Frolik is an amazing defensively responsible forward but he has never finished with more than 45 points ever in his career & he isnt about to start now. Frolik is a 3rd line forward at best. A good one but thats it. Im not sold on Backlund being a 2nd line offensive centre either. I think he is a pretty consistent 40-50 point centre. & his forte is shutting down teams top line. Frolik & Backlund has such good chemistry, I would be reluctant to split them up. So that puts them on the 3rd line. Although Backlund is paid like a 2nd line centre. To me Janko is the kid that should be groomed for that 2nd line offensive weapon. He reminds me so much of Thornton. Put Matty on the one side & I would hazard a guess Lindholm or Neal get the RW. That leaves Bennett to go LW with Backlund & Frolik. Which was where he played on his best year with Hartley. Ryan can anchor that 4th line.
- Kevin R

That would be cool to see
there's so many options for this coming year and the fact we're discussing this so much its becoming nauseating.... I JUST WANT THIS SEASON TO START DAMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would be interesting to see the middle 2 lines as

Tkachuk-Lind-Bennett
Frolik-Backs-Ryan

Not sure how good linholm is at center but Tkachuk and Lind might get Bennett going and the Backland line could be a decent 3rd line with upside.
- DuranDuran

I actually like the look of that, haven't really been using Lindholm at centre in my depth charts. Could satsify Peters' need to play Ryan a lot, but we still get our top offensive players out there together

Hath- Janko-Foo (or whomever) 4th line?

Hard to call it solely a shutdown line when they outchance the opposition’s top line by a large margin on average.
- fry

and don't score! Which is the (frank)ing point of being out on the ice no matter what (frank)ing line your on.

Frolik & Backlund aren't good enough finishers to be relied upon to score goals on your 2nd line. Tkachuk is playmaker--give him a goal scorer to feed the puck to and we will have a line that not only dominates play, but actually scores goals.

Because when our top line isn't scoring we need to get goals from the rest of the lineup you dip.

We just made drastic changes to our roster, do you really think we are going to keep Frolik & Backlund with Tkachuk just because they have good corsi numbers

I would have broken that line up last year. I think GG's unwillingness to do so was a big reason he lost his job. Frolik is definitely ready for a demotion this year. Instead of reminicising on all the hype the 3M line got on TSN 2 years ago, take an honest look at our roster and slot players where they belong

Haven't looked yet but I'm guessing your fanboy Fry is somewhere below gobbling your bumhole.

Edit: Yep.
- Saskabush

They did get broken up last year, you horse’s ass.

And 44/53/48 points respectively when they all have an injury free season is great. Especially when they’re our go-to defensive zone line.

You want a team that scores a lot go cheer for the Islanders. Our problem last year was injuries and our bottom 6.

Whatever though, dude. “More goals”. Great insight.

They outchancd but did they finish? Love Frolik but a finisher he is not.
- DuranDuran

Just seen that in Quito/Ecuador there is a hockey club called the "Quito Cocks" https://www.facebook.com/QuitoCocks/ (blog: http://andeanhockeyclub.blogspot.com/) , could you please do a little scouting in the Flames name? Thank you.

They did get broken up last year, you horse’s ass.

And 44/53/48 points respectively when they all have an injury free season is great. Especially when they’re our go-to defensive zone line.

You want a team that scores a lot go cheer for the Islanders. Our problem last year was injuries and our bottom 6.

Whatever though, dude. “More goals”. Great insight.
- fry

Dude we were 27th in goals for last year, that is not near good enough. Did you know that the team that scores the most goals at the end of the game is the team that wins the game?

Juggling the lines for a period or two, or throwing Tkachuk on a different PP line every now and then is not the same as breaking the lines up.

Why the (frank) do you think Frolik should be slotted on our 2nd scoring line? Or, why the (frank) do you think Tkachuk should be used as a (frank)ing checker when it's apparent that he is one of the more offensively gifted forwads on the team

They did get broken up last year, you horse’s ass.

And 44/53/48 points respectively when they all have an injury free season is great. Especially when they’re our go-to defensive zone line.

You want a team that scores a lot go cheer for the Islanders. Our problem last year was injuries and our bottom 6.

Whatever though, dude. “More goals”. Great insight.
- fry

You can disagree with other posters but the derogatory comments and name calling will not be tolerated, that goes for all.

Your earlier post was deleted.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Ryan
Frolik - Czarnik - Hathaway or Lazar

I think I am OK with this as the starting line up on night 1 of the season or at least in preseason. I was hoping for a bit more offense for the Janko line but I am not sure Ryan is the answer for that.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Lindholm
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Hathaway or Lazar - Ryan - Czarnik

I would be ok with giving this combination a chance to see if some chemistry can build too.

Dude we were 27th in goals for last year, that is not near good enough. Did you know that the team that scores the most goals at the end of the game is the team that wins the game?

Juggling the lines for a period or two, or throwing Tkachuk on a different PP line every now and then is not the same as breaking the lines up.

Why the (frank) do you think Frolik should be slotted on our 2nd scoring line? Or, why the (frank) do you think Tkachuk should be used as a (frank)ing checker when it's apparent that he is one of the more offensively gifted forwads on the team
- Saskabush

You can call it what ever line you want. Scoring line, 2nd line, shutdown line. They dominated opposition when they were healthy. That combination deserves another chance. If it will get the knot out of your panties just call them the third line.

If you paid so little attention the last two seasons you think that line was solely a checking line and didn't even know they played the second half of the season apart to lesser results then there's no convincing you.

And like I said already (and Treliving iterated in his end of year interview): injuries and our bottom 6 providing almost zero offense was the problem last year.

You can call it what ever line you want. Scoring line, 2nd line, shutdown line. They dominated opposition when they were healthy. That combination deserves another chance. If it will get the knot out of your panties just call them the third line.

If you paid so little attention the last two seasons you think that line was solely a checking line and didn't even know they played the second half of the season apart to lesser results then there's no convincing you.

And like I said already (and Treliving iterated in his end of year interview): injuries and our bottom 6 providing almost zero offense was the problem last year.
- fry

How do you think they dominated? Honestly. Good corsi numbers? Who gives a (frank). Backlund & Frolik could just as easily put up good defensive numbers with someone less offensively talented on their line. It's not quite a bad as sticking Brouwer with a line, but saddling Tkachuk with less offensively skilled players is dumb.

You do realize that BT did not go out and target bottom 6 players. He targeted (mostly) top 6 players. Do you really think nobody is going to be forced down the lineup as a result of that?

You can disagree with other posters but the derogatory comments and name calling will not be tolerated, that goes for all.

Your earlier post was deleted.
- Makita

Please let your self out the way you came in. Thx.

Please let your self out the way you came in. Thx.
- Flamin_Irishmin

I did, but I have always believed in the open door policy.


Carry on

How do you think they dominated? Honestly. Good corsi numbers? Who gives a (frank). Backlund & Frolik could just as easily put up good defensive numbers with someone less offensively talented on their line. It's not quite a bad as sticking Brouwer with a line, but saddling Tkachuk with less offensively skilled players is dumb.

You do realize that BT did not go out and target bottom 6 players. He targeted (mostly) top 6 players. Do you really think nobody is going to be forced down the lineup as a result of that?
- Saskabush

Did you watch the last two seasons at all? They were one of the nost dominant lines in terms of possession for both (but more so the 16-17 season), and they did it with mostly D-zone starts.

I agree Frolik likely will be (and should be) dropped down the lineup, but the 3M line gained a reputation for a reason.

I also think you're vastly underrating Backlund's offensive game. Guy's had 45+ point seasons for 3 seasons in a row, and it isn't unreasonable to assume those numbers go up if he's centering Tkachuk and one of Lindholm or Neal. Backlund is good at both ends of the ice. It's why he was in the Selke conversation two seasons ago. [/img]

Gaudreau- Mony- Lindholm
Tkachuk- Backlund- Neal
Bennett- Ryan- Frolik
Mangi- Jankowski- Foo

This gives every line a bit of everything. Johnny, Chuky, Frolik and Foo are pretty good playmakers. Even Bennett on the 3rd line. Mony, Neal, Jankowski are good finishers. The kids get to battle less skill and defence oriented players on the 4th.
Keep Backs and Fro together on the PP. Otherwise they should be broken up now. Tkachuk and Backs can maintain puck possession and feed Neal.

and don't score! Which is the (frank)ing point of being out on the ice no matter what (frank)ing line your on.

Frolik & Backlund aren't good enough finishers to be relied upon to score goals on your 2nd line. Tkachuk is playmaker--give him a goal scorer to feed the puck to and we will have a line that not only dominates play, but actually scores goals.
- Saskabush

Backs is ....frolik nah

Gaudreau- Mony- Lindholm
Tkachuk- Backlund- Neal
Bennett- Ryan- Frolik
Mangi- Jankowski- Foo

This gives every line a bit of everything. Johnny, Chuky, Frolik and Foo are pretty good playmakers. Even Bennett on the 3rd line. Mony, Neal, Jankowski are good finishers. The kids get to battle less skill and defence oriented players on the 4th.
Keep Backs and Fro together on the PP. Otherwise they should be broken up now. Tkachuk and Backs can maintain puck possession and feed Neal.
- TandA4Flames

Sounds like they’re going to give that Czarnik kid a good look. I’d say it’s only one of Foo or Mang.

Sounds like they’re going to give that Czarnik kid a good look. I’d say it’s only one of Foo or Mang.
- ksofm

Or Dube!

You can disagree with other posters but the derogatory comments and name calling will not be tolerated, that goes for all.

Your earlier post was deleted.
- Makita

It’s the Wild West In This thread.

Just seen that in Quito/Ecuador there is a hockey club called the "Quito Cocks" https://www.facebook.com/QuitoCocks/ (blog: http://andeanhockeyclub.blogspot.com/) , could you please do a little scouting in the Flames name? Thank you.
- VeryModernMan

I am a member of the Cocks. The rink is half sized so we only play 3 on 3. We are a mix of Canucks, Yanks, Russians, Belarussians, Germans, and some Ecuadorians.

Its probably the worst hockey you will find but playing at altitude is a decent excuse.

Did you watch the last two seasons at all? They were one of the nost dominant lines in terms of possession for both (but more so the 16-17 season), and they did it with mostly D-zone starts.

I agree Frolik likely will be (and should be) dropped down the lineup, but the 3M line gained a reputation for a reason.

I also think you're vastly underrating Backlund's offensive game. Guy's had 45+ point seasons for 3 seasons in a row, and it isn't unreasonable to assume those numbers go up if he's centering Tkachuk and one of Lindholm or Neal. Backlund is good at both ends of the ice. It's why he was in the Selke conversation two seasons ago.
- Helios[/img]

No ones debating weather the 3m line was good or not. What I think he's saying is Tkachuk has probably outgrown his shut down role. I totally agree, let's try him with more offensive players and see where that goes. The biggest thing is this year there seems to be lots of options, and that's a good thing.

I am a member of the Cocks.
- DuranDuran

Oh, nice, enjoy your time and set up some hot-scoring power-plays.
Quito seems to be on its way to a hockey-capital, our Jamie Oleksiak recently also had a visit: https://www.pensburgh.com...or-inspiring-charity-work

I actually like the look of that, haven't really been using Lindholm at centre in my depth charts. Could satsify Peters' need to play Ryan a lot, but we still get our top offensive players out there together

Hath- Janko-Foo (or whomever) 4th line?
- Saskabush

Yeah I like the look as well as in the Backand line Ryan can take important faceoffs when needed in the defensive zone.

I would say Mang-Janko-Czarnik fourth line. Would be a smaller fourth line but with a lot of speed.

It’s the Wild West In This thread.
- HonkyTonkMan

I accepted that bet you offered a few days ago. I guess the Oilers lost a top 4 defenseman in that time.

So supposedly there was an article in the Athletic that says the Flames were the worst forechecking team in the league last year.

Allowed the opposition clean breakouts.

From someone smarter than me on Reddit,

Basically Flames opponents controlled 46% of zone exits against them, and this can be related to a combination of a teams system and overall talent.¨

Yay possession!

I accepted that bet you offered a few days ago. I guess the Oilers lost a top 4 defenseman in that time.
- fry

What was the bet?