Seems like it might have worked. 2 goals last night.
I honestly don't know what the team is doing this year . It's a big adjustment without JG and MT, and clearly Huberdeau misses Barkov and co. But I am not a fan of what they are doing with the lines on a night to night or week to week basis. But the lines and tactical decisions at least IMO, have been bad.
Personally, I'd have kept Huberdeau and Lindholm tied at the hip from from the start. Lindholm has been good for Toffoli and Dube, but Huberdeau at least needs, IMO at least, someone more like Lindholm than Kadri. When you trade away a player like Tkachuk, and bring in a Huberdeau, you really need to do every single thing to ensure the incoming player, who's been elite level year to year on his previous teams, has the correct partners, and I just do not see that with this Flames team. Really, stick Huberdeau on the top line with Lindholm and let the rest of the chips fall where they may. But I just don't think Kadri is offensive minded enough or talented enough to allow Huberdeau to express his talent to its fullest extent. And that's a waste of an elite level talent.
Anyway, I was excited to see Pelletier this season and while I'm glad they brought him up, I don't get not playing him. At this point, if he can handle it, I would honestly rather see him getting top 6 minutes than Mangi, Coleman, Toffoli, or Lucic. And really, I think he has the skills and abilities to provide the spark this team badly needs. Not that it's guaranteed, but he's a type of high energy, offensive spark plug and I think he would compliment honestly either of the top 2 lines, but my preference would I think be....
Toffoli-Lindholm-Huberdeau
Pelletier-Kadri-Dube
Or if Dube can shift to the left maybe,
Dube-Lindholm-Huberdeau
Pelletier - Kadri - Toffoli
And even though I think I'd prefer Huberdeau and Lindholm together.....Pelletier - Kadri - Huberdeau and then just keep the Toffoli - Lindholm - Dube line together. All though I don't know how much that in particular helps Dube. But if he's just been in a rut, maybe its an unnecessary switch anyway.
Either way ,I think Pelletier is exactly the type of player this team needs in their top 6, at the expense of 2 of Mangi/Coleman/Toffoli. All though, Toffoli has been scoring descent so maybe he should remain in that top 6 out of those 3 if Pelletier was inserted.
Dube though I still have faith in. He's been inconsistent but has shown real glimpses of having at least another level offensively, which I do think he will reach sooner or later. And Pelletier could be that guy to help bring it out of him playing together. But I suppose right now, to an extent, the same can be said about Huberdeau, which I am sure no one expected. But Pelletier to me, not on the same level, but a sort of stylistic replacement for JG, still with a high enough level though. And while he is on the smaller side, he has no problem with contact and dirty areas, which means it easier to fit him wherever in that top 6.
And this team needs to change something, maybe a few somethings, or at this rate they are never going to truly get going.