudreau: 84 GP 25G 75Pts (0.89)
Sean Monahan: 80 GP 26G 67Pts (0.84)

I would much prefer 2018 versions:

Johnny Gaudreau: 81 GP 32G 96Pts (1.19)
Sean Monahan: 75 GP 34G 78Pts (1.04)
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:00 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by blankall View Post
First step is to secure a playoff spot though. The Flames have unfortunately placed themselves in a playoff race in admittedly not so great Western conference, but one with a lot of mediocre depth.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. One factor in last year's playoff loss might have been the the Avs were in playoff form having fought to get in while the Flames were coasting from ASG on.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:01 PM   #7
blankall
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Originally Posted by Textcritic View Post
I personally don't want much to do with the 2019 vintages of Gaudreau and Monahan:

Johnny Gaudreau: 84 GP 25G 75Pts (0.89)
Sean Monahan: 80 GP 26G 67Pts (0.84)

I would much prefer 2018 versions:

Johnny Gaudreau: 81 GP 32G 96Pts (1.19)
Sean Monahan: 75 GP 34G 78Pts (1.04)
Should have clarified. Was referring to the playoff seasons. So 2019 vs 2020 going into the playoffs.

Last edited by blankall; 02-26-2020 at 02:05 PM.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:19 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by TheScorpion View Post
I like the Flames' chances to win a round or two this year.

I don't see any Colorados in the Pacific and even then I'm not convinced last year wasn't a fluke.
IMO winning a round all rides on the "Big 5" forwards.

Gaudreau: 0.6 PPG
Monahan: 0.65 PPG
Lindholm: 0.4 PPG
Tkachuk: 0.33 PPG
Backlund: 0.4 PPG

That is the career PPG for our core forwards in the playoffs, and frankly you're not going to win many series with that type of production from your top 6. So it needs to be better.

I actually think our depth pieces (Ryan, Mangiapane, Dube, Lucic, Bennett,etc) will be fine come the playoffs and play playoff style hockey. Need the improvement from the top 6.

In terms of improvement I think the biggest change to the roster is just in overall depth and improvement from our defensive depth.

This year:
Brodie
Giordano
Hanifin
Andersson
Hamonic ( if he can return)
Forbort
Gustaffsson
Valimaki (if he can return)
Kylington
Stone

Last Year (Players who played a playoff game):
Giordano
Brodie
Hamonic
Hanifin
Andersson
Valimaki
Fantenberg

The younger players (Andersson, Hanifin) have one more year of experience, and the team has way more options and flexibility on defense. So if there is an advantage YoY I think the defensive depth, and experience are way better.

Last edited by SuperMatt18; 02-26-2020 at 02:21 PM.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:20 PM   #9
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Honestly it’s all about getting hot at the right time. If the Flames can ramp up and hit a peak here going into the playoffs I like there chances much more than last year regardless of who they are playing.

Playing a month of mostly meaningless hockey before playoffs last season hurt them.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:20 PM   #10
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I would suggest that post-all-star Johnny and Mony 2020 has been much better than post-all-star Johnny and Mony 2019.

They still have room to improve, but on the right trajectory. Last year they peaked in January; hopefully, this year they peak in May/June
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:22 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by cupofjoe View Post
Rinaldo / Reider = Hathaway
Hathaway was and is better than Rinaldo and Reider combined. Brings hustle like Reider, brings physicality like Rinaldo, scores more points than both of them combined. 11 goals last season, on pace to about 10 this season.

If that's the one spot where we're clearly weaker then obviously it's not a big deal, but let's not sell Hathaway short. He's pretty good for what he is.

As for the defensemen, too soon to say.

In general I've never waivered from my opinion that this roster is pretty good.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:25 PM   #12
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Half our players didn't show up last year so we could be a completely different team.

Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane right now is a massive upgrade from the 2nd half of last years 2nd line.

Hanifin - Andersson is better than Hanifin-Hamonic

I think when the games actually matter the 3rd line will be Dube - Bennett - Ryan, Bennetts so far been one of our few consistent playoff performers so could be good.

It really all depends if we get Saddledome Flames or Away Flames. They are not the same team.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:28 PM   #13
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They key will be to avoid that 2nd Wild Card spot. If they finish there and have to play St. Louis in round 1 I don’t like their chances.

I think the Flames could beat any of Vegas, Vancouver, or Edmonton and I think they could lose to any of them too. The Pacific is a crap shoot this year. Just avoid playing a central team and I think the 3rd round is easily attainable for any of the Pacific teams.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:37 PM   #14
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You seem to be overlooking the regression of

Gaudreau
Monahan
Lindholm
Giordano

Those are our top guys and they were better last season. Can they step up in the playoffs this year? To be determined

But as far as a starting playoff lineup compared year to year, our best players are worse.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:42 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keselke View Post
You seem to be overlooking the regression of

Gaudreau
Monahan
Lindholm
Giordano

Those are our top guys and they were better last season. Can they step up in the playoffs this year? To be determined

But as far as a starting playoff lineup compared year to year, our best players are worse.

And our worse players are better. I think the point is that if the top guys can round into form down the stretch, this team could actually go deep. It won't be too hard for the top players to better their playoff performances from last year with that experience under their belts.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:44 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Keselke View Post
You seem to be overlooking the regression of

Gaudreau
Monahan
Lindholm
Giordano

Those are our top guys and they were better last season. Can they step up in the playoffs this year? To be determined

But as far as a starting playoff lineup compared year to year, our best players are worse.
I agree completely about Gio, he was unreal last year.

Gaudreau, Monny, Lindy trended poorly into the playoffs last year where this year they seem to be on a upward trend. Hard to say if this makes them better for the playoffs or not.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:48 PM   #17
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Lol, come on guys. These are our beloved flames we’re talking about...bounced first round.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:50 PM   #18
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I agree completely about Gio, he was unreal last year.

Gaudreau, Monny, Lindy trended poorly into the playoffs last year where this year they seem to be on a upward trend. Hard to say if this makes them better for the playoffs or not.
We don't really know how they are trending going into the playoffs, because that's more than a month away.
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Old 02-26-2020, 02:57 PM   #19
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Lol, come on guys. These are our beloved flames we’re talking about...bounced first round.
I guessing you are a member of the 'glass half-empty' camp.
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Old 02-26-2020, 03:05 PM   #20
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I guessing you are a member of the 'glass half-empty' camp.
Or he is someone who believes past performances predict future results. They've only made it out of the first round twice in the last 30 years. As much as I hate to admit it, I like their chances if stacked up against Vancouver.
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