travel_dude

For sure there are more options available for the bottom 6, but I wonder how much experimentation will happen with the top 6. One thing I know is certain, Lindholm is our best RW, followed by Mangiapane or Tkachuk (depends on how that 3M line is actually played). An all OHL line and Gaudreau-Backlund-Lindholm would be interesting. There is no burying of one of those two lines though. Ignoring the PP, they probably play the most minutes. Going to the bottom 6, you have 2 capable C's (Bennett, Ryan) and one potential RHS C(Gawdin). You have loads of options for wingers (Dube, Lucic, Ryan, Nordstrom, Simon, Leivo, Gawdin). As good as Bennett's line was in the playoffs, it was as much a factor of playoff game style as progression. Now Ward has 6 wingers that could be 3rd or 4th line. As far as D, he is right that something has to change. Top RD playing with top LD. Valimaki is developing into that top LD category. By the time camp arrives he could be the best one we have. Where I have the most trouble is determining the best fit for Tanev in 5v5. Pairing him with Gio seems like a slow skating pair. Nesterov seems like a good offensive D that isn't really a good puck mover. Maybe him and Valimaki provides that balance. PP usage - Nesterov, Valimaki, Ras and Hanifin (if another D out there). PK usage - Tanev, Gio, Ras, Nesterov, Valimaki. The top minutes for D should be in this order - Ras, Hanifin, Valimaki, Tanev, Gio, Nesterov. I will be interested if Ward falls back to his old habits. Playing Gio more because of being the captain. Leaning towards current top lines without any changes. PP has Gio is one of the two configurations.

The only way we could have been top 10 last draft was a lotto win after a play-in loss. This year (barring a lotto win) we would absolutely have to fall off a cliff to be a top 10 pick. As you can imagine, there is a push from GM's to better reward the terrible. They did not like the movement of NY to #1. And that was one of the least obnoxious results. EDM, TOR, PITTS all could have been #1. Every one of them was a playoff team. I suspect that you will see something like previous rules of only advancing 5 spots or something like that. Back to the Flames. At worst, if everything fails, is a bubble team, not bottom 10. At best, a return to tops in the Pacific. While we didn't gain any real offense up front, we are adding Valimaki on the backend. Between his offensive ability and more minutes from Ras, we should be the same or better there.

Why? Are we trading for an unprotected 1st from EDM or NJ?

I think Simon was a smart signing. Not as keen on Nordy. I'm really trying to figure out if this is a replacement situation or just a smart signing and figure out the rank later. Replacement, because BT may opt to go with a cheaper #4C. Or cut costs by dealing Hanifin for a forward or cheaper D. I think the coach was very impressed with Gawdin before the return to play started. He may have a spot in mind for him. For instance it may make sense to have the bottom 6 consisting of: Dube-Bennett-Gawdin Lucic-Ryan-Simon/Nordstrom Gawdin is likely more suited for a 3rd line role than a 4th line. The 4th line (as drawn out above) is a line you don't worry about facing good lines. They hold their own and score on transition. Some would be capable of playing 3rd or higher depending on need. Could be 100% wrong on this and it's just is best players play. Baring any other UFA signings, we have 12F signed and 5D. Kylington wouldn't chew up much, but we are still 1d and 2F short. That with just $2.5m remaining for Kylington and 3 other people.

I'm all over the map on what may or may not work. Gaudreau-Backlund-Mangiapane Gaudreau-Backlund-Lindholm Gaudreau-Backlund-Tkachuk I think either 1 or 2 is the best idea. Mangiapane has a nose for open spots to shoot from. He's a dog after a bone in the corners. Lindholm complements Gaudreau, so playing him with Backlund sts up for some nice tic-tack-toe passing. BY the same token, Monahan needs a change it seems. OHL line Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane TML line Tkachuk-Monahan-Lindholm I do like the idea of Dube-Bennett-Ryan. Gives Ryan a chance to get his game back after the playoffs. Lucic-Gawdin-Nordstrom Would have to think they would excell at the forecheck. Gawdin can score. The RHS benefits Lucic as well.

Bennett seemed like he turned a corner playing with Dube for one thing. Giving him a capable, good skating winger to complement those two guys should be the goal. Lucic added another dimension, but I'm not sure if that was coincidence or Lucic stepping up his game as well. Playing Lucic on the 4th line is not an insult, if you provide extra minutes to him on the nights he is playing well. Giving PP time is one way. Has Bennett earned a look in the top 6? For sure. Does he replace what Backlund brings to the top 6 or what Monahan can provide for 82 games in the top 6? Not so sure. If you look at a full season, the top 6 in points was our top 6 lines. Ryan was next. That included playing the hardest minutes as well as PP time. To me it comes down to what your best scoring and defensive lines look like. If they can move Backlund or Monahan to the "3rd" line so be it. That assumes they have the runway to do it and losses don't start adding up. The goal should be to have 3 scoring lines, not just moving the goals from one line to another.

Moving Gaudreau to play with Bennett is fine, but what does that mean about Monahan? The logical progression is to move him to the OHL line of Tkachuk and Mangiapane. That also means Backlund moves to a 3rd line with Dube and someone else (Lucic?). Not saying that is wrong but it disrupts 3 lines. I would counter with swapping Backlund with Monahan. Don't know if that changes the dynamics as much but is an alternative. I do think that Bennett would benefit from a line with Dube on one side and a top 6 RW. Maybe that means you play Ryan there. Gives them a RHS at least. Here's what I am saying: Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane Gaudreau-Backlund-Lindholm ===> These are the lines, not suggesting one is top line or 2nd line. Dube-Bennett-Ryan Lucic-Gawdin-Nordstrom You could tinker with it a bit, depending on whether Mangiapane or Lindholm fits best. I'm open to either. I think we have to assume that Lucic is going to be a 4th line player. Bennett can't play 82 games the same way as the playoffs.

When I looked at the roster, only a certain number of names were in grey (presume that means re-assigned).

I guess that was inevitable, A good 1st game with 3 apples, followed by nada. It might just be a numbers game with them, since the players associate with that team are many. Of all the places in the world, Linden Vey is on that team. Strange also how Askarov has only played less than 3 full games. Great numbers in those 3, but only 3 nonetheless

I think you have done a good job ranking them. I do think Zavgotodny should be a lot higher. I guess it depends on how he and Pettersen adjust, but I think Zav showed he wasn;t just Lafreniere's line mate.

I didn't have anyone in mind, but what I would be looking for is a top 6 capable RW. Ideally you have an option of where to play Mangiapane. Bennett gets Dube on LW and Mangiapane or new RW. 4th line is Lucic-Gawdin-Nordstom. Or if Ryan is still here, Nordstrom is an extra and either Gawdin or Ryan is the RW. I guess I just have a hope that we opt to play kids with a decent ceiling over ones that have limited results.

Even so, I still find it hard to believe that BT will move forward with that cap (lack of) space. I have to think that he is moving somebody. I man it's fine that he traded Neal for Looch, but the net result is we have that much tied to a 3rd line player. He's not trading him any time soon. So that begs the question, is trading Hanifin for a winger resolve the cap space issue while providing a better roster, or does it create a bigger hole? If Hanifin is not the answer, is Ryan a casuality? Ryan is a good 3/4C that can be used for other situations as well. In a flat cap world, does it make sense? Or should they be moving out some other player? The top 6 is made up of low dollar contract (relative to the rest of the NHL). Backlund is maybe a bit high, but he is a 2C that prevent as many goals as he scores. Lindholm isn't procey. Gaudreau and Monahan are value compared to recent signings. Tkachuk is on par. Mangiapane is cheaper than most for what he provides. You can't trade those away unless you are bringing back a guy on a bridge deal or future star. The D is relatively cheap, except for Tanev and Gio. One is a #1 today while the other is a 3/4. Could trade Hanifin I guess but we still need to ice a competitive linesup.

I think there's a fair chance that either Ryan or Hanifin (or both) are traded. BT never likes to be that close to the cap. Last year and injury allowed him to run over. 12F, 6D and 2G is basically bare minimum to run in a season. One injury lasting a few days and you don't have a full lineup.

You mean NY Rangers, not Isles. SInce we seem to have all the forwards other than Ryan, I'm assuming that is your offer for Gauthier?

You have to look at where the Flames were this past season. Part of a season under BP where Backlund was forced to the wing. Rittich overplayed until he fell to earth. A good goalie away from beating Dallas. Sure, we could have been better in other aspects. Defense was a bit lacking at times. Having Forbort and Gus was not exactly a stud defense. At least we have a goalie that can be a starter. More than we can say for the last 8 years. You can be critical if you like, because frankly he was a Nuck. For a team not expected to even compete, he was steady for them. The money is meaningless if it leads to a deep cup run.

He has been held back by the use of Rieder, Buddy, etc. Gawdin is probably higher on the depth chart if Ryan is still on the roster. Based on who we have today, a trade of Ryan might give you a 4th line of Rinaldo-Gawdin-Phillips Not exactly the right fit. I would like to see something like Lucic-Gawdin-Phillips. That means we have traded Ryan, but also Hanifin for forward help. For the sake of argument, let's say we traded Hanifin for a top 6 RW and Ryan for a pick. 3rd line is Dube-Bennett-Mangiapane Sorry, but I feel that Rinaldo should not be on the ice for more than 10 games. A 4th line with Lucic and two guys that can skate and forecheck sounds like fun.

Regarding your last statement, I'm thinking BT is making a lot of calls about Hanifin. Valimaki with Tanev might be about the best vet/rookie combo we could have. Not that the pairs you suggested is bad, just that I think a change is coming. What would be left if we didn't pick up another D after trading Haifin. Gio-Andersson Valimaki-Tanev ??-?? That 3rd pair could be some combo of Kylington, Mackey, Petrovic and Yelesin. Some interesting possibilities: Kylington-Yelesin Mackey-Yelesin Mackey-Kylington Petrovic with either Mackey or Kylington. We would need to be carefull with them. I'm not as worried about Yelesin from the limited action I saw. I have some concerns about Petrovic based on his play in EDM.

Nashville will be a pretender by the time Askie is in the NHL. All the good D will be mid 30's by then. I guess they could be like Gio and be stars at that age.

Nashville won the best goalie in the draft. Most likely. Could be a NHL player in 3-7 years. By then Saros might be the starter and they have nobody else. So, yeah Nashville wins the award for best goalie not in the NHL.

His path to the NHL hit a lot of wrong turns. I won't worry about him right now. He's going to need a decent season in the AHL to get a chance of a backup assignment. That is only likely if Rittich is injured and it's a B2B situation. Games have such a big importance, so you just can't give him a shot because he has earned it. He has to show something really good in the AHL first.

The three possible goalies that actually have a chance at being a starter were Hotby, Markstrom and Murray. Or you give up a 1st for Keumper and that was when he might have been available. Murray - by your standards is not a good goalie and should have been avoided. We did. Holtby - not impressive other than winning a cup on a team that finally hit their stride. He wasn't even the starter to begin with. Markstrom - remains to be seen if he's any better than what we have had in years.

I just think that the division have lead to a lot of rivalries. CGY-VAN CGY-EDM SJS-ANA TOR-BOS TOR-MTL TBL-MTL WAS-PITTS Philly-PITTS NYR-NYI Etc. Point is that the divisions set up for some cross-border rivalries. Restricted to a Canadian only division makes little sense except maybe to Trudeau. Because of policy, hockey is probably going to follow baseball. TOR plays in Rochester. VAN plays in Seattle. EDM plays in Billings Montana. WPG plays in Grand Forks. Some supposedly neutral states or cities being the home arena for Canadian teams. Unless this happens, I can't see any solutions that are fair that deal with crossing the border. Canadian teams are gong to have to play in Canada for some part of the season. And US teams are going to have to come to Canada.

Love or hate the choice, I guess we will see. You can probably find a lot of negative about going with Talbot or Rittich from last summer. For 1/2 a season Rittich was better than most expected. To close the season and playoffs, Talbot was much better than a lot expected. I'm not going to sit here and say that we improved our defense by leaps and bounds.... But we don't have Hamonic and Stone (yet?) to sink any goalie behind them. We will have some new guys that could do some things we lacked (shot blocks or being allowed to walk to the net). It's possible we end up a worse defensive team, but I would say it's still going to be better than what Markstrom had in VAN.

The pre-draft rankings are one thing. A couple of teams went off that ranking and got their guy. EDM should have taken Zary. They chose Holloway. Schnieder and LaPierre went just before. Who will be better is anyone's guess. I liked Amirov, but that went even before EDM's. We ended up picking a d-man later that could easily have gone in the 1st. Is he any worse than Bouchard was? Similar issues I think. One went in round 1 a few years back. Follow up on Zary next summer. I think you will like how he is trending.

You seem stuck on Strome for some reason. Remember he did play in EDM, right? On a team without Panarin, he looked pedestrian. Not saying he's a bad player, just nothing more than we have in Ryan. I'm not trading Hanifin for Strome. If you think to what we paid, we gave up Ferland and a bit of Dougie's value for him. Keep Hanifin, if that's the best you can get.