Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames' projected opening night lineup

Pretty balanced lineup.

Go Flames!

The forward group for the Flames looks very formidable. It really helps with a couple up and comers like Dube and Mangiapane. Defence group outside the first pair could be a real adventure. Vallimaki is a future star, but the NHL is tough for rookie dmen.

It doesn't matter what you're labelling them, the Tkachuk line and the Gaudreau line are going to be used the same as they were last year. Gaudreau is going to be sent out in every offensive situation, and Tkachuk is going to be sent out to shut down the other team's top line. It doesn't make sense to do it any other way.

Even if you try to argue that Tkachuk is close to Gaudreau offensively, he's not, Gaudreau can't be used as a shutdown guy. If he's not out there for all the big offensive situations, there's no point having him in the lineup.

It's also extremely silly to say Tanev is vastly declining when he's coming off the best year of his career when he was a solid partner for Hughes. Tanev is a substantial upgrade over Hamonic.

Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames' projected opening night lineup
- ToddCordellCGY

Not sure Simon plays 4th, not a spot for him. He's got good hands that would be of a better use

Not sure Simon plays 4th, not a spot for him. He's got good hands that would be of a better use
- kastr99

I think he will move up the lineup. He looked great in pre season.

It doesn't matter what you're labelling them, the Tkachuk line and the Gaudreau line are going to be used the same as they were last year. Gaudreau is going to be sent out in every offensive situation, and Tkachuk is going to be sent out to shut down the other team's top line. It doesn't make sense to do it any other way.

Even if you try to argue that Tkachuk is close to Gaudreau offensively, he's not, Gaudreau can't be used as a shutdown guy. If he's not out there for all the big offensive situations, there's no point having him in the lineup.

It's also extremely silly to say Tanev is vastly declining when he's coming off the best year of his career when he was a solid partner for Hughes. Tanev is a substantial upgrade over Hamonic.
- Hunkulese

Backlands line will get some time against other teams top lines as well. Which will free up Tkachuk for some easier minutes.

Todd Cordell: On the Calgary Flames' projected opening night lineup
- ToddCordellCGY

Tanev vastly declining?! Good one!!

I think he will move up the lineup. He looked great in pre season.
- DuranDuran

I think he's got potential if only someone can unlock it. Quick hands and hockey IQ

I like your idea to flip Lucic and Bennett. As soon as I saw how it was shaking out I was over the whole Bennett at center thing and was put him as LW on Backlunds line

Tanev vastly declining?! Good one!!
- Clyde334

Looked better than Hammer ever did in playoffs last year.

Regarding Bennett it's less a matter of position than a matter of style of play. The question is : can he sustain the intensity and relentless forecheck shown in last year's playoffs over a full season? Might be hard, even fully motivated.

Regarding Bennett it's less a matter of position than a matter of style of play. The question is : can he sustain the intensity and relentless forecheck shown in last year's playoffs over a full season? Might be hard, even fully motivated.
- redseerpf

Maybe play him with Lucic and a skilled winger like Simon for a fewer minutes per game and see what happens.

I think he's got potential if only someone can unlock it. Quick hands and hockey IQ
- kastr99

Simon has seen most of the reps in training camp on RW with Mony and JG. Mang has mostly been on a line with Backs as the coaches seem interested in forward pairs with the 3rd winger on each line being interchangeable.
Forward pairs have been:
Chuck/Lindy
JG/Mony
Mang/Backs

Regarding Bennett it's less a matter of position than a matter of style of play. The question is : can he sustain the intensity and relentless forecheck shown in last year's playoffs over a full season? Might be hard, even fully motivated.
- redseerpf

And if he can maintain that intensity and stay out of the box with whistle happy refereeing in the regular season! Sams game is built for playoff hockey when the whistles get put away.

Looked better than Hammer ever did in playoffs last year.

For the Flames sake, I hope he's $3.25M dollars for 4 years better!

I know Tanev's game well, and he's a shot blocking machine and a minute eating defensive D-man who may have just started to decline, but I think you'll be happy for a season or two before that contract becomes a problem.

Tkachuk-Lindholm-Dube
Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapane
Lucic-Backlund-Leivo
Ryan-Bennett-Nordstrom
Simon-Rinaldo

Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Tanev
Valimaki-Nesterov
Mackey-Stone

Markstrom
Rittich

I get that it’s just a practice lineup, but damn. Simon played way better than Nordstrom in the last game. Ward hasn’t gotten many looks, but let’s hope this isn’t the lineup we run with too often. Valimaki is gonna be first or second pairing by April I bet.

For the Flames sake, I hope he's $3.25M dollars for 4 years better!

I know Tanev's game well, and he's a shot blocking machine and a minute eating defensive D-man who may have just started to decline, but I think you'll be happy for a season or two before that contract becomes a problem.
- Nelson19777

Tanev will be fine. Hammer will probably bounce back a bit too. He seemed like he wasn’t fully healthy last season and he’s had a lot of time off to get his arms around whatever was nagging him. His defensive play has been trending downwards pretty bad for a few years though..

I get that it’s just a practice lineup, but damn. Simon played way better than Nordstrom in the last game. Ward hasn’t gotten many looks, but let’s hope this isn’t the lineup we run with too often. Valimaki is gonna be first or second pairing by April I bet.
- fry

Having Vali breathing down his neck may push Hanifin to be better too!

Mark Jankowski with the first goal of the season.

Mark Jankowski with the first goal of the season.
- Clyde334

Lol jankoooo

Lol jankoooo
- Squilliam

I am sooooo happy he is not on this team anymore. Wish him all the luck with the Pens.

I am sooooo happy he is not on this team anymore. Wish him all the luck with the Pens.
- DuranDuran

Lol yep. Pretty much exactly this. Hope the kid gets 20 this season. Nine out of ten dentists would rather have Simon on the roster.

That lineup was actually posted on 1/10, so it was before the second scrimmage and not exactly the lines that were used on Monday night.

I'm betting that Ryan is 3rd line right wing and Simon is 4th line right wing.

And, I agree that Valimaki will move up the left D and likely take Gio's spot on first pair with Andersson by mid season.