Our Bottom 6 needs change, thoughts

BigRangy

Get well soon oliver
Mar 17, 2015
3,407
1,110
I don’t think you **** with that first lines current chemistry.

Yeah the first line has been doing some globetrotter shit once they get going lately. Their zone exits and neutral zone play aren't strong (just average) but once they gain the zone they're terrifying.
 

Vordus

Registered User
May 9, 2014
138
44
Calgary
I'm not even mad the 4th line can't score, I gave up on all of them months ago, all I want is a 4th line that isn't a defensive liability out there. Also, a 4th line that doesn't use those players on the damn powerplay. If a 4th line is supposed to provide energy then the line needs a complete overhaul because they provide none of that, they just take all the energy out that the top 2 lines gain.

At this point I bring up Hathaway and scratched Versteeg as well. Brouwer will never get scratched for extended periods of time, so live with him for this year anyway.

While not good defensively, the offense Versteeg brings makes him worth keeping.
He's a little slower and more injury prone as he gets older but he still has nice hands. Currently snakebit but he'll snap out of it. I wouldn't lump him in with some of the entirely useless players on the roster.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dack

JPeeper

Hail Satan!
Jan 4, 2015
11,531
8,635
While not good defensively, the offense Versteeg brings makes him worth keeping.
He's a little slower and more injury prone as he gets older but he still has nice hands. Currently snakebit but he'll snap out of it. I wouldn't lump him in with some of the entirely useless players on the roster.

What offense? He scored 1 nice PP goal and another PP goal. 5 on 5 he has done nothing except turn the puck over. He's been terrible this year. He's been just as useless as Brouwer and Stajan and Lazar have.
 

DFF

Registered User
Feb 28, 2002
22,275
6,525
What offense? He scored 1 nice PP goal and another PP goal. 5 on 5 he has done nothing except turn the puck over. He's been terrible this year. He's been just as useless as Brouwer and Stajan and Lazar have.

He is not useless but GG has overused him. That's a coaching issue. I do not understand his PP time while we have Hamilton and Gio

Face it, there is nothing in the system to replace him with. Jank and Bennett have to step up first.
 

OvermanKingGainer

#BennettFreed #CurseofTheSpulll #FreeOliver
Feb 3, 2015
16,133
7,107
2022 Cup to Calgary
What offense? He scored 1 nice PP goal and another PP goal. 5 on 5 he has done nothing except turn the puck over. He's been terrible this year. He's been just as useless as Brouwer and Stajan and Lazar have.

At least with Versteeg we know there's more there, he was after all our best forward in the playoffs last year. I'm willing to give him a flyer for a little bit longer - although I definitely think he's been as responsible for his line not scoring as anyone with his giveaways so far. Moreso I just want him off power play one where he is currently the worst player. Jankowski and Stone would both be options as they have the two best one timers on this roster (Stone from the right point/left circle, Janko from the right circle).


I think demoting him to the fourth line was the correct play, now it's a matter of giving the fourth line a bit more offense on the opposite wing as Brouwer hasn't even come close to scoring this year. Mangiapane-Lazar-Versteeg anyone?
 

Calculon

unholy acting talent
Jan 20, 2006
16,578
4,035
Error 503
Thing about Versteeg is that he's basically a powerplay specialist at this point in his career. So if he's taken off the powerplay, might as well just waive him and find a replacement that isn't useless at even strength.

Relatively safe bet that he'll be injured at some point this season and then we'll see what Mangiapane can do.
 

Skobel24

#Ignited
May 23, 2008
16,789
920
Winnipeg
Glencross? He was an excellent 3rd liner for almost his entire contract; he was bad his last season with the Flames, but otherwise he fully earned his keep.

Glencross was a really good 2nd line guy for most of his time with the Flames.


Regarding the lines, I'd like to see the middle 6 tweaked a bit.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Bennett - Backlund - Jagr
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Frolik
Brouwer - Lazar - Hathaway

or

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Bennett
Frolik - Jankowski - Jagr
Brouwer - Lazar - Hathaway

I'd like to see that. I'd be intrigued to see Mangiapane, but I don't think we'll see him for a bit. I also seriously doubt Gulutzan would bench Brouwer regularly. Keep Stajan out. Ragin' Stajan is now Agin' Stajan
 
Last edited:

Tkachuk Norris

Registered User
Jun 22, 2012
15,602
6,639
I’d rather they call Mangiapane up with about 20 games left.

Leave him down there for now to keep developing. Bring him up to help with the playoff run.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JPeeper

Bounces R Way

Registered User
Nov 18, 2013
33,504
52,717
Weegartown
I don't really think it's all that bad, even considering how little they've contributed so far this year. Jagr helps the depth immensely. Versteeg and Bennett are hot and cold, have to take the good with the bad with these players. It's just they've been way more bad than good so far.

Hathaway would be my next choice for a callup. Stajan can work on his dad gut in the press box.
 

Tofveve

Registered User
Mar 10, 2013
26,872
10,536
The West
I am beginning to think Bennett won't reach the levels most thought. I get that it seems ridiculous at this point but he has serious issues with his game, I'm thinking he rounds out to third line and 1/2 ends up going to Monahan and Jankowski.

I could be wrong and he could end up as an 8 million dollar #1 but I haven't really even seen flashes of it out of him yet at all. We should trade Backlund for a winger that can produce offense if Jankowski proves capable.

I tend to agree, but I'd be curious what him playing with someone like Gaudreau would do. He's got speed and toughness, add in some skill. I think he's been mismanaged for the last 3 years and now his head and confidence are f***ed.
 

Tofveve

Registered User
Mar 10, 2013
26,872
10,536
The West
The new trend is 4 lines deep but maybe Flames need to go top heavy on skill and speed/tenacity on bottom.

Take the top 4 youth core - Gaudreau, Monohan, Bennett, Tkachuk............so 4 of 6 of top two lines. After that add Jagr and Versteeg as best place for them.

So bottom 6 - Backlund/Frolik a given. Ferland and Lazar have tenacity and speed. 4 of 6. Call up Jankowski and Hathaway. Bottom 6 complete.

Waive Glass/Freddie for Stockton. Stajan and Brouwer are a $7.6 million dollar healthy scratch duo.

Won't happen as Glen won't take Tkachuk off Backs/Fro line. And he won't risk wrath of owners and Treliving by having $7.6 mil on sidelines

Gaudreau-Monohan-Jagr
Tkachuk-Bennett-Versteeg
Frolik-Backlund-Lazar
Ferland-Jankowski-Hathaway

I think I like those 4 lines best so far.
 

Calgareee

Registered User
Jun 29, 2015
2,051
413
The St Louis board has a pretty identical thread to this.

Yah fortunately Jagr coming back has made the third line come alive a bit. There’s still a little tweak that I’d like to see for a couple games...

JG - Money - Ferland
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Jagr
Versteeg (Mangiapane) - Lazar - Brouwer

The 3rd line hasn’t played great possession hockey but a couple times Tkachuk and jagr were cycling and no one could touch them... would love to see what they could do getting regular shifts.
 

Baxterman

Registered User
Aug 27, 2017
6,939
1,499
The St Louis board has a pretty identical thread to this.

I think most fan bases have the same sentiments, also that their coach hates young guys, stymies offense and is holding back player X and Y.

Fans tend to overrate youth/prospects/offensive expectations so that bottom 6 guys are always easy targets because they don't score and there is always "a better option in the AHL."
 
  • Like
Reactions: WeegarUnderwood

DenisSamson3

Registered User
Sep 13, 2007
8,538
53
I think most fan bases have the same sentiments, also that their coach hates young guys, stymies offense and is holding back player X and Y.

Fans tend to overrate youth/prospects/offensive expectations so that bottom 6 guys are always easy targets because they don't score and there is always "a better option in the AHL."

That's true. But they are first in the West currently. A great percentage of their production must be coming from the first two lines if they made a thread about it.
 

Baxterman

Registered User
Aug 27, 2017
6,939
1,499
That's true. But they are first in the West currently. A great percentage of their production must be coming from the first two lines if they made a thread about it.

I think the Blues certainly are as they seem to be running a laundry list of duds in their bottom 6- Thorburn, Sundqvist, Paraajvi-Svenson, Bennett, Broziak, Upshall even Jaskin this year is pretty blah.
 

Calgareee

Registered User
Jun 29, 2015
2,051
413
That's true. But they are first in the West currently. A great percentage of their production must be coming from the first two lines if they made a thread about it.

Most if their production has come from their top line (Schwartz-Schenn-Tank) who are all in the top 10 for NHL scoring and their D corps currently has the most goals in the NHL. Was still apparent their bottom lines struggles.
 

Lunatik

Normal is an illusion.
Oct 12, 2012
56,185
8,337
Padded Room
Most if their production has come from their top line (Schwartz-Schenn-Tank) who are all in the top 10 for NHL scoring and their D corps currently has the most goals in the NHL. Was still apparent their bottom lines struggles.
I think that it's something every fans teams complain about, especially the 4th line. If people were being honest with themselves, they would accept 4th liners are generally role players that have other varied uses besides scoring goals. Look up and down any NHL lineup and you can question many bottom 6 forwards
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->