Speculation: When the rebuild is complete

[Gritty]

For me the Flames need one more stud defenceman and the rebuild would be complete.

I think Bennett and Poirier will be top 6 players to go with Gaudreau and Monahan. Lots of talent in guys like Granlund, Ferland, Klimchuk, Baertschi, etc. to round out the forwards.

Plus Calgary will always spend so if the prospect pool is deep then this team will be in the playoffs on an annual basis.

Ideally, if both players hit the market(separate years), I would love to add both M. Staal and Backes to complete the rebuild.

I agree about Bennett, Poirier, Gaudreau, Monahan being quality offensive threats. I feel like adding a big body leader like Backes would be ideal for the playoffs. Meanwhile, just keep drafting well and enjoy the ride

Dream 2 years from now:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backes - Poirier
Ferland - Granlund - Colborne
Bouma - Jooris - Smith

Gio - Brodie
Staal - Wideman
Tspoon - Russell
Engelland

Ramo
Ortio

^ That is one BIG, talented, leadership filled team ready to go on deep playoff runs!

 

[CraigsList]

Without any trading involved (what I'd like to see next year):

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier
Colborne - Monahan - Hudler
Granlund - Backlund - Raymond
Bouma - Arnold - Jooris
Bollig, Jones (or Byron and Ferland, would much rather have those two than Bollig and Jones).

Giordano - Brodie
Wotherspoon - Wideman
Russell - Engelland


Ramo
Hiller

We already have a good team, but I still think we are missing an elite right winger and a top notch defenseman that can slot in the top 4.

 

[Gritty]

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier

Too much speed!

 

[MonahanTheMan]

I think Bouma's potential is well above that of a fourth liner. I think he can be a capable middle six forward. You guys gotta remember that this is basically only his second year of NHL hockey...

 

[Master Bill]

I think Bouma's potential is well above that of a fourth liner. I think he can be a capable middle six forward. You guys gotta remember that this is basically only his second year of NHL hockey...

Who would you replace to move Bouma up though? We have enough depth on both wings to fill the Top 3 lines. Bouma is most effective in a checking role, killing penalties, and shot-blocking on the 4th line.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

Who would you replace to move Bouma up though? We have enough depth on both wings to fill the Top 3 lines. Bouma is most effective in a checking role, killing penalties, and shot-blocking on the 4th line.

Well, I've said a few times that I'd be okay with moving Bennett to left wing and Gaudreau to right. So maybe a top six down the road could look like

Bennett - Monahan - Gaudreau
Bouma - Granlund - Colborne

I don't know, just speculation after all. But I like both those lines and I think in a year or two, Bouma won't necessarily look out of place on a second line. Maybe not right now, but he's still extremely young and already extremely responsible.

 

[Pirate King Luffy]

Don't get me wrong. I like Bouma but him playing in the top 6 is questionable. Bottom 6 is fine.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

Don't get me wrong. I like Bouma but him playing in the top 6 is questionable. Bottom 6 is fine.

Again, yeah, he hasn't looked great in the top six this year, but it's totally a possibility down the road. I think he's a smart enough player and is good enough with the puck that it's not even implausible. I kinda wish Hartley would use him more in a third-line role just so we could see what he does with increased ice time.

Of course, keeping him as a fourth-liner in the role he's got now is okay too. I love Bouma's game right now.

 

[CraigsList]

We've already experimented Bouma on the first line with Monahan and Glencross and wasn't very effective. He's much better on the 4th line.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

We've already experimented Bouma on the first line with Monahan and Glencross and wasn't very effective. He's much better on the 4th line.

There's a world of difference between the first line and the third. Playing him in increased minutes on the third is not unreasonable, playing him on the first was a serious head-scratcher, yes.

 

[Lunatik]

There's a world of difference between the first line and the third. Playing him in increased minutes on the third is not unreasonable, playing him on the first was a serious head-scratcher, yes.

Except it wasn't a head-scratcher at all. . They put him in a role to play against other teams top players. Also by moving him from the 4th to 1st line they didn't have to **** with the 2nd and 3rd lines there.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

Except it wasn't a head-scratcher at all. . They put him in a role to play against other teams top players. Also by moving him from the 4th to 1st line they didn't have to **** with the 2nd and 3rd lines there.

These two sentences are mutually exclusive in context. Bouma is good defensively, but not that good, and also not fast enough to compete with most top lines. To be fair, I don't remember who he was playing first-line minutes against, so maybe it was a good decision, but in most cases I would not put a player on the first line simply because they can block shots and keep their zone clear, and especially not when they had up until very recently played almost exclusively in a reduced fourth-line role. You need to ease a player like Bouma up the lineup.

I do agree though that not mucking up the second and third lines was a good decision though, they are generally pretty effective for us. But I don't think it would hurt to try him long term on the third line for the rest of the season, especially once players come back from injury and we'll have to shuffle lineups anyways.

 

[Lunatik]

These two sentences are mutually exclusive in context. Bouma is good defensively, but not that good, and also not fast enough to compete with most top lines. To be fair, I don't remember who he was playing first-line minutes against, so maybe it was a good decision, but in most cases I would not put a player on the first line simply because they can block shots and keep their zone clear, and especially not when they had up until very recently played almost exclusively in a reduced fourth-line role. You need to ease a player like Bouma up the lineup.

I do agree though that not mucking up the second and third lines was a good decision though, they are generally pretty effective for us. But I don't think it would hurt to try him long term on the third line for the rest of the season, especially once players come back from injury and we'll have to shuffle lineups anyways.

Bouma not fast enough? Bouma is a solid defensive player who does alot more than blocking shots. The more you say, the more you make me wonder. First your absolutely baseless comments on Baertschi and now I don't know who you have been watching but it sure wasn't Bouma.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

Bouma not fast enough? Bouma is a solid defensive player who does alot more than blocking shots. The more you say, the more you make me wonder. First your absolutely baseless comments on Baertschi and now I don't know who you have been watching but it sure wasn't Bouma.

Bouma is not known for his speed. Top lines generally are. This is not a ridiculous statement to make. And my point is that Bouma can probably do a lot more than just block shots and make defensive plays, but that we haven't seen much else from him because he plays fourth-line minutes. I'm saying play him on the third line, then the second, before giving him minutes against top competition. That's far from unreasonable; sometimes I think you just disagree with people just for the **** of it even when you know you're wrong.

 

[Master Bill]

Bouma is not known for his speed. Top lines generally are. This is not a ridiculous statement to make. And my point is that Bouma can probably do a lot more than just block shots and make defensive plays, but that we haven't seen much else from him because he plays fourth-line minutes. I'm saying play him on the third line, then the second, before giving him minutes against top competition. That's far from unreasonable; sometimes I think you just disagree with people just for the **** of it even when you know you're wrong.

I'm not sure if you're watching the same Bouma as I. He's one of our best-skating forwards and he would easily be faster than anyone on the current top line of Jones, Glencross, and Monahan.

I do agree with your assessment though. Boums is best when he's outskating and outmuscling the opposition's bottom D-pairings. I don't think he had enough to go straight away against the top D-pairings and be effective.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

I'm not sure if you're watching the same Bouma as I. He's one of our best-skating forwards and he would easily be faster than anyone on the current top line of Jones, Glencross, and Monahan.

I do agree with your assessment though. Boums is best when he's outskating and outmuscling the opposition's bottom D-pairings. I don't think he had enough to go straight away against the top D-pairings and be effective.

Maybe I'm not noticing his speed because he's not on generally playing in situations where he's being relied on for it, but I do definitely agree he's a real good skater, his two way maneuvrability is awesome and he can turn on a dime when he's on the PK.

All in all, I think everyone can agree that he's honestly a key part of this team's depth and is quickly becoming a great defensive option in many situations.

 

[Skobel24]

I think Colborne will be around for a while. He's versatile enough that he can play the wing or center, in both the top and bottom 6.

 

[MonahanTheMan]

I think Colborne will be around for a while. He's versatile enough that he can play the wing or center, in both the top and bottom 6.

I agree, for now he bring a pretty unique element to the team in the fact that he can really use his size in the corners. Now I just hope he can work hard on using his frame for defensive play - and it'd be really cool to see him drop the gloves once in a while. A middle six player who can fight and is feared by opposition is seriously a real valuable resource.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

I would love to see a Ferland, Janko and Colborne line down the road, so sexy.

 

[DCDM]

Bennett - Backes - Poirier

Holy crap the truculence is real

I would be ecstatic if we could get Backes

 

[AgeOfBennett]

Looks like major changes coming to ARI.

http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worthreading/2014/12/4/insider-trading

Anyone from that team we could go after? Looks like everyone is on the trade block

Maybe Gormley for the bottom pairing, but pretty sure he is injured right now.

A right winger? We could definitely use another one. Not sure how I feel about Doan..

 

[Johnny GODreau]

Doan would be expensive.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Doan would be expensive.

Not to mention that he won't be the one going anywhere, and he wouldn't fit the makeup of the Flames.

 

[AgeOfBennett]

Not to mention that he won't be the one going anywhere, and he wouldn't fit the makeup of the Flames.

Exactly what I was thinking. Do you think the Flames might be looking at a trade for Gormley in the future? Or who else would have interest?

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Considering the AZ GM only called out (allegedly) guys with a limited NTC, and the only guy on the Coyotes with a limited NTC is Zbynek Michalek, that's the guy being made available.

I think the Flames stay the course, continue the rebuild via draft, free agency, or picking up other teams scraps. The cost of someone like Gormley could be too high.