What should the Flames forward group look like for the regular season opener?
The month of October is finally here, and that means in just 9 days, the Calgary Flames will begin their 2024/25 campaign, taking on the Vancouver Canucks away from home before hosting the Philadelphia Flyers three days later in the home opener at the SaddleDome. While the roster is close to being locked in, the forward line combinations have been tested in many different ways this pre-season, giving GM Craig Conroy and Head Coach Ryan Huska plenty of options.
From a prospect turning into a rising star right in front of our eyes and pushing for a spot to struggling young names to those trying to transition positions, there are many ways the Flames can go, but with the regular season a week away, this is how we would play the Flames forward lines to begin the season.
Jonathan Huberdeau-Connor Zary-Anthony Mantha
Jonathan Huberdeau has been a major hole on this Calgary Flames team for the past two years, but after ending the 2024 portion of last season close to a point-per-game, there's optimism that he can get things going. In the off-season, the team brought in Anthony Mantha to bring his offensive game to the team, and with his ability to put the puck in the net, he will be the perfect wing partner alongside the crafty Huberdeau, who continues to look to get his teeammates scoring opportunities.
Was Anthony Mantha the key to Jonathan Huberdeau all along?? pic.twitter.com/uBVDPhvEJ8
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) September 24, 2024
Down the middle on this line would be Connor Zary, who projects to be a centre of the future in Calgary, coming off a rookie campaign that saw him impress with 14 goals and 34 points in 60 games played. If the team are open to moving Zary down the middle in 2024 to get his long-term future set, and with all three excelling offensively in the pre-season, if they can build chemistry this could be one of, if not the teams best line.
Yegor Sharangovich-Nazem Kadri-Andrei Kuzmenko
At this point in time, the Flames have very few dynamic players offensively, so after a positive 2023/24 campaign, the team should look at the three players that suit that description most and keep them together. Down the middle, Nazem Kadri is the teams best centre, and with two players capable of scoring goals coming off 29 and 31 goal seasons, this could be a fun, fast-paced line to lead the way for the Flames.
🔥Flames Goal🔥
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) October 1, 2024
Andrei Kuzmenko makes a ridiculous pass to Nazem Kadri who taps in the OT winner!
🎥: FlamesTV pic.twitter.com/RJLdBMaOyJ
While Sharangovich and Kadri are locked in as long-term members of the Calgary Flames, Kuzmenko is set for free agency after this season, so if these two can get him rolling like we saw at the end of last year, he's the perfect trade canddiate to get the Flames a huge return and build on the trade of Elias Lindholm. We've already seen the flashes of brilliance paired together this off-season, and even though the team have tried Sharangovich down the middle, he's best suited on the wing, and will make this the Flames best line in 2024/25.
Matt Coronato-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Matt Coronato has been one of the stories of the pre-season for the Calgary Flames, and while he's slowed down significantly in the teams last two games, he should be the player to get the spot alongside the safety net of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. The former first-round pick showed a very high offensive ceiling last season in the AHL, tallying 15 goals and 42 points in 41 games played, and after an impressive pre-season showing, he's ready to take the leap to the NHL.
This is how you backhand-saucer a pass.
— Right Wing, Shoots Left 🇨🇦🏒🥅 (@HILITINGHOCKEY) September 23, 2024
Matt Coronato on display here. #Flames pic.twitter.com/zAczydbG6G
Alongside him we'll see the ever reliable duo of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, who had fantastic years a season ago, combining for 93 points while playing the majority of the year together, once again becoming a safety blanket for any young name making his way to the NHL. Sure, this lineup will never become more than a solid third line in the NHL, but they give this lineup depth moving forward and should be a reliable group once more.
Ryan Lomberg-Martin Pospisil-Adam Klapka
This could be one of the most intriguing lines in all of hockey this season, as it would pair the three hardest hitting names in the Flames organization together in a fourth line that could run wild and make opponents regret playing against them. While Klapka has likely the least certain role on the roster this season, he has impressed all off-season long, and with his ability to finish around the net as well as playing a physical syle of hockey, he fits perfectly alongside Pospisil and Lomberg.
The big mutant Adam Klapka with a huge hit! 💪 pic.twitter.com/k0bSmRUYNB
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) September 29, 2024
There's certainly more skilled and experienced players that could find themselves on this line, but if the Flames are going to lose plenty of games this year, the team should be making it as hard as possible for opponents to play them, and this line is the way to do that. The most intriguing part of this lineup is Martin Pospisil playing down the middle, as he has experience as a centre on the international level, and if he can thrive in this role in 2024/25, he's a candidate to play down the middle for years to come with Calgary.
In the running for a lineup spot/13th forward role; Kevin Rooney, Walker Duehr, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Honzek.