Line Combos: Fwd lines

[Mobiandi]

Let's go for something unorthodox and stack the topline.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Ruzicka-Dube-Toffoli***
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

***Ruzicka/Dube interchangeable

We need another winger badly. That 4th line will put in little effort in the reg season and get on fans' nerves but they'll probably step it up for the playoffs

 

[DFF]

Huberdeau needs to replace Johnny and carry the team offensively. We are going to miss the little guy a lot if he can’t

 

[cannucky]

I think this Big Zed Guy should get a long look on the 3rd line maybe even further up the lineup if he gets it going good enough , he sure is strong and tough enough , Colorado won a lot of games playing the big boys up the lineup to forecheck and bang in the offensive corners .

 

[cannucky]

One more pre-season game left and we're carrying a 28 man roster today so it should be an interesting couple of days eh .

 

[Rubi]

Let's go for something unorthodox and stack the topline.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Ruzicka-Dube-Toffoli***
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

***Ruzicka/Dube interchangeable

We need another winger badly. That 4th line will put in little effort in the reg season and get on fans' nerves but they'll probably step it up for the playoffs

I don't like that at all. Lindholm has played his best hockey playing center, Backlund is a 3rd line center not a 2nd liner, and Coleman shouldn't be playing on the 2nd line either.

 

[Backlund]

Let's go for something unorthodox and stack the topline.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Ruzicka-Dube-Toffoli***
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

***Ruzicka/Dube interchangeable

We need another winger badly. That 4th line will put in little effort in the reg season and get on fans' nerves but they'll probably step it up for the playoffs

We'll likely see a version of this whenever Sutter wants to send a message to whoever is playing terribly.

I think Toffoli will get replaced on the top line within 25-30 games, at least for a few games.

 

[Tofveve]

We'll likely see a version of this whenever Sutter wants to send a message to whoever is playing terribly.

I think Toffoli will get replaced on the top line within 25-30 games, at least for a few games.

I think Toffoli needs replacing sooner than later. By American Thanksgiving it's too late.

 

[lightstorm]

He hasn't done anything since coming here.

I'm still waiting to be proven wrong.

Toffoli is on his way to be the next Neal. A slow "scorer" who's not scoring, certainly not good enough for the top line, our second line players arent good enough to carry him and make him look good and he cant play on a defensive line with Baclkund either.

Another whiff by the wizard.

 

[DFF]

The only difference between Toffoli and Neal is the attitude…..so far

 

[Kranix]

Neal was a one-trick pony who blamed his sticks and everything else under the sun for sucking ass. Toffolli's a little better than that.

 

[Yepthatsme]

Let's go for something unorthodox and stack the topline.

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Ruzicka-Dube-Toffoli***
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

***Ruzicka/Dube interchangeable

We need another winger badly. That 4th line will put in little effort in the reg season and get on fans' nerves but they'll probably step it up for the playoffs

This completely neuters the team at what Sutter and Treliving have both praised going into this season: depth at centre. For years we complained about not having the centre depth to do anything. Now that we have it, we want to throw it away because a couple wingers are playing in less than ideal spots? Most important position in hockey are centre/defense, goalies, then wingers. Why people keep wanting to ruin our wealth at more important positions to fix less important positions is beyond me. We are a college season away from Coronato trying to displace a RW anyways.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Kadri-Coronato
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Rooney/Ruzicka-Lewis

That’s a forward group that gives a team a chance to win most nights regardless of defense or goaltending.

Also Toffoli scored at a 24 goal, 51 point pace last season on a new team for us. Let’s not write home off after a trading camp, and definitely not compare him to 7 goal, 19 point James Neal.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Yikes. Toffoli needs to be better but comparing him to James Neal? Come on guys.

Neal had 7 goals, and 19 points in 67 games played for us while being a flat out dressing room cancer, and arguably the laziest player in the league.

Pump the brakes.

 

[Mobiandi]

This completely neuters the team at what Sutter and Treliving have both praised going into this season: depth at centre. For years we complained about not having the centre depth to do anything. Now that we have it, we want to throw it away because a couple wingers are playing in less than ideal spots? Most important position in hockey are centre/defense, goalies, then wingers. Why people keep wanting to ruin our wealth at more important positions to fix less important positions is beyond me. We are a college season away from Coronato trying to displace a RW anyways.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Kadri-Coronato
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Rooney/Ruzicka-Lewis

That’s a forward group that gives a team a chance to win most nights regardless of defense or goaltending.

Also Toffoli scored at a 24 goal, 51 point pace last season on a new team for us. Let’s not write home off after a trading camp, and definitely not compare him to 7 goal, 19 point James Neal.

It's not preferable and will not be this team's plan A but we have evidence of ineffectual wingers neutering our top lines before.

Our wingers are clearly an area of concern to the point where Sutter has publically called into question Toffoli's (and Lindholm's) hockey IQ for not being able to keep up with Huberdeau's passing ability and vision. He's also voiced his displeasure with the guys who have been given opportunities to flank Kadri too. Our centres are finally an area of strength but Sutter doesn't think his available right wingers can keep up. Neither does Treliving with all the trade rumours too.

We're one Hanifin trade away from fixing that, and yes, an imminent Coronato signing would be ideal. It would be great to integrate him as early as this season

 

[Yepthatsme]

It's not preferable and will not be this team's plan A but we have evidence of ineffectual wingers neutering our top lines before.

Our wingers are clearly an area of concern to the point where Sutter has publically called into question Toffoli's (and Lindholm's) hockey IQ for not being able to keep up with Huberdeau's passing ability and vision. He's also voiced his displeasure with the guys who have been given opportunities to flank Kadri too. Our centres are finally an area of strength but Sutter doesn't think his available right wingers can keep up. Neither does Treliving with all the trade rumours too.

We're one Hanifin trade away from fixing that, and yes, an imminent Coronato signing would be ideal. It would be great to integrate him as early as this season

There’s a lot of mountain’s out of mole hills going on here. He didn’t call out their hockey IQ, he said they’re going to have to get used to being ready for the passes he makes because his ability to get passes through lanes is unheralded (“the best the Flames have had, maybe ever”). His quote on Dube playing with Kadri is “well nobody else has shown they deserved it”. Stop trying to spin quotes to fit your narrative that this team needs to chase Hanifin off for a winger. If he was truly unhappy with it, he would’ve tried more iterations and combos instead of allowing the guys to build chemistry for 3 games in a row now.

 

[Yepthatsme]

Flames lineup for tonight based on the Flames site (piecing together from the roster list):

Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Kadri-Dube
Zohorna-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Ruzicka-Lewis

Cycle in Rooney for one of Ruzicka and Zohorna throughout the season, and this is probably on what our opening night lineup looks like.

 

[Mobiandi]

There’s a lot of mountain’s out of mole hills going on here. He didn’t call out their hockey IQ, he said they’re going to have to get used to being ready for the passes he makes because his ability to get passes through lanes is unheralded (“the best the Flames have had, maybe ever”). His quote on Dube playing with Kadri is “well nobody else has shown they deserved it”. Stop trying to spin quotes to fit your narrative that this team needs to chase Hanifin off for a winger. If he was truly unhappy with it, he would’ve tried more iterations and combos instead of allowing the guys to build chemistry for 3 games in a row now.

If he was pleased, he wouldn't say anything. Sutter knows better than to give the press a crumb of anything after all of last year's media question marks re: Gaudreau mixing with Sutter and their playoff chances.

He was questioned about the open spot and said that it's the same as the beginning of preseason and that no one has made a case for themselves. He trusts Dube but also mentioned that he hasn't determined what his best position is. That is hardly a vote of confidence. More like, a mention of a plan B.

Sutter said Huberdeau is the best passer in Flames history and that his linemates haven't been able to keep up with him. And we can call a spade, a spade. Toffoli has had an abject camp. For someone who ended the playoffs his poorly as he did, you would expect more than typical vet shaking off rust half-efforts.

One day, someone will make a case for what Hanifin does here that matches his perceived value by his biggest fans. Not a top unit guy for the PP, the PK, leapfrogged by Weegar in the depth chart for the next >5-7 years, routinely feasted upon by the star forwards of the league. And we're supposed to believe he's provides top-pairing offense because Gaudreau piggy-backed him to 48 points? You sell high on guys like Hanifin all day.

 

[Yepthatsme]

If he was pleased, he wouldn't say anything. Sutter knows better than to give the press a crumb of anything after all of last year's media question marks re: Gaudreau mixing with Sutter and their playoff chances.

He was questioned about the open spot and said that it's the same as the beginning of preseason and that no one has made a case for themselves. He trusts Dube but also mentioned that he hasn't determined what his best position is. That is hardly a vote of confidence. More like, a mention of a plan B.

Sutter said Huberdeau is the best passer in Flames history and that his linemates haven't been able to keep up with him. And we can call a spade, a spade. Toffoli has had an abject camp. For someone who ended the playoffs his poorly as he did, you would expect more than typical vet shaking off rust half-efforts.

One day, someone will make a case for what Hanifin does here that matches his perceived value by his biggest fans. Not a top unit guy for the PP, the PK, leapfrogged by Weegar in the depth chart for the next >5-7 years, routinely feasted upon by the star forwards of the league. And we're supposed to believe he's provides top-pairing offense because Gaudreau piggy-backed him to 48 points? You sell high on guys like Hanifin all day.

“Biggest thing we are finding is Jonathan Huberdeau is the best passer this team has had in… maybe ever? So… those guys receiving that pass half to be a lil bit more prepared for it and that hasn’t been the case yet.”

Asked about Dube being on the second line, Sutter answered “Nobody else has earned it yet”

You are quite literally either making things up or projecting you’re own views on to quotes.

As per Hanifin, if we want to trade guys based on piggy backing production off our top line Kylington is probably the guy to go. All of Lindholm, Tkachuk and Gaudreau saw their xGF, xGF/60, and their xGF% plummet when Kylington was on the ice instead of Hanifin as per natural stattrick, suggesting Hanifin was a much larger force at driving production with our top guys than Kylington. Kylington isn’t a top guy for the PP, the PK, was the defenseman who literally just got leapfrogged and displaced by Weegar, and gets feasted on by the stars in this league. If he apparently got carried harder by Gaudreau, shouldn’t he be the one we trade, or are you going to 180 on your opinion because it no longer fits your narrative?

 

[jfc64]

How's Pelletier doing?

Jonathan Huberdeau - Elias Lindholm - Jacob Pelletier / Patrick Kane (for J.P.)
Andrew Mangiapane - Nazem Kadri - Dillon Dube
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic - Kevin Rooney - Trevor Lewis
Radim Zohorna - Adam Ruzicka - Martin Pospisil

KILLER defense

KILLER goalie

 

[Volica]

Leave it to the Flames board to complain about having Backlund and Coleman on the third line. Those two down there, regardless of who the other LW is; will be an elite 3rd line in the league. The amount this board and Twitter complains about 8-10 minute a night 11th and 12th forwards is legendary.

This team will take a bit of time to gel. They’ve completely reorganized their top 6 moving away from a core that had mostly been in place since like 2014. [MOD EDIT]

 

[Ace Rimmer]

How's Pelletier doing?

Well he couldn't earn a roster spot on opening night, so there's that.

 

[Mobiandi]

You are quite literally either making things up or projecting you’re own views on to quotes.

Ok lol

As per Hanifin, if we want to trade guys based on piggy backing production off our top line Kylington is probably the guy to go. All of Lindholm, Tkachuk and Gaudreau saw their xGF, xGF/60, and their xGF% plummet when Kylington was on the ice instead of Hanifin as per natural stattrick, suggesting Hanifin was a much larger force at driving production with our top guys than Kylington.

Who said anything about Kylington? The way things are going, Nikita Zadorov might usurp Noah Hanifin this season. It's pretty shocking how standards have really dropped for Flames fans considering we had Giordano for as long as we did. Then again, this is also the fanbase that tried to run Brodie out of town for years.

Kylington isn’t a top guy for the PP, the PK, was the defenseman who literally just got leapfrogged and displaced by Weegar, and gets feasted on by the stars in this league. If he apparently got carried harder by Gaudreau, shouldn’t he be the one we trade, or are you going to 180 on your opinion because it no longer fits your narrative?

It's truly surprising that the #60 pick who was reluctantly given a spot on the team last year is stuck low on the depth chart. If only he was a #5 pick who was given almost every opportunity to prove himself in a big role because of his draft pedigree from 7 years ago

 

[Bounces R Way]

Leave it to the Flames board to complain about having Backlund and Coleman on the third line. Those two down there, regardless of who the other LW is; will be an elite 3rd line in the league. The amount this board and Twitter complains about 8-10 minute a night 11th and 12th forwards is legendary.

This team will take a bit of time to gel. They’ve completely reorganized their top 6 moving away from a core that had mostly been in place since like 2014. Patience ladies.

The absolute gall of hockey fans to critique their hockey team. Don't they know this franchise actually WON a playoff round 1 last year(for the first time since 2015)?

They're basically infallible.

 

[super6646]

Ok lol


Who said anything about Kylington? The way things are going, Nikita Zadorov might usurp Noah Hanifin this season. It's pretty shocking how standards have really dropped for Flames fans considering we had Giordano for as long as we did. Then again, this is also the fanbase that tried to run Brodie out of town for years.



It's truly surprising that the #60 pick who was reluctantly given a spot on the team last year is stuck low on the depth chart. If only he was a #5 pick who was given almost every opportunity to prove himself in a big role because of his draft pedigree from 7 years ago

Ok lol


Who said anything about Kylington? The way things are going, Nikita Zadorov might usurp Noah Hanifin this season. It's pretty shocking how standards have really dropped for Flames fans considering we had Giordano for as long as we did. Then again, this is also the fanbase that tried to run Brodie out of town for years.



It's truly surprising that the #60 pick who was reluctantly given a spot on the team last year is stuck low on the depth chart. If only he was a #5 pick who was given almost every opportunity to prove himself in a big role because of his draft pedigree from 7 years ago

Provide some empirical evidence of zadorov usurping hanifin. When zadorov was a top 4d he struggled mightily. Hanifin is a bonafide top 4d, no question. You’re projecting your normative beliefs here 100% imo.

As for “standards have dropped”, this is just gaslighting the board imo. Most flames fans are pretty understanding hanifin isn’t close to being that sort of level player… that’s why we are happy to see Weegar on the team. That doesn’t mean he’s easy bait or expendable either.

 

[Rubi]

The fwd lines are just fine the way they are... well actually I wish the Flames had someone playing the 4th line that can actually put the puck in the net and that the line wasn't out there with the primary purpose of just surviving... but that's beside the point.
The point is the Flames, as is, will make the playoffs so its really not necessary to make significant deletions to the team and mortgage our future any more than it already is, just to entice a team to trade one of their high level fwds to us and to make room for that fwd under the cap.
The best move right now, is to do nothing and then take a close look at what's available at the TDL.

 

[Volica]

The absolute gall of hockey fans to critique their hockey team. Don't they know this franchise actually WON a playoff round 1 last year(for the first time since 2015)?

They're basically infallible.

We complained for 25 years that we have no centre depth. Finally when we have the best centre I’ve ever witnessed in my adult life; all of a sudden we’re complaining that two guys that have produced perfectly well as middle 6 guys in their careers (with advanced stats that point to them being some of most elite defensive players in the NHL) because… reasons?

The fact we’re complaining at all, right now, after… wait for it… zero, nil, zilch, zéro regular season games played with this essentially brand new team is just, perfect. Like, key demographic sports fan territory.

If we start 3-5-2 and the first line can’t carry the puck into the zone, and the third line is terrible (somehow?), and our two 4LW and 4RW are costing us game after game; then wake me up. At this point of time, it’s bitching for the sake of bitching.

Come us guys; I expect it from Twitter where it’s essentially all 17-22 year old kids that are all trying to be insiders and hot take experts; but I’ve known most of you guys for the better part of a decade, we’ve all complained for ever about this core and how we’ve built this roster. This is the first time we are seeing something completely different. Let’s hit the breaks, wait at least 10-15 games and restart our complaints lol.