Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Preseason/training camp

Question 4: That being said, do you think we may be seeing some different line combos in either the first or the second line to hopefully accommodate to Bennett and stick him somewhere in there?

Jonathan Boulanger

I think that the 3M line (Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik) will have to split up at some time during this year. And the lineup will be shuffled around which will give the chance for Bennett and Jankowski to play up and down the lineup and maybe find chemistry with unlikely line partners. However, this year I don’t think Bennett will need a kick in the butt to get going. I think he’ll come in ready to play at an elite level on October 4th and it will continue for the entire year.

Ian Gustafson

I would rather leave Gaudreau, Monahan, and Ferland together to start the season just to see how they do. There is no way they break up the 3M line unless they start the season off slow, it might be tough for Bennett to get in the top 6 to start the season. Unless Glen Gulutzan considers moving Bennett to right wing alongside Monahan, and Gaudreau. Then move Ferland down to the third line.

Tom Oppolzer

I don’t think we’ll see changes in the top two lines, Monahan and Gaudreau have been stuck at the hips essentially since Johnny entered the league. What I think we will see is a kid like Spencer Foo make the squad and join Bennett and Versteeg on line 3. If he is stuck with Brouwer again, however, I’ll be extremely disappointed in the coaching and management.

Benjamin Prokopy

I doubt it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The top 2 lines of Gaudreau/Monahan/Ferland and Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik worked well at the end of last season. It’s reasonable to presume that those 2 lines will stay intact for the foreseeable future. Of course, injuries may change things. And, during games where a shakeup is required, there is going to some line juggling. But, for the most part, I’m afraid Sam Bennett stays on the third line.

Dan Raicevich

It’s preseason, you will see a billion different combos in terms of the lines. Once opening night comes, the top six are mainly set. 3M lines plus the top line of Ferland, Monahan and Gaudreau with Bennett finding his way onto the third line. Shows great depth in the Flames lineup.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with Ben that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but lines don’t always stay perfect forever. We saw that with the Gaudreau-Monahan-Jiri Hudler from the 2014-15 season to the following season. That being said, I still think Ferland will stay on that first line to start the season with Gaudreau and Monahan and the 3M line will be intact as long as they play like they have been. But we might see a few different combos throughout the season. I’m hoping we’ll also see him on a powerplay unit since, like we’ve seen, he’s an excellent playmaker.