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Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Forwards Edition

By Ramina Shlah

Dec 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) and defenseman TJ Brodie (7) and right wing Troy Brouwer (36) and center Sean Monahan (23) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrate Monahan's game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Flames defeat the Stars 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) and defenseman TJ Brodie (7) and right wing Troy Brouwer (36) and center Sean Monahan (23) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrate Monahan's game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Flames defeat the Stars 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (93) celebrates with center Mikael Backlund (11) scoring a goal in the first period against the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett (93) celebrates with center Mikael Backlund (11) scoring a goal in the first period against the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Question 3: Struggles with Bennett could also be attributed to not playing alongside good linemates. Should he move up to a line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik and play on the wing with them and hopefully gain some momentum? Or keep 3M as is?

Jonathan Boulanger

This is a tough one. I don’t think the 3M line with stay great forever and may have to be split up sometime next year, which opens the door for Bennett. In a perfect world Bennett would find chemistry with someone like Lazar or Versteeg and the 3M would remain superb.

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Alex Hoegler

Yes he should. Frolik and Backlund are 20-goal scorers and their speed would complement Bennett’s skill well. How can he get better with average linemates?

Dan Raicevich

The most consistent line all year was the 3M line. WE saw great growth through that line this year, and that is, in my opinion, the most underrated line in hockey. Do not touch it.

Ramina Shlah

It seems that the answers here are quite evenly split down the middle. As much as I agree with Alex in him not being able to improve with average linemates, I don’t know how much I want 3M to split up. They were a big reason the Flames even made it to the playoffs with their consistency all season long.

I think maybe trying Curtis Lazar with Sam Bennett would work because we saw them for a couple games together this season and they worked out well. So I’m quite torn on this. But I’d say give Bennett a shot with Backs and Frolik. When Tkachuk got suspended for those two games, Bennett briefly played with them and he was fast and able to keep up with them. He performed well with them. I think it wouldn’t hurt to try it out.

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