The forward depth: what gives?

[N-E-B]

I’m going to get a ton of flak for this but I don’t think Bennett should be a guarantee to return to the lineup any time soon.

I send down Janko and and roll these lines:

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Mangiapane
Backlund-Monahan-Dube/Gaudreau
Lucic-Ryan-Dube/Gaudreau
Rieder/Frolik/Bennett/Rinaldo for the 4th line and you go with whatever three seem to be playing best at the time.

Edit: Forgot about Czarnik. Can’t see him being sent down. No idea what I’d do with him. Good luck Tre.

[TheScorpion]

Updated percentages:

Phillips - 0%
Jankowski - 25%
Rinaldo - 40%
Czarnik - 45%
Frolik - 90%
Rieder - 95%
Dube - 99%

I think I'd like to see this against Pittsburgh

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett
Gaudreau - Monahan - Backlund
Lucic - Ryan - Dube
Rinaldo - Rieder - Frolik

Jankowski and Mangiapane sit. I think Mangiapane needs a game to reset a bit, he's a lock to stick around but I haven't been very impressed with his game of late.

[ForeverFlameFan]

How can you only give Czarnik 45% likelihood? I know he's been out, but give him a few games to get back in the groove. How we forget that he put up 3 points in 3 games before injury and was actually the reason the 2nd line (with Tkachuk and Backlund) was somewhat relevant when we were sucking. His injury gave Mangiapane the opportunity to move up in the lineup.

[TheScorpion]

Rinaldo has been just as good as Czarnik was imo

And it seems like it's between the two of them for the 13th spot unless management decides Janko is here to stay or they go with 14 Fs

[Hackey]

Send down Janko and Czarnik.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

How can you only give Czarnik 45% likelihood? I know he's been out, but give him a few games to get back in the groove. How we forget that he put up 3 points in 3 games before injury and was actually the reason the 2nd line (with Tkachuk and Backlund) was somewhat relevant when we were sucking. His injury gave Mangiapane the opportunity to move up in the lineup.

Of course, those were his first 3 points of the season. Czarnik does that a lot - completely cold and ineffective for stretches, with a few hot streaks thrown in.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Of course, those were his first 3 points of the season. Czarnik does that a lot - completely cold and ineffective for stretches, with a few hot streaks thrown in.

That's also because Peters juggled Czarnik everywhere in the lineup... From the 4th to the 3rd, to the 4th and then to the 2nd. Czarnik made the 2nd line with Bakclund and Tkachuk a good line to play against. I would at least give him 10 games under Ward to see what he really is. He is 27, but I think he is an NHLer and can benefit with some more ice time if given the opportunity.

After all, we could very well have him as part of a trade. He has some value.

[keenan87]

I would try:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Dube
Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Ryan-Bennett
Czarnik-Backlund-Rieder
Frolik, Jankowski

[Lanny_McDonald]

Austin Czarnik doesn’t deserve to be on this team. Period. He brings nothing this team needs. He’s a player that should be moved if anyone is interested in him, otherwise send him to the AHL permanently.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Moves likely to happen before Pens game now that winning streak over.

Suggest we have a poll of who is most likely sent down/waived/traded before then to accommodate a healthy Bennett and Czarnik?

[ricardodw]

ESPN has an interesting note associated with Czarnik -- link

STATUS
IR Calgary recalled Czarnik (lower body) from his conditioning assignment with AHL Stockton on Thursday, but he'll remain on long-term injured reserve for the time being. (about 2 days ago)

So the Flames are playing games with the injury list... player is healthy enough to play in AHL but not NHL.

Flames are 1.14 M over the cap. Crunch time when Bennett comes off LTIR.

[Harry Lime]

Calgary Sun is reporting that Bennett is healthy and can be activated off of LITR. Czarnik is ready to go, too. With a loss last night, today is the day we might see both on regular lines and tomorrow morning some movement with the roster.

Calgary is cap compliant.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

ESPN has an interesting note associated with Czarnik -- link

STATUS
IR Calgary recalled Czarnik (lower body) from his conditioning assignment with AHL Stockton on Thursday, but he'll remain on long-term injured reserve for the time being. (about 2 days ago)

So the Flames are playing games with the injury list... player is healthy enough to play in AHL but not NHL.

Flames are 1.14 M over the cap. Crunch time when Bennett comes off LTIR.

Players go down when LTIR players get activated. We were cap compliant at the start of the season with both of those players active. There’s not much space but the math still checks out

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

That's also because Peters juggled Czarnik everywhere in the lineup... From the 4th to the 3rd, to the 4th and then to the 2nd.

Except Peters refused to use the natural center Czarnik as... a center

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Except Peters refused to use the natural center Czarnik as... a center

And yet he had his best NHL season ever playing for Peters. Maybe the NHL COACHES of all the teams he played for understand a little better than the fans.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Except Peters refused to use the natural center Czarnik as... a center

There are more centres drafted than wingers. Many “natural” centres have to move to the wing to make the nhl. You seem to overlook or ignore this fact sometimes.

Czarnik does not have the size to match up against a lot of centres, and doesn’t have to size and strength to execute the centre’s defensive responsibilities.

Out of all the C/W we have Czarnik is probably the worst choice to keep at centre.

[GioforPM]

I think coaches have juggled Czarnik through the lineup and not played him at centre because he hasn’t performed wherever he’s been put, not on a consistent basis. His effort and willingness to play NHL hockey just isn’t there enough of the time.