Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
Neal has not been so good this preseason. I hope he just needs to get accustomed to the team still. I think the Flames' best bet to come flying the first game of the season is slotting Neal with Gaudreau and Monahan. Lindholm already looks really solid, so he can play with Tkachuk and Backlund.
1. Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal --> To get Neal going
2. Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm --> Solid 2-way play
3A. Bennett - Jankowski - Czarnik --> Czarnik gets the other two going
3B. Dube - Ryan - Frolik --> Another solid 2-way line, Dube gets sheltered by two great vets.
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Except you don't create your lines just to get Neal going.
There are at least 4 very good reasons why Lindholm should be that #1 RW.
1. Adds a right shot to that line. Having a mixture of shots on a line can help with passing lanes, shooting angles. Having a left shot left winger and right shot right winger can help with winning board battles in all 3 zones.
2. Having a right shot centre on RW on that line lets Monahan take only strong face-offs and Lindholm take only strong side face-offs. That will make for more face-off wins overall and mean our #1 line has the puck more often for possession.
3. Lindholm adds a defensive conscience opposite Gaudreau. Again this can help the line regain possession. Gaudreau isn't horrible defensively but its hard for him to outmuscle guys in his own zone. Adding Lindholm gives that line a guy who will battle hard to win the puck back and get the puck out.
4. Lindholm has the passing, shooting and smarts to play with Gaudreau-Monahan and be a fit. His gritty style along the boards and in front of the net will compliment them. Lindholm plays a power game despite his average size and Gaudreau-Monahan need a guy who's winning board battles and driving the net.
It really just seems to make too much sense at this point. And then you can put Tkachuk-Backlund-Neal together to make another 1st line. Tkachuk is as good of a playmaker as Gaudreau IMO so that line has a ton of potential. And if Neal struggles off the bat I'd love to see a Bennett-Jankowski-Neal line at some point. You don't have to create the lineup around Neal, he slots in a variety of places. It's more about maximizing everybody, not just Neal. There are good arguments as to why Lindholm may help maximize Gaudreau-Monahan.
