Team: 2020-21 Calgary Flames

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 10, 2021

Published: Jan. 10, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Flames are running three complete lines this year all with strong capabilities to produce offensively. I'm projecting that our stars don't shine as much but the team will out perform previous seasons.

I think the LW and C pairings I've made below will be tied at the hip all season and any 4 of the guys we have at RW will play on any 4 of the lines.

One Key will be to force teams to allow gaudreau and monahan to face favorable matchups by making the lindholm, Tkachuk line the biggest threat.

Backlund and Bennett play shutdown and Ryan Lucic will hopefully spark some of that chemistry they were experiencing at the end of the regular season last year to be a serviceable 4th.

Our top 5 defense are pretty much set with Nesterov, Mackey and Kylington competing for that 6th spot

The Taxi squad will consist of 2 veteran character forwards (Robinson and Rinaldo) who wont want to be playing at the AHL level and add big time to the locker room. Meanwhile I think Kylington is gonna end up being the odd man out as Mackey seems like he is going to take that next step to the NHL level and act as the 6/7th forward with Nesterov. Domingue is the only choice for goalie on the Taxi squad as the other goalies are not ready for NHL action. Pelletier is a wild card. Flames may want him getting reps in the AHL so he may not make his appearance this year however his performance at the WJC shows that hes very close to making the jump to compete for a NHL roster spot. I would watch for the flames to move someone close to the deadline to make room if they think pelletier will compete

Depth is gonna be key this year as its almost unavoidable that we lose guys to potential Covid issues or injuries due to the shortened schedule.