Todd Cordell: On James Neal, Elias Lindholm, and balancing the top-6

FIRST!!

Todd, forgive me if this has been asked before- Are Flames your favorite team? I forget. I know you also blog for the Devils

FIRST!!

Todd, forgive me if this has been asked before- Are Flames your favorite team? I forget. I know you also blog for the Devils
- Squilliam-

They are not but I really like a lot of the players on their roster and enjoy watching them.

That's the best JG interview I've ever seen. Some good insight into team chemistry especially about the coach. Thanks for finding it.
I agree about spreading the talent but I still want to see what Tkachuk could do. Preseason games this year are going to be the best in a long time.

I think the first 15-20 games will be a felling out process in terms of chemistry and production. I suspect we'll see allot of line juggling to start and see who develops chemistry.
I agree with you Todd on spreading out the offense but if Neal gels with JG and Mony, why mess with the mojo?

They are not but I really like a lot of the players on their roster and enjoy watching them.
- ToddCordellCGY

NICE!!

They are not but I really like a lot of the players on their roster and enjoy watching them.
- ToddCordellCGY

Me too, they're my second favorite team since the days of first "NHL hockey"-videogame back since '93/94.

I understand the thought of spreading the goal scoring talent, but I think Neal might make sense when you think about the spreading of grit talent.
Tkachuk has that handled on the 2nd line...Neal would bring that to the first line more than Lindholm ever could.

In the end, they're gonna have to test things out and we'll see what happens

If they want balance, they should put Neal on the top line, keep the second line the same, and put Lindholm on the third line with Bennett and Ryan or Jankowski.

If they want to be an elite team, they need to get Bennett going, and Lindholm's style of play would fit perfectly with what Bennett wants to do out there.

Outside of Jonnny, I think Tkachuk is our best playmaker. He needs a finisher to play with. It doesn’t matter how good backlund and froliks corsi numbers are—if they don’t score they really aren’t much use to us out there.

Outside of Jonnny, I think Tkachuk is our best playmaker. He needs a finisher to play with. It doesn’t matter how good backlund and froliks corsi numbers are—if they don’t score they really aren’t much use to us out there.
- Saskabush

Yeah, you're right. Having a line that can shut down the other team's top line is completely useless. If they can't score at least 30 goals a year, why even have them on the team.

Outside of Jonnny, I think Tkachuk is our best playmaker. He needs a finisher to play with. It doesn’t matter how good backlund and froliks corsi numbers are—if they don’t score they really aren’t much use to us out there.
- Saskabush

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.

Not sure if it would happen 5V5 or on the PP, but I'd love to see a line of Tkachuk-Bennett-Neal.

Now THAT would be a tough line to play against. That's the epitome of grit and in-your-face hockey!

Yeah, you're right. Having a line that can shut down the other team's top line is completely useless. If they can't score at least 30 goals a year, why even have them on the team.
- Hunkulese

Hah agreed. That’s been our best line and a season of injuries makes the most of the fanbase completely forget about it how dominant it was the year before.

Great moves this offseason though.

On a side note: I think Bennett is great, but I’d really love to see Jack Roslovic be acquired from the jets. The cost would likely be him. Give or take.

Same age as Tkachuk/Hanafin, played with them in the USDP, and has a ton of speed on the RW.

That said, Bennett is the shìt.

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

Lindy's an adequate C at worst. Was his natural position when drafted. He 's a bit out of practice but if you want him to play there it usually starts to click for him after 3 or 4 games.

Sooo where does Jankowski line up? Is he the default 4th line center? I thought when given higher quality wingers he held his own for being a rookie.

Gaudreau, Monahan, Neal
Tkachuk, Backlund, Lindholm
Bennett, Ryan, Frolik
Mangiapane, Jankowski,Czarnik

Gio, Brodie
Hanifin, Hamonic
Kulak, Stone

Smith, Rittich

Foo, Andersson, Hathaway

Sooo where does Jankowski line up? Is he the default 4th line center? I thought when given higher quality wingers he held his own for being a rookie.

Gaudreau, Monahan, Neal
Tkachuk, Backlund, Lindholm
Bennett, Ryan, Frolik
Mangiapane, Jankowski,Czarnik

Gio, Brodie
Hanifin, Hamonic
Kulak, Stone

Smith, Rittich

Foo, Andersson, Hathaway
- buddy_doug

Wouldn't shock me to see a 3rd line of Bennett-Jankowski-Ryan and have Ryan take draws on the right side. Having a center like Ryan on Janko's wing to mentor him in the circle could really do wonders for his game. Bennett's too to some degree, though I personally think the Bennett at center ship has sailed.

I have no idea who plays where in the bottom 6 and that's a good thing this time. Tons of options and different ways we could run it.

Not sure if it would happen 5V5 or on the PP, but I'd love to see a line of Tkachuk-Bennett-Neal.

Now THAT would be a tough line to play against. That's the epitome of grit and in-your-face hockey!
- InSutterWeTrust

That would be a nasty line to play against. It's nice to have options.

Wouldn't shock me to see a 3rd line of Bennett-Jankowski-Ryan and have Ryan take draws on the right side. Having a center like Ryan on Janko's wing to mentor him in the circle could really do wonders for his game. Bennett's too to some degree, though I personally think the Bennett at center ship has sailed.

I have no idea who plays where in the bottom 6 and that's a good thing this time. Tons of options and different ways we could run it.
- Helios

Who plays 4th line centre then? Czarnik? lazar?

Hah agreed. That’s been our best line and a season of injuries makes the most of the fanbase completely forget about it how dominant it was the year before.

Great moves this offseason though.

On a side note: I think Bennett is great, but I’d really love to see Jack Roslovic be acquired from the jets. The cost would likely be him. Give or take.

Same age as Tkachuk/Hanafin, played with them in the USDP, and has a ton of speed on the RW.

That said, Bennett is the shìt.
- fry

Keeping the 3M line together is a bad idea. Backlund does have some offensive skills but is primarily just a elite shut down centre. Frolik is a very very solid defensively responsible forward, hopefully last year was an anomaly. Tkachuk has huge hockey IQ, great hand coordination, leaving him on a checking line is insanity.
Neal will get a look at the top line but Peters does like to shuffle so I am sure Lindholm gets top line too. I think Tkachuk/Backlund/Lindholm would be a pretty decent line.
I also think Tkachuk/Janko/Neal would be pretty intriguing as well & then move Bennett with Backlund & Frolik. Ryan could centre the 4th line. I dont see Janko lower than the 3rd line, him Bennett & Ryan on RW would be a pretty solid 3rd line as well.
Lots of options & real good options at that.

Keeping the 3M line together is a bad idea. Backlund does have some offensive skills but is primarily just a elite shut down centre. Frolik is a very very solid defensively responsible forward, hopefully last year was an anomaly. Tkachuk has huge hockey IQ, great hand coordination, leaving him on a checking line is insanity.
Neal will get a look at the top line but Peters does like to shuffle so I am sure Lindholm gets top line too. I think Tkachuk/Backlund/Lindholm would be a pretty decent line.
I also think Tkachuk/Janko/Neal would be pretty intriguing as well & then move Bennett with Backlund & Frolik. Ryan could centre the 4th line. I dont see Janko lower than the 3rd line, him Bennett & Ryan on RW would be a pretty solid 3rd line as well.
Lots of options & real good options at that.
- Kevin R

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

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

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

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

If you look at their starts, they get mostly DZ starts, that would tell you that the line works on their D part of the game. Nothing wrong with that, but Tkachuk has the skills to put him on an offensive line that gets a higher percentage OZ starts. We need two scoring lines, too many teams key in on our top line & when they used to effectively shut them down, well we would be fcked.

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

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.

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

Not sure I agree, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. Gonna be an interesting season to discuss with all of the potential lines we can make and Peters’ penchant for line shuffling.