Speculation: Projecting lines for 2017-18

[Scoresberg]

I'm also not completely sold on Fiala and that injury isn't encouraging either. BUT he was really good in that Chicago series and I want to believe he's ready to take that next step in a bigger role next year. With his skillset I want to see him on the PP and on a top-6 role. He's pretty small and not overly strong so I think he needs more speed in order to be productive, and that's why I'm not feeling overly optimistic as that injury happened on his foot, what's that going to do with his speed?

 

[Armourboy]

I'm also not completely sold on Fiala and that injury isn't encouraging either. BUT he was really good in that Chicago series and I want to believe he's ready to take that next step in a bigger role next year. With his skillset I want to see him on the PP and on a top-6 role. He's pretty small and not overly strong so I think he needs more speed in order to be productive, and that's why I'm not feeling overly optimistic as that injury happened on his foot, what's that going to do with his speed?

Pretty sure it was his leg, not his foot. He's young, I think he will be fine. Heck he may actually be better as odd as it sounds, as he's been working the entire offseason to get healed and get back to normal.

 

[Scoresberg]

Apologies my grammar isn't that good. Glad you think that, but IMO the injury will set him back a little what comes to footspeed.

 

[Armourboy]

Apologies my grammar isn't that good. Glad you think that, but IMO the injury will set him back a little what comes to footspeed.

If it was a joint I would be much more concerned about that.

 

[King Weber]

What sort of PP lines does everyone have in mind for the next season?

I'm thinking Hartnell-Johansen-Fiala-Ellis-Josi for PP1 and Forsberg-Bonino-Arvidsson-Subban-Ekholm for PP2.

Hartnell/Arvy in front of the net, Johansen/Forsberg left wing, Fiala/Bonino right wing, Ellis/Subban on the blueline ready to shoot along with Josi/Ekholm.

 

[Scoresberg]

We don't have a left-handed sniper just realized. That's gonna hurt the PP it might get too predictable.

 

[King Weber]

We don't have a left-handed sniper just realized. That's gonna hurt the PP it might get too predictable.

Yup. Fiala is closest to a lefty sniper we have.

 

[Scoresberg]

Fiala might get there but he doesn't have the best one-timer. Hartnell is a different, "greasy" goal scorer. Bonino is more of a playmaker. Josi has a great shot we could use him in a one-timer position.

We have Forsberg, Arvy, Smith, Aberg as right-handed snipers and Ellis and Subban have great shots/one-timers so it's not like we don't have good shooters but losing Neal hurts even more now.

 

[Drake744]

I don't think Fiala has really had any consistent time to be in a position to prove he's capable of being a true sniper. Not saying he is, but i wouldn't be shocked for him to take a noticeable leap forward as far as being a dependable goal scorer, or at least a legitimate threat.

 

[TitansVolsPreds615]

He just really seemed to be attacking the game at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. He was driving the bus rather than just sightseeing if you will.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

What sort of PP lines does everyone have in mind for the next season?

I'm thinking Hartnell-Johansen-Fiala-Ellis-Josi for PP1 and Forsberg-Bonino-Arvidsson-Subban-Ekholm for PP2.

Hartnell/Arvy in front of the net, Johansen/Forsberg left wing, Fiala/Bonino right wing, Ellis/Subban on the blueline ready to shoot along with Josi/Ekholm.

i would prefer PP2 over your PP1

 

[glenngineer]

Fiala might get there but he doesn't have the best one-timer. Hartnell is a different, "greasy" goal scorer. Bonino is more of a playmaker. Josi has a great shot we could use him in a one-timer position.

We have Forsberg, Arvy, Smith, Aberg as right-handed snipers and Ellis and Subban have great shots/one-timers so it's not like we don't have good shooters but losing Neal hurts even more now.

Yeah, cause replacing those 12 PP goals Neal scored the last 3 years is going to be hard to replace.

 

[Scoresberg]

He was misused the entire time.

E: And Glen, at least we don't have a huge left-handed threat.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

We don't have a left-handed sniper just realized. That's gonna hurt the PP it might get too predictable.

Flames have too many left handed snipers, and have one RHS sniper, handedness swap please?

 

[Armourboy]

He just really seemed to be attacking the game at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. He was driving the bus rather than just sightseeing if you will.

Agreed, I think late and in the playoffs it seemed the game slowed down a bit and he was definitely taking the game rather than the game coming to him.

 

[Scoresberg]

Flames have too many left handed snipers, and have one RHS sniper, handedness swap please?

Flames have Gaudreau and Monahan as left-handed snipers and I don't see a deal around them. Tkachuk is probably as untouchable as it gets.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Flames have Gaudreau and Monahan as left-handed snipers and I don't see a deal around them. Tkachuk is probably as untouchable as it gets.

I was talking something more minor. We have an insane amount of prospects that are snipers, and we need a handedness swap.

 

[Armourboy]

We don't need prospects, we need someone to get the job done now.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

We don't need prospects, we need someone to get the job done now.

It's TBD whether the younger players like Fiala and Aberg can get the job done or not (also, whether a guy like Smith rebounds, or Hartnell still has enough left in the tank to contribute).

I think the Preds are in good shape if they wait and see. They have a pretty good stable of prospects, especially on D. And a ton of cap space. If they don't get the production they need in the first couple months of the season, they're in great shape to go out and address it with a trade. No rush.

 

[Scoresberg]

As our team is set, this would be my opening night lineup:

Forsberg - Johansen - Aberg

Fiala - Bonino - Arvidsson

Hartnell - Jarnkrok - Smith

Gaudreau - Sissons - Watson

Salomaki, McLeod

Man, that's a young team. Hopefully that 4th line can also contribute offensively.

 

[Armourboy]

I don't see Aberg being on the first line over Arvy.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I don't see Aberg being on the first line over Arvy.

Yeah, I would think the 1st and 4th line/spares aren't difficult to pencil in, but in between I could see almost anything - it will depend on how they end up playing together and might need a fair bit of trial and error.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

We don't need prospects, we need someone to get the job done now.

Prospect for prospect works. Also the thing with the Flames is they have a lot of forward prospects that have a more difficult time making the team because we have way too many similar players already. A lot of our prospects would fit a lot better with the Preds because of balance and position related reasons.

 

[King Weber]

Prospect for prospect works. Also the thing with the Flames is they have a lot of forward prospects that have a more difficult time making the team because we have way too many similar players already. A lot of our prospects would fit a lot better with the Preds because of balance and position related reasons.

What's the deal with Jankowski? Is he expected to make the team or stay in the AHL?

 

[GoldOnGold]

Fun Mark Jankowski fact: the pick used on him was originally Nashville's, but it went to Buffalo in the Gaustad trade.