Jankowski on the wing (2nd line)

[JurassicChamp]

It's no secret that our 2nd line is not working. Bennet did deserve a shot but I think it's time we give another player a shot to play with Backlund and Tkachuk.
I know Jankowski is a natural centre but does not mean he can't play wing.
Also I think that it time change the powerplay units.
To more traditional units. I think we don't the the talent up front to use 2 eatra forwards on the pp.

Here's my lines.
Gaudreau Monohan Lindholm
Tkachuk Backlund Jankowski
Bennett Ryan Frolik
Neal Hathaway Dube/Czarnik
Giordano Brodie
Hanifin Hamonic
Andersson Kylington?Valimaki
Rittich
Smith

PP1
Gaudreau Monohan Lindholm
Giordano Brodie
PP2
Tkachuck Backlund Jankowski
Hanifin Hamonic
Hamonic and Hanifin are better Neal, Ryan, or Czarnik, on the point.

Next Pk unit could change with these as well.

PK1
Backlund Jankowski
Giordano Brodie

PK2
Ryan Bennett
Hanifin Hamonic

Pk3
Monohan Lindholm
Andersson Kylington

Next what to do at the trade deadline. I think dealing with Ottawa would good for maybe a low dman like Stone, Smith and a 2nd round pick for Dzingel, And Nilsson.

Nilsson is younger then Smith, Stone barely played all season.

[theslymonkey]

[Psytic]

Keep him at centre and eventually he will supplant Backlund one day and grow into a defensively responsible 2C. I think that's the best plan for him. He has shown steady growth throughout his career.

[Hockeyguy15]

Hathaway is center now?

Guys I have a great idea. You know the wheel? I'm going to make it square instead, it's going to work out great.

[GreenLantern2814]

At this point, I'm done with the experiments at #2 RW. Like it or not, the best person on the roster to do that job is Michael Frolik. It's not Bennett, it's not Neal.

Jankowksi is the #3C, and I can see him pushing Backlund down to #3 in the final few years of Backs' deal. But to move him to wing now forces Derek Ryan into the #3 slot, and who the is the 4? Dube?

It'd be one thing if the team needed a change or spark. They don't. What they need to do is put Jankowksi's shot on the #2 PP tomorrow.

Jankowksi-Backlund-Neal
Andersson-Hanifin

[TheScorpion]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to throw a left-handed shot on the right side who has no experience playing right wing at the NHL level. Sam Bennett, Michael Frolik, and James Neal do.

[jlh2640]

What the .. . . . .

[corporatejay]

WTF is going on. First in the conference, second in the league.....what are we trying to fix here?

[Kovaz]

I think our forward lineup is as close to optimal as it can get with our current roster. 3M is still a net positive line even if we'd like a bit more offense, and Neal has looked the best he's looked all season playing with Bennett and Janko. I say roll with what we've got for the next few games and give them a chance to get some chemistry. Being able to roll 4 lines that are each a net + is a huge edge over most teams and I don't think throwing that away is worth a marginal improvement of the 2nd line.

[nightfx]

I must be missing something because the 2nd line seems fine to me.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Frolik, Backlund and Chucky with goals lastnight. 3 of 5 the team scored.

Why are we looking to change anything? If anything, last night was pretty solid evidence that is our second line.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

WTF is going on. First in the conference, second in the league.....what are we trying to fix here?

The second line. 40 goals and 85 points in 44 games, but it is apparently "not working."

[VilleN]

I know it’s probably irrational, but when I see it spelled ‘Monohan’ my brain won’t allow me to read further.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by JurassicChamp

I know Jankowski is a natural centre but does not mean he can't play wing.

No, but it does mean he SHOULD be playing centre.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

No, but it does mean he SHOULD be playing centre.

Plus he's great in the dot, and I think his frame and reach is better suited for a center.

[flamesfever]

Keep 3M line

Keep 3rd line: Bennett Jankowski Neal

IMO that would maximize the potential of all players involved

[GioforPM]

A. Jankowski is doing better than ever before where he is. He's got a centreman's frame and is good in the dot.
B. I don't mind Peters mixing it up, but players like a bit of consistency.
C. Neal especially could use a centre that he can get used to for more than a game or two.
D. 3M did fine last game. I'm sure Frolik will move in and out of that spot, to the chargun of Walsh but there's no need to put Jankowski there.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I don’t like the idea one bit. Reasons why I don’t like it

1. Moves Ryan too far up the lineup. You might get a touch better scoring from the 2nd line but the amount it weakens the 3rd line neutralizes any improvement you get. Hathaway isn’t a centre so you’d have to play Dubé at 4th line centre and I don’t think Dubé on the 4th line is a good idea either
2. We wanna develop Jankowski at centre. He’s likely the long term replacement for Backlund. His size is great at centre. He’s well on the way to developing into a future 2nd line centre. Disrupting that by moving him around makes no sense to me.

Rather try Dubé up there if anybody. I feel like Dube needs to be given a chance on a scoring line again at some point.

[neo45]

I actually think it is a well though out post (minus Hathaway at center) and I understand the logic since that second line would win more face offs and could shut down other teams top lines.

I just disagree because I think 3M can already do that and I like Jankowski as the 3C with Bennett on the wing and bring in a rental to do the job Neal was supposed to do.

Ryan with Czarnik and Hathaway is working great as a fourth line. They were flying against Colorado. Keep that going.

Honestly scratch Neal. If he returns to playoff form then he can take someone out of the lineup. Maybe he can use the rest at this point.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by JurassicChamp

It's no secret that our 2nd line is not working. Bennet did deserve a shot but I think it's time we give another player a shot to play with Backlund and Tkachuk.
I know Jankowski is a natural centre but does not mean he can't play wing.
Also I think that it time change the powerplay units.
To more traditional units. I think we don't the the talent up front to use 2 eatra forwards on the pp.

Here's my lines.
Gaudreau Monohan Lindholm
Tkachuk Backlund Jankowski
Bennett Ryan Frolik
Neal Hathaway Dube/Czarnik
Giordano Brodie
Hanifin Hamonic
Andersson Kylington?Valimaki
Rittich
Smith

PP1
Gaudreau Monohan Lindholm
Giordano Brodie
PP2
Tkachuck Backlund Jankowski
Hanifin Hamonic
Hamonic and Hanifin are better Neal, Ryan, or Czarnik, on the point.

Next Pk unit could change with these as well.

PK1
Backlund Jankowski
Giordano Brodie

PK2
Ryan Bennett
Hanifin Hamonic

Pk3
Monohan Lindholm
Andersson Kylington

Next what to do at the trade deadline. I think dealing with Ottawa would good for maybe a low dman like Stone, Smith and a 2nd round pick for Dzingel, And Nilsson.

Nilsson is younger then Smith, Stone barely played all season.