Flames Lineup - Suggested Lines

[travel_dude]

Ruzie scratched from the Heat game today.  He was healthy and played last night, so it's likely he's headed to LA for practice and a possible start.  Obviously, Ritchie is going to miss some time, how much unsure.  This will give us 13 healthy F and 7D.  Not sure how long Kylington sits, but I can see them taking time with him and giving him a reset as well.  Mackey could be the extra guy we need.  I don't care about carrying an extra D, as long as we use him.  Can always send him down for the start of the AHL playoffs to keep him sharp.  It seems like the Heat is in cruise control, so he may not even be needed, with Valimaki there.

 

Back to Ruzie.  It's between him and Carpenter as to who starts a game.  Ruzie gives Sutter more options for lines.  Carpenter gives a decent 4C and PK option, but Ruzie has 3C capability.  And an option on PP2.  Sutter isn't married to the idea of Jarnkrok in the middle 6.  And he adds a dynamic to the 4th line.

[sak22]

Val was also scratched today, possibly just a precaution incase they drop another defenseman in the California portion of the trip as the Heat are off until Friday.

[travel_dude]

11 hours ago, sak22 said:

Val was also scratched today, possibly just a precaution incase they drop another defenseman in the California portion of the trip as the Heat are off until Friday.

Valimaki is having an up and down AHL season.  I don't know if that plays into him being scratched, but it's also a possibility.  Likely your idea is more realistic.

 

We have 8D unless they put Kyl on IR.

We have used 1 of 4 recalls.

We have 13F unless they put Ritchie on IR.

Ruzie is likely coming up once they do, since we have more extras on the backend.

[cross16]

Not a surprise but it's now official

 

 

[travel_dude]

Interesting.  Not sure what to make of Valimaki getting the call.  I guess they don't really need to do anything with Ritchie.  So, we now have 1 remaining callup.  

 

Perhaps we see something today in line rushes or a game day skate.

Wonder if Sutter is thinking of sitting Zadorov.

If Shilly isn't good this week, do we get Stone or Mackey?

 

Lots of questions, guess I just need to wait and see.

[conundrumed]

19 minutes ago, cross16 said:

Not a surprise but it's now official

 

 

Yup. Been waiting for that. Hopefully Valimaki can show better in practices now. Z has been amazing and suicidal at every 30 second interval lately.

But pair Vali in Kylington's spot? Far too dangerous? Or is Tanev a demi-god?

[travel_dude]

2 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Yup. Been waiting for that. Hopefully Valimaki can show better in practices now. Z has been amazing and suicidal at every 30 second interval lately.

But pair Vali in Kylington's spot? Far too dangerous? Or is Tanev a demi-god?

 

I think maybe there was one game with Val-Tan?  I know he played with Guddy as well, so I can't exactly remember the best combo.  The thing to remember as well is that Guddy was not the Lord of the Boards, PK specialist he was back then.  We were still thinking it was going to be a rough season.

 

If we could somehow deploy Z to make a good play then immediately swap him with another D, we might have a solution.  Put some lifts in Mackey's skates and a dark face shield.  Get a 2nd Zaddy jersey.....

[sak22]

4 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Yup. Been waiting for that. Hopefully Valimaki can show better in practices now. Z has been amazing and suicidal at every 30 second interval lately.

But pair Vali in Kylington's spot? Far too dangerous? Or is Tanev a demi-god?

I'd be a little curious to see what Tanev could do with Val, so far I'd say he's done well with turning around Hanifin and Kylington's game and many people praised his work with Hughes.  I don't know, I've always been a bigger fan of Val than Kylington, but I've been wrong numerous times in the past with young players. 

[cross16]

23 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Yup. Been waiting for that. Hopefully Valimaki can show better in practices now. Z has been amazing and suicidal at every 30 second interval lately.

But pair Vali in Kylington's spot? Far too dangerous? Or is Tanev a demi-god?

 

I personally believe, and have for a while, that if you put Valimaki with Tanev you will have similar results. Perhaps even better. 

Tanev is the driving force behind that pairing IMO. 

[conundrumed]

16 minutes ago, cross16 said:

 

I personally believe, and have for a while, that if you put Valimaki with Tanev you will have similar results. Perhaps even better. 

Tanev is the driving force behind that pairing IMO. 

I hope that you're right. There's a lot to like. Good skater, good size, good shot. Sutter can teach him how to think the game. I'm hopeful that he can help a lot. By rights, he should actually be better than Kyl, but the lost time etc...it's up to him or we wait another year. I never wanted him traded, put it that way.

Swedish Mafia? Let's expand to Scandinavian Mafia.lol

[travel_dude]

No Kylington or Ritchie on the California trip.

May change later, but seeing the recalls, no so sure about that.

 

In the meantime, no changes to the lineup from Saturday.

At least at practice.

All three callups were there, though.

[The_People1]

Stone looks awkward playing LD as RHS.  He'ss made some mistakes and poor passes.  Definitely give Val-Tanev 3 games to develop some chemistry and see where that goes.

 

[travel_dude]

18 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

Stone looks awkward playing LD as RHS.  He'ss made some mistakes and poor passes.  Definitely give Val-Tanev 3 games to develop some chemistry and see where that goes.

 

 

Sutter seems to believe that Mackey is first in the rotation.  Refers to him as mature and has learned the game over time.  Thinks Val came up a year early.  Insurance for Sutter.  Unfortunately.  I think Sutter just saw parts of Val's game he really didn't like, so I will be a little shocked if he gets in anytime soon.

 

Sutter mentioned that Stone was solid, but had to unlearn the type of game he used to play.  Some struggles no doubt.  I would prefer to rest a Guddy or Tanev or Ras for a game at some point and use Stone on RD over LD.  Might s well use everyone on the roster, since we won't get much more now.  Stockton's season will go into May, and we only have one callup left.

[travel_dude]

Ruzie and Val were emergency loans, and Val was sent back after the game started.

Still have 3 recalls remaining unless they convert Ruzie to regular recall

[pikey7883]

Thinking about line combos today at work, of course, lol.

Have Mang and Coleman been together? I thought they were earlier but couldn’t remember for sure?

Anyways had a very different thought today.

Johnny - Lindy - Calle (I know, hate to break up the top line, and I haven’t loved what Calle had done so far, but he is a shooter, and gives Jonny a second option with a RH shot)

Mang - Ruzie - Tkachuk (The purpose of this is to get Mang going. Ruzie is good defensively like Backs, but is more offensively gifted)

Coleman - Dube - Toffoli (Because I want to see a line that can fly, create off the rush, and find Toff coming in as the trailer)

The purpose of these 3 lines is to spread the scoring out, maybe it’s to late in the year to make changes like this, but in the playoffs we need depth scoring, and that gives us 3 lines that the puck doesn’t really die with any of them.

It also then gives us Looch - Backs - Lewis

They should be able to shut down almost any line, and be a hard dump and chase puck possession line. 

[travel_dude]

Valimaki recalled again.  I don't think this is an emergency call up.

Here is what I (think I) know:

Mackey - regular recall - 3 remaining

Ruzicka - emergency recall - changed to regular recall - 2 remaining

Valimaki - emergency recall - returned to Stockton - recalled again - 1 remaining

 

That should give us 8 available D and 12 available F, with Jarnkrok status unknown.

The Ruzicka and Valimaki recalls could still be emergency, but seems unlikely unless 2 players are moved to IR.

 

I am glad they are taking their time with Kylington, but I am concerned that we keep playing Stone on the wrong side.  Against the Ducks, not so concerning, but we have Sharks tomorrow.  

 

I just think we need to get away from the idea of "getting player X going" and concentrate on finding the best lines for the purpose they are used for.  Backlund should not be looked upon as a scoring forward and concentrate on shutdown play.  If he scores, great.  If not, he's doing his job against top lines.  Pair him with the best at possession and defensive play.  Maybe that's Dube.  For Toffee and Bread, get them a passing C.  Ruzie makes the most sense in my mind, as he is sound defensively and seems to be pass-first.  Also has a rocket.  He adds size and speed to play with Mange.  And he can use Toffee as the trailer or puck on net guy.  If Jarnkrok is out, then that makes the most sense.  If Jarny is in, then you have the option of Jarny or Dube as 4C.  Carpenter hasn't solidified himself yet.  

[conundrumed]

Sutter mentioned in his excellent pre-game interview with LA that neither Kyl or Ritchie made the trip to California with the team.

Did everyone watch Valimaki's interview on Flames TV?

My takeaway was that I don't love the attitude. Gives the feel that he's hard done by. What was Robert Thomas again, 6 picks later?

Hope Valimaki fares well, but that interview knocks my hopes down a few pegs.

[travel_dude]

25 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

Sutter mentioned in his excellent pre-game interview with LA that neither Kyl or Ritchie made the trip to California with the team.

Did everyone watch Valimaki's interview on Flames TV?

My takeaway was that I don't love the attitude. Gives the feel that he's hard done by. What was Robert Thomas again, 6 picks later?

Hope Valimaki fares well, but that interview knocks my hopes down a few pegs.

 

He mentioned LA only, but I suspect they didn't fly to Cali at all.

Valimaki is what he is.  Thought he was a NHL player, but sadly not ready.

Perhaps a bit of tough love to say you need to grab the job, not show up and expect it.

I didn't love Valimaki's pre-season, but I thought he would snap out of it.

[pikey7883]

1 hour ago, travel_dude said:

I just think we need to get away from the idea of "getting player X going" and concentrate on finding the best lines for the purpose they are used for.  Backlund should not be looked upon as a scoring forward and concentrate on shutdown play.  If he scores, great.  If not, he's doing his job against top lines.  Pair him with the best at possession and defensive play.  Maybe that's Dube.  For Toffee and Bread, get them a passing C.  Ruzie makes the most sense in my mind, as he is sound defensively and seems to be pass-first.  Also has a rocket.  He adds size and speed to play with Mange.  And he can use Toffee as the trailer or puck on net guy.  If Jarnkrok is out, then that makes the most sense.  If Jarny is in, then you have the option of Jarny or Dube as 4C.  Carpenter hasn't solidified himself yet.  

I will agree that fixing things that aren’t broken for the sake of fixing another problem is not a good strategy. For me Mang and Toffee on the same line has not been a good look no matter who they’re center has been. 
I dug into Mang’s Stats, this is what I found. 
1. Pre Toffoli trade he had 24 Goals in 45 Games - 0.533 GPG pace.    Post Toffoli trade he has 6 Goals in 24 Games - 0.25 GPG pace. He also has no PP Goals since the trade. 
2. Of his 30 Goals, 7 PPG and 2 SHG, Backs has been his primary feeder 7 times, Dube has the primary 4 times, and our D has the primary 8 times. To me this shows that he is a guy who scores off the rush getting it from the D and going for it. 
3. While Backs has been his primary assist man for 7 goals, Backs has only been involved in 1 other of his goals. Compared to Dube who has 4 primary assists and has been involved in another 3 of his goals. Again this shows that Mang does well playing with guys who can join him on the rush or score off the cycle.

 

These are a few of the main things that stood out to me, I think Mang needs to get away from Backs and Toff, because he’s at his best when he is getting the puck off the rush, or on a cycle with others who can cycle at speed. That was where my suggestion of Mang-Ruzie-Chucky came from, but maybe it would be better to have Mang-Dube-Chucky together. 

Then you could have Coleman and Toff with Ruzie. 2 veterans who have won and can help the rookie center through the playoffs.

I love Backs play, he just doesn’t help our scorers enough.

[sak22]

2 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Sutter mentioned in his excellent pre-game interview with LA that neither Kyl or Ritchie made the trip to California with the team.

Did everyone watch Valimaki's interview on Flames TV?

My takeaway was that I don't love the attitude. Gives the feel that he's hard done by. What was Robert Thomas again, 6 picks later?

Hope Valimaki fares well, but that interview knocks my hopes down a few pegs.

I don't take much out of any interview.  90% of NHL interviews are rinse and repeat arrogant people trying to sound humble, ya know uh.  I think a lot of prospects will get knocked down a notch if they miss a year and a half of games, he probably should've started in the A last year but that wasn't really an option as they didn't start till a month after the NHL, and only played 30 games.  The guy was on a good trajectory in 2019 and in a series where everyone around him was awful, he looked pretty good.  Not easy to miss so much time early in a career and still develop at the pace that fans expect, see #2 from his draft class.

[travel_dude]

3 hours ago, pikey7883 said:

I will agree that fixing things that aren’t broken for the sake of fixing another problem is not a good strategy. For me Mang and Toffee on the same line has not been a good look no matter who they’re center has been. 
I dug into Mang’s Stats, this is what I found. 
1. Pre Toffoli trade he had 24 Goals in 45 Games - 0.533 GPG pace.    Post Toffoli trade he has 6 Goals in 24 Games - 0.25 GPG pace. He also has no PP Goals since the trade. 
2. Of his 30 Goals, 7 PPG and 2 SHG, Backs has been his primary feeder 7 times, Dube has the primary 4 times, and our D has the primary 8 times. To me this shows that he is a guy who scores off the rush getting it from the D and going for it. 
3. While Backs has been his primary assist man for 7 goals, Backs has only been involved in 1 other of his goals. Compared to Dube who has 4 primary assists and has been involved in another 3 of his goals. Again this shows that Mang does well playing with guys who can join him on the rush or score off the cycle.

 

These are a few of the main things that stood out to me, I think Mang needs to get away from Backs and Toff, because he’s at his best when he is getting the puck off the rush, or on a cycle with others who can cycle at speed. That was where my suggestion of Mang-Ruzie-Chucky came from, but maybe it would be better to have Mang-Dube-Chucky together. 

Then you could have Coleman and Toff with Ruzie. 2 veterans who have won and can help the rookie center through the playoffs.

I love Backs play, he just doesn’t help our scorers enough.

 

I'm glad you looked into the deets, as I sometimes can't be bothered and just use "feel of the game" views.  I think we can agree that Backlund + Toffee and Mange = bad.  Since Toffee joined, they have had a range of different C's like Monahan, Dube, Jarnkrok.  At least I think that, since they changed a lot over the last month. 

 

I am reluctant to give the C spot to Dube.  Maybe he belongs there, but I just haven't seen enough to say that.  It's a lot of responsibility to put on him.  Ruzie has played nothing but that.  Jarnkrok, I could live with him helping another line, not one needed to score with.  So you either play Jarnkrok or Dube as 4C or 4RW.

 

Obviously Sutter doesn't agree with me.  He's keeping Mange and Toffee with Backs.

Dube and Coles with Ruzie.

Jarny is good to go, but is being held out tonight.

 

  

[The_People1]

6 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Sutter mentioned in his excellent pre-game interview with LA that neither Kyl or Ritchie made the trip to California with the team.

Did everyone watch Valimaki's interview on Flames TV?

My takeaway was that I don't love the attitude. Gives the feel that he's hard done by. What was Robert Thomas again, 6 picks later?

Hope Valimaki fares well, but that interview knocks my hopes down a few pegs.

 

I just wasted 9 minutes listening to it, thanks.  Nothing stood out.  No bad attitude.  He understands fully that he's been hurt and it's been tough playing with consistency.  Bad attitude seems more directed at his luck rather than the franchise for playing him in the minors.

[pikey7883]

1 hour ago, travel_dude said:

Obviously Sutter doesn't agree with me.  He's keeping Mange and Toffee with Backs.

Dube and Coles with Ruzie.

Jarny is good to go, but is being held out tonight.

 

  

Like we no better than Sutter, lol. I do like the Dube, Cole’s, Ruzie line.

[travel_dude]

1 hour ago, pikey7883 said:

Like we no better than Sutter, lol. I do like the Dube, Cole’s, Ruzie line.

 

I couldn't coach the team worth squat, but I don't think Sutter is flawless.

He could turn the Real Deal into a real deal.

But he might play Neal with Gaudreau.

Are there lines we haven't seen that could be better?

Who knows.

[conundrumed]

2 hours ago, The_People1 said:

 

I just wasted 9 minutes listening to it, thanks.  Nothing stood out.  No bad attitude.  He understands fully that he's been hurt and it's been tough playing with consistency.  Bad attitude seems more directed at his luck rather than the franchise for playing him in the minors.

You're welcome.