Flames Lineup - Suggested Lines

[The_People1]

37 minutes ago, robrob74 said:

 

that is interesting. I liked his move on his goal tonight and we’ve seen that a bit. Will teams start to notice it and cut him off? Well, even though the goalie should have had that shot, he put himself in a position to score and he beat his pad from being on the ice.

 

Yes, we've seen that move where he goes wide and around the outside but leaning in and shielding the puck with his big frame.  It's worked well for him.  He usually centers it but this time he went five-hole.  Just thinking if he had a Mangiapane or Toffoli to go to the net for him instead of Lucic or Lewis.  Rucizka is also smart along the boards so I think that could be a good complement for Mangiapane and Toffoli.

 

From what I can tell, Ruzicka is a better version of this year's Monahan already.  He should be playing a bit higher up the depth chart.

[robrob74]

21 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

 

Yes, we've seen that move where he goes wide and around the outside but leaning in and shielding the puck with his big frame.  It's worked well for him.  He usually centers it but this time he went five-hole.  Just thinking if he had a Mangiapane or Toffoli to go to the net for him instead of Lucic or Lewis.  Rucizka is also smart along the boards so I think that could be a good complement for Mangiapane and Toffoli.

 

From what I can tell, Ruzicka is a better version of this year's Monahan already.  He should be playing a bit higher up the depth chart.

 

i can see how he’s better than this year’s Monahan. But for me, other than his PP abilities I’d not think Monahan was an NHLer for most of this year. He is showing some 5v5 spurts, but is it enough? If it were a rookie, he’d never have gotten this much runway. 

[travel_dude]

6 hours ago, The_People1 said:

I want to see more Ruzicka.  He's been sneaky good and should be rewarded.

 

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk

Mangiapane - Ruzicka - Toffoli

Coleman - Backlund - Dube

Lucic - Monahan - Lewis

 

Interesting look.  It's a slight change to what I was suggesting with Monahan in that spot.

 

[conundrumed]

6 hours ago, The_People1 said:

I want to see more Ruzicka.  He's been sneaky good and should be rewarded.

 

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk

Mangiapane - Ruzicka - Toffoli

Coleman - Backlund - Dube

Lucic - Monahan - Lewis

The fun part is that we're in no rush. I like the 4th line as is. Keep building Ruzicka there. May come a time he needs to be elevated, but we're afforded great patience for now.

[travel_dude]

54 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

The fun part is that we're in no rush. I like the 4th line as is. Keep building Ruzicka there. May come a time he needs to be elevated, but we're afforded great patience for now.

 

Seeing what Toffee can do with a simple, brilliant pass, you have to wonder if we have about 3-6 looks that could work.  I won't get into them here, because I am not Sutter.  He won't tip his hand.  And Toffee played very little, considering the adjustment, no practice and a lot of games in a short time.   

 

Ruzie (or Rozie or Rozy) seems to have discovered that he doesn't just have to be good defensively and win draws; he can use his speed and big body to dominate down low and blow by people.  Backlund has the possession and gaining space part down, but is offset by his sometimes giving up on plays (looks lazy) and poor shot placement.  Ruzie is starting to understand that yes, he is good enough to play here.  Yes, it was not just an illusion by playing in junior and AHL.  Yes, a good coach drives you to be better.

[conundrumed]

22 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

 

Seeing what Toffee can do with a simple, brilliant pass, you have to wonder if we have about 3-6 looks that could work.  I won't get into them here, because I am not Sutter.  He won't tip his hand.  And Toffee played very little, considering the adjustment, no practice and a lot of games in a short time.   

 

Ruzie (or Rozie or Rozy) seems to have discovered that he doesn't just have to be good defensively and win draws; he can use his speed and big body to dominate down low and blow by people.  Backlund has the possession and gaining space part down, but is offset by his sometimes giving up on plays (looks lazy) and poor shot placement.  Ruzie is starting to understand that yes, he is good enough to play here.  Yes, it was not just an illusion by playing in junior and AHL.  Yes, a good coach drives you to be better.

I think his strengths are possession and his shot. I'd like to see him option into Backlund's PP2 slot. Replace Looch with Toffoli.

Mang-Rozie-Toffoli

Hanifin-Kyl

Rozie becomes the net front guy Looch is, Toffoli/Mang with the shot.

I think that improves the skill level, and keeps Backs as the PK specialist he is.

 

[travel_dude]

1 minute ago, conundrumed said:

I think his strengths are possession and his shot. I'd like to see him option into Backlund's PP2 slot. Replace Looch with Toffoli.

Mang-Rozie-Toffoli

Hanifin-Kyl

Rozie becomes the net front guy Looch is, Toffoli/Mang with the shot.

I think that improves the skill level, and keeps Backs as the PK specialist he is.

 

 

If Ruzie is ever able to get his FO% to a consistent 50% or higher, it would help justify it.

If we are changing while maintaining possession, then it's not as big an issue.

[conundrumed]

37 minutes ago, travel_dude said:

 

If Ruzie is ever able to get his FO% to a consistent 50% or higher, it would help justify it.

If we are changing while maintaining possession, then it's not as big an issue.

PP time would likely help. Those FOs are a bit of a different beast vs 5v5. Options are a bit more limited for both Cs.

Be strong on your stick, he's big enough. Mang and Toffoli can win pucks in tie draws.

He'd be more skill screening and a bigger slot threat than Looch, and I'm not knocking Looch.

Ruzicka deserves a turn in that spot. In good time I guess, he's only 23.

I loves me another 4th rder disproving Flames development sucks. Plus I'd say that it's only getting better.

 

 

[travel_dude]

28 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

PP time would likely help. Those FOs are a bit of a different beast vs 5v5. Options are a bit more limited for both Cs.

Be strong on your stick, he's big enough. Mang and Toffoli can win pucks in tie draws.

He'd be more skill screening and a bigger slot threat than Looch, and I'm not knocking Looch.

Ruzicka deserves a turn in that spot. In good time I guess, he's only 23.

I loves me another 4th rder disproving Flames development sucks. Plus I'd say that it's only getting better.

 

 

 

I suppose if Backlund hadn't turned it around at all or Mangiapane and Coleman were not heating up, you wouldn't reward Backlund.  As it stands, he's getting limited time as a 3rd unit C.  Mostly near the end.  I don't follow the exact line choices post-PP, so I don't know how Sutter rolls once we are done the PP.  Guys that played 1/2 of it tend to sit for a bit.  Maybe they want him out there right afterwards.  

[MP5029]

4 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

Interesting look.  It's a slight change to what I was suggesting with Monahan in that spot.

 

 TD I was on board with you…but I do agree Ruzicka dose deserve a reward…having said that Monahan is looking really good the past few games, he’s over due to break out…and I think Ruzicka needs to be sheltered a bit longer, that and I can’t help but feel it has a lot to do with Lucic helping develop Ruzicka…I feel your route is the better move and keep Ruzicka nice and safe this year under Lucic’s wing…

 

Also, after the past few games the line mins seem to be levelling out quite a bit, so as long as your in the lineup you gonna play at least 10 mins a game or more, the way all the line have been playing I can see Sutter balancing those lines on a regular basis…and this is coming a a good time cause they have so many back2Back games they need to spread those mins to keep fresh..I’d say the only changes I’d make are:

 

Manji/Monahan/Toffoil 

Dube/Backlund/Coleman 

 

unless we manage to land another RW which would probably cost us Dube, and this is doubtful to land another RW that’s worth moving Dube for…but if it happens and no way it dose without Dube going the other way:

 

Coleman/Backlund/ RW?

 

so

 

best case scenario, we land a bottom 4th line RW say a guy like J.Gauthier in NYR? and by some miracle we can keep Dube…

 

Lucic/Ruzicka/RW?…Gauthier  

 

that would probably be an amazing situation as I could see both Ruzicka and Gauthier excel under Sutter and Lucic’s guidance and make that 4th line crazy good…pushing Lewis to a spare is perfect! 
 

I don’t think they should mess with the D, it seems to have really come together the past few weeks…maybe upgrade on Stone…but he’s pretty reliable as a spare D so what’s the point? 

 

 

 

 

[MP5029]

You know it’s really too bad that Tachuck wears #19 and not 18…we could try some fun line combos of 8’s and 3’s which actually could work well:

 

Manji 88/Lindholm 28/Tachuck 18 

Gaudreau 13/Monahan 23/ Toffoil 73 

 

Oddly those lines could work too?! But more the fact it would be neat to see just once even 

[robrob74]

51 minutes ago, MP5029 said:

 TD I was on board with you…but I do agree Ruzicka dose deserve a reward…having said that Monahan is looking really good the past few games, he’s over due to break out…and I think Ruzicka needs to be sheltered a bit longer, that and I can’t help but feel it has a lot to do with Lucic helping develop Ruzicka…I feel your route is the better move and keep Ruzicka nice and safe this year under Lucic’s wing…

 

Also, after the past few games the line mins seem to be levelling out quite a bit, so as long as your in the lineup you gonna play at least 10 mins a game or more, the way all the line have been playing I can see Sutter balancing those lines on a regular basis…and this is coming a a good time cause they have so many back2Back games they need to spread those mins to keep fresh..I’d say the only changes I’d make are:

 

Manji/Monahan/Toffoil 

Dube/Backlund/Coleman 

 

unless we manage to land another RW which would probably cost us Dube, and this is doubtful to land another RW that’s worth moving Dube for…but if it happens and no way it dose without Dube going the other way:

 

Coleman/Backlund/ RW?

 

so

 

best case scenario, we land a bottom 4th line RW say a guy like J.Gauthier in NYR? and by some miracle we can keep Dube…

 

Lucic/Ruzicka/RW?…Gauthier  

 

that would probably be an amazing situation as I could see both Ruzicka and Gauthier excel under Sutter and Lucic’s guidance and make that 4th line crazy good…pushing Lewis to a spare is perfect! 
 

I don’t think they should mess with the D, it seems to have really come together the past few weeks…maybe upgrade on Stone…but he’s pretty reliable as a spare D so what’s the point? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see what you mean, but at the same time, all of the players on the line are playing well and they all deserve a reward. Part of the reward for the line is getting more playing time. That helps with the depth and gives the top3 rests and enables them to play at 100% capacity. 

 

Now, if you're wanting to improve the look of the team and trying something to make the team deeper, that is another thing, to try and see if he can make some of the other players the same or better? 

 

In the case of Bennett, I felt he could do just as well or better than Monahan in the same position. For me, that might have been because Bennett is more mobile. 

 

So Can Ruzie do that? I am still skeptical, but I am loving what I am seeing out of him. Maybe mobile players will help him look better.

[robrob74]

24 minutes ago, MP5029 said:

You know it’s really too bad that Tachuck wears #19 and not 18…we could try some fun line combos of 8’s and 3’s which actually could work well:

 

Manji 88/Lindholm 28/Tachuck 18 

Gaudreau 13/Monahan 23/ Toffoil 73 

 

Oddly those lines could work too?! But more the fact it would be neat to see just once even 

 

It's a tough call. The Monahan line you're suggesting turned out to be easily shutdown in the past, at the end of their tenure as a line. It is different with Toffoli. Maybe it's different with the coach. I don't know how much of Johnny's game was affected by the coaching back then. Johnny skates it in, gets cornered at the blue line, dishes and it goes the other way. Would they use each other better?

 

Even with Lindholm on the line with Johnny and Monny, they were easy to shut down.

[The_People1]

1 minute ago, robrob74 said:

 

It's a tough call. The Monahan line you're suggesting turned out to be easily shutdown in the past, at the end of their tenure as a line. It is different with Toffoli. Maybe it's different with the coach. I don't know how much of Johnny's game was affected by the coaching back then. Johnny skates it in, gets cornered at the blue line, dishes and it goes the other way. Would they use each other better?

 

Even with Lindholm on the line with Johnny and Monny, they were easy to shut down.

 

It takes high IQ players to keep up with someone like Gaudreau.  Monahan was only average IQ.  I think while Tkachuk isn't fast on his feet, he's fast between the ears.  Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk all think the game at the same speed and that's really important.

 

I didn't like this line at first because I didn't like Tkachuk on RW.  After a rough start, he's getting better and better.  The numbers show this.  So we have to accept Tkachuk has successfully transitioned to RW and call him a RW now.  And this is one of the best lines in the NHL right now.

[travel_dude]

56 minutes ago, MP5029 said:

You know it’s really too bad that Tachuck wears #19 and not 18…we could try some fun line combos of 8’s and 3’s which actually could work well:

 

Manji 88/Lindholm 28/Tachuck 18 

Gaudreau 13/Monahan 23/ Toffoil 73 

 

Oddly those lines could work too?! But more the fact it would be neat to see just once even 

 

You could call the Johnny line the Prime Line.

Nerd math joke.

[travel_dude]

28 minutes ago, The_People1 said:

 

It takes high IQ players to keep up with someone like Gaudreau.  Monahan was only average IQ.  I think while Tkachuk isn't fast on his feet, he's fast between the ears.  Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk all think the game at the same speed and that's really important.

 

I didn't like this line at first because I didn't like Tkachuk on RW.  After a rough start, he's getting better and better.  The numbers show this.  So we have to accept Tkachuk has successfully transitioned to RW and call him a RW now.  And this is one of the best lines in the NHL right now.

 

Yes, I was feeling the same concern.

But, we have seen Tkachuk on the MMA line do well.

I think he overthinks things at times.

Has 2 plays in advanced calculated.

You can hear his Garmin going off "Recalculating".

[MP5029]

17 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

You could call the Johnny line the Prime Line.

Nerd math joke.

Lmao good one 😊

[MP5029]

18 hours ago, robrob74 said:

 

 

I see what you mean, but at the same time, all of the players on the line are playing well and they all deserve a reward. Part of the reward for the line is getting more playing time. That helps with the depth and gives the top3 rests and enables them to play at 100% capacity. 

 

Now, if you're wanting to improve the look of the team and trying something to make the team deeper, that is another thing, to try and see if he can make some of the other players the same or better? 

 

In the case of Bennett, I felt he could do just as well or better than Monahan in the same position. For me, that might have been because Bennett is more mobile. 

 

So Can Ruzie do that? I am still skeptical, but I am loving what I am seeing out of him. Maybe mobile players will help him look better.

I agree with you on this too…it’s actually a good problem to have, we haven’t had this issue in a long time…I’m sure with Sutter, it will eventually all work out well…

 

i will say this though, I feel

the Toffoil acquisition was a reward for Monahan working hard…his mins are getting up more and more theses days so I feel that as things gel amongst the players lines 1-3 will be pretty close for the remainder of the season and hopefully post season…

 

I think a good reward for the 4th line is a more capable RW, can’t help but feel that’s the only missing pics now…Ruzicka is developing so well he’s definitely one of the biggest surprises this season along with Kylington…we were over due for some of our prospects to break out…but back on point, that 4th line seems like it jut needs a little more added like a player on the RW…one that’s still big, tough and mobile but just a little better than Lewis or Richardson.  If we can add an affordable not too old vet type to that line, I think you see both Ruzicka and Lucic pot a few more pts…they are getting reward with tons of ice time…again Sutter seems to like to reward lines more than then individual, and it shows with the 3rd and 4th lines really in a good grove, and the keep improving…I like how this team is built now, it’s definitely built to be a 4 line balanced ice time team which is so important to being a legitimate contender 

[travel_dude]

1 hour ago, MP5029 said:

I agree with you on this too…it’s actually a good problem to have, we haven’t had this issue in a long time…I’m sure with Sutter, it will eventually all work out well…

 

i will say this though, I feel

the Toffoil acquisition was a reward for Monahan working hard…his mins are getting up more and more theses days so I feel that as things gel amongst the players lines 1-3 will be pretty close for the remainder of the season and hopefully post season…

 

I think a good reward for the 4th line is a more capable RW, can’t help but feel that’s the only missing pics now…Ruzicka is developing so well he’s definitely one of the biggest surprises this season along with Kylington…we were over due for some of our prospects to break out…but back on point, that 4th line seems like it jut needs a little more added like a player on the RW…one that’s still big, tough and mobile but just a little better than Lewis or Richardson.  If we can add an affordable not too old vet type to that line, I think you see both Ruzicka and Lucic pot a few more pts…they are getting reward with tons of ice time…again Sutter seems to like to reward lines more than then individual, and it shows with the 3rd and 4th lines really in a good grove, and the keep improving…I like how this team is built now, it’s definitely built to be a 4 line balanced ice time team which is so important to being a legitimate contender 

 

I think we under-appreciate Lewis.  He is a PK guy that has improved our team.  He is not really holding back Ruzie.  Lucic may be, but what are we expecting from the 4th line.  Don't get scored on and pot the occasional goal.  Not have to be sheltered.  Some toughness if required.

[travel_dude]

Today's practice lines and pairings:

 

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Dube-Monahan-Toffoli
Lucic-Ruzicka-Lewis
Richardson-Ritchie

Hanifin-Andersson
Kylington-Tanev
Zadorov-Gudbranson
Stone

Markstrom
Vladar

[sak22]

5 hours ago, travel_dude said:

 

I think we under-appreciate Lewis.  

This alone is makes it a good pick up

 

[conundrumed]

6 hours ago, sak22 said:

This alone is makes it a good pick up

 

It sure indicates that it's more of a media thing. Doughty prolly laughed his Hash Rate off.

[CheersMan]

18 minutes ago, conundrumed said:

It sure indicates that it's more of a media thing. Doughty prolly laughed his Hash Rate off.

I don't know man. I'm thinking Lewis just fell to the bottom of Doughty's SC best friend list. That hate runs deep.

[conundrumed]

9 minutes ago, CheersMan said:

I don't know man. I'm thinking Lewis just fell to the bottom of Doughty's SC best friend list. That hate runs deep.

Seemed more like a practical joke to me.

[sak22]

11 hours ago, conundrumed said:

Seemed more like a practical joke to me.

I think the rivalry got to the point of being more about publicity than anything, sure on the ice they definitely appear to not like each other, they are just 2 players who aren't afraid to speak their mind to the media, which IMO the game needs plenty more like that as it helps sell the game to an extent, the last time the Kings actually came here there was a lot more buzz around town and the building actually had a good atmosphere which is usually only reserved for Canadian teams.  Both players would play with each other in a heartbeat.