Practice notes Jan 15

[djsFlames]

Nm

[bubbsy]

Aside from the obvious (#13, #19) Bennet, Dube, Mangiapane, Leivo are this team's top 9 wingers.

Why the F are they plugging Derek Ryan into this confusion?!? He's a 4th line C, that's his ceiling, though he's shown the ability to fill in up and down the line up when needed for short bursts when injuries arise.

I just don't understand why Bennett is on that 4th line, or how this franchise views the value, role and "meaning of success" for that line. It's frankly idiotic.

They should just trade Bennett already. Their handling of him is laughable.

[Bonded]

Maybe Bennett asked to play center for a decent run. I think they should toss him on the Monahan and Gaudreau line so all of our disappointment can be on one line.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Aside from the obvious (#13, #19) Bennet, Dube, Mangiapane, Leivo are this team's top 9 wingers.

Why the F are they plugging Derek Ryan into this confusion?!? He's a 4th line C, that's his ceiling, though he's shown the ability to fill in up and down the line up when needed for short bursts when injuries arise.

I just don't understand why Bennett is on that 4th line, or how this franchise views the value, role and "meaning of success" for that line. It's frankly idiotic.

They should just trade Bennett already. Their handling of him is laughable.

I agree. Ryan is a solid 4th line center and that's it.

Bennett is way better off on the wing than the 4th line center. They made their choice to move lindholm to center and kept Monahan and backlund. Bennett would have a career year on backlunds wing imo. Let him play with him for a honest stretch to see what he has in him

[djsFlames]

With the 4th line they are icing right now they're going completely against the concept of being able to roll 4 lines, which the coaches and gm love to boast about.

When you have Bennett center the two least effective forwards early on you're neutering him and making that line useless.

You're turning your awesome 4 line machine into 3 and a liability that will probably play more than it should.

Not a great strategy to help you start the season strong.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Why can't we just have Monahan and Gaudreau split up, have Leivo and Simon earn their ice time by playing with Ryan, and have freaking Lucic, Bennett, and Dube as a line again (that did so well in the playoffs):

Tkachuk - Monahan - Lindholm
Gaudreau - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Simon - Ryan - Leivo

Lindholm can still take draws on his strong side and Monahan on the other.

The more I look at this lineup and with Lindholm as 1C now, the more I see Monahan or Backlund expendable (if you're wanting to keep Bennett). And, if the Bennett 3rd line doesn't work, give Bennett a shot up with the top 6 flanking either Backlund and Gaudreau or Lindholm and Tkachuk.

[Patek23]

I have my concerns as well but I think tinkering the lines after an OT loss in your first game of the season with zero preseason probably isn’t high on the HC list of things to do. I’d imagine other then a tiny tweak or two we see the same lines the next two games, to give them a chance.

[Stanley]

maybe they should have Bennett C Gaudreau line and park Mony's passenger a** on the 4th line

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Tkachuk - Monahan

Is a bad pair is a big issue. Both are slow and I think the other top lines would eat them alive.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Stanley

maybe they should have Bennett C Gaudreau line and park Mony's passenger a** on the 4th line

If Ward wanted to get fired immediately, sure. Great plan.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Why can't we just have Monahan and Gaudreau split up, have Leivo and Simon earn their ice time by playing with Ryan, and have freaking Lucic, Bennett, and Dube as a line again (that did so well in the playoffs):

Tkachuk - Monahan - Lindholm
Gaudreau - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Simon - Ryan - Leivo

Lindholm can still take draws on his strong side and Monahan on the other.

The more I look at this lineup and with Lindholm as 1C now, the more I see Monahan or Backlund expendable (if you're wanting to keep Bennett). And, if the Bennett 3rd line doesn't work, give Bennett a shot up with the top 6 flanking either Backlund and Gaudreau or Lindholm and Tkachuk.

That is the best 6 Flames forwards on the top 2 lines.

Dube has 80 NHL games and 26 pts... He is currently not a top-6 player.


For comparison the Jets weakest forward in their top-9 (only there because Rosolivic hold out) is Mason Appleton 82 games 24 pts.....

Chances of Appleton getting top line ice time this year pretty much zero and would be sign the Jets are in trouble.

Lucic playing higher up than the 4th line is like the engine light coming on in your car.

[savardandjokinen]

If i were trying to roll 4 deep lines

Gaudreau Monahan Simon
Tkachuk Lindholm Leivo
Mangiapane Backlund Ryan
Lucic Bennett Dube

Is what I would do. Why not give it a shot? That first line played well in intrasquad, that fourth line played well in the playoffs, and Leivo gets another shot to prove he could be an alright secondary scorer. If not, you can adjust

[keeper34]

Can't expect too much from a rookie head coach first full season, another season wasted.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by keeper34

Can't expect too much from a rookie head coach first full season, another season wasted.

Yup, might as well just send everyone home and scrap the season.

Talk to you all next year

[AC]

LOL. The post-loss hysteria is legitimately hilarious.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

If i were trying to roll 4 deep lines

Gaudreau Monahan Simon
Tkachuk Lindholm Leivo
Mangiapane Backlund Ryan
Lucic Bennett Dube

Is what I would do. Why not give it a shot? That first line played well in intrasquad, that fourth line played well in the playoffs, and Leivo gets another shot to prove he could be an alright secondary scorer. If not, you can adjust

I don’t think this team should roll 4 lines they are just not deep enough. You have the ability to put 4 pairs together like you did but then there is a plug on each line.

I would load up the talent and lean heavy on 3 lines with the 4th line getting far less minutes.

Lucic, Ryan, Simon and Nordstrom are the 4th liners and the other 9 are the forwards you play the most.

[btimbit]

Hasn't Bennett himself said he wants to play centre? Well he's the 4th best C on the team so he ends up on the 4th line. Although I would like to not see both Nordstrom and Lucic in the lineup at the same time

[Sandman]

For God’s sake, just give Benny ONE practice, and ONE game (at least one period) playing C on a line with Johnny or Chucky! You can put Mony back there for the PP, but give him a chance 5 on 5!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Lucic Monahan Simon
Gaudreau Bennett Leivo
Mangiapane Lindholm Ryan
Nordstrom Backlund Dube

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Lucic Monahan Simon
Gaudreau Bennett Leivo
Mangiapane Lindholm Ryan
Nordstrom Backlund Dube

And Tkachuk eating popcorn? That's some 4 dimensional chess right there!