Calgary Flames: Noah Hanifin, James Neal give Flames high hopes
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – James Neal
Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett – Derek Ryan – Elias Lindholm
Mark Jankowski – Austin Czarnik – Garnet Hathaway
Depth options: Curtis Lazar, Alan Quine, Kerby Rychel
Expect to see Neal get the first crack at the top forward line. Gaudreau and Monahan need a guy who can score goals and he can certainly do that. The Flames have an outstanding second line, which serves as their shutdown line. Calgary was a far better possession team with the three “M’s” on the ice.
Lindholm makes sense as the third-line right wing, though he could get some minutes on the top line as well. It’s worth noting Peters is quite familiar with him, as he coached him in Carolina. The Flames third line should benefit from the addition of Ryan. Bennett could be on his last chance in Calgary.
The fourth line is nothing to write home about, but on paper, it should be much better than last season’s. Calgary has solid depth options as well.
Defensemen
Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak – Michael Stone
Depth options: Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington, Dalton Prout.
Let’s make one thing clear. Andersson should not be a depth option. But thanks to factors beyond his control, the largest being Stone getting a big extension, there’s not a spot in the Flames lineup for him. Andersson and Kylington should be the first guys called up if there are injuries.
Giordano and Brodie have had success together as recently as the 2015-16 season. The Flames are hoping reuniting the pair will offset the loss of Hamilton. Hanifin’s job will be to help Hamonic bounce back from an abysmal season. Having a really great top pairing should make things easier, but Hanifin’s still going to be asked to play a larger role than any he’s played in the NHL to date.
Kulak and Stone should make up the third pairing. Neither of the two inspires much confidence and, as a pairing, they struggled last season. Adding Andersson or Kylington to the mix could help, but it’s hard to see what Peters is going to do there.
Goaltenders
David Rittich
Jon Gilles
Smith will be the starter by default. He did well last season, but he could really use a reliable backup to give him some rest. Rittich will probably have the upper hand in the training camp battle with Gilles.