Tkachuk is so good. Not having a real trigger man on his line is not doing his play-making skills in close quarters justice.
I was saying this last offseason, but fans and friends would say, "but the 3M line was one of the best in the league". Sorry, but Tkachuk is way better than Backlund and Frolik and you're right that his playmaking skills are being wasted on that line. Playing with Backlund is fine, he's a good possession center and can shoot, but Frolik isn't good enough to stay with Tkachuk. Line should be Bennett-Backlund-Tkachuk with Frolik moving down to the 3rd line.
Dougie!
I was saying this last offseason, but fans and friends would say, "but the 3M line was one of the best in the league". Sorry, but Tkachuk is way better than Backlund and Frolik and you're right that his playmaking skills are being wasted on that line. Playing with Backlund is fine, he's a good possession center and can shoot, but Frolik isn't good enough to stay with Tkachuk. Line should be Bennett-Backlund-Tkachuk with Frolik moving down to the 3rd line.
Shutout spoiled... sigh.
I was saying this last offseason, but fans and friends would say, "but the 3M line was one of the best in the league". Sorry, but Tkachuk is way better than Backlund and Frolik and you're right that his playmaking skills are being wasted on that line. Playing with Backlund is fine, he's a good possession center and can shoot, but Frolik isn't good enough to stay with Tkachuk. Line should be Bennett-Backlund-Tkachuk with Frolik moving down to the 3rd line.
I'd rather see a Monahan-Backlund-Tkachuk line. Monahan's a better shooter and plays the game at a similar tempo to Tkachuk. Would also allow Gaudreau to play with Bennett on more of a speed line.
Monahan-Backlund-Tkachuk
Gaudreau-Bennett-Ferland
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Versteeg
Lazar-Shore-Frolik
I can dream.
I'd rather see a Monahan-Backlund-Tkachuk line. Monahan's a better shooter and plays the game at a similar tempo to Tkachuk. Would also allow Gaudreau to play with Bennett on more of a speed line.
Monahan-Backlund-Tkachuk
Gaudreau-Bennett-Ferland
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Versteeg
Lazar-Shore-Frolik
I can dream.
And now Gaudreau is going to have to carry two guys by himself instead of one guy (Ferland) with help from Monahan? Ferland is having by far his best season with Gaudreau and Monahan to help him and he still is putting up ok numbers at best, how is he going to come close to producing even ok numbers when going from Monahan down to 30 point Bennett?
I'm no flames fan, but i've watched a ton of flames games...how can you undermine ferland like that? he has 28 even strength pointes, monahan in contrast only has 9 more. And it's not like ferlands been on the first line all season, but he's been an engine that generates a ton of chances whenever hes been given an opportunity.
I realistically know that they're not going to take Brouwer out, and honestly it's a toss-up between him and Lazar for worst forward on the team. Hathaway has been worse lately, so I wouldn't be averse to him being out. Lazar in no way, shape, or form, is better than Jankowski. The only thing Lazar has going for him is speed and heart. He's not a particularly smart player, he can't make (or take) a pass to save his life most of the time, and I'm convinced any goals he scores are blind luck.Lazar is better than Stajan, Brouwer, Jankowski and Hathaway.
I agree that we should get Shore in the line-up but fail to see why a 22 year old with speed (who is a better player than other guys on the team) is the one that should "get out of there."
I realistically know that they're not going to take Brouwer out, and honestly it's a toss-up between him and Lazar for worst forward on the team. Hathaway has been worse lately, so I wouldn't be averse to him being out. Lazar in no way, shape, or form, is better than Jankowski. The only thing Lazar has going for him is speed and heart. He's not a particularly smart player, he can't make (or take) a pass to save his life most of the time, and I'm convinced any goals he scores are blind luck.
lol good point. I'd forgotten about him.To be fair Stewart is probably the worst forward on the team
I actually don’t mind Lazar. He looks like a guy that is playing to not make a mistake, hence the zero creativity. Lazar believe it or not, has a good shot but we haven’t seen it all season. I’d love to see him get Hathaway’s spot who should not be playing on the Flames. If he got a little rope, I think he would surprise a few people.