Handicapping training camp… two months out

THE LOCKS

• C Mikael Backlund
• C Sam Bennett
• LW Lance Bouma
• D T.J. Brodie
• RW Troy Brouwer
• RW Alex Chiasson
• G Brian Elliott
• D Deryk Engelland
• LW Micheal Ferland
• RW Michael Frolik
• LW Johnny Gaudreau
• D Mark Giordano
• D Dougie Hamilton
• D Jyrki Jokipakka
• G Chad Johnson
• C Sean Monahan
• D Ladislav Smid **
• C Matt Stajan
• D Dennis Wideman

ON THE BUBBLE

• LW Brandon Bollig
• RW Garnet Hathaway
  
• RW/C Freddie Hamilton
• D Brett Kulak
  
• D Oliver Kylington
  
• RW Emile Poirier
• RW Daniel Pribyl
  
• LW/C Hunter Shinkaruk
  
• LW Matthew Tkachuk
• RW/C Linden Vey
• D Tyler Wotherspoon

• Third-Pairing Defense: Presuming there’s a rotation of Wideman, Engelland and somebody (and that Jokipakka starts off with Hamilton on the second pairing), the Flames probably bring up a lefty blueliner to balance out pairings. Kulak and Kylington don’t require waivers. Wotherspoon will. Kulak and Kylington probably could use regular playing time. Wotherspoon’s more of a finished product (e.g., he’s closer to whatever he’s going to be at the NHL level), and throwing him into that spot could be a nice “make or break” challenge for him. I’d lean towards Wotherspoon myself for those reasons, but Kylington will probably make a push (but is probably more of a late-season option if he keeps improving).
• Top-Six Left Winger: Presuming that the top unit is Gaudreau-Monahan-Brouwer and that Bennett needs a partner, probably the two guys vying for a job on the left side are Tkachuk and Shinkaruk. I’m willing to say that (at least) one of them will be on the Flames roster on October 12. Tkachuk’s more in-your-face playing style might be a better mesh with Bennett’s than Shinkaruk’s more speed-around-the-perimeter style, but you never know.
• Top-Nine Right Winger: If Shinkaruk doesn’t get the lefty job, I could see him staying in the mix for a top-nine role simply because of his offensive prowess – Brad Treliving has often said that the toughest thing to do in the NHL is score goals. He’d join a fairly crowded race alongside Emile Poirier, Daniel Pribyl and Linden Vey. Poirier had a rough 2015-16 season and needs a strong camp to merit much consideration, while Pribyl may be behind the eight ball after off-season knee surgery. It’s probably between Vey and Shinkaruk. I’m leaning Vey if only because (a) Shinkaruk doesn’t require waivers and (b) Vey is a right shot and can take draws, which would give some relief to Bennett at times.
• Bottom-Six Winger(s): And finally, we have potential groupings for a bottom-line cluster. Names in that mix likely include Bollig, Hathaway and Hamilton. All had spot duty in that position last season. All had their good and bad moments. Bollig at least has been there before, and seemingly has no issue with being parked in the press box as an extra forward from time to time.

GUESSWORK LINE-UP