Potential Forward Line Combinations

Kent, I agree with you on Nemisz not being ready. I just wonder if they’re better to get those guys some cherry icetime instead of handing it off to guys like Jackman and Ivanans who look so terrible Corsi-wise that they make Staios look good.

Unless Sutter is willing to push Kotalik AND one of Staios or Sarich down, you’re right – only one of Backlund or Nemisz can come up.

Jackman’s icetime with the Islanders was odd though. Zone start of 33.8% and Corsi QoC of 1.2. It makes we wonder if he’d at least be a neutral Corsi without getting thrown to the wolves.

The Jackman and Ivanans signings rank up there with the Staios pickup in my opinion. I just don’t see the point. They may have been cheap, but they bring no value other than their knuckles and for some reason Darryl thought they needed to be locked up for a couple years. Blah.

I’m excited about Ryan Stone. He could be another Glencross and I love that we stole him from the Oilers. That said, I really hope Jackman and Ivanans don’t steal a roster spot from him since he’s already played well in limited NHL minutes, we’re not trying to project his performance from the CHL or AHL.

Saying that you don’t like to fuck around with rosters is like saying I just draft the players and tell them to go score, I don’t really like to coach them up.

Line matchups make a MASSIVE difference in the outcome of a game. All it takes is two good shifts of Iggy-Joker-Tanguay against the 4th line and every other line keeping their head above water and the Flames can win. For that matter, a couple good shifts by Stajan-Hagman-Moss against the other team’s 4th.

I agree with you that it won’t be easy, if it was, we’d just start planning the Cup parade now. Those line combos will have to be altered slightly depending on the competition. Against a particularly deep offensive team, Conroy may take Backlund’s place in the lineup (once Langkow is healthy), and against a team with a weak 4th line, Nemisz could get the call up to take Moss spot on the 3rd line while Moss plays with Backlund and Stone.

I’m mostly with you RO. Of course, this is where the Flames are: like the PHX and NSH of the world, they have to find some way to get lesser “scorers” some cherry minutes while feeding someone else to the wolves. It’s a tough way to manage the bench and there’s no chance of your club being elite, but that’s where we are.

And this is mostly Jokinen’s fault, the guy just leaves his linemates hanging out to dry.

As much as I don’t much care for Jokinen, there’s a lot of evidence that Jarome was at least as big of an anchor as Sex Panther last year. I’m publishing the WOWY elsewhere this summer, but it’s fairly unequivocal on this point.

Thing One not as ghastly as we thought. What about Thing Two ?

I love the on-demand analysis Kent. Is this some sort of PPV ploy?

Jackman actually looks a lot better when you look deeper, Ivanans gets progressively uglier the deeper I dig.

I like PS’s names of Thing 1 and Thing 2 though.

Do you have any other gems of insight that I can subsequently recommend you take elsewhere?

…by the way. Very weird mix of players we have here in Calgary at the moment.

I’ve never seen him play out on the wing, but it might make sense. In your scenario, the line of GlenX, Conroy and Stone could be very good in our end. I would probably push Tanguay up with Jerome though, just on the thought his passing could be just what Iggy needs. I do, however, really like seeing Backlund with offensive players, so iving him Jokinen & Bourque might be interesting.

While I like this because the third line should be able to hang with heavy hitters and eat everything else for lunch, my rough math tells me this lineup is so close to the cap ($59.329 million) that a single injury buggers us.

As many others have noted before, even with Kotalik buried, there is no way for Langkow and Backlund to be on this roster.

Jokinen – Corsi 4.91, Corsi QoC 0.184, Zn Start 51.8% offensive
Conroy – Corsi 2.45, Corsi QoC 0.723, Zn Start 49.1% offensive

Jokinen’s raw Corsi makes him look better but Conroy played tougher comp and started more in his own end.

I can’t speak for the other commenters but in my lineup, it wasn’t a matter of who was better, but which situation to use them in.

Jokinen is positive against decent comp but with a bit of zone favorability. Conroy and to an even great extent Langkow (7.65-0.159-47.7%) were great at moving the puck from the defensive zone to the offensive zone. I was trying to find a lineup that put everyone in the best position to succeed.

If they were both 30 years old, Conroy is the man. Despite his heart, head and personality, Craig’s legs and hands are 39. If you really think he is a better hockey player than a 31 year old Jokinen, then we are really screwed if we are acquiring guys that aren’t better than a 39 year old journeyman.

Kotalik or Staios will be going down, make no mistake about it. The Flames are $2.35m over the cap – they HAVE to move someone

Glencross-Jackman-Conroy would be a 4th line. Not enough PVP potential from Jackman…although Conroy and GlenX would be able to keep the line above the water, I think.

One could ask why they dropped Nigel Dawesto do the same as a Wellwood to save only $700 K ? I kind of doubt they will go out and get another forward, unless the trading of Sarich (or heaven help us all – Staios or Kotalik) requires the inclusion of a useful forward such as Moss or Glencross.

He didn’t show enough last year for anyone to take interest, so you may be right he could be in the starting lineup.

Now that Willie Mitchell has signed, and Kaberle is back in from the Burkie’s sidewalk sale, some teams looking for the veteran D upgrade may come calling. Frankly they will call Vancouver first for Bieksa, rather than Calgary for Sarich due to one year rather than 2 left on contract. Will Vancouver deal – or will they wait until Sami Salo returns ?