LouCifer

Hey Pikey, I had 2 similar ideas. In comparison to your suggestion, I'd swap 2 players: Lucic and Tkachuk JH - Mony - Lindholm Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane Lucic - Bennett - Dube Whoever is left over for 4th - Ryan at C, Leivo, Simon, Nordtrom, etc. Or, why not put 4 strong centers down the middle, and make every line highly formidable and difficult to defend: JH - Mony - Leivo Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane Lucic - Bennett - Dube Simon/Ryan - Backlund - Nordstrom

Did you watch the game last night?

With Benny on that line, maybe he should be taking some faceoffs as well. Mony and Benny should practice faceoffs against each other in practice, with some guidance from our top faceoff player.

A few things: - I’d like Ward to be consistent with the current line formation, and give them some time together to develop some chemistry. - That said, if the Lindholm line continues on the same trajectory, my immediate swap is Mangiapane and Dube. Mange’s play driving metrics is the shot in the arm that line could use. Mange already has shown chemistry with Chucky. Dube seemingly took his shackles off in the playoffs last year and grew in confidence 10-fold playing with Looch, with Backlund being the difference at Center. - Benny is still finding his way on the top line, but he gives JH an option for a pass. How many times have we seen JH in the offensive zone alone, do a button hook, and a risky play/pass follows at the offensive blue line? Benny can skate, and will drive to the net, while Mony continues to develop his D zone play. I think it’s a matter of time before that line starts clicking. - I did like MP’s line formations above if these line configurations need a different look. If Lindy goes back to RW on the top line, they should try Benny at C with Chucky and Mange/Dube, leaving Backlund with Looch/Leivo/Mange/Dube for wingers. Now, some coming clean: - Tanev. I jumped the gun on you and I was wrong. You have not only exceeded my expectations, but you’ve now completely changed my tune about trading away Hanifin as well. I’m also protecting you in the Kraken draft. Bravo! - Looch. I remember my initial response to the trade wasn’t in your favour. I’ve since become a big supporter of you on these boards. My initial assessment was wrong, and I’m super happy to have your presence on this team. You keep doing you! - Backlund. I called you out a few games ago, and caved and joined those who’ve wanted to trade you for some time. I should’ve bit my tongue for a while longer. I’m happy to see you’ve found your game again. Don’t let it slip because we need that kind of play from you! Go 🔥 go!

Woot Woot! Mange is en fuego! 🔥Go get'em BreadEater!

If there’s any truth to the NHL considering shortening the season to 40 games (due to covid related delays), the flames may have already made their bed for this potential once in a lifetime opportunity season.

So... Bennett a healthy scratch tonight. Rumors swirling...

Fixed.

I don’t get to listen to the fan 960 often, but I was listening today and was appalled at what Steiner was saying... trade Bennett PLUS retain half his salary for a 3rd rounder? RUFN kidding me? His argument was all about creating cap space. While cap space is important, unless you plan to use it it’s worthless. Plus, I’m not sure how many Canadian teams will be interested in trading with each other since they’re all in the same division, so assumedly, any player Calgary tries to acquire will have to sit out the 14 days before joining the team. Secondly, the talk about Bennett choosing the wing - let’s be honest with ourselves here. Bennett was given the option of 4C or playing wing higher in the lineup. No kidding he asked to play wing after he saw his 4th line linemates. In the offseason I liked Wardo’s idea of spreading the talent through the lineup. I still like Lindy at C, wouldn’t change it. Does Bennett supplant any of Lindy, Mony, or Backlund? (Well, Back’s interest level has been suspect to start this season, so I’m p’d with him), but the answer to the above is no, or not really. The issue I have is this. Yes, you made C deeper on this team, but the bottom 6 is a hole in the ground. The talent has to be spread throughout the lineup. And does Wardo care about chemistry? Geez. Keep Lucic-Benny-Dube together. Call them the 4th line if you want, I don’t care, all I know is they had chemistry and were dominant shift in and shift out, scoring goals, and their fancy stats were amazing too. Figure out if it’s Mangiapane or Simon with Mony and JH, and send the other guy to Tkachuk and Lindy. Ryan can play with Backlund and Leivo/Nordstrom (since Nordstrom’s game is defense only anyway). Roll 4 Good Lines. But I digress. Let’s pretend to change things while keeping them the same. Must burn pretty bad for Bennett to see 2 sub-million dollar players get extended looks with “the top 2 lines” while he got a shift here and there only.

Aside from a trade - in a difficult season to do so - I’m not sure what options there are to try to wake the players up or get a consistent effort of them. Shortened season considered, 6 games in to have a players only meeting, and then still not put in a complete effort to win a game (Thank you Markstrom) it’s simply a suggestion on my part that’s not dissimilar from everyday workplace scenarios. One day, you’re the manager (Captain) and you’re running a team of employees. The employees learn how the manager works, what they need to do, what they can get away with, and find a “comfort zone”. Then, in comes a new manager. Unaware of how this new manager will operate in the role, the employees - for the most part - pick up their socks while they figure out how the new works. It could very well return to the same, but I imagine there would be a difference in the team while they’re figuring out their new comfort zone. The flames got complacent with Iggy - Gio modeled himself after Iggy and we have the same scenarios playing out. Maybe we need someone not afraid to lead the way they would lead - instead of following the same path. Again, a thought.

I’m not sure Tkachuk is ready for captain’s duty just yet either, but I suggested it because I think there needs to be a changing of the guard. Tkachuk is already the go to guy for media to talk to on game day, he always says the right things, he’s respectful of the game off the ice, he’s a student of the game and is always learning more and watching more, and he’s showing leadership already by telling the media they’re going to see “more emotion tonight”. Lindholm is definitely deserving of an A and I’d give him Backlund’s yesterday. Andersson may be premature for an A as well, but he’s definitely trending that way. Maybe we go no C and just A’s for now, but, I think the team may be better served with younger leadership and veteran support. my 2 pence.

I think it’s time to change who’s wearing letters on their jerseys. I’ve been hoping for Gio to do what Conroy did for Iginla, and give the captaincy to Chucky. One year in rep hockey my coach stripped all of the captains on our team of their letters. He gave them to the players he saw working their butt off and giving a crap. Wouldn’t you know it? We went on a tear after that and made it to the finals. We lost there, but getting a letter on my jersey and changing the trajectory of our team that year was incredible to behold. Maybe that’s the shakeup this team needs, and given the circumstances, it may be one of the easier ones to do.

Not at all! I see it the same way TD. It’s nice to be optimistic about our D pairings this year. 😄

I like our D this year JJ! 😁🤘🏻

I also question why it took Kyl so long to sign as an RFA and arrive in Calgary... given the times, the writing seemed to be on the wall what would happen for a long time. He could've looked at Mangiapane's situation last season for reference, and COVID wasn't even a thing at that time! Kyl and his agent held out too long IMO. And I like the player.

I've voiced my interest here as well. But, does that mean he'd have to suit up for us every game or we risk losing him as well?

Au contraire. Maybe a permanent split is in the works. It appears there’s some smoke to what I’ve been suggesting. i moved the Monahan for Dubois rumour video to the rumours thread. Take a look over there.

I see it the same way TBC. Same forward lines, same d pairings, for the same reasons.

Beauty. That’s what I’d prefer. Mange and Ryan were linemates in the past and had some pretty good chemistry as well, so maybe that line is improved as well. But Lucic - Benny - Dube are going to give opposing teams fits to contain. The other thing that really improved was Lucic on that line. He said himself playing with the younger guys was exciting and it really showed. I think he was the most effective he was all season once this line was formed, and we will be a better team with an engaged and excited Lucic. I am excited to see what Simon and Leivo can bring up front. And equally excited to see what Valimaki and Nestorov can bring to the back end. I expect the former Barrie Colts, Andersson and Mangiapane, to take another step forward this season and start to make an impact on the game more consistently. It would be nice to see both get some PP time. I’m tempering my expectations for Tanev and Nordstrom. I’ve got some question marks there. I’m excited to see the duo of Markstrom and Rittich and I loved reading Rittich’s quote “what other nhl team has 2 all star goalies” 😂 I love that guy, and I’m sure his personality helps to keep things loose in the dressing room

I agree. Bennett at C. Quite frankly, I’d keep The Lucic-Bennett-Dube line intact. Dube was playing a lot taller out there with those 2 as linemates, and he produced at the toughest time of the year in the playoffs, at an amazing clip. All the talk has been about balancing the scoring, so I have no problem playing those 3 together. The expectation is that we’re going to roll 4 lines for this shortened season anyway, and every line needs to be able to produce. I see no harm for his development at all in letting Dube skate this season with those two - in fact, he’d probably develop more playing against weaker competition and growing his confidence for future top 6 duty. And if we need to plug him into the top 6 every now and then, so be it. He could even alternate with Bennett at the dot to get faceoff reps in.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of my fellow flames fans! Glad to see the board is back up - my wife was getting sick and tired of me talking flames hockey to her, and my buds only talk my ear off about the leafs. We’re going to have lots to talk about this year with the all Canadian division and many flames vs leafs games! Woot woot! GFG!

While most will love a Canadian Division, I wonder what impact - if any - time zones will be for that “division”. Are there any advantages or disadvantages for any of the Canadian teams? I’d guess Toronto and Montreal and Ottawa will be a little more comfortable as they’re all in the same timezone. We’re in the same timezone as Edm. Do Vancouver and Winnipeg get the butt-end of the stick in this setup? Is it really any different than any other season? What say you?

I kind of liked what the nba did with the virtual fans - set up screens in the stands that get displayed on tv, that have real fans at home watching the game simultaneously (via webcam). Sell those spots. Rotate people in and out so you can sell more than the “virtual seating” allows for. Maybe allow fan microphones to be on during the game to create that realistic atmosphere. and maybe sell the opposite side of the arena to in-person people, ensuring spacing rules are adhered to.

That's really great to hear Cross. By my math, it sounds like Ryan isn't playing C next season, or perhaps they're attempting to move him. I wouldn't mind seeing Ryan in the RW position with Benny and Looch if Dube is going to play higher up. In fact, having Ryan play with Benny allows them to alternate taking draws since Benny struggled there.

I saw a pic somewhere (here?) of ol’ blasty but using the red-yellow-white colour scheme. I thought it was fantastic. I’m a fan of the blasty jersey, but I was hoping they’d try the original colours with it.