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High Stakes Tryout: Flames Roll Four NHL-or-Bust Forward Lines vs. Kraken |
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Preseason carries on, and the Flames prepare for game six tonight against the Seattle Kraken. First, let’s take a look at the lineup. It’s a doozy.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Pat Steinberg. @Fan960Steinberg
Honzek-Kadri-Kuzmenko
Pelletier-Backlund-Coleman
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Coronato
Lomberg-Morton-Klapka
Weegar-Miromanov
Solovyov-Andersson
Barrie-Pachal
Vladar
Cooley
As high of stakes as preseason gets. We see at least one younger forward trying out for a regular NHL line on all four units. Every shift an opportunity. Tonight is going to be a treat.
Here are a few storylines to follow.
First Line Talent
Sam Honzek is tied for first in preseason scoring. Matvei Michkov shares first place with the 19-year-old forward. More on the latter at the bottom.
Pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good. Tonight Honzek gets a look on the left side of a line with Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko. If the 16th overall pick in 2023 puts up a couple points tonight, are we entering a discussion about where he slots in on the Flames?
Likely a bit of wishful thinking. Despite efforts to slim down the roster, the Flames have a cluttered forward group.
Post-trade deadline, though — what are the odds that neither of Honzek’s linemates tonight remain on the team as of 4:00 p.m. on March 7, 2025?
2023 Draft What-If?
Winds of fortune have turned in Honzek’s favour of late. Tonight we’ll see a player that was also notably considered by the Flames.
That of Eduard Sale. Pronounced like the Swiss restaurant chain.
Sale, 19, is a top-six-or-bust left winger that fits the typical Jared McCann, Eli Tolvanen, Daniel Sprong mould: big shot, smooth enough hands, strong transition and not a whole lot of sandpaper.
Draft what-ifs? are always fun, but it appears Honzek rightfully went four picks before Sale.
Running Low
Jakob Pelletier gets a game on a perennial contender for most dependable line in the NHL. Playing hard-cut two-way hockey may be just what he needs to get a little more comfortable out there.
Saturday was another zero-shot, zero-point performance for the 26th overall pick in 2019. You simply can’t go the entire preseason with only one shot on net and make a case that you deserve a roster spot.
Given that Pelletier is now waiver-eligible, things get slightly muddy. Maybe there isn’t a team willing to try to build him back up. Maybe a cap-conscious team like the Capitals – with his former head coach Mitch Love serving as an assistant – will say, “We have to have this guy.”
Probably not, but Jakob does need to start playing his brand again. He is much better than he has shown in camp.
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Coronato
This line seems more “how do Huberdeau and Sharangovich look on the ice together?” than “how does Matthew Coronato look with these guys?”
With that said, Coronato has three goals and two primary assists in two games this preseason. How does he look with these guys?
Personally, I’m not sure about this line. Put two burners with Huberdeau and let him float around under the radar. Coronato is more of a plays best in-tight kind of player.
A Sore Spot
These two teams last played each other on September 22. A group of U24 players and AHL vets blew out a Kraken group loaded with NHL regulars to a 6-1 tune.
There were also some big hits on both ends. Artem Grushnikov and Brayden Pachal had eight hits apiece, some of them bell-ringers. The former dropped the gloves with 2022 fourth-round pick Tucker Robertson.
Will there be a desire for redemption? It’s preseason, but let's stay on a note here.
Pachal
A goal and an assist on Saturday makes it three points in two games for Brayden Pachal. He also has ten hits.
It’s going to be a little absurd if a lesser-performing veteran makes the squad over the six-foot-two Estevan kid. If this is truly more of a meritocracy than years past; he deserves a spot.
It’s an oddly clogged blue line. Jake Bean seems assured a spot, but is also semi-injured. As is Kevin Bahl.
What Gives?
Anyone else feel bad for Rory Kerins? Not even a glance in preseason action. Stranded out on the five-skater Group C for most of camp. Maybe he’s banged up or recovering from surgery, but Kerins was a top-six fixture last year on the Wranglers.
The same goes for Ilya Nikolaev. This has to be his last season in the organization despite being a restricted free agent after the season. From limited showings, Ilya has seemed like a dependable center with NHL potential. Here is hoping he finds a real opportunity either this year or elsewhere next season. Nikolaev is only 23.
Hockey Moment
We end today with a huge moment for the Philidelphia Flyers. Sean Couturier immediately sticks up for rookie Matvei Michkov. Michkov would go on to score two goals including the OT winner.
The fight:
The OT winner:
Anyone want to get on the Flyers wagon this year?
Puck drop is likely much later than the 7:00 p.m. start time.
Stats via Natural Stat Trick, the National Hockey League, and EliteProspects.
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