Lineup with explanation

Exactly how I would run line apart from 2 things

slightly disagree with your analysis of Stone. I think he is a very Solid third pairing defenseman. hes not going to get you points at 5on5 but he is no way a liability defensively. he hasn't had a positive CORSI however most third pairing defenseman don't. I Also believe Stone is vastly underused and underappreciated for the shot that he posseses. he has an incredible slapshot from the point and I think they should utilize that shot on the second power play. If the guy was being payed 2 MIL instead of 3.5 there would be no problem here. personally considering Anderson has played a total of 11 NHL games and Valimaki has played 0 NHL and 0 AHL games I think it is far more safe of the flames to not assume that those two guys can immediately hold down the third pairing. Use stone and Kulak as buffers while those two guys slowly make the transition to the NHL. if they prove they can do it then flip stone for next to nothing at the trade deadline.

my only other quarrel with your line up here is the wingers of the 4th line. right now I see Czarnik, foo, mangiapane, dube, Hathaway, and Lazar all competing for those spots. personally I think foo is much more suited for the NHL than Mangiapane is and he proved that in the four games he played last season. He was gritty, not afraid to go to the net or the corners and his positioning was spectacular. mangiapane had 10 games and contributed nothing to the team proving to me that the guy is an AHL player. Czarnik needs to prove himself before he becomes an NHL regular and I think you are right in that he will be given that chance in the first 10-20 games of the season but if he isn't performing I expect him to be swapped out quick. we already know what Lazar and Hathaway are capable of and I believe both those guys provide a role that Calgary may see as important. that role is gritty penalty killers who are not afraid to get in the rough aspect of the game. something the rest of the team is lacking. Lazar has proven that playing along talented players in the past he can contribute so I would like to see him given a chance at the 4th line LW position beside Ryan as I think they could definetly create the chemistry duo that the rest of the lines have. lazars last breathe in the NHL comes this year so I expect him to be pushing very hard for that position and while his potential has diminished almost to nothing I wouldn't put it past him that he makes the 2nd round pick we gave up for him hurt a little less this season. Hath is a physical player so if the team needs an injection of strength I expect him to get a couple starts. finally dube is a wild card. can he transfer his game to the wing has yet to be seen but I think a strong training camp from him might give him the chance at the NHL he will undoubtedly receive whether its this year or next.

Sorry for the rant I just wanted to put my thoughts in writing. other then those two things this is an excellent prediction for the flames starting linup this season

GO Flames GO